Anyone have a Samsung Galaxy Note 3? (1 Viewer)

[John Bender]

Yes - unlike apple. Apps stay running.

I recommend a widget that you can put on your home screen to clear all apps.

I use NOVA Launcher and it comes pre-installed when you install NOVA. Be careful though about getting into NOVA too quickly - you may get overwhelmed with the customization options it provides.

 

[hxperson]

IMO get rid of all your widgets except maybe clock/weather. They are ugly and battery hogs. Also the screen is the biggest battery killer so get in the habit of turning it off if you aren't using it. Finally, learn to swype - it will make your life a lot easier - the stock android keyboard on 4.3 is good enough, imo with swype.

 

[Quez]

Gripes as I figure this out:

-how do I get to the top of a page in Chrome? I think in the iPhone version I could just tap the top of the screen and it would auto scroll all the way to the top. No way I enable that here?

-messaging is screwy. I'm not getting a bunch of texts from my wife. I get them on my work iPhone still because apparently they are imessage and I had my two iPhone linked together (I would get the same messages on both iPhone previously). So my wife can't text me. This is where the apple brand shows its strengths - - everything usually just works. I'm sure we'll figure it out, strange thing is she gets my texts, I just don't get hers.

- as with any new device the typing will take getting used to. I got the highest rated keyboard app which supposedly is best and it's at least an improvement on the stock one. This will just take some time.

- it Is big. And you feel the difference in your hand when manipulating things especially holding it one handed. My hand muscles were plain tired by bedtime. Again I think that will just take time. I don't mind the size in terms of carrying it, and the screen is oh so worth it.

More to come.

I'm not sure how to scroll to top in chrome. Another thing I haven't figured out how to do in chrome is google search by time.

Odds are the messaging problem is an issue with apple, and not android. Maybe it has something to do with the same reason Androd users don't get all group text from apple phones.

 

[Quez]

IMO get rid of all your widgets except maybe clock/weather. They are ugly and battery hogs. Also the screen is the biggest battery killer so get in the habit of turning it off if you aren't using it. Finally, learn to swype - it will make your life a lot easier - the stock android keyboard on 4.3 is good enough, imo with swype.

I like the new google keyboard. I used to use the stock android one, but I kept having typos using the "k" letter. I think the keyboard was too bunched up.

 

[BoltBacker]

Last preliminary gripe: the battery is going fast. At 84% at the end of my commute. I been using it a lot today, but I think I may have the screen brightness jacked up too high.

If you hold down the home screen button, then press "task manager" you can kill of apps that stay running,or just press "RAM" and "clear memory".

If you have been going in and out of a lot of things they will stay running.

On all my android devices I install the "Clean Master" widget on my home screen...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cleanmaster.mguard&hl=en

... I'm sure it's mentioned in the giant android app thread. Very quick to free up memory, even on older devices.

Some widgets can be resource hogs but that's completely hit or miss imo. I like widgets, personally. The worst in my experience are weather/traffic type apps that want to update constantly throughout the day, but several news/media widgets are just as bad.

Also, I always think it's a shame when people suggest turning down the screen to eek out a little more battery life. The whole reason you(otis) bought the thing was because of the big beautiful screen. I'd use every minute of it the battery would allow... plus, you are carrying a backup work phone anyway if you really NEEDED a phone.

 

[Otis]

I miss the days when the iPhone guys would ridicule the larger phones :(

Like this?

Lol at the 5" screen on the S4. At what point do you need to carry this thing in a backpack?

omg I never said that

It's actually kind of true.

 

[psychobillies]

IMO get rid of all your widgets except maybe clock/weather. They are ugly and battery hogs. Also the screen is the biggest battery killer so get in the habit of turning it off if you aren't using it. Finally, learn to swype - it will make your life a lot easier - the stock android keyboard on 4.3 is good enough, imo with swype.

I like the new google keyboard. I used to use the stock android one, but I kept having typos using the "k" letter. I think the keyboard was too bunched up.

I will never have a phone that doesn't have swype. I can text faster than my 13 year old daughter can, and she's like greased lightning typing on her iphone.

 

[snellman]

Last preliminary gripe: the battery is going fast. At 84% at the end of my commute. I been using it a lot today, but I think I may have the screen brightness jacked up too high.

That was the biggest reason I went with the Motorola Maxx. The battery life is phenominal

 

[Ned]

I'm in your boat, Oat. I'm bored with my iPhone5 and want to switch... Just not motivated to break out of the Apple ecosystem since our whole family is set up on it. I'm curious to see how this plays out for you.

 

[Otis]

Last preliminary gripe: the battery is going fast. At 84% at the end of my commute. I been using it a lot today, but I think I may have the screen brightness jacked up too high.

If you hold down the home screen button, then press "task manager" you can kill of apps that stay running,or just press "RAM" and "clear memory".

If you have been going in and out of a lot of things they will stay running.

On all my android devices I install the "Clean Master" widget on my home screen...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cleanmaster.mguard&hl=en

... I'm sure it's mentioned in the giant android app thread. Very quick to free up memory, even on older devices.

Some widgets can be resource hogs but that's completely hit or miss imo. I like widgets, personally. The worst in my experience are weather/traffic type apps that want to update constantly throughout the day, but several news/media widgets are just as bad.

Also, I always think it's a shame when people suggest turning down the screen to eek out a little more battery life. The whole reason you(otis) bought the thing was because of the big beautiful screen. I'd use every minute of it the battery would allow... plus, you are carrying a backup work phone anyway if you really NEEDED a phone.

True. And I was in the habit of charging my iPhone5 all day while I was at my desk anyway (otherwise it wasn't surviving a full day), so this won't be a problem. Just thinking for long trips or other times where battery could be an issue (I always buy tons of chargers for my devices and keep them everywhere, so not likely an issue).

 

[Otis]

IMO get rid of all your widgets except maybe clock/weather. They are ugly and battery hogs. Also the screen is the biggest battery killer so get in the habit of turning it off if you aren't using it. Finally, learn to swype - it will make your life a lot easier - the stock android keyboard on 4.3 is good enough, imo with swype.

I like the new google keyboard. I used to use the stock android one, but I kept having typos using the "k" letter. I think the keyboard was too bunched up.

I will never have a phone that doesn't have swype. I can text faster than my 13 year old daughter can, and she's like greased lightning typing on her iphone.

Swype is really worth using huh?

 

[Card Trader]

I miss the days when the iPhone guys would ridicule the larger phones :(

Like this?

Lol at the 5" screen on the S4. At what point do you need to carry this thing in a backpack?

omg I never said that

It's actually kind of true.

The Note is large, but I promise within a week you'll be so use to it you won't even think about it. I have an S3, so not quite as a large but everytime I have to help my daughter with something on her iPhone I feel like I need little girl hands to do anything with it, it's TINY.

As for your other problems, like everyone has mentioned, use swype...it's most likely pre-installed, hold your finger down in a text input box and a menu should come up, select input method or something along those lines and set swype as default....another thing you'll wonder how you lived without. Get a memory manager widget.

 

[[icon]]

LOLPHONE

 

[Otis]

Couple other notes:

Headphones

My last gripe: my iPhone headphones (which I love) can pause and play music from the controller on the cord, but the volume buttons don't work.

Can I get good earbud headphones for a droid device that will have a functioning volume control? Recommendations?

Pictures

So it looks like it is saving my pictures, as someone said, to Google Plus. I like that they are getting backed up and saved automatically, as long as the whole world isn't seeing them. I still haven't figured out how to control privacy and all that jazz on Google plus, or even where my photos are stored, but I'll need to spend some time with that. If it works, great. We'll see.

 

[Quez]

I personally don't bother with memory managers or clean up apps. You can kill everything through the task manager. I also think you can swipe with the google keyboard, but I don't do it. Resetting the phone is also pretty quick. You probably want to do this once or twice a day if you are using it heavily.

The only widgets I use are the clock/weather & Google Now

 

[Joe T]

sounds like a big hassle so far.

 

[Otis]

I personally don't bother with memory managers or clean up apps. You can kill everything through the task manager. I also think you can swipe with the google keyboard, but I don't do it. Resetting the phone is also pretty quick. You probably want to do this once or twice a day if you are using it heavily.

The only widgets I use are the clock/weather & Google Now

I have to reset the phone twice a day?!?!

That's absurd.

 

[John Bender]

Swiftkey is the best keyboard there is. IMO.

Swiftkey is the first thing I download to my new Android devices

 

[Otis]

sounds like a big hassle so far.

I've had it for half a day. I figured there would be some grief in the change. We'll see how I feel about it in a week or two once I'm past this initial stuff. I'm reserving judgment till then.

 

[Quez]

I personally don't bother with memory managers or clean up apps. You can kill everything through the task manager. I also think you can swipe with the google keyboard, but I don't do it. Resetting the phone is also pretty quick. You probably want to do this once or twice a day if you are using it heavily.

The only widgets I use are the clock/weather & Google Now

I have to reset the phone twice a day?!?!

That's absurd.

You don't have to, but for me it is just as easy as killing apps. I go days without turning it off sometimes, and it doesn't really matter. However, it's good to go through a reboot every once and a while to kill the processes. Especially,if you are installing and downloading a bunch of new apps. It's just like a little computer.

 

[BoltBacker]

Headphones

My last gripe: my iPhone headphones (which I love) can pause and play music from the controller on the cord, but the volume buttons don't work.

Can I get good earbud headphones for a droid device that will have a functioning volume control? Recommendations?

I use one of these(although the price has jumped a little since I ordered mine).....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0092MD7CK/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

... and am pretty happy with it so far. It allows you to adjust volume on the device(I put it on the back of the collar of my shirt normally) but It doesn't pause when connected to my phone. There are countless situations where it's so much more convenient to have the headphone cables tucked inside your shirt instead of getting hung up between your ears and the device. I really like designs like this because you can use any headphones you like. Super light but that means a small internal battery and I wouldn't trust using them all day long.

 

[Otis]

I personally don't bother with memory managers or clean up apps. You can kill everything through the task manager. I also think you can swipe with the google keyboard, but I don't do it. Resetting the phone is also pretty quick. You probably want to do this once or twice a day if you are using it heavily.

The only widgets I use are the clock/weather & Google Now

I have to reset the phone twice a day?!?!

That's absurd.

You don't have to, but for me it is just as easy as killing apps. I go days without turning it off sometimes, and it doesn't really matter. However, it's good to go through a reboot every once and a while to kill the processes. Especially,if you are installing and downloading a bunch of new apps. It's just like a little computer.

I did this on occasion with my iPhone no question, but not daily or multiple times a day... hopefully I won't need to do that here. If I had to unplug my refrigerator once a day to make it work, someone at Kenmore would be getting facepunched.

 

[[icon]]

This thing have native support for group texts yet?

 

[Otis]

Headphones

My last gripe: my iPhone headphones (which I love) can pause and play music from the controller on the cord, but the volume buttons don't work.

Can I get good earbud headphones for a droid device that will have a functioning volume control? Recommendations?

I use one of these(although the price has jumped a little since I ordered mine).....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0092MD7CK/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

... and am pretty happy with it so far. It allows you to adjust volume on the device(I put it on the back of the collar of my shirt normally) but It doesn't pause when connected to my phone. There are countless situations where it's so much more convenient to have the headphone cables tucked inside your shirt instead of getting hung up between your ears and the device. I really like designs like this because you can use any headphones you like. Super light but that means a small internal battery and I wouldn't trust using them all day long.

Eesh.

 

[Otis]

This thing have group texts yet?

I'd settle for individual texts at this point.

 

[[icon]]

Headphones

My last gripe: my iPhone headphones (which I love) can pause and play music from the controller on the cord, but the volume buttons don't work.

Can I get good earbud headphones for a droid device that will have a functioning volume control? Recommendations?

I use one of these(although the price has jumped a little since I ordered mine).....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0092MD7CK/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

... and am pretty happy with it so far. It allows you to adjust volume on the device(I put it on the back of the collar of my shirt normally) but It doesn't pause when connected to my phone. There are countless situations where it's so much more convenient to have the headphone cables tucked inside your shirt instead of getting hung up between your ears and the device. I really like designs like this because you can use any headphones you like. Super light but that means a small internal battery and I wouldn't trust using them all day long.

Eesh.

You gotta accessorize dude

 

[Otis]

For anyone having problems like me receiving texts from iPhone users, you aren't alone, but it looks like there may be a solution:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s4-active/317118-my-s4-active-not-receiving-texts-iphones-ios-7-a.html

 

[Quez]

Definitely sounds like it's an Apple problem.

 

[Otis]

Definitely sounds like it's an Apple problem.

Though it has also become my problem....

What's the stupid point of iMessage anyway? Why make a new form of texting?

 

[Phinneas Q. Butterfat]

Swiftkey is the best keyboard there is. IMO.

Swiftkey is the first thing I download to my new Android devices

Swiftkey >>>>>>>Swype

 

[Brony]

For anyone having problems like me receiving texts from iPhone users, you aren't alone, but it looks like there may be a solution:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s4-active/317118-my-s4-active-not-receiving-texts-iphones-ios-7-a.html

I've been thinking about changing from Apple to Samsung/Android and this looks like a PITA since I have several devices on the same AppleID. Might have to do it anyway as this is one more thing irritating me about today's Apple.

 

[Abraham]

Definitely sounds like it's an Apple problem.

Though it has also become my problem....

What's the stupid point of iMessage anyway? Why make a new form of texting?

iMessage is awesome. Using the client on my Air to talk to my wife during the day while working is awesome compared to keeping my phone out.

 

[psychobillies]

Swiftkey is the best keyboard there is. IMO.

Swiftkey is the first thing I download to my new Android devices

Swiftkey >>>>>>>Swype

I'm gonna try it. Does it let you swipe across the keyboard like swipe?

 

[Quez]

Definitely sounds like it's an Apple problem.

Though it has also become my problem....

What's the stupid point of iMessage anyway? Why make a new form of texting?

iMessage is awesome. Using the client on my Air to talk to my wife during the day while working is awesome compared to keeping my phone out.

You can do the same thing with google voice, but it provides several additional benefits. Recording calls, spamming out phone numbers like email, transcribe voice mail, and porting your number anywhere are some of the benefits.

 

[Abraham]

I am aware. Wasn't bagging on android or gv. Just telling oat why I liked iMessage.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I personally don't bother with memory managers or clean up apps. You can kill everything through the task manager. I also think you can swipe with the google keyboard, but I don't do it. Resetting the phone is also pretty quick. You probably want to do this once or twice a day if you are using it heavily.

The only widgets I use are the clock/weather & Google Now

I have to reset the phone twice a day?!?!

That's absurd.

You don't have to, but for me it is just as easy as killing apps. I go days without turning it off sometimes, and it doesn't really matter. However, it's good to go through a reboot every once and a while to kill the processes. Especially,if you are installing and downloading a bunch of new apps. It's just like a little computer.

I did this on occasion with my iPhone no question, but not daily or multiple times a day... hopefully I won't need to do that here. If I had to unplug my refrigerator once a day to make it work, someone at Kenmore would be getting facepunched.

You don't need to, nor do you need any sort of "task killer". Most apps are not truly running in the background, but instead are in a cached state, ready to open again when called upon. You can check what is using the battery in settings. The number one battery killer is going to be the display. "Automatic" will be your best bet for saving battery. I go weeks without shutting down my android devices.

http://www.howtogeek.com/166140/you-dont-need-to-install-a-task-manager-how-to-manage-running-apps-on-android/

 

[Joe T]

This thing have group texts yet?

I'd settle for individual texts at this point.

 

[Card Trader]

I personally don't bother with memory managers or clean up apps. You can kill everything through the task manager. I also think you can swipe with the google keyboard, but I don't do it. Resetting the phone is also pretty quick. You probably want to do this once or twice a day if you are using it heavily.

The only widgets I use are the clock/weather & Google Now

I have to reset the phone twice a day?!?!

That's absurd.

You don't have to, but for me it is just as easy as killing apps. I go days without turning it off sometimes, and it doesn't really matter. However, it's good to go through a reboot every once and a while to kill the processes. Especially,if you are installing and downloading a bunch of new apps. It's just like a little computer.

I did this on occasion with my iPhone no question, but not daily or multiple times a day... hopefully I won't need to do that here. If I had to unplug my refrigerator once a day to make it work, someone at Kenmore would be getting facepunched.

You don't need to, nor do you need any sort of "task killer". Most apps are not truly running in the background, but instead are in a cached state, ready to open again when called upon. You can check what is using the battery in settings. The number one battery killer is going to be the display. "Automatic" will be your best bet for saving battery. I go weeks without shutting down my android devices.

http://www.howtogeek.com/166140/you-dont-need-to-install-a-task-manager-how-to-manage-running-apps-on-android/

This is not entirely true, it requires devs to have done a few things to ensure that all resources aren't being used:

http://developer.android.com/training/basics/activity-lifecycle/pausing.html

 

[Wingnut]

Get used to having to use 2 hands for most things. I had the sore hand muscles when I jumped from my S2 to S3...just too much real estate to reach across.

 

[Wingnut]

Last preliminary gripe: the battery is going fast. At 84% at the end of my commute. I been using it a lot today, but I think I may have the screen brightness jacked up too high.

If you hold down the home screen button, then press "task manager" you can kill of apps that stay running,or just press "RAM" and "clear memory".

If you have been going in and out of a lot of things they will stay running.

On all my android devices I install the "Clean Master" widget on my home screen...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cleanmaster.mguard&hl=en

... I'm sure it's mentioned in the giant android app thread. Very quick to free up memory, even on older devices.

This app is great. You can sset it so when memory use is getting up there (user defined amount), an icon pops up in notification bar. Tap it and its one touch cleanup. No muss, no fuss, and no need for resetting your device.

 

[belljr]

i dont understand the not getting texts things. my sister has an iphone and i get texts just fine

 

[Otis]

Swype is crazy fast.

 

[proninja]

Swype is crazy fast.

Yeah, swype is awesome. I've got small hands, and I can type on my s3 one handed with swype. I go back and forth, but it's nice to have the option. Switched from an iPhone 4 to the s3, and will definitely not be going back.

 

[jhib]

Been thinking of switching from my iphone 4 for a while now. Is it safe to assume that since I have had imessage turned off from the beginning (I don't use other apple devices and never saw the point), that I won't have that problem if/when I make the switch?

 

[AcerFC]

Been thinking of switching from my iphone 4 for a while now. Is it safe to assume that since I have had imessage turned off from the beginning (I don't use other apple devices and never saw the point), that I won't have that problem if/when I make the switch?

the problem is on the end of the people who have upgraded and never turned SMS back on.

 

[jhib]

Been thinking of switching from my iphone 4 for a while now. Is it safe to assume that since I have had imessage turned off from the beginning (I don't use other apple devices and never saw the point), that I won't have that problem if/when I make the switch?

the problem is on the end of the people who have upgraded and never turned SMS back on.

But then would I get their messages on my iphone if I have imessage turned off?

 

[AcerFC]

Been thinking of switching from my iphone 4 for a while now. Is it safe to assume that since I have had imessage turned off from the beginning (I don't use other apple devices and never saw the point), that I won't have that problem if/when I make the switch?

the problem is on the end of the people who have upgraded and never turned SMS back on.

But then would I get their messages on my iphone if I have imessage turned off?

yeah, I don't know. That was my take from the link Otis posted

 

[Otis]

Been thinking of switching from my iphone 4 for a while now. Is it safe to assume that since I have had imessage turned off from the beginning (I don't use other apple devices and never saw the point), that I won't have that problem if/when I make the switch?

the problem is on the end of the people who have upgraded and never turned SMS back on.

But then would I get their messages on my iphone if I have imessage turned off?

yeah, I don't know. That was my take from the link Otis posted

Using the fix at that link I was able to resolve it. All is well now.

 

[Mister CIA]

LOLPHONE

Dude has a serious case of tiny fingers, seriously.

 

[Joe T]

I just got one of these through work. It feels like I'm carrying around a football.