S3 advice needed, project for wife - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Background story
My wife is giving her iphone to her sister and needs something to last her until "the next iphone" comes out. I thought i would try to get her to like android and got an s3 (with a smashed screen) from ebay. Im planning to replace the screen and case so it will look good as new. (so if anyone knows a good place for cheep screens please let me know) I would like to install a rom that is reliable and gives a modern samsung ui. android version isnt important, though it must run well. She only mostly uses fb, email and web browsing + a few simple appps so any suggestions that fit the bill would be greatly appreciated. Im hoping after using if for a few months or so she might want to give something like the note 4 or 5 a go rather than going back to apple.
Requirements.
Modern looking ui
Smooth runner (want her to like android/samsung)
All advice and comments greatfully recieved.

ooMoo said:
Background story
My wife is giving her iphone to her sister and needs something to last her until "the next iphone" comes out. I thought i would try to get her to like android and got an s3 (with a smashed screen) from ebay. Im planning to replace the screen and case so it will look good as new. (so if anyone knows a good place for cheep screens please let me know) I would like to install a rom that is reliable and gives a modern samsung ui. android version isnt important, though it must run well. She only mostly uses fb, email and web browsing + a few simple appps so any suggestions that fit the bill would be greatly appreciated. Im hoping after using if for a few months or so she might want to give something like the note 4 or 5 a go rather than going back to apple.
Requirements.
Modern looking ui
Smooth runner (want her to like android/samsung)
All advice and comments greatfully recieved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You made a Huge mistake,man. Since it's amoled screen it cost as much as the phone. There are no cheap amoled,amoled is amoled.
As far as other stuff,first you need to decide if you gonna fix it or move to another phone. After that,we can talk estetics
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Free mobile app

Buy an ebay phone with a dead motherboard then swap parts until you get one that works.
It would have been cheaper to buy a new moto G.

Ok. I guess i could just resell the phone on ebay.
I was trying not to spend too much as the chance is she will just get an iphone anyway. What would you recomend? That wont break the bank. But will provide a nice experience

ooMoo said:
Ok. I guess i could just resell the phone on ebay.
I was trying not to spend too much as the chance is she will just get an iphone anyway. What would you recomend? That wont break the bank. But will provide a nice experience
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Click to collapse
Hard to tell since she likes Apple. Maybe G2 mini,nice and cheap phone,not to big,just for girls(150€ new in my country)
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Free mobile app

How about s4? Is that a lot better? Ive seen them for 140 I repaired a g2 for a colleague today. It is a nice phone. Im just a bit of a fan of touchwiz....

ooMoo said:
How about s4? Is that a lot better? Ive seen them for 140 I repaired a g2 for a colleague today. It is a nice phone. Im just a bit of a fan of touchwiz....
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Click to collapse
It,s a good price for s4. People complain that 2gb of ram is barely enough for Tw and Lp,but it's individual. Good things are hd display,and 2gb of ram. I think that is ok until new Iphone.
Don,t know or i missed what she had? 5,5s? Take under consideration ,in that case ,that it's a big difference in screen size and she might not like it.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Free mobile app

I got a screen from Aliexpress for $55, works perfectly !

She has an iphone 5. I just want to show her how good android is she does use my note 3 sometimes. I will look online as some s4's is the alpha any good?

ooMoo said:
She has an iphone 5. I just want to show her how good android is she does use my note 3 sometimes. I will look online as some s4's is the alpha any good?
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Click to collapse
The Galaxy Alpha is pretty good, an it feels awesome!
I bought my S3 screen of Ali: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/For-...Touch-Screen-Assembly-Display/1803872751.html
Very good price and it works perfectly fine!

Related

Formers S3 owners...

Just curious to see how former S3 owners are enjoying their Note 2. I'm on the fence right now, the size is not a big deal as I feel I can adapt to it pretty quickly. The bigger screen size and multi view options really interest me. What were the big drivers for you to jump from the S3 to the Note 2? How would you compare the experiences?
TIA
I had the s3 and I'd say it would be like comparing a wrx to the st or z06 to the zr1i. Both are awesome but one is just a little bit better. Bigger, faster, and just overall more awesomer lol. I like playing with the stylus, split screen, bigger screen plus I'm a phone whore so I'm always trading.
sshams95 said:
Just curious to see how former S3 owners are enjoying their Note 2. I'm on the fence right now, the size is not a big deal as I feel I can adapt to it pretty quickly. The bigger screen size and multi view options really interest me. What were the big drivers for you to jump from the S3 to the Note 2? How would you compare the experiences?
TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me and the wife traded our GS3s for Note 2s... Love them
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD
F'n love it! Battery is incredible (I'd say close to double the screen-on time). Multi window is really cool too, and with root you can get ALL apps loaded in it, where as with stock there were only like 6 apps available in multi window, which made it useless.
I'm actually liking the spen too (writing this post with it). Along with that, I also suggest the flygrip, it makes using this massive phone with one hand not only possible, but convenient and comfortable. It doubles as a kick stand too, which I like to do 180 portrait mode, and it sits firm where you can use the spen and hit menus/home button without it falling over. I actually used it on the S3 until I got my note, and I love it! I switched from T-Mobile to Verizon, so my network is 10 times better now as well.
The S3 is great, and if T Mobile lets me off the hook from my cancellation I'm still going to keep it for an mp3 player etc...but IMO this Note 2 blows it away with just the battery alone...which is crazy because the screen is way bigger AND way brighter. I couldn't even see my s3 if it was a halfway sunny day.
So yeah, you could say I'm a fan
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
sshams95 said:
Just curious to see how former S3 owners are enjoying their Note 2. I'm on the fence right now, the size is not a big deal as I feel I can adapt to it pretty quickly. The bigger screen size and multi view options really interest me. What were the big drivers for you to jump from the S3 to the Note 2? How would you compare the experiences?
TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bigger screen. Faster. Better battery. S pen. Just awesome zero regrets taking my s3 back. Plus I had the "blue" one but the longer I had it the more it looked purple. If size is not a concern, get off the fence and get this bad boy.
Sent from my SCH-I605
I agree with everyone else, it doesnt seem like much of a step up but i assure you it most definitely is, and was well worth the wait!
sent from my Note 2
Thanks for the feedback everyone, the battery life factor is something I forgot about it. Looks like I'm jumping the fence!
It is so much better! I still have my S3 so I can swap the SIM card and use whichever I chose, but I don't thing I will be using S3 very often. I may just use S3 like an iPod on Wi-Fi
Jump in! I truly loved my sg3... for 30 days I had it..lol. Note 2 came out on day 29 and I dropped by best buy just to see the "Beast" before my return date was up. Took one look and held it.. and that was it. Sg3 was awesome. Fast. Smooth and powerful. Note 2 is just a whole different world. Has completely changed my mobile computing/productivity. Had Droid X and tbolt (sigh) before sg3 so I was shockingly happy with it. But the Note 2 is literally unreal. Good luck and have fun!
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
Better battery life, brighter screen, 3g radio and signal is much improved(no data drops), gps locks faster, quad core...nuff said!
Wife and I bought s3 from craigslist and had them for 3 weeks then I got an upgrade from a friend of mine who purchased the note 2 . I love the gs3 on verizon but the note 2 is just like others have said, better battery and slightly faster. The gs3 is still a beast and ive recommended most of my friends and family to get the gs3. My wife is slightly jealous so I will probably end up giving her mine for a bit while I sell her gs3 to buy another note 2 full price.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
For me it was almost solely the s pen. I do alot of photo editing and stuff like that. Oh and the titanium gray is just plain sexy
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justin94 said:
For me it was almost solely the s pen. I do alot of photo editing and stuff like that. Oh and the titanium gray is just plain sexy
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
For me it was when Mugen made a 6400mah battery for it. That's more power than my galaxy tab 7.7 which is only 5100mah. I like to read books on my tablet which is painful on my small rezound. I just have to figure on which color, I know crazy. I prefer black to grey, but white is selling for a higher price on ebay( now that's crazy).
juanaraya92679 said:
Wife and I bought s3 from craigslist and had them for 3 weeks then I got an upgrade from a friend of mine who purchased the note 2 . I love the gs3 on verizon but the note 2 is just like others have said, better battery and slightly faster. The gs3 is still a beast and ive recommended most of my friends and family to get the gs3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm curious, what it a mint condition G3 going for on craigs list right now??
I have two mint condition G3's with extra batteries, extra backs and cases (including hyperion extended batts etc) that I want to sell but I'm not sure what they're worth??
I just sold mine last Friday on CL for $350. Probably could have got more but wanted a quick sale. Put it up Thursday evening after getting my N2 , gone Friday.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
jmorton10 said:
I'm curious, what it a mint condition G3 going for on craigs list right now??
I have two mint condition G3's with extra batteries, extra backs and cases (including hyperion extended batts etc) that I want to sell but I'm not sure what they're worth??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
shouldnt have a problem getting 400 a piece.
yepp..had the s3..love this phone.
Sold s3 on ebay for 400 an that was the buy it now price they are selling good if you took care of it I may have a dna up for sale soon extra Christmas money
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Its been a rather busy year for me on the phone front. I started the year off with a Thunderbolt, followed up by a Rezound, and then purchased Galaxy S3 in July.
Suffice to say the S3 was the best of the lot. When I got the S3, I thought I had found the promise of Android. Finally the OS had been optimized and I felt confident that I would keep the S3 for at least a year. Then came the Note 2, and a window of opportunity. I had an upgrade that I HAD to use before January (dont ask) and so I sold my S3 on Gazelle for almost 300 and put the order in.
I wont lie, initially and still it feels a little awkward handling the Note 2. Its big, its a lot bigger than the S3. The S3's ergonomics were spot on and like most any well designed phone you tend to forget your holding something. You just use the interface..the body goes away in the interaction. But with the Note 2 I haven't gotten there yet, I am still very aware that I'm working to grasp a device and the interface comes a second later.
There is a slight disconnect because you have to physically accommodate the phone ya know?
That being said there are a number of features in the Note 2 that go a very very long way to making you forgive (and maybe forget) its girth. The screen is just awesome, its the big screen jumbo man TV of the smartphone world. How can you hate that!? If you have any love for tech your drawn to it like moth to a flame. Its stunning. Watching YouTube in bed is like having my 58inch plasma on my chest...MWAHAAH!..I dunno..there's something about that. I dig it.
Also compared to the S3, its faster, the antenna seems to be better, and that has that fancy pen. Outside of that, there isn't much that makes this a giant leap from the S3. For me its really just about the screen and maybe the possibility of having a more capable hacked and overclocked quad core monster after I root it, but that is still a ways off.
Imo its just a bigger s3....I really don't get the big deal of multi view. I have no regrets though. I love it.

GSG 3 users. Is it still worth buying?

Hey guys, i've recently owned an HTC One x, and i've found it to be okay, if there's one thing i liked about it over the SGS 3 it would be only the screen (or maybe not). (ATM phone is dead, screen broke, not willing to give htc 300$ just to replace the screen. They wanted 294 euros, that
Either way, what good is a screen if the overall package doesn't do the job, right?
I was originally planning to get a Nexus 4, but for some reason i have the other side of me telling em to go for the GSG 3, incredibly fast updates (as they've proven). One factor i noticed that the SGS 3 has over the Nexus 4 is battery life. I think it easily gets 1 and a half to 2 hours more screen on time if i compare both battery stats thread.(hugely favoring me in for the sgs 3)
I'm just clueless as to what I should do. The nexus 4 is not highly available atm (screw you LG) , this is another reason i don't see why i should wait.
The SGS 4 is around the corner (?)
I'm just not sure what next move i should make now? The reason i'm very desperate at the moment is because my one x is not functional at all. My SGS1 is wrecked badly (charging hardly works anymore, and i just can't take it without a decent phone >_>)
Would you guys still recommend i buy a brand new SGS 3 @ 470 Euros right now? Any reason not to? I know such threads are not very welcome to a select bunch. But regardless, i'd really appreciate some input.
Worth noting is that i don't really game on phones, if at all.
No no i don't think you should buy sgs 3 again wait for a month you well see new phones. My next phone will be xperia z or s4 but lets see what we get in mwc 2013
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
shadehh said:
Hey guys, i've recently owned an HTC One x, and i've found it to be okay, if there's one thing i liked about it over the SGS 3 it would be only the screen (or maybe not). (ATM phone is dead, screen broke, not willing to give htc 300$ just to replace the screen. They wanted 294 euros, that
Either way, what good is a screen if the overall package doesn't do the job, right?
I was originally planning to get a Nexus 4, but for some reason i have the other side of me telling em to go for the GSG 3, incredibly fast updates (as they've proven). One factor i noticed that the SGS 3 has over the Nexus 4 is battery life. I think it easily gets 1 and a half to 2 hours more screen on time if i compare both battery stats thread.(hugely favoring me in for the sgs 3)
I'm just clueless as to what I should do. The nexus 4 is not highly available atm (screw you LG) , this is another reason i don't see why i should wait.
The SGS 4 is around the corner (?)
I'm just not sure what next move i should make now? The reason i'm very desperate at the moment is because my one x is not functional at all. My SGS1 is wrecked badly (charging hardly works anymore, and i just can't take it without a decent phone >_>)
Would you guys still recommend i buy a brand new SGS 3 @ 470 Euros right now? Any reason not to? I know such threads are not very welcome to a select bunch. But regardless, i'd really appreciate some input.
Worth noting is that i don't really game on phones, if at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your extremely stuck buy the s3 but if your not id wait because god only knows what around the corner. Htc have a few nice phhones coming out and already out aswell as that the xperia z which will be out very soon is going to beat any phone that comes out this half of the year.
Sent from my GT-I9300
If you want to use the phone as it is, it's fine buying SGS3. the stock ROM is Okay with some great features. There are many great custom kernels (Perseus, Siyah, etc.) for you to choose. The phone is ok if you don't look at the specs, battery life is good, no warm(hot) issue, play almost any games well, support most video hardware acceleration codecs and great camera.
You should consider Xperia T if you want AOSP-like(CM) experiences. As it's a great device for devs and rapidly getting more and more sick developers (codeworkx for example). You may wait another month for an Xperia Z also.
Looks to me as though many are going to be recommending I wait. If that's the case i guess i will hold out. It would be much easier if my phone didn't suck. If it dies out on me i guess i'll just buy a cheap nokia for the time being and call it a day until i get my hands on something newer.
Never was worth buying and never will be. Get yourself a 16GB Nexus 4, instead.
[email protected] said:
If your extremely stuck buy the s3 but if your not id wait because god only knows what around the corner. Htc have a few nice phhones coming out and already out aswell as that the xperia z which will be out very soon is going to beat any phone that comes out this half of the year.
Sent from my GT-I9300
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Click to collapse
Theres 2 thing with waiting
1 Theres always going to be something round the corner, so you can always waiting so you can end up chasing the latest greatest phone to be. I'm looking for a phone myself, but if I'm going to wait, I'd have to draw a line somewhere.
2 The price of what those phones will be, for example the price of the sony xperia is currently rumoured to be £520 sim free for the UK, whilst it's more than likely going to change, it may still be too expensive for some, depending if someones getting it on contract or what ever.
Least with any phone out, people know what the (most of the) pro's and con's and how much it's going to cost.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNsX30n0R3s&feature=youtube_gdata_player
You gotta check it out i am sorry to piss some of the guys here by posting this video here but the phone looks great.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Amritttt said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNsX30n0R3s&feature=youtube_gdata_player
You gotta check it out i am sorry to piss some of the guys here by posting this video here but the phone looks great.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That phone does looks indubitably sexy.
Amritttt said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNsX30n0R3s&feature=youtube_gdata_player
You gotta check it out i am sorry to piss some of the guys here by posting this video here but the phone looks great.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a nice looking phone, what I really don't understand about people is they complain at phone screens breaking, then a few days later the next in thing is making a phone out of glass, which is what breaks in the first place, it boggles the mind.
I own one and I wouldn't buy another one if this one failed.
It's nice and all, but it's not that great.

Other device, comparisons to other devices, and upgrading phone discussion

Please use this thread to discuss devices other than and any comparisons with other devices on or about the Note III in this thread and any other off-topic issues that are not needing a new thread.
Post with respect, this is a helpful community, hope we all learn from this stuff in here.
I would like to see peoples opinion's on the note 3 compared to the LG G2. I am on the fence on the two. Im coming from the S3 so the note will be quite large. Being on Verizon we dont have the Nexus 5 option so it seems it is up to these two devices. My main hesitation on the Note is how locked down it is. We might not get customs roms on it at all. The LG G2 has Loki so we are good to go on that one. Both of the build qualities are lacking so thats a wash.
Joey, have you ever been in a... in a comaprison?
sorry title made me think of Airplane movie :fingers-crossed:
fletch33 said:
Joey, have you ever been in a... in a comaprison?
sorry title made me think of Airplane movie :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL, THAT was one funny movie......
I'm on the fence about mine. I got in on the Verizon unlimited data glitch and have a Note 3 coming.
I have a Note 2 and if not for the glitch wouldn't have considered upgrading. The Note 3 just didn't excite me enough to spend the money. I HATE pentile matrix screens and I felt like the move to 5.7" wasn't enough. I want something in the 5.9" to 6.1" range.
With California taxes I'm in for about $385, and I figure I could sell the Note III for $700ish. Then in a couple months I could sell my Note II for around $300 and have a nice little fund for a new device. What I really want is the HTC One Max, but who knows if Verizon will ever get it?
I don't know what to do.
---------- Post added at 04:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:09 PM ----------
eddie33081 said:
I would like to see peoples opinion's on the note 3 compared to the LG G2. I am on the fence on the two. Im coming from the S3 so the note will be quite large. Being on Verizon we dont have the Nexus 5 option so it seems it is up to these two devices. My main hesitation on the Note is how locked down it is. We might not get customs roms on it at all. The LG G2 has Loki so we are good to go on that one. Both of the build qualities are lacking so thats a wash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The G2 is a really nice device. I hate the buttons on the back, but everything else about the physical form factor is great.
The screen is really nice, it's fast, excellent camera and battery life. I hate LG's skin, but with Nova you can cover up a lot, and now that it's Loki'd I figure it's only a matter of time before AOSP roms are available.
SeanPlunk said:
I'm on the fence about mine. I got in on the Verizon unlimited data glitch and have a Note 3 coming.
I have a Note 2 and if not for the glitch wouldn't have considered upgrading. The Note 3 just didn't excite me enough to spend the money. I HATE pentile matrix screens and I felt like the move to 5.7" wasn't enough. I want something in the 5.9" to 6.1" range.
With California taxes I'm in for about $385, and I figure I could sell the Note III for $700ish. Then in a couple months I could sell my Note II for around $300 and have a nice little fund for a new device. What I really want is the HTC One Max, but who knows if Verizon will ever get it?
I don't know what to do.
---------- Post added at 04:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:09 PM ----------
The G2 is a really nice device. I hate the buttons on the back, but everything else about the physical form factor is great.
The screen is really nice, it's fast, excellent camera and battery life. I hate LG's skin, but with Nova you can cover up a lot, and now that it's Loki'd I figure it's only a matter of time before AOSP roms are available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the LG spectrum and it's a great phone except for cheap sensors. Before I ever buy lg again I will install android sensors or sensor box on the store demo first. Cheap sensors have a lower range and/or operate erratically. I.e. Magnetic sensor: og Droid 0-2000, gs3 0-20000 and LG Spectrum 0-200!
What's it mean? Compass apps not reliable or accurate, Google sky map to jittery to use, auto brightness works poorly, when on call screen takes longer to turn on for the keypad, etc. At first I thought I had a lemon but LG insisted it was the applications.
Sent from LG Spectrum using XDA app
contract up !!!! What to buy next?
My contract will be up soon. I am looking to replace Verizon samsung Galaxy Nexus which I loved. I was looking at the Note 3. I like the big screen.
I have a rooted phone and want to root this new phone. The main reason I root is for the hotspot feature. Anyone have any suggestions on what phone I should look at. I am using MIUI Android Rom right now. I would be open to even staying with original OS if it had everything I wanted.
Would also like a phone with a longer lasting battery.
Has the Note 2 had any problems I should be aware of?
Any help is appreciated.
I have time so I am willing to wait if there is a good recommendation. I also don't want a bigger screen. The note 3 size seems to be perfect.
susieq29 said:
My contract will be up soon. I am looking to replace Verizon samsung Galaxy Nexus which I loved. I was looking at the Note 3. I like the big screen.
I have a rooted phone and want to root this new phone. The main reason I root is for the hotspot feature. Anyone have any suggestions on what phone I should look at. I am using MIUI Android Rom right now. I would be open to even staying with original OS if it had everything I wanted.
Would also like a phone with a longer lasting battery.
Has the Note 2 had any problems I should be aware of?
Any help is appreciated.
I have time so I am willing to wait if there is a good recommendation. I also don't want a bigger screen. The note 3 size seems to be perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note 2, frankly... is incredible. I've had the verizon note 2 for a year now and i'm dying for the note 3. my note 2 is practically my best friend at this point. I know i sound like such a fanboy but i literally just smile when my friends complain about their phones, mine never has any of their stupid issues.
SeanPlunk said:
I HATE pentile matrix screens and I felt like the move to 5.7" wasn't enough..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I challenge you to take 2 1080p screens smaller than 6" and, without prior knowledge, tell anyone which is pentile and which is any other matrix with your naked eye.
susieq29 said:
Has the Note 2 had any problems I should be aware of?
Any help is appreciated.
I have time so I am willing to wait if there is a good recommendation. I also don't want a bigger screen. The note 3 size seems to be perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had the Note2 for about six months... it is easily the best phone I've ever owned. Seriously, it absolutely blows the doors off the Galaxy Nexus, in performance, build quality, screen quality, battery, phone call quality... I wouldn't have upgraded to the Note3 if it wasn't for the Verizon glitch. ...that and my wife wanting my Note2!
Dan76 said:
I've had the Note2 for about six months... it is easily the best phone I've ever owned. Seriously, it absolutely blows the doors off the Galaxy Nexus, in performance, build quality, screen quality, battery, phone call quality... I wouldn't have upgraded to the Note3 if it wasn't for the Verizon glitch. ...that and my wife wanting my Note2!
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Click to collapse
I agree 100 %.
The Note 2 is BY FAR the best phone I've ever owned and I have basically owned every high end phone ever made.
The N2 is the first phone I have ever owned that I was 100% totally satisfied with and haven't been impatiently waiting for the next phone to come out for an upgrade.
I will still probably buy the Note 3 at some point (I have a line I can use for an upgrade and keep my unlimited data), although I will wait and make sure it is at least rootable first as I just know I would never be totally happy with a 100% stock phone.
I'm intrigued by the HTC One Max. I don't use the s-pen or multi-window much and I do use the external speaker daily. I'm hoping for more information about the Max this week. Also, my eyes aren't what they used to be so the large screen may work. Then again the Note 3 is calling to me since I have loved my Note 2 since it's release.....we'll see
Oh_wow said:
I'm intrigued by the HTC One Max. I don't use the s-pen or multi-window much and I do use the external speaker daily. I'm hoping for more information about the Max this week. Also, my eyes aren't what they used to be so the large screen may work. Then again the Note 3 is calling to me since I have loved my Note 2 since it's release.....we'll see
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/07/verizon-htc-one-mac-fingerprint-scanner-removable-back/
Looks like an AWESOME phone to me, but I use the s-pen quite a bit.
This obviously is a question I can only answer myself but wanted some input from some people that have bathed themselves in note 3 info... lol and some likely coming from an s3.... I'm not eligible for a new phone until march 2014... however I'm sure I could call and call and eventually get an upgrade to edge anyway (done this before... it works.. just keep calling) edge obviously a bit of a rip off.. but i could kill a few other accounts i don't really use often to make up for the cost.... and obviously if i wanted to flip a phone i could do so in 12 months or so..... with that being said..
I do love the size.. and the bigger screen is preferable to me when it comes to videos.. and other things. The speed is obviously sweet and so is the size... however..
I use my phone to play general games.. not a huge gaming on phone person.. (less you could get league of legends on there lol)... i use my phone as a basic camera..... as well to surf the web... 75% of the time i have access to a desktop in which time i could use my phone as well... i do enjoy surfing whatever sitting on the couch obviously..... I'm really on the fence... I always get super hyped over a new phone (got s3 right away and it took several calls to Verizon to get it done) in which yes, its a nice phone with nice camera options... with that being said.. its still a phone... using it to call people is its basic purpose... i've started to utilize google calandar more and more as i have a disability that the meds hinders my short term memory..so that would be one nice thing.. the s pen is sweet.. looks so awesome.. but i don't see me using it much except to jot down phone numbers or addresses on the fly (which wouldn't be often.. i'm not a people person type of guy and my job doesn't require any use of cellphones) So i'm thinking a faster processor.. better camera..the faster processor and screen size would be the main reasons..... but do i really want to go for it? do i really want to get it now and go on the verizon edge program? I just feel like I may be jumping in and after a month regretting my decision... anyone coming from an S3 have an early opinion? ( i also am in an area where voice calling isn't that great... and i would hope it would be better with the s3 (its better on my wifes older galaxy nexus)... that would be something i suppose i would have to find out after the fact.. and use the 30day policy... to go or not to go..... been thinking about it A LOT for the past week.
Be careful... if you're on Sprint or Vzw, it's only a 14 day policy
loopers said:
This obviously is a question I can only answer myself but wanted some input from some people that have bathed themselves in note 3 info... lol and some likely coming from an s3.... I'm not eligible for a new phone until march 2014... however I'm sure I could call and call and eventually get an upgrade to edge anyway (done this before... it works.. just keep calling) edge obviously a bit of a rip off.. but i could kill a few other accounts i don't really use often to make up for the cost.... and obviously if i wanted to flip a phone i could do so in 12 months or so..... with that being said..
I do love the size.. and the bigger screen is preferable to me when it comes to videos.. and other things. The speed is obviously sweet and so is the size... however..
I use my phone to play general games.. not a huge gaming on phone person.. (less you could get league of legends on there lol)... i use my phone as a basic camera..... as well to surf the web... 75% of the time i have access to a desktop in which time i could use my phone as well... i do enjoy surfing whatever sitting on the couch obviously..... I'm really on the fence... I always get super hyped over a new phone (got s3 right away and it took several calls to Verizon to get it done) in which yes, its a nice phone with nice camera options... with that being said.. its still a phone... using it to call people is its basic purpose... i've started to utilize google calandar more and more as i have a disability that the meds hinders my short term memory..so that would be one nice thing.. the s pen is sweet.. looks so awesome.. but i don't see me using it much except to jot down phone numbers or addresses on the fly (which wouldn't be often.. i'm not a people person type of guy and my job doesn't require any use of cellphones) So i'm thinking a faster processor.. better camera..the faster processor and screen size would be the main reasons..... but do i really want to go for it? do i really want to get it now and go on the verizon edge program? I just feel like I may be jumping in and after a month regretting my decision... anyone coming from an S3 have an early opinion? ( i also am in an area where voice calling isn't that great... and i would hope it would be better with the s3 (its better on my wifes older galaxy nexus)... that would be something i suppose i would have to find out after the fact.. and use the 30day policy... to go or not to go..... been thinking about it A LOT for the past week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whether or not you consider Edge to be a rip off, I prefer it to dropping $300 on the phone, plus paying my ETF for my old line. That is a total of roughly $310 +$50 for last bill + $300 + taxes for Note 3 = $660 on the lean side. With Edge I spent $102 with Priority Overnight shipping, screen protectors, first month of Edge, and taxes. Now when I sell my HTC One, I sell for around $400 after shipping and paypal fees, that leaves me with just enough to justify upgrading to Note 3. Now in 12 months, I will have paid $300 or so, and I can upgrade to the next Note 4 by then. I find this better.
Okay now on to your question: S3 is a good phone, but no Quad Core Processor, 2GB RAM is okay low compared to Note 3, but 1080p screen is a nice addition, makes watching 1080p movies so much better (based on my experience with 1080p on HTC One). No more scaling, or downsizing. Honestly if you can get the Note 3 at $299 or Edge it then do it. I recommend it.
N3 > LG2 because it has a micro sd slot and no annoying fixed nav bar taking up display space. What is the point of the bigger display if you end up having about the same space as a 5" display (if no nav bar)?
S3 and N3 seem IMO two different devices. I have medium hands and find the phablets too big for one hand operation and awkward (too big) to carry in a belt case compared to my S4. That said, if I did not have several tablets, I would choose the N3 as a true all-in-one device.
this. the htc one max has my attention but the biggest question is when will it come to verizon? remember the htc one? and if htc one max has removable sdcard i may have to buy it and have my note 3 and then decide which i like better. i love sense when it comes to htc phones but cant stand nonremovable battery and expandable storage so we will see. and i really like having an s pen if i dont use a whole lot when you need it, it comes in very handy but if the ppi is much higher and screen is better on one max i will be sure of that so it will be an interesting few weeks
oneandroidnut said:
this. the htc one max has my attention but the biggest question is when will it come to verizon? remember the htc one? and if htc one max has removable sdcard i may have to buy it and have my note 3 and then decide which i like better. i love sense when it comes to htc phones but cant stand nonremovable battery and expandable storage so we will see. and i really like having an s pen if i dont use a whole lot when you need it, it comes in very handy but if the ppi is much higher and screen is better on one max i will be sure of that so it will be an interesting few weeks
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Click to collapse
+1 on this. Your signature shows that you have used several HTC devices. What's you overall opinion of them? thanx
oneandroidnut said:
this. the htc one max has my attention but the biggest question is when will it come to verizon? remember the htc one? and if htc one max has removable sdcard i may have to buy it and have my note 3 and then decide which i like better. i love sense when it comes to htc phones but cant stand nonremovable battery and expandable storage so we will see. and i really like having an s pen if i dont use a whole lot when you need it, it comes in very handy but if the ppi is much higher and screen is better on one max i will be sure of that so it will be an interesting few weeks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything I've read/seen shows a removable battery and 16-64GB on-board storage + Micro SD slot. Add this to the front speakers, S-Off having been developed for the VZ One variant, and the only shortcoming is the S-pen features that you won't get vs the N3. I've asked around recently to find out if any of that gets ported to ROMs, so if that's not available I think I finally know what I'm going to buy. I need a new phone immediately if not sooner, but just want to feel like I'm getting my money's worth.

Who's thinking of switching to a note 3?

I have been thinking if I should take a serious look at the note 3. Any one here thinking of it as well?
Sent from my GT-I9205 using xda app-developers app
Nope I will be staying with the mega as I just like the screen size and it still performs well for a dual core CPU and the GPU also performs pretty good and could not be happier with this mega.
Sent from my SGH-I527M using xda app-developers app
Nope I'm good... Mega is doing its job
2SHAYNE
Have both. Sheer screen size is biggest plus for Mega. It actually is a quite capable smartphone and an even better media consumption device.
For what I do, the note 3 can't be beat though. It has capabilities that mega lacks (spen). Fantastic screen (though size wasn't quite what I wanted). And is just a performance beast. (Though who out there will really utilize all that brawn).
Unless you need some functions that the note provides and the Mega lacks, I personally feel that you would not gain anything by changing. And, might be a little let down going to a smaller screen.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
starmaster10 said:
Nope I will be staying with the mega as I just like the screen size and it still performs well for a dual core CPU and the GPU also performs pretty good and could not be happier with this mega.
Sent from my SGH-I527M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree, I'm happy with the Mega. Also I just got the Mega, and have to make a little sense and not switch so fast haha!
Additionally I've been checking out the forums for Note 3, and for now, don't look like the development is much more exciting, and I would really miss the big screen.
I guess it comes down a lot to functionality, because if you feel the S-Pen is a useful thing, then Note is best that's for sure. As Mad383Max said also, the power you get with the Note 3 (or any phone of that kind, like the ZUltra) is for now quite underused, so don't fall into it just for marketing words!
Plus the mega screen will have brighter whites then the anoled screen that the note 3 has..and the mega has great daytime viewing due to it's bright screen which is not the case with a anoled screen..maybe better viewing angles with a anoled screen..but the screen in the mega is not bad at angles either..but what ever makes people happy in what choice of phone they do decide on is great..but I am very attached to the mega.
Sent from my SGH-I527M using xda app-developers app
starmaster10 said:
Plus the mega screen will have brighter whites then the anoled screen that the note 3 has..and the mega has great daytime viewing due to it's bright screen which is not the case with a anoled screen..maybe better viewing angles with a anoled screen..but the screen in the mega is not bad at angles either..but what ever makes people happy in what choice of phone they do decide on is great..but I am very attached to the mega.
Sent from my SGH-I527M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, the note 3s daylight viewing is quite good, as good or better than the mega's. I wouldn't have thought it was but my wife pointed it out to me one day when we were outside with both phones.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Mad383Max said:
Actually, the note 3s daylight viewing is quite good, as good or better than the mega's. I wouldn't have thought it was but my wife pointed it out to me one day when we were outside with both phones.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh okay then samsung must have improved it on the note 3 which is good. :good:
i upgraded to note 3 which i sold and kept the Mega and i have a s4..........TW on the Mega is very bad and looks magnified rather than resized. i know trust me as i saw it soon as i turned it on for the first time. the screen is quite good on the Mega but mine sticks alot especially when using keyboard. i suffer frequent hangups with TW and I am aiding a friend to see if can make 4.3 a reality using the OmniRom route........... This device would absolutely fly with AOSP/CM based rom on it.
I am getting another note 3 but not sure if i will switch..............Mega is back in box till i decide as s4 is no slouch but i miss the bigger screen.
For those who has both note 3 and Mega, can you post a pic of batteries?
I was aimed at S3 and waited for it fom beginning of the year. In the mean time I 'stumbled' on Mega and now do not want another ..
Unless the mega gets AOSP like slimbean, I will be switching as soon as AOSP gets developed for the note 3. I'm mainly using my note 2 at the moment but missing the large screen of the mega.
Sent from my SGH-I317 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
mingkee said:
For those who has both note 3 and Mega, can you post a pic of batteries?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was taken with a Nexus 7. Hope it is clear enough.
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n1tro said:
Unless the mega gets AOSP like slimbean, I will be switching as soon as AOSP gets developed for the note 3. I'm mainly using my note 2 at the moment but missing the large screen of the mega.
Sent from my SGH-I317 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But then, Note with AOSP isn't worth it's price, no?
I mean all the features that make it good disapear then, and it is basically a small Mega, without the benefits.
Maybe better to be patient with the Mega
No offence to touchwiz lovers but the "features" Samsung has developed are utter garbage and for novelty at best. Examples...
1. Floating cursor aka airview....whats the point? The touchscreen on the phone is meant to be touched!
2. S-apps....slow and can be replaced by various other apps in Google play
3. Multi window....Halo on AOSP is way better.
4. Big retarded icons like users are coke bottle glass wearing 80year olds by default and no way to change it unless you use a different launcher which renders the unique Samsung gimmicks useless.....this drives me nuts the most.
These are just a few gripes of how a hardware company that spends so much on R&D can get it so wrong on the software side. Samsung had the head of Cyanogenmod at their disposal for 2 years and swandered good talent.
This is why despite the awesome hardware Samsung makes, I wont buy it till I can get AOSP onto it. I'm thinking of getting the Ultra Z as a stop gap since Paranoid Android has been developed for it. Ultra Z = Fast specs, large screen, custom rom, waterproof.....why not?
kipue said:
But then, Note with AOSP isn't worth it's price, no?
I mean all the features that make it good disapear then, and it is basically a small Mega, without the benefits.
Maybe better to be patient with the Mega
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
n1tro said:
No offence to touchwiz lovers but the "features" Samsung has developed are utter garbage and for novelty at best. Examples...
1. Floating cursor aka airview....whats the point? The touchscreen on the phone is meant to be touched!
2. S-apps....slow and can be replaced by various other apps in Google play
3. Multi window....Halo on AOSP is way better.
4. Big retarded icons like users are coke bottle glass wearing 80year olds by default and no way to change it unless you use a different launcher which renders the unique Samsung gimmicks useless.....this drives me nuts the most.
These are just a few gripes of how a hardware company that spends so much on R&D can get it so wrong on the software side. Samsung had the head of Cyanogenmod at their disposal for 2 years and swandered good talent.
This is why despite the awesome hardware Samsung makes, I wont buy it till I can get AOSP onto it. I'm thinking of getting the Ultra Z as a stop gap since Paranoid Android has been developed for it. Ultra Z = Fast specs, large screen, custom rom, waterproof.....why not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, you are preaching to a believer!
My message to you was because Mega to Note 3, don't you keep Sammy crap?
Touchwiz is acceptable on the Mega, and I use exactly zero features that come with it, but that's not the "only" selling point of the Mega, but it is for the Note family (with its S-Pen), so what would be the point with AOSP on Samsung hardware in that case.
Another thing that we have to understand, is that grass is always greener elsewhere. I used to have Nexus 4 before the Mega, and I can tell you that forum messages saying : "Hey, tired of AOSP blue and black, need MIUI, need TouchWiz/HTC port, etc."
So yeah, I went to Sammy for the big screen and battery life, and now have to put up with it's software as well, I guess that's life ^^
(Oh, and if I could afford it, I would get Ultra Z as well, haha!)
My point was whichever Sammy device get AOSP first (I'm hoping Mega but it's not popular enough). I'm addicted to Samsung phones since the first Galaxy S thus hesitant getting the Ultra Z. Even though Samsung has treated it's loyal users bad, like a battered spouse, I keep coming back for more abuse, hoping one day to be treated better.
kipue said:
Hey, you are preaching to a believer!
My message to you was because Mega to Note 3, don't you keep Sammy crap?
Touchwiz is acceptable on the Mega, and I use exactly zero features that come with it, but that's not the "only" selling point of the Mega, but it is for the Note family (with its S-Pen), so what would be the point with AOSP on Samsung hardware in that case.
Another thing that we have to understand, is that grass is always greener elsewhere. I used to have Nexus 4 before the Mega, and I can tell you that forum messages saying : "Hey, tired of AOSP blue and black, need MIUI, need TouchWiz/HTC port, etc."
So yeah, I went to Sammy for the big screen and battery life, and now have to put up with it's software as well, I guess that's life ^^
(Oh, and if I could afford it, I would get Ultra Z as well, haha!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair enough
It reminds me of the Nokia golden days, when it was a little the same : weither you liked it or not, the best you could get for money vs quality was Nokia, and that's it...
Love/hate relashionship ^^
Can I pick your brains, please guys?
I am torn as to which to buy: Note or Mega.
I, like you love the Mega, have played around with many a live display model in the shops and am blown away by the screen.
I have poor sight and appreciate the huge keypad when using it as a phone and also the large keypad when texting. I know I don't have to use the KP to text, I could talk too, but I find the speech recognition makes too many errors.
My dilemma is mainly this: I have been frightened away from the standard 8 GB Mega as the OS takes up almost half of this. As apps are not getting any smaller and (without rooting) apps cannot be stored on the SD card, the advice by the professional reviewers is to buy the 16GB version.
However, nearly all of the 16GB versions I have seen on Amazon and ebay are not. For some odd reason, when I check with the seller, they mysteriously claim something like "oh, sorry, mate, that's an error". Even where the 16GB claim appears in the listing more than once....
More than a bit naughty...
It seems the genuine 16GB listings have a much higher price, around £440. That's a huge premium to pay, when Amazon are selling the 8GB version for £280.
So, for those of us who don't want to get into rooting the phone, is 8GB enough? Should I buy 16GB?
What do you advise?
Thanks in advance.
securespark said:
Can I pick your brains, please guys?
I am torn as to which to buy: Note or Mega.
I, like you love the Mega, have played around with many a live display model in the shops and am blown away by the screen.
I have poor sight and appreciate the huge keypad when using it as a phone and also the large keypad when texting. I know I don't have to use the KP to text, I could talk too, but I find the speech recognition makes too many errors.
My dilemma is mainly this: I have been frightened away from the standard 8 GB Mega as the OS takes up almost half of this. As apps are not getting any smaller and (without rooting) apps cannot be stored on the SD card, the advice by the professional reviewers is to buy the 16GB version.
However, nearly all of the 16GB versions I have seen on Amazon and ebay are not. For some odd reason, when I check with the seller, they mysteriously claim something like "oh, sorry, mate, that's an error". Even where the 16GB claim appears in the listing more than once....
More than a bit naughty...
It seems the genuine 16GB listings have a much higher price, around £440. That's a huge premium to pay, when Amazon are selling the 8GB version for £280.
So, for those of us who don't want to get into rooting the phone, is 8GB enough? Should I buy 16GB?
What do you advise?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say 8 Gb is enough if you get a memory card to go along with it (I have a 32 Gb).
According to my experience with my 16 Gb Nexus 4, that was really feeling small quickly. Right now my Mega's internal 16 Gb are far from full although I have been piling up the crap in there (and also using a light ROM).
So If the price of a 32 or even 64 Gb memory card should still play in your favor, I think 8Gb internal is usable

Thinking of buying

Hi guys I'm thinking of buying a Song Ultra Z and just wanted to get you guy's input if there are some downfalls that I don't know of/commonly known.
Im upgrading from a galaxy note one which has been a nightmare: calls breaking up, power button, overheating.
Also if you have any recomended accessories.
Much Thanks!
I came from a Note1 myself and have only one advice for you: Buy it blindly [emoji16]
Sent from my C6833_GPe using Tapatalk
I too, came from the Note and i'm still happy with it (bought mine last september). It's pretty big (but very thin) and the camera isn't the greatest, and that's about it really.
I came from a note also. Its really nice phone. Although battery is not that good compared to note2. Also it has no camera flash but im still okay with it
Sent from my C6833 using Tapatalk
#Note3 all the way. Love mine. Not a big fan of the Sony phones.. That one in particular.. Read some poor reviews, guess it's a lot of opinions. Good luck
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
Came from note, note 2, played a lot with note 3 but at the end of the day still happy with my choice and that is zu (****ty camera)
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I've never been as happy with a device as I am with the ultra. And I had a lot of them. You need to like the size though.
Sent from my C6833 using Tapatalk
Its great. I personally like the google edition software better but once I got used to the size it is awesome.
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secfincorp said:
Its great. I personally like the google edition software better but once I got used to the size it is awesome.
Sent from my C6833_GPe using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buy the Sony phone and run the ported GPe ROM on it !
Think of buying this phone as it is relatively cheap compared to other phones im my region.
Should I get this or the G2, the prices are the same...
I like this thing primarily for its size and display.
I just want one thing to know, can I flash cm11 android 4.4 here? I dont care about warranty. My current phone, lg optimus 4x never fell from my hand ever, so I am careful with my devices.
I would be going for a 5.5 inch phone but this thing is the cheapest larger than 5 inch phone.
shadowcore said:
Think of buying this phone as it is relatively cheap compared to other phones im my region.
Should I get this or the G2, the prices are the same...
I like this thing primarily for its size and display.
I just want one thing to know, can I flash cm11 android 4.4 here? I dont care about warranty. My current phone, lg optimus 4x never fell from my hand ever, so I am careful with my devices.
I would be going for a 5.5 inch phone but this thing is the cheapest larger than 5 inch phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, CM11, and others are available, so that's not an issue. You've probably seen the preview of Android "L" today, so just imagine that on 6.44 inches. It'll be sweet.
The G2 isn't a bad device though, but you can't compare those two since they are two different types of devices (phone vs phablet), but I can easily recommend the Ultra.
I've had every high end phone and this by far is the best if you can deal with no flash and mediocre camera performance. I never need a tablet this thing is actually my main computer. I torrent the hell out of it fixed the ext sd card write permission and download like crazy on unlimited data.
bak3donh1gh said:
Hi guys I'm thinking of buying a Song Ultra Z and just wanted to get you guy's input if there are some downfalls that I don't know of/commonly known.
Im upgrading from a galaxy note one which has been a nightmare: calls breaking up, power button, overheating.
Also if you have any recomended accessories.
Much Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also try save your device, but this needs root. Try LagFix (fstrim) from the Play Store ^^.

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