First impressions and a few UX questions - AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note I717

I really love it. I haven't used the stylus much. Nice to have though.
Totally used to the size after 5 days (from a reading and UX perspective). I picked up my wife's iphone yesterday, and it seemed comically small. Don't think I could ever go smaller again. Though physically, its still very large - my thumb tends to cramp when I hold it for an extended period.
My main complaints:
★Still a bunch of permanent Bloatware (no way to root yet without updating the bios counter, right?)
★I use the capacitive buttons on the bottom, but would much prefer there to be onscreen gestures for back, search and properties. (Are there? What do the international note users do without these buttons?)
★The phone is also so big that it's a pain to reach up around the side to power up. I would much prefer to have a physical button on the bottom.
★at&t bastards stripped out the FM radio (!)

1) yes you can
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1505062
2) You can find apps that allow gestures like that.
3) can't help you there
4) I GUARANTEE this will be added by devs

baaj said:
I really love it. I haven't used the stylus much. Nice to have though.
Totally used to the size after 5 days (from a reading and UX perspective). I picked up my wife's iphone yesterday, and it seemed comically small. Don't think I could ever go smaller again. Though physically, its still very large - my thumb tends to cramp when I hold it for an extended period.
My main complaints:
★Still a bunch of permanent Bloatware (no way to root yet without updating the bios counter, right?)
★I use the capacitive buttons on the bottom, but would much prefer there to be onscreen gestures for back, search and properties. (Are there? What do the international note users do without these buttons?)
★The phone is also so big that it's a pain to reach up around the side to power up. I would much prefer to have a physical button on the bottom.
★at&t bastards stripped out the FM radio (!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can root without triggering the counter: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1505062
The international note still has the menu and back capacitive buttons. The search feature is usually pretty easy to find in each app without using the capacitive button.
---------- Post added at 10:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 AM ----------
orangekid said:
4) I GUARANTEE this will be added by devs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But have the confirmed we even have the hardware? I heard the Galaxy S II had the hardware removed in the US version. So if that is the case, FM radio wouldn't be possible

orangekid said:
1) yes you can
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1505062
2) You can find apps that allow gestures like that.
3) can't help you there
4) I GUARANTEE this will be added by devs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2) Can you suggest an app?
4) Cannot be done though the capability is there within the chip it has been disabled. This has been confirm by various FM Radio app dev's. They say that its disabled at a hardware level as the SkyRocket was.

Earthsdog said:
2) Can you suggest an app?
4) Cannot be done though the capability is there within the chip it has been disabled. This has been confirm by various FM Radio app dev's. They say that its disabled at a hardware level as the SkyRocket was.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow, can't believe that. Good thing I don't use FM radio on my phone, but that's pretty dumb.
I'll see which apps are the best for gestures.

baaj said:
★I use the capacitive buttons on the bottom, but would much prefer there to be onscreen gestures for back, search and properties. (Are there? What do the international note users do without these buttons?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are gestures for back, home, and menu when using the S-PEN.

Related

[Q] Telus/T-Mo Amaze vs SGIIX landscape keyboard

Hello all,
I'm trying to decide between the Amaze and the SGII from Telus, and the most important thing to me is the size of the keys and how well both work in landscape mode. I have large hands, and I will be doing a lot of texting and e-mailing from my phone as I do use my phones as business tools as well. It doesn't matter that one might have a slightly better camera than the other, or that one is a slightly superior movie viewing experience. I have always had physical keyboards, so it will take some getting used to lifting my thumbs between each keystroke already.
The dealers around where I live have all been reluctant to let me see both side by side, but it seems to me that the Amaze, despite being a smaller screen, actually has larger keys in landscape mode. Is anyone able to confirm this? Thanks to any that can shed light on this.
Telus dealer's should have no problem letting you see them side by side. At first they didn't want to let me handle either one of them but when I told them that I'm not about to sign a 3 year contract without looking at what I'm getting they agreed and allowed me to play with both.
As to your question, it seems to me that the Telus keyboard is bigger and easier to manage, but since that wasn't the focus of what I was looking at, I'm just going from (a rather poor) memory. I'd go back to a store and TELL them you want to see both phones.
Yeah the Telus I went to they let me try out the Amaze. They got one from the back that wasn't connected to anything. They just handed it to me and left me alone to play with it. I could have just ran out with a working phone. I compared the two but I never tried landscape. I would think the Samsung has a bigger keyboard because the screen is bigger, the resolution is lower so things are stretched out more.
i just got my amaze from telus (upgrading from desire hd) and i notice a HUGE difference in the ease of the keyboard. number 1 the duel core makes it keep up as i type fast, unlike the ****ty 1ghrtz on the DHD which wud be a bit behind, and the letters blow up a bit bigger to i think cause im finding it MUCH easier to type on the amaze. oh ya the swipe keyboard is awesome to once you get the hang of it
Thanks for the info guys. For some reason they always put one away before taking the other one out. Maybe I look like I'm going to take one and run out, guess I'll have to be more insistent.
I also noticed that the Samsung's keyboard doesn't have a comma, that you have to go to the # screen to get to it. I'm guessing that I'll be able to find one on the market that has it.
sixfoot7 said:
Thanks for the info guys. For some reason they always put one away before taking the other one out. Maybe I look like I'm going to take one and run out, guess I'll have to be more insistent.
I also noticed that the Samsung's keyboard doesn't have a comma, that you have to go to the # screen to get to it. I'm guessing that I'll be able to find one on the market that has it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure the comma isn't somewhere on the keyboard above one of the other letters? I know that at first on the Amaze keyboard I was going into the # screen to get to the question mark, then I realized that I can press and hold the "k" to get the question mark. Samsung may be similar. Have a look.
marleyfan61 said:
Are you sure the comma isn't somewhere on the keyboard above one of the other letters? I know that at first on the Amaze keyboard I was going into the # screen to get to the question mark, then I realized that I can press and hold the "k" to get the question mark. Samsung may be similar. Have a look.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There probably is one that's a long press, I meant a dedicated key without having to resort to a long press. Guess it's just one of those things I'm going to get used to coming from a physical keyboard.
Oh, and thanks for mentioning the question mark. Now I'm going to obsess about looking for an easy way to get to that
sixfoot7 said:
There probably is one that's a long press, I meant a dedicated key without having to resort to a long press. Guess it's just one of those things I'm going to get used to coming from a physical keyboard.
Oh, and thanks for mentioning the question mark. Now I'm going to obsess about looking for an easy way to get to that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Coming from a physical keyboard can be difficult. I came from a physical keyboard (samsung slide) to touch on the Hero. I never really got used to it on that phone. The keys were so small even in landscape. I'm finding a huge difference with the Amaze. Way easier on the bigger screen.
I'm hoping the larger keys will make the transition. Thanks for your input. I see you're from the greatest city in the world (yes I'm a Surrey boy). It was the Apex in Langley, and the Telus store by the WalMart on 64th that didn't want me to see both at the same time.
I went to Best Buy and they let me see both side by side after a little coaxing. And yeah....I'm not too proud to admit I'm from Surrey. Not all of us are riot crashers.
Went back to Apex, finally got someone to show me both. The SGII's landscape keyboard is bigger than the Amaze's, about 3x2 mm bigger. Enough of a difference for me. In portrait mode, not even close, the SGII's was about 20% larger. Might actually be useable for me and my monster hands. The Amaze's camera was definitely better, but I was surprised to see some shooting modes missing that the T-mo version has.
I'd be happy with either, I'm sure, but I have to go with the SGII for the larger keyboards. Thanks to those who lent their input, I appreciate it.
Amaze Keyboard
Just thought I'd suggest the "Gingerbread Keyboard" from Steven Lin on the market.
Honestly one of the best keyboards I've ever used, coming from the MT4G.
Haven't had a chance to try it on the Amaze but will do sometime soon.
Let me know if you like it any better or if it even works on the Amaze.
nguyendqh said:
Just thought I'd suggest the "Gingerbread Keyboard" from Steven Lin on the market.
Honestly one of the best keyboards I've ever used, coming from the MT4G.
Haven't had a chance to try it on the Amaze but will do sometime soon.
Let me know if you like it any better or if it even works on the Amaze.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a look at that keyboard on my Amaze and it actually makes the keys smaller. Particularly in portrait. The bonus to that keyboard though is the addition of a row along the top with all the punctuation. That is a useful feature. Too bad it was added at the expense of key size.
marleyfan61 said:
I had a look at that keyboard on my Amaze and it actually makes the keys smaller. Particularly in portrait. The bonus to that keyboard though is the addition of a row along the top with all the punctuation. That is a useful feature. Too bad it was added at the expense of key size.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh really? That sucks. =( I do like that keyboard a lot.
Been using it for a year already on my MT4G. I do love the punctuation though.
The word selection comes easier for me too. Auto correct I mean.
I also like that after selecting a word it automatically spaces for me to start
typing my next word. And spacing twice puts a period. Holding enter brings up smiley faces. The list goes on. I may install on my Amaze anyway and see how I like it.
Thanks for the feedback though.

Swapping screens with International GN

I bought an international unit as well as the At&t version on contract. Does anyone know if I can swap the screens? I prefer the speed of the international version but the buttons on the US version.
I will be getting a plastic pry tomorrow and going ahead with the procedure. Would people be interested in seeing if it works? I'll include pictures.
fuzzled said:
I bought an international unit as well as the At&t version on contract. Does anyone know if I can swap the screens? I prefer the speed of the international version but the buttons on the US version.
I will be getting a plastic pry tomorrow and going ahead with the procedure. Would people be interested in seeing if it works? I'll include pictures.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What makes u think the screens are different?
Posting pics of the procedure would be very cool, but it isn't likely to work totally smoothly. The I777 and I9100 (AT&T and international GS2 variants) are nearly identical in hardware but devs needed to do some rewiring to make the buttons work from I9100 ROMs on I777. You might want to check out Entropy's hellraiser thread; he can probably give you further advice on how to fix up the key mappings. I'm pretty sure it involves modifications to the kernel though, so be careful.
I'd rather go the other way. I want to put the screen/buttons from my international note into my AT&T Note. That way I get LTE, but I also get the sane button layout with physical home key capable of waking the screen. I'm pretty disappointed with the layout on the AT&T Note. If they must insist on the crappy 4-strip of capacitive buttons, they could've at least put the less used search on the far left, which is the hardest place to reach, leaving home, back, and menu easier to hit one-handed.
I don't think is screen related. The processor in the international version is supposed to be faster, which is what makes it smoother man.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
****x76 said:
I don't think is screen related. The processor in the international version is supposed to be faster, which is what makes it smoother man.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's probably a bad thread title, but what he means is put the entire front assembly from the I717 on the N7000 so that he has international internals with a four-capacitive-button layout. The display panels should be identical, yes.
maxh said:
I'd rather go the other way. I want to put the screen/buttons from my international note into my AT&T Note. That way I get LTE, but I also get the sane button layout with physical home key capable of waking the screen. I'm pretty disappointed with the layout on the AT&T Note. If they must insist on the crappy 4-strip of capacitive buttons, they could've at least put the less used search on the far left, which is the hardest place to reach, leaving home, back, and menu easier to hit one-handed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my SGH-I717R using xda premium
Update
Welp, I took both devices apart yesterday and here are the photos.
As one can see the LCD assembly chassis are slightly different between the two versions, thus I was unable to swap the screens. Although I felt if I separated the LCD chassis from the LCD itself I might have succeeded. However this step would have exposed the LCD to particulates, i.e. dust, and would have been a pain to perform without a clean room.
There are some slight differences in the "guts" of the system. Mainly the memory card reader in the International Note (IN) is soldered onto the board vs. the AT&T version which is connected via a cable.
The speaker/usb charger portion also had slight differences which I failed to take an adequate photo of. The ATT version seemed to be adhered to the chassis while the IN could be removed, hence the picture without the speaker.
Both devices have been reassembled and it was fun to compare between the two.
Cheers

Menu Button A Big Win?

I just returned my HTC One S under buyer's remorse for a number of reasons. One of them was how much screen I lost for apps that weren't updated for ICS on-screen menu button. I know this isn't HTC's fault, but it was a real bummer. I am thinking Samsung made a much better choice with the GS3 by going against Google's intent and including the menu button. Surprised this hasn't been discussed more. Am I missing something?
We have always had the menu button so dont need to discuss it .SGS1 2 3
jje
mondegreen said:
I just returned my HTC One S under buyer's remorse for a number of reasons. One of them was how much screen I lost for apps that weren't updated for ICS on-screen menu button. I know this isn't HTC's fault, but it was a real bummer. I am thinking Samsung made a much better choice with the GS3 by going against Google's intent and including the menu button. Surprised this hasn't been discussed more. Am I missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yaa I feel the same, that's smthing I hate about vanilla ICS, the onscreen buttons.
Btw how was one s. I had it in my mind before getting s3.
Sent from my s3
There is a mod in HTC one x section where you can remap the keys.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Well HTCs new firmware which is due any moment maybe next week resolves this by allowing users to select what the recent apps button does. No need for any mods on this base.
I've got it running on the HOX and works fine so far. You can replace it to a menu function and long press for recent apps.
Anyways, I miss the home button which is good for waking the phone up.
Personally, I could go either way. I don't mind the home button; actually I think it could be a plus, considering if the OS were to ever freeze, you still have the button. Being an engineer, I can value you that. What would disgusting is the home button and the on screen buttons; either or, not both.

How does the Legacy Menu button make you feel?

I do some side Android App developing and so much time with AOSP that it is very difficult for me to go from my Galaxy Nexus (with the appropriate menu/button configuration) and taking a step back to the Note II (which I have not done yet) in this one area. I think it may just be a serious case of OCD? I don't know.
How do you guys feel about this? I -assume- most came from a device that already had the old hardware menu button. So it's probably not a big deal.... just curious.
Eddog4DROID said:
I do some side Android App developing and so much time with AOSP that it is very difficult for me to go from my Galaxy Nexus (with the appropriate menu/button configuration) and taking a step back to the Note II (which I have not done yet) in this one area. I think it may just be a serious case of OCD? I don't know.
How do you guys feel about this? I -assume- most came from a device that already had the old hardware menu button. So it's probably not a big deal.... just curious.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came from quite a few previous phones with a Hardware Menu/Settings button. Then I went to the DNA which is like the Gnex and doesn't have that button. I couldn't stand not having the actual button. So I'm sure it'll be the same way for you off the bat. However I do know that you can turn on the nav bar on the GNII. So you might be able to turn that on a rock it that way. It's a great phone. Don't let the menu button discourage ya.

Happy with the hardware, not happy with the software

I love this new phone. Yes, I wish they would have built a bigger battery in there even it it would make it a little thicker and The bezels could have smaller on the sides and waaaaaaaay smaller on top and bottom. But overall, I like it, it's huge and this is what i want in a my one device. I want something that is still pocketable but as big as can possibly be (we arent there yet) and still handle my phone calls.
The software is missing a bunch of stuff. Yes, great, its not bogged down like I've been used to with Samsung, great, but come on... Why arent the software buttons customizable? Why isn't there a little button every time i hit a sound key to expand the volume menu to let me change all the different volumes (ringer/alarm/media)? I have to dig through setting to get to that... Why cant I$%#* longpress the icons in the quicksettings to bring me to the menu for that setting...
I feel like theres so much missing... a lot of things I'm used to from all the samsung phones I had. And I don't mean the gimmicky features.
A lot of these things are ideas that either google would come up with or any of the custom rom devs thought up. Samsung pays attentions and steals the good ideas for their phones... why doesn't sony??
I also with they had the knockon feature that LG has because i was used to having a button on the front and I hate having to press on the side...
I guess this doesn't matter anyway because as soon as @krabappel2548 has the main kinks worked out of the 4.4 builds, I'm jumping ship anyway. But either way, Sony really disappointed me...
FYI, I've been using these 2 apps since I got the phone, one lets you add stuff to the nav bar which is great, you cant get rid of the dedicated ones but you can put new stuff directly on top of them, And the second one is so i don't have to keep pressing the power button on the side you just wave your hand over it and it turns on (I've found that the best way to use it is to just run your hand over the sensor and that seems to work pretty well. It also always turns on by itself when I take it out of my pocket)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inorexstudio.wave2wake&hl=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cygery.customnavbar.demo&hl=en
mottyengel said:
I love this new phone. Yes, I wish they would have built a bigger battery in there even it it would make it a little thicker and The bezels could have smaller on the sides and waaaaaaaay smaller on top and bottom. But overall, I like it, it's huge and this is what i want in a my one device. I want something that is still pocketable but as big as can possibly be (we arent there yet) and still handle my phone calls.
The software is missing a bunch of stuff. Yes, great, its not bogged down like I've been used to with Samsung, great, but come on... Why arent the software buttons customizable? Why isn't there a little button every time i hit a sound key to expand the volume menu to let me change all the different volumes (ringer/alarm/media)? I have to dig through setting to get to that... Why cant I$%#* longpress the icons in the quicksettings to bring me to the menu for that setting...
I feel like theres so much missing... a lot of things I'm used to from all the samsung phones I had. And I don't mean the gimmicky features.
A lot of these things are ideas that either google would come up with or any of the custom rom devs thought up. Samsung pays attentions and steals the good ideas for their phones... why doesn't sony??
I also with they had the knockon feature that LG has because i was used to having a button on the front and I hate having to press on the side...
I guess this doesn't matter anyway because as soon as @krabappel2548 has the main kinks worked out of the 4.4 builds, I'm jumping ship anyway. But either way, Sony really disappointed me...
FYI, I've been using these 2 apps since I got the phone, one lets you add stuff to the nav bar which is great, you cant get rid of the dedicated ones but you can put new stuff directly on top of them, And the second one is so i don't have to keep pressing the power button on the side you just wave your hand over it and it turns on (I've found that the best way to use it is to just run your hand over the sensor and that seems to work pretty well. It also always turns on by itself when I take it out of my pocket)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inorexstudio.wave2wake&hl=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cygery.customnavbar.demo&hl=en
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Xperia Tablet Z has the double-tap to wake feature. Funny how much I miss it from the Ultra.
Don't want to have to install a separate app either!
xposed framework fixes all your complaints
SweFox said:
xposed framework fixes all your complaints
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really sure how to do that... and anyway, once I install omni, most of it will come built in. I'm just disappointed in the out of the box limitations.
If you want a phone with more features buy LG G2, it's better than Samsung phones and also has highly customizable UI but heaver than Sony's one.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
mottyengel said:
Not really sure how to do that... and anyway, once I install omni, most of it will come built in. I'm just disappointed in the out of the box limitations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okey.. If you planned on installing omni why are you disappointed since it wouldn't matter anyway? And like I said, installing xposed framwork lets you easily fix those complaints.
SweFox said:
Okey.. If you planned on installing omni why are you disappointed since it wouldn't matter anyway? And like I said, installing xposed framwork lets you easily fix those complaints.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its just disappointing is all. These have become basic features... Why would sony leave them out?
Simonna said:
If you want a phone with more features buy LG G2, it's better than Samsung phones and also has highly customizable UI but heaver than Sony's one.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want this monster, not some puny 5.2 phone.
SweFox said:
xposed framework fixes all your complaints
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please tell me which xposed module lets to turn screen on without pressing power button?
techpal said:
Please tell me which xposed module lets to turn screen on without pressing power button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That can be solved with a flipcase or Gravity Screen (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2227516)
mottyengel said:
I love this new phone. Yes, I wish they would have built a bigger battery in there even it it would make it a little thicker and The bezels could have smaller on the sides and waaaaaaaay smaller on top and bottom. But overall, I like it, it's huge and this is what i want in a my one device. I want something that is still pocketable but as big as can possibly be (we arent there yet) and still handle my phone calls.
The software is missing a bunch of stuff. Yes, great, its not bogged down like I've been used to with Samsung, great, but come on... Why arent the software buttons customizable? Why isn't there a little button every time i hit a sound key to expand the volume menu to let me change all the different volumes (ringer/alarm/media)? I have to dig through setting to get to that... Why cant I$%#* longpress the icons in the quicksettings to bring me to the menu for that setting...
I feel like theres so much missing... a lot of things I'm used to from all the samsung phones I had. And I don't mean the gimmicky features.
A lot of these things are ideas that either google would come up with or any of the custom rom devs thought up. Samsung pays attentions and steals the good ideas for their phones... why doesn't sony??
I also with they had the knockon feature that LG has because i was used to having a button on the front and I hate having to press on the side...
I guess this doesn't matter anyway because as soon as @krabappel2548 has the main kinks worked out of the 4.4 builds, I'm jumping ship anyway. But either way, Sony really disappointed me...
FYI, I've been using these 2 apps since I got the phone, one lets you add stuff to the nav bar which is great, you cant get rid of the dedicated ones but you can put new stuff directly on top of them, And the second one is so i don't have to keep pressing the power button on the side you just wave your hand over it and it turns on (I've found that the best way to use it is to just run your hand over the sensor and that seems to work pretty well. It also always turns on by itself when I take it out of my pocket)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inorexstudio.wave2wake&hl=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cygery.customnavbar.demo&hl=en
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So essentially you're blaming Google for not equipping Android with TouchWiz features from the first place.. right..
Sony is known for the simple and elegant to navigate UI. So if you want all the bells and whistles you could always opt for xposed modules. Better to add an app rather than carrying all the bloat in the first place.
Knock on feature should be there for TabletZ because it is a huge device so looking down the power button would take too long. the LG G2 was in a different, worse problem (button on the back) but XZU buttons is clearly felt just by handling the device even in one hand so i agree there's no reason to put such solution.
SweFox said:
That can be solved with a flipcase or Gravity Screen (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2227516)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought if there is xposed module available. I am already using https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.omd.autoscreenon

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