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Big Screen, Big Ambitions (Galaxy Note 4 early-use Review)
11 years ago
General
Improvements:
-No screen/touch pen/calibration (every touch/pen device I’ve ever had, has had calibration tool/setting. what if the calibration degrades, OR if a user's particular habits warrant a different calibration from the standard!?)
-Missing silent/vibrate/ring mode button on lock screen (This feature is a MUST!!!!!!!)
-option/ability to have 5 icons wide and tall, I was expecting to be able to have a 5x5 grid on a larger screen (I realize this may conflict with the small-screen-mode; but I don't use that)
-I probably would have used the USB3.0 port if they had kept it in this model. (Not overly concerned about this feature)
-Ability to customize the quick-settings buttons upon screen-drag-down (Wi-Fi, BT, Screen Rotation, etc...)
-Flipboard home screen sucks. Original app is better. (Have used in past)
-There were a few apps that either came with the device, or somehow managed to download themselves when I mass-downloaded most of my old apps (and these apps I’ve never heard of before: something called cookie story or w/e, removed the offending app)
-I find it odd that the pen inserts in the bottom of the device. Common thought is to pull it out from the top.
-fingerprint scanner... ugg... so... cheep... Needs to support ALL TEN FINGERS! (Also supporting sideways swiping for all ten fingers would be a bonus)
-!? I checked for updates and my apps list that I had sorted with folders has magically UN-SORTED ITSELF!? All apps that were in folders (90% of them, as 99% were in folders) are now out of their folders. –BUG FIX
-
Mixed Feelings:
-Another app store? SAMSUNG S Suggest - da hell is the app to add to home screen? I do not want the widget, which I don't recognize in the widgets list. (Ghost thing? seems to not exist in the apps list anywhere)
+But apps specific to the phone/Samsung are cool too (deals and stuff)
+Folders are a bonus (I’ve seen this before in a different manner) but why can't I have nested-folders/sub-folders? (To at least a second level deep)
-option to make a folder on the home screen mirror the (same) folder in the apps list
-+ I find this unusual: why is the main home screen not in the middle of all the other home screens? (And why can't I change/customize this?)
-+ Verizon's Message+ app is definitely a change from the old text messaging service I’m used to, but it looks promising and a good design
-+ the ridged-part over the speaker on the backing of the phone seems like it might be one of the first things to break (without a case)
-+ heart rate monitor/sensor is probably a bit close to the camera, but I’m not a design expert
Likes:
+Big screen, with the bonus of the small screen feature for one-handed use
+Support for 128GB micro SD card! wow! (But why not just add a regular SD card slot? (External access or under the back panel)
+Supports Minion Rush!!!! (But why can I install it from Google-play AND Samsung-store AT THE SAME TIME? this is weird, and a waste of data space)(Uninstalled the second one)
+IR port for entertainment system/IR devices control (but not a fan of the app that came with it, needs power-user settings/access) (had an app for this a long time ago on a palm pilot? that was almost excellent)
+Plastic-composite leather-like backing
+Phillips screw heads on the inside (I’m not taking this apart). Though it's a bit surprising it's not star-bit or proprietary
+Great Camera capabilities
+Ultra Power Saving Mode : simple, but effective. I like it.
Not reviewed at this time:
*Camera(s) ; don't take too many pictures or videos, but I like having the option of high quality images. (May review later)
*S-Note apps ; never used these before, and will take some time to get into them, as I’m used to my old applications such as color-note (simple but effective, with cloud-back-up)
*Waterproof-ness ; yeah, didn't buy it for waterproof-ness, and assume it's not. Not testing this. Though I may spray it (someday) with a spray-on water-proofing stuff I saw (yes, this is a real thing) (also assume this may void a warranty?)
*NFC
*IR actual use
*Headphone jack use
OTHER Thoughts:
*One of my old phones has a mini-HDMI port on it, while I’ve never used it. I wonder if it would be a nice thing to incorporate into future models.
*I wish older technology was better able to keep up with newer stuff better (we all wish)
*Power Button: every smart phone I’ve had has put that darn power button in a different place... [Top-left, Top-right, Right-top...] all different brands/models though.
*my old Motorola Droid Bionic had a sweet feature called: Smart actions: where you could set actions based on triggers; IE: Battery at 33% - turn off background data. [Multiple triggers and multiple actions could be added.] I believe this app could still be improved upon from when I used it. Would love a similar app on my Samsung Note 4!
*Why not put the battery percentage IN the battery on the notifications bar?
*Gap-gate issue? Yeah, ppl are nuts. Backing is quite secure.
-No screen/touch pen/calibration (every touch/pen device I’ve ever had, has had calibration tool/setting. what if the calibration degrades, OR if a user's particular habits warrant a different calibration from the standard!?)
-Missing silent/vibrate/ring mode button on lock screen (This feature is a MUST!!!!!!!)
-option/ability to have 5 icons wide and tall, I was expecting to be able to have a 5x5 grid on a larger screen (I realize this may conflict with the small-screen-mode; but I don't use that)
-I probably would have used the USB3.0 port if they had kept it in this model. (Not overly concerned about this feature)
-Ability to customize the quick-settings buttons upon screen-drag-down (Wi-Fi, BT, Screen Rotation, etc...)
-Flipboard home screen sucks. Original app is better. (Have used in past)
-There were a few apps that either came with the device, or somehow managed to download themselves when I mass-downloaded most of my old apps (and these apps I’ve never heard of before: something called cookie story or w/e, removed the offending app)
-I find it odd that the pen inserts in the bottom of the device. Common thought is to pull it out from the top.
-fingerprint scanner... ugg... so... cheep... Needs to support ALL TEN FINGERS! (Also supporting sideways swiping for all ten fingers would be a bonus)
-!? I checked for updates and my apps list that I had sorted with folders has magically UN-SORTED ITSELF!? All apps that were in folders (90% of them, as 99% were in folders) are now out of their folders. –BUG FIX
-
Mixed Feelings:
-Another app store? SAMSUNG S Suggest - da hell is the app to add to home screen? I do not want the widget, which I don't recognize in the widgets list. (Ghost thing? seems to not exist in the apps list anywhere)
+But apps specific to the phone/Samsung are cool too (deals and stuff)
+Folders are a bonus (I’ve seen this before in a different manner) but why can't I have nested-folders/sub-folders? (To at least a second level deep)
-option to make a folder on the home screen mirror the (same) folder in the apps list
-+ I find this unusual: why is the main home screen not in the middle of all the other home screens? (And why can't I change/customize this?)
-+ Verizon's Message+ app is definitely a change from the old text messaging service I’m used to, but it looks promising and a good design
-+ the ridged-part over the speaker on the backing of the phone seems like it might be one of the first things to break (without a case)
-+ heart rate monitor/sensor is probably a bit close to the camera, but I’m not a design expert
Likes:
+Big screen, with the bonus of the small screen feature for one-handed use
+Support for 128GB micro SD card! wow! (But why not just add a regular SD card slot? (External access or under the back panel)
+Supports Minion Rush!!!! (But why can I install it from Google-play AND Samsung-store AT THE SAME TIME? this is weird, and a waste of data space)(Uninstalled the second one)
+IR port for entertainment system/IR devices control (but not a fan of the app that came with it, needs power-user settings/access) (had an app for this a long time ago on a palm pilot? that was almost excellent)
+Plastic-composite leather-like backing
+Phillips screw heads on the inside (I’m not taking this apart). Though it's a bit surprising it's not star-bit or proprietary
+Great Camera capabilities
+Ultra Power Saving Mode : simple, but effective. I like it.
Not reviewed at this time:
*Camera(s) ; don't take too many pictures or videos, but I like having the option of high quality images. (May review later)
*S-Note apps ; never used these before, and will take some time to get into them, as I’m used to my old applications such as color-note (simple but effective, with cloud-back-up)
*Waterproof-ness ; yeah, didn't buy it for waterproof-ness, and assume it's not. Not testing this. Though I may spray it (someday) with a spray-on water-proofing stuff I saw (yes, this is a real thing) (also assume this may void a warranty?)
*NFC
*IR actual use
*Headphone jack use
OTHER Thoughts:
*One of my old phones has a mini-HDMI port on it, while I’ve never used it. I wonder if it would be a nice thing to incorporate into future models.
*I wish older technology was better able to keep up with newer stuff better (we all wish)
*Power Button: every smart phone I’ve had has put that darn power button in a different place... [Top-left, Top-right, Right-top...] all different brands/models though.
*my old Motorola Droid Bionic had a sweet feature called: Smart actions: where you could set actions based on triggers; IE: Battery at 33% - turn off background data. [Multiple triggers and multiple actions could be added.] I believe this app could still be improved upon from when I used it. Would love a similar app on my Samsung Note 4!
*Why not put the battery percentage IN the battery on the notifications bar?
*Gap-gate issue? Yeah, ppl are nuts. Backing is quite secure.
