For readers who are considering buying the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 or the Nokia Lumia 1020, here is a specs and price comparison between the two devices in Australia. The comparison could help readers make an informed decision.
Display and Design
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 comes with a 5.5 inch Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen, rendering 720 x 1280 pixels resolution. The Nokia Lumia 1020 comes with a 4.5 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen, rendering 768 x 1280 pixels resolution.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 comes with 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4 mm dimensions and weighs 183 grams. The Nokia Lumia 1020 comes with 130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4 mm dimensions and weighs 158 grams.
Hardware and Operating System
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is equipped with a 1.6 GHz quad core cortex A9 processor and Exynos 4412 Quad chipset. It comes in 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB internal memory variants, which can be expanded by up to 64 GB using a Micro SD card.
The Nokia Lumia 1020 is equipped with a 1.5 GHz dual core krait processor and Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon chipset. It comes with 32 GB of internal memory and no Micro SD slot for additional memory.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 runs on the Android Jelly Bean operating system whereas the Nokia Lumia 1020 runs on the Microsoft Windows Phone 8 operating system, which can be upgraded to the WP8 Black. Both the devices have 2 GB of RAM.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 sports an 8 MP primary camera with autofocus and LED flash. The secondary camera on the device is 1.9 MP. The Nokia Lumia 1020 sports a 41 MP primary camera with Carl Zeiss optics, optical image stabilization, auto or manual focus and Xenon and LED flash. The secondary camera on the device is 1.2 MP.
Battery
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 comes with a Li-Ion 3100 mAh battery, which allows for a talk time of about 16 hours on 3G. The Nokia Lumia 1020 comes with a non-removable Li-Ion 2000 mAh battery, which allows for a talk time of about 13 hours and 20 minutes on 3G.
Price in Australia
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 16 GB variant is priced at around AU $ 499.95. The Nokia Lumia 1020 is priced at around AU $ 699.95 in Australia.
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Earlier this month, Samsung announced that a number of Galaxy-branded devices would be getting the upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat in the United States. Among those updates are Android 4.4 upgrades for Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2, two of Samsung's former flagship smartphones and devices that remain in the hands of many users around the country.
Weeks ago, rumors pointed to Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades for the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2, two aging former flagships that have been replaced by newer, arguably better smartphones. Those rumors pointed to a release in March or April though they did not suggest specific devices, regions or dates.
A short time ago, Samsung started pushing out Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades marking the start of the company's roll out. Shortly after Samsung started pushing those updates out, the company finally confirmed the rumors, rumors that had all along pointed to Android 4.4 updates for the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2.
The confirmation came in the form of a press release that was issued earlier this month by the American arm of Samsung. While we've seen Samsung Poland confirm a number of Android 4.4 upgrades, it was Samsung USA that was first.
While Samsung USA confirmed a number of Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades, it did not provide a lot of detail. Release dates remain missing and all we know is that the devices will be getting some of the same Android 4.4 KitKat features as the Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy S4.
As we approach the month of March, a rumored release window for these two updates, we want to help set expectations for those Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners excited about what's to come.
Here is what we expect from the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates and their release for carriers in the United States.
Releases Within Next Two Months
Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update rumors put the releases of these two updates in either March or April. Both rumors are from credible sources so we strongly believe that Samsung plans to start pushing these two updates in either March or April.
Given that the United States saw an official announcement from Samsung, we expect it to be near the front of the pack in terms of timing so we expect that the United States will see these two updates roll out within two months. Doubters only need to look at the speed at which Samsung and its American carrier partners are rolling out Android 4.4 for the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3.
Android 4.4 is not a big update for these Galaxy devices and that should lead to a quicker turnaround time, provided that everything goes well in testing.
At this point, expect the start of the roll out to arrive by the end of April.
Android 4.4 Release Dates That Arrive Late
Samsung has provided a way for Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners to track the progress of the Android 4.4 KitKat update roll out but it's not going to provide any dates ahead of time.
American carriers almost never announce release dates ahead of time. They simply don't want to set themselves up to fail in the eyes of consumers. Software release dates are typically moving targets. Testing can go badly, resources get shifted, and carriers simply don't want to commit to dates that they can't honor.
Manufacturers like HTC have begun keeping their users in the loop but even then, that has backfired because of testing and the certification process. Samsung tends to just keep its mouth shut.
So, we expect Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat release dates to remain a mystery in the United States, right up until the arrival of the dates themselves. At best, we would expect a carrier like AT&T to announce its roll out dates a day early, just like it did today with the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update.
One or Two Leaks, At Most
We saw the AT&T Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates leak ahead of time but we haven't seen any other carrier-specific updates emerge ahead of their release dates. This is par for the course.
Typically, we do not see an avalanche of major Android software leaks. Samsung and its carrier partners have put the clamps down on that. At the most, we expect there to be a couple of Android 4.4 KitKat leaks for U.S. users. At the very worst, we'll see nothing. We're leaning towards nothing at this point.
Sprint Among the First to Both Updates
We're not sure what's gotten into Sprint these days but we like it. The carrier has been among the first to every single major Samsung Galaxy Android update in recent memory including the updates for the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4. Given that history, we expect Sprint to be out in front again with these two updates.
Verizon Near the Back
We had hoped that the speed at which Verizon pushed out the Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update was a sign of better things to come. At the moment, it appears that it was simply an anomaly.
Verizon is notorious for lagging behind the competition when it comes to major Android upgrades. And while the Galaxy S4 update came fast, it was dead last amongst major U.S. carriers to the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 upgrades.
The carrier still hasn't rolled out Android 4.4 KitKat for the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 and neither update has a release date in sight. So, it would appear that the carrier has returned to its old ways.
With that in mind, we expect the Verizon Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates to be among the last updates to arrive.
Standard Roll Out from U.S. Carriers
As for the release of Android 4.4 KitKat itself, expect the standard Android update roll out from U.S. carriers. What this means is that we expect these updates to roll out in phases, similar to what Google does with its Nexus Android updates. By pushing these updates out in phases, Samsung and its carrier partners are able to catch major issues before they spread.
The staggered release of a major Android update typically takes around 10 days or so to complete. While we expect many Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners to see their Android 4.4 KitKat updates arrive on day one, expect there to be others that see it roll out in the days after the update's initial release.
Carrier-Specific Enhancements
Samsung announced that its upcoming Android 4.4 KitKat updates for the United States will come with the following features:
Location Menu: An integrated location menu enables users to easily activate GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, while simultaneously checking the battery usage of apps running location service capabilities.
Enhanced Messaging: Enables users to choose between Messages or Hangouts as their preferred default messaging application, and select from a larger assortment of updated Emoji icons.
Upgraded Google Mobile Service (GMS) apps: Users can automatically back up photos and video and can open, view, rename and share Google Docs and files.
However, users in the United States should expect carriers to put their own spin on these updates. In most cases, that means unique enhancements or fixes but it's possible that we could see carriers add some new features of their own.
Fixes, But More Problems
Expect these Android 4.4 KitKat updates to bring fixes for the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2.
As we've pointed out, there are plenty of Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners dealing with problems left behind by the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update. We can't imagine carriers turning a blind eye to some of the major issues so we certainly expect Android 4.4 to fix at least some things that Android 4.3 broke.
That said, these two devices are old, the Galaxy S3 is ancient. The older a device gets, the more susceptible it is to major issues, particularly after major Android updates. So, we expect there to be a number of issues that impact both of these devices once Android 4.4 KitKat arrives in the United States.
With that in mind, we highly recommend backing up files prior to installing Android 4.4 KitKat. We also recommend updating applications ahead of Android 4.4 as outdated apps sometimes can cause things to go awry.
No Surprises
We expect these updates to be pretty straightforward for Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 users in the United States. In other words, there probably won't be any Galaxy S5 features, we probably won't see carriers attach game-changing features to these updates, and we probably won't see release dates land any quicker than March or April.
Last Major Update for Galaxy S3
Finally, expect this to be the last major Android update for the Galaxy S3.
Earlier this month, we told you that Samsung Poland confirmed that it would not be rolling out the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update due to performance issues. The device only has 1GB of RAM which apparently is not good enough for Android 4.4. So, for some users, it appears that Android 4.3 Jelly Bean was the end of the road.
For those with a Galaxy S3 with 2GB of RAM, we expect Android 4.4 KitKat to be the end given that Google recommends 18 months of software support for Android devices. Samsung usually goes beyond that and offers software upgrades for two years and we're seeing that in action with the Galaxy S3, a device that turns two in May.
An upgrade beyond Android 4.4 KitKat would be an immense surprise to us and to a lot of Galaxy S3 owners.
New Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update details have arrived today thanks to a carrier in France and a Samsung upgrade page that not only details Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades for its Galaxy smartphones and tablets but also shows which updates are currently available.
Earlier this year, Samsung started pushing out Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the Samsung Galaxy S4. Those updates have started to pick up speed and they are both now available for some carriers inside of the United States.
There are, of course, plenty of Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades that are still missing. Most carriers do not announce their plans ahead of time particularly in the United States where communication ahead of the release date is virtually non-existent. That is not the case at all carriers, however.
French carrier confirms Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades for March.
French carrier SFR issues an Android update schedule each and every month and today, the carrier released its plans for the month of March. The carrier lists both the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update release dates for March meaning they won't arrive in February and are currently targeted for next month. Originally, the carrier said that it would push the updates out in February or March.
SFR also likes to give specific release dates ahead of time but in this case, it only provides a vague March window. Once the releases get closer, we should see SFR make an announcement.
SFR's update isn't the only new detail for Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 users. Samsung recently posted an extremely useful page for not only Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 users but for all Galaxy owners who are expecting the Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade in the United States.
The page will continue to list off Galaxy Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades as they become available making it an extremely useful tool for Galaxy users in the U.S. Samsung typically announces updates before they roll out so this is certainly a page that Galaxy smartphone and tablet owners will want to bookmark as a resource.
What's more, Samsung's new page also details exactly what will be coming with all of these Android 4.4 KitKat updates. In other words, it confirms an incremental Android 4.4 KitKat update, not only for the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3, but for devices like the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 as well.
While we assumed that updates for older devices would follow in the footsteps of Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 updates, this is the first time we've seen Samsung confirm it.
Here is what U.S. Galaxy owners should expect from their Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades:
Location Menu: An integrated location menu enables users to easily activate GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, while simultaneously checking the battery usage of apps running location service capabilities.
Enhanced Messaging: Enables users to choose between Messages or Hangouts as their preferred default messaging application, and select from a larger assortment of updated Emoji icons.
Upgraded Google Mobile Service™ (GMS) apps: Users can automatically back up photos and video and can open, view, rename and share Google Docs and files.
As we have pointed out numerous times, carriers tend to put their own unique spin on major Android updates which means that not all updates will be created equal. The Sprint Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade, for example, included Zact Mobile compatibility.
The Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat upgrades are both rumored for March or April though Samsung has yet to confirm specific dates. The other updates listed here remain without release dates.
Published: Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 4:56 p.m.
Years back, my friend Sister Jenny Jam left on my door a note, one that ended “Don’t be a strangler.” I still believe in that advice, and to this day, continue to cut way back on my forcible choking.
It has been tough, I won’t lie. Because after all the years of guitar-wranglin’ and typin’ and such, these hands are just made for throttlin’ some necks.
The itchin’ commences, though, when I sense the hive mind falling for a manipulation (which literally means “to control by the use of the hands,” incidentally) orchestrated by a media figure.
By media figure, I mean those shiny folks who utilize fame, often through TV or print and online gossip rags, to achieve their ends: Money, power, sex, more fame. This ranges from Lady Gaga — who I kind of like because she’s daffy-smart and can actually play an instrument — to that hotel-heiress thing that seems so all the rage, to your Donald Trump types, spectacularly failed businessmen who rake in riches through sheer gall and pride in their bulbous vulgarity.
Some of them — Gaga, for example — have real talent, something to offer and showcase for the world. Some are hotel heiresses.
Many are sort of in between, like Trump, whose daily eructations could inflate a dirigible. When blimp travel finally catches on, he’ll be a valued national resource.
And then there are athletes.
Hoo boy.
Many of the qualities that go into making someone a world-class exhibitor of physical skills — discipline, dedication, bravado, derring-do and other archaic words — don’t necessarily make for a socially skillful human. We chortle and chuckle at off-field antics, right up to the point when the ‘roids or angst of aging or lifelong sense of entitlement — or all three — kick into overdrive and whoopsie, blood on the floor. Or even beyond, for some, like Jimmy Fallon, who continue to laugh at and bolster the “career” of convicted rapist Mike Tyson, because he used to beat up people real good.
We can connect to jocks through, as the old ABC “Wide World of Sports” clip used to say, “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” It’s simple drama, or really melodrama: Good vs. bad; mylocalsportsteam vs. yourcrumbumcheaters. Depending on where you stand. And the outcomes are easy to read. You win or you lose, sometimes by a mere point or, in the case of speed events, milliseconds.
So it’s easy to get caught up in the players, to feel some kinship. And it’s kinda easy to understand the one-day tempest about Bode Miller crying on camera. Kinda. After all, we’ve all felt loss, and his grief over a dead brother is evident and no doubt real.
However.
People jumped on NBC, and its Olympics reporter Christin Cooper, for asking him questions. See, this is where my stranglin’ fingers start in to jigglin’, even if the thing I most want to throttle — naivete — doesn’t have an actual neckbone.
Ever been on TV? Cameras are involved. Lights. Microphones. And crew guys loitering around. This was not sabotage. Miller himself said later that he’s known Cooper a long time, and called her “… a sweetheart of a person.”
Miller brought up the dead brother. Yes, in the wake of an unexpectedly poor finish, he brought up his dead brother. So Cooper asked him more about that. They’re friends, complicit in this thing. She was playing his game. If I had been the reporter, there would be have been questions about his lack of character, trying to make public his grief to elicit sympathy, and the ‘net would be lighting up about the big noogie-fight that followed, not the tears.
This ain’t Miller’s first rodeo. Like all media stars, he manipulates media. He even won — for a given value of won — this little brouhaha, bringing people to his side. It was smart as a marketing of his brand — himself — otherwise diminished by Olympic failures, and the ugly reporting about his sordid custody battle.
Actors or other public figures who sit for Babwa Wawa or Oprah know they’re going to be dragged to tears, but they do it anyway: There are upsides to being made to look vulnerable.
Samsung recently announced qualifiers of Android 4.4 KitKat update coming in February with continuation in the coming months. Galaxy S4, S3, Note 3, Note 2 and more have been named for smartphones but what about tablets? Here are the complete list of larger Galaxy devices getting the latest firmware.
Samsung Official Listing
In addition to the Samsung Galaxy smartphones receiving the official Android KitKat such as Galaxy S4, Note 3, S3 and Note 2, several Galaxy devices with larger screens are also getting the same treatment starting in February and upcoming months.
On top of Android 4.4 KitKat firmware, the devices above may also receive the newest TouchWiz UI magazine-style which can only be found on PRO editions of Galaxy Note and Tab slates.
Samsung Change Logs
Samsung aims to provide more intuitive and better user experience on Galaxy devices running Android 4.4 KitKat OS. Upgrading these devices will improve system performance, app computability and enhancements on Google services.
1. Location Menu for integrated location menu to easily enable Wi-Fi, GPS and mobile networks with battery usage monitor of apps using location services.
2. Enhanced Messaging enable users to choose between the default Samsung messaging app or Google’s Hangouts app with SMS/MMS support. Moreover, Emoji icon database also received new additions.
3. Upgraded GMS or Google Mobile Service for automatic backup of photos and videos which can be opened, viewed, renamed and shared via Google documents.
Update Schedule
Sadly, Samsung Mobile didn’t clarify rollout schedule to their customers and simply imply that an update is coming out. Due to the lack of information when the rollout will strike, you can use these basis in order to find out if your Galaxy Note and Tab slates are receiving updates.
1. Launch the built-in software update app on your device. Go to Settings > About device > Software update > Check now. Normally, the device will detect any updates if connected to Wi-Fi.
2. Use your computer by downloading and installing Samsung Kies PC suite. Open the program then connect your device. It will detect any updates automatically as long as your machine is connect to the Internet.
3. Contact your network carrier especially if you are located in the United States for they need to modify the firmware according their variants. This is highly recommended so you can confirm if the OTA update or new firmware from Samsung Kies is the same with the network carrier’s version.
Samsung has detailed rollout plans for the Android 4.4.2 update, and more than a dozen devices have made the cut. As usual, there's good news and bad news for Samsung device owners depending on which Galaxy phone or tablet you're waiting to see updated.
Which Samsung phones and tablets are getting KitKat? The Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy S 4 and its variants (mini, Active, and zoom), the Galaxy S3 and S3 mini, the oversized Galaxy Mega, Galaxy Light, Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Tab 3, and both the original Galaxy Note 10.1 and its 2014 update.
It's good to see the Galaxy Note 10.1 is getting KitKat, because Samsung didn't exactly do a great job pushing updates out to the first big-screen Note. Delays with the delivery of Android 4.1.2 had some Samsung faithful seeing red back in 2012.
Unfortunately, even though Google devoted a lot of time and effort to making sure that KitKat ran well on lower-end Android devices there aren't any Galaxy S2 variants on Samsung's list. That's a bit disappointing, since some — like the Galaxy S2 4G — didn't launch until later on in 2012. The Galaxy S2 Plus isn't included either, and it wasn't announced until CES 2013.
Thanks to Project Svelte, KitKat has a reduced footprint that should have no problem fitting on a phone like the S2 Plus. The fact that Samsung's chosen to leave it off the list may have more to do with the popularity of the phone itself. Still, it's always disappointing to hear that a one-year-old device has already fallen off a manufacturer's update list.
Samsung Galaxy devices that will be getting the Android 4.4.2 should start seeing it any time now. The company didn't specify exactly when particular devices will receive the update, and as always carriers will have their say in scheduling delivery, too.
Android really has a good thing going with version 4.4.2 KitKat. Not only is the operating system functional and convenient, it is light and able to run on a host of devices.
Moto G Android 4.4.2 KitKat update arrives in India
The much anticipated Android 4.4.2 KitKat update has finally hit the dual-SIM Moto G smartphone in India.
The update (v 171.44.31.en.03) which weighs 230.7 MB in size is available over-the-air, however if you haven’t received the notification yet, head over to your Moto G’s phone settings-> select About phone -> System update- > Check now.
The update brings a gamut of changes on board, the full change-log has been documented below:
Android 4.4, KitKat – Enhancements such as restyled status and navigation bars, a new full-screen mode, color emoji support, improved closed captioning support, stronger security, smarter power use, and more tools and capabilities for better app development.
Phone dialer – Improved phone app with the ability to look up contacts directly from the dial pad, see and tap frequent contacts, and search your corporate directory easily.
Camera – Locked exposure during Panorama capture, additional language support, Manual control of focus and exposure, Bug fixes
Gallery – New photo editing options including new filter effects, draw on your photos, advanced cropping, and adjustments to color, exposure, contrast and more.
Printing documents and pictures – Support for printing photos, Google Docs, GMail messages, and other content via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and hosted services like Google Cloud Print and HP ePrinters.
Hangouts – SMS/MMS support Incorporated a new version of Google Hangouts that supports integrated SMS/MMS messaging. Hangouts can be set as the default SMS app under Settings > Wireless > Default SMS app.
HTCAndroid 4.4.2 KitKat line up – One Max in March, One Mini in April
HTC has been working on getting the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update pushed out to its One flagship family line. An HTC executive had earlier spoken about the giant’s roll out plans and stated that, ‘HTC will work with carriers to begin the roll-out of Android 4.4 with Sense 5.5 for the HTC One from end of January.’
Developer LlabTooFeR had also suggested that, ‘all new devices such as One, One dual-Sim, One Max, One Mini will get 4.4.2 update in time frame January-February.’ Well it seems that the developer was bang on target.
On a recent reddit AMA (Ask me anything), HTC USA Product Team revealed that while the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update for One Max will arrive in March, it will hit One Mini in April.
‘We already have 4.4 updates in the works for both Mini and Max devices and you can track the progress on our software updates page. You should see this land as early as March for the Max and April for Mini.’
Unfortunately while the company has promised to update all future flagship devices for two years – this remains true only for the HTC smartphone owners in North America.
‘We are making a commitment to support all new North America flagship devices going forward with all major Android updates for 2 years after their release date.’
While this does not mean (entirely) that the company will be ignoring its clientele in other regions, they will not get any preferential treatment as their NA counterparts.
Source: Reddit AMA
Samsung Android 4.4 KitKat line up
According to a close Phandroid source, apart from the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, there is a list of other devices in the pipeline that are set to receive the much awaited update. The list includes:
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 SGH-i317
Samsung Galaxy S3 SGH-i747
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 SM-t217a
Samsung Galaxy S4 SGH-i337 – Started to receive official rollout
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active SGH-i537
Samsung Galaxy Mega SGH-i527
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom SM-c105a
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N900a – Started to receive official rollout
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 SGH-i467
Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini SM-g730a
The earlier firmware reports from both Galaxy S4 and Note 3 suggested very minor changes after the upgrade like enhanced performance and changes in Samsung's UI. Samsung flagship devices received a major facelift with the earlier Android 4.3 upgrade which brought in a gamut of changes including new camera features, Galaxy Gear compatibility among others.
There is no news on when the rollout to the devices mentioned above will happen, but with Samsung’s commitment in bringing better smartphone experience to its consumers, we did say it’s just a matter of time.
It's no secret that I love my Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Almost two years ago, my laptop prematurely died. I've owned only two laptops in my life so far, and neither of them lived much longer than three years, despite my careama and vigilance.
Instead of getting a replacement which would, ultimately, be too bulky, too expensive, and too craptastic with real-use battery life, I upgraded my Galaxy S2 to the Note 2 and haven't looked back since. I have the same (or better) productivity and far greater mobility with a "phablet." If I need some serious photo/video editing or equivalent, my desktop gets that done handily.
So with all the saved money, what do I do? Accessorize! A Logitech K810 Bluetooth keyboard, Brainy Gadgets tablet stand, Anker external battery pack, and Nomad ChargeKey cable round out my gear nicely. I've gone through a few different cases – I try not to get crazy on that. But this most recent gem I discovered one late night while surfing the web just might be my very last one.
Let's just get it out of the way – the Casefanatic HunterF case borrows from Apple's iPhone design, even down to the look and feel of the buttons. The case is flat on both sides, with rounded corners and angled edges all around. What can I say except that it's a good look, especially for the Galaxy Note 2. And as far as I know, it's the only aluminum case just like this.
"Apple is really making the iPhablet?? No way! How did you get that one to test out??" -Gullible Best Buy Employee
The two-piece HunterF case comes with a thin, plastic screen protector, a microfiber cloth, mini screwdriver, and four teeny screws. Only two screws are used to secure the parts of the case together. The extras are spares.
Although thin, the aluminum is far from being weak or flimsy. I wouldn't necessarily put much force to test it, but it readily resists strong finger pinches. The HunterF case consists of the bumper edge and the back plate, which also replaces the Samsung Galaxy Note 2?s back plate.
Installation is simple. Set the bumper face down. Gently slide the Note 2 in and and seat it. Insert the back plate (top first) into the little nocks, and then let it drop to close it up. The two screw holes are located on the bottom to keep both of the case pieces together.
The inside of the HunterF case has felt lining to keep the smartphone from rubbing up against the metal. It wouldn't be fun to have metal chewing up the exterior edges of the Note 2.
The HunterF case for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 provides a snug, rattle-free fit. If you are serious about shaking the smartphone, you'll be able to hear a noise as it shifts slightly, but that's about it. The battery stays put and secure as well.
How it looks, ready for the back cover
The cutouts for the ports are good, but not perfectly centered. The rear speaker port, microphone ports, and hole for the camera lens are off by about 1.5mm.
This is more of an aesthetic, since there isn't any impact to performance. The S-Pen is only slightly deeper for when it needs to be pulled out. No big deal to me.
What I really like about this HunterF bumper case is that it covers the very edges of the Note 2?s glass screen all the way around. The screen can take an angled corner hit and not instantly shatter. It also provides a lip so I can lie the smartphone face-down without having the screen touch surfaces.
The back is in place, then just needs 2 screws in the bottom
The HunterF case will give enough berth to most screen protectors out there. I have 1mm of leeway on the bottom end of my tempered glass screen protector. The rest of the edges have more room than that.
Almost all of my 3.5mm audio cables plug in fine for both the straight and L-shaped ends. Fat cables won't. Audio port accessories are not likely to work either. I can attest that my Thermodo won't fit. The Pressy button will fit, but won't be able to be reached easily. The iBlazr LED flash should work, since it sticks out some even when fully plugged in.
Because of the curvature of the Galaxy Note 2, the Micro USB port seems like it would have problems with cables fitting. Out of all the cables I have (which is many), the only plug that needs a slight wiggle is my Anker 18W car charger. That's it.
Notice the felt lining in the corner, on the edges too
While it was a little disappointing at first, I've shrugged off how the back panel of the HunterF case doesn't lie flush and seamless with the bumper edge.
There is a 1mm gap on a side and the top. If you're really looking it over, you'll definitely see it.
For all intents and purposes, I regard the HunterF case more for looks and less for protection. While it will prevent scratches and can handle minor drops, this case isn't designed to absorb and prevent shock-related damage. I haven't tested any drops greater than three feet. If I'm lucky, I won't have to know how it handles a chest-high fall haha.
The major sacrifice that comes with owning and using the Casefanatic HunterF case for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is NFC capability.
Only slightly off on the cutouts
The smartphone's NFC antenna is built into the plastic cover, which had to be removed in order to install the HunterF. Again, no big deal. My use for NFC is simply lazy-Bluetooth.
But the big question most have is about how the aluminum case affects reception and data speeds. On a wireless network, the effect is negligible.
But if I am running on my 3G Sprint network, the decrease in speed can be felt and it also shows in the numbers. Sprint 4G? That's a pipe dream that's not fully realized in my area (Sacramento, CA) yet, so I have no idea about the HunterF case with that.
Here are the typical pings, download speeds, and upload speeds I get (SpeedTest.net app used for these numbers):
CASE ON Wireless (4/4 reception bars) : CASE OFF Wireless (4/4 reception bars)
Ping 42ms, down 17.51Mpbs, up 1.61Mpbs : ping 44ms, down 17.82Mbps, up 1.49Mbps
Ping 46ms, down 16.97Mpbs, up 1.53Mpbs : ping 40ms, down 18.10Mbps, up 1.57Mbps
Ping 42ms, down 17.82Mbps, up 1.61Mbps : ping 43ms, down 17.69Mbps, up 1.56Mbps
CASE ON 3G (3/5 reception bars) : CASE OFF 3G (4/6 reception bars)
Ping 133ms, down 0.16Mbps, up 0.09Mbps : ping 92ms, down 0.69Mbps, up 0.87Mbps
Ping 119ms, down 0.29Mbps, up 0.10Mbps : ping 91ms, down 0.65Mbps, up 0.83Mbps
Ping 212ms, down 0.17Mbps, up 0.16Mbps : ping 103ms, down 0.53Mbps, up 0.85Mbps
As far as I can tell, the Bluetooth wireless connection strength and range hasn't been affected by the aluminum case.
For all intents and purposes, the Casefanantic HunterF case for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 leans more towards fashion instead of protection. It's great against scratches and tame bounces, but it's not meant to handle heavy-duty shocks or serious drops.
Clean edges and buttons
Owning this case also means sacrificing NFC connectivity and 3G speeds. But since I spend most of my productive time on a wireless network, the trade is easy to overlook.
The appeal of the HunterF case is the unique style (to Android), as well as the feel of cool metal instead of some plastic or polymer.
The case does get warm during extended gaming sessions, but my Note 2 doesn't end up any hotter (internally) than with other cases I've owned.
The HunterF case for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is available from Casefanatic.com in a few different color choices. Those who have a Galaxy Note 3 can find similar, aluminum bumper cases on the site as well. Sure, it's not the most practical smartphone case to own, but to me it's pretty awesome.
Earlier in the week, consumer electronics giant, LG unveiled the much anticipated new generation G Pro 2 phablet.
With the launch of feature-rich G Pro 2, LG has up the ante against its South Korean counterpart Samsung, which is touted as the undisputed world leader in the phablet business (also smartphones).
Galaxy Note 3 made its debut way back in September 2013, despite being in the market for such a long time, it still commands superiority over new phablets which have debuted in the market in recent times, but now LG G Pro 2 is matching up to be a worthy advisory to the Samsung‘s marquee device.
Here is brief description of key features of Samsung’s current flagship phablet Galaxy Note 3 and LG G Pro 2:
FOLLOW US
Display:
LG’s G Pro 2 boasts a mammoth 5.9-inch full HD (1920x1080p) LCD screen with pixel density of 288 ppi (pixels per inch).
On the other hand, Samsung phablet flaunts a smaller 5.7-inch full HD (1920x1080p) super AMOLED screen with a pixel count of 388 ppi.
Both the phablets feature Corning Gorilla 3 screen shield.
Processor, RAM & Storage:
Both LG G Pro 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (LTE model), ships with the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 series quad-core processor which can top maximum CPU speed up to 2.2GHz.
On the other hand, 3G variant of Samsung phablet packs the company’s in-house built Exynos Octa-core 5420 chipset. It houses two quad-core processors -1.9GHz A9 and 1.3GHz A7).
In terms of memory, both the handsets stand even as they feature with 3GB RAM (highest capacity in the industry) and come with microSD card support capable of expanding up to 64GB.
Camera:
Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 3 comes loaded with stunning 13.0-megapixel camera with plethora of photography enriching applications. It boasts high CRI LED flash support to take good quality pictures under low-light conditions. That’s not all; it can record 4K resolutions (3840x2160p) videos at 30 fps (only the 4G-LTE variant support this feature), full HD video at 60 fps, and HD video at 30 fps.
LG’s new phablet, G Pro 2 too packs a similar 13.0-megapixel, but comes with the company’s proprietary OIS+ (Optical Image Stabilizations), an anti-shake feature. This attribute helps the user to take a good picture of an object in motion. It also boasts the 4K ultra HD video recording and 120 fps HD video recording with three editing options- one-fourth, one-half slow motions and with the original speed.
Other mentionable feature is the Magic focus, which lets user to select preferred depth of focus after taking the snapshot of an object.
Operating system:
In this aspect, both the phablets stand even as they run on the same Android OS platform. Galaxy Note 3 ships with v4.3 out-of-the-box (official KitKat OS update has been released globally), whereas LG G Pro 2 readily runs on the latest Android v4.4.2 KitKat.
Verdict:
LG G Pro 2:
Pros: good camera (with OIS+ feature) specifications, enhanced Knock-on code application for unlocking screen (phone is capable of recognizing an astronomical 86,000 plus different combination codes), and also boasts of value-added features like Content locking, Mini view and dual-browser.
Cons: Being a big phone, LG G Pro 2 not having a Stylus support features is a bit of letdown for people who cannot quickly jot down accurate numbers or characters to write text messages.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3:
Pros: It’s been almost five months since Galaxy Note 3 got launched and yet it still has the best display in the market and another value-added feature is the stylus support, which is a must-have feature in all phablets. It helps people navigate through the big-screen and another advantage of stylus is that it avoids finger-print smudges on screen.
Cons: Build quality has always been the Achilles heel for all Samsung products; Galaxy Note 3 shares the same fate despite feature faux leather stitching on the rear side, which fails to bring premium look to the device.
Key specifications of Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and LG G Pro 2:
Model
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
LG G Pro 2
Display
5.7-inch full HD (1920x1080p) Super AMOLED screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
Pixel density: close to 388 ppi (pixels per inch)
5.9-inch full HD (1920x1080p) IPS LCD screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 shield
Pixel density: close to 373 ppi
OS
Android v4.3 Jelly Bean (official KitKat OS update has been released globally)
3G variant ships with Samsung’s in-house built Exynos 5420 Octa-core chipset (with two quad-core processors – one A9 with 1.9GHz and another A7 with 1.3GHz CPU speed)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 series quad-core processor with 2.2GHz CPU speed
GPU
Adreno 330/ ARM Mali T628MP6
Adreno 330
RAM
3GB
3GB
Storage capacity
32GB, memory can be further expandable up to 64GB
16GB/32GB, expandable up to 64GB
Camera
Main: 13.0-megapixel camera with BSI sensor, auto-focus, LED flash (High CRI),
Front: 2.0-megapixel camera with BSI sensor, full HD 1080p video recording
Main: 13.0-megapixel camera with proprietary OIS+ technology, 4K Ultra HD video recording, magic focus, LED flash, 120 fps HD slow-motion video recording
Front: 2.1-megapixel camera
Battery
3200 mAh
3,200 mAh
Network
3G/4G-LTE
3G/4G-LTE
Add-ons
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (HT80),Bluetooth v4.0 (LE), IR LED (Remote control),MHL v2.0,GPS/GLONASS,NFC
S-Pen functionality: Air Command: Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write, S Finder, Pen Window S Note, Multi Window, new Easy Clip, Direct Pen Input
Bluetooth Smart v4.0, Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), NFC, SlimPort, Knock Code , 1W Hi-Fi sound system
LG’s smartphones and tablets aren’t as popular as Samsung’s, but that doesn’t mean the company hasn’t been making some nice mobile devices in their own right. Let’s take a look at LG’s latest phablet, the G Pro 2, and see how its features and specs compare to those of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
Size
Sizes are pretty close, with identical thickness. The LG G Pro 2 is, however, 5 percent longer and 4 percent wider than Samsung’s Note 3.
Weight
Both phablets should feel relatively light in hand. Despite its bigger size, the G Pro 2 is only 2 percent heavier than the Note.
Build
Both devices have plastic finishes, but the Galaxy Note 3 is a simulated leather. Apparently Sammy liked what it saw on the Note 3, as all of its new Galaxy Pro tablets use that same pleather material.
Display
Both phones have gigantic screens, and the G Pro 2 shows that the screen size arms race is still alive and well. Its display is about seven percent bigger than the already-humongous Note 3 display.
Have you seen the Knock-On feature that LG included in the LG G2 and G Pad 8.3? Well, the G Pro 2 is taking the next step with a security-focused version called “Knock Code.” It lets you unlock your device by rapping a pattern of knocks on the screen. The pattern can include anywhere from two to eight taps which leads to, according to LG, 86,367 knock combinations.
Stylus
In our time with the Galaxy Note series, we’ve thought the marriage of oversized smartphone screen and S Pen (stylus) works pretty well. Despite the two devices’ similarities, stylus input is something that the G Pro 2 doesn’t give you.
Storage
Your storage options are doubled in the Note 3, though both devices do let you augment that with a microSD card.
Processor
We don’t expect any performance issues with the G Pro 2, as it runs the zippy Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. If you live in an area with LTE, then you should get the same CPU in the Note.
RAM
The G Pro 2 also matches the Note’s 3 GB of RAM – an impressive amount for a mobile device.
Battery
Both phablets’ batteries hold the same amount of juice, but we’ll have to wait for some extended time with the G Pro 2 before we know if its battery life can keep up with the lengthy uptimes we saw from the Note 3.
Cameras
If we’re looking at resolution alone, then both phablets’ cameras are looking pretty similar. There are a few other features, though, that can’t be captured in the above graphic.
The G Pro 2 can record video in 120 frames per second, which can be edited in three different slow-motion speeds. It also has a “Natural Flash,” which supposedly captures flash photos with a more balanced color and exposure (sound familiar?) and “Magic Focus,” that lets you select a shot’s depth of focus after shooting, but before saving. Both phones can also record video in 4K Ultra HD resolution.
Software
The G Pro 2 is launching with Android 4.4 KitKat, but it has LG’s custom UI sitting on top (which looks more than a little like Samsung’s TouchWiz UI). The Note 3 has technically been updated to KitKat, but that update is still rolling out globally. So depending on your region and carrier, you might be stuck on Jelly Bean for a little while.
Unknowns
There are still a few things we don’t know about the G Pro 2. LG has only announced the phone for the Korean market, so we don’t know exactly when it will start popping up in other countries. That means we also don’t know about pricing. If we had to guess, we’d say it will hit the US and other non-Korean markets by May (that’s when last year’s version, the Optimus G Pro, hit the States).
For more on Samsung’s phablet – which has already been on store shelves since September – you can read our full Galaxy Note 3 review.
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The international model of Galaxy Note 2 (GT-N7100) recently received a new stock update with base firmware N7100XXUENA1. The update is based on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and currently released in a number of Southeast Asian countries.
Samsung
N7100XXUENA1 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean firmware is available for Galaxy Note 2 N7100.
Firmware details
Model: GT-N7100
Version: Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
Build date: 15 Jan 2014
PDA: N7100XXUENA1
CSC: N7100OLBEML1
Modem: N7100XXUENA1
Users from firmware supported regions can install the new firmware build as OTA update and through Samsung Kies server.
Those who failed to install the update because it was region-specific may follow our step-by-step guide to update their Galaxy Note 2 with Odin flashing tool. Note that the N7100XXUENA1 is an unbranded version of firmware and can be installed on any unlocked GT-N7100 unit, irrespective of country and region.
IBTimes UK reminds its readers that it will not be held responsible for any damage to the device. Users are also advised to verify their handsets meet following set of requirements.
Pre-requisites
1) Install USB Driver for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to connect the Android device with computer.
2) Enable USB Debugging Mode on phone to connect it with the computer and use Android SDK with it. [Navigate to Settings>> About phone. Tap on Build Number several times until a message appears saying 'You are now a Developer.' Enable USB Debugging Mode by navigating to Settings>> Developer Options.]
3) As the tutorial is likely to wipe out all data of the phone, create a backup. If the device is having any custom recoveries such as CWM or, TWRP then backup data using the same.
4) If the Android device powers off due to lack of battery while the installation process, it could damage the device. Therefore, the Note 2 should have above 80% battery charge.
5) The device should be factory unlocked and not locked to a particular carrier.
6) The phone will lose custom ROM with the installation of official firmware. Also, the custom recovery will be replaced by the stock version.
7) The device will no longer belong to a rooted version once official firmware is installed.
8) N7100XXUENA1 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean works only with Samsung Galaxy Note 2 GT-N7100. As flashing this on any incorrect variant might brick the device, verify the model number of Note 2 by navigating to Settings>> About phone>> Model number.
Download files
N7100XXUENA1 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean [Alternative links- 1 and 2]
Odin3 v3.07
How to install N7100XXUENA1 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on Galaxy Note 2 (GT-N7100)
Step-1: Extract the downloaded firmware zip using winrar/7zip/winzip or any other extracting tool to get a .tar.md5 file with other files
Step-2: Extract Odin zip to get Odin v3.07.exe
Step-3: Turn off the Galaxy Note 2
Step-4: Boot the phone into Download Mode by pressing and holding Volume Down, Home and Power buttons together until you see a construction Android robot icon with a warning triangle appears on the phone’s screen. Now press Volume Up button to enter download mode
Step-5: Run Odin as Administrator on computer
Step-6: Connect the phone to computer using USB cable while it is in Download Mode. Wait for some time until Odin detects the phone. When the phone is connected successfully, the ID: COM box will turn light blue with COM port number. Also, an Added message will appear indicating successful connection.
Note: If the Added message does not appear, try re-installing USB drivers or, changing USB port on the computer.
Step-7: In Odin select the files extracted from N7100XXUENA1 folder
a) Click the PDA button and select the file with .tar.md5 extension
b) Click the Phone button and select file with MODEM in its name
c) Click the CSC button and select file with CSC in its name
d) Click the PIT button and select .pit file
Note: Ignore the last three steps if such files are not found.
Step-8: Enable Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time checkboxes in Odin. But ensure Re-Partition option is unchecked, select it only when .pit file is used
Step-9: Click the Start button in Odin to begin the installation process
Step-10: When the installation process is completed, the phone will restart. And soon a Pass message with green background will appear in the extreme left box at the top of Odin. Unplug the USB cable from the phone to disconnect it from computer
The Note 2 should now be updated with N7100XXUENA1 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean stock firmware. Head over to Settings>> About phone to verify the new software version running on the handset.
Troubleshoot
If the Galaxy Note 2 gets stuck at booting animation or Samsung logo (after step-10) then go to recovery mode by pressing and holding Volume Up and Power buttons together. Perform Wipe data/Factory Reset and Wipe Cache Partition. Now reboot the phone by selecting reboot system now from the recovery menu. In recovery mode use Volume keys to navigate between options and Power button to select any particular option. Note that performing wiping task will erase the device’s internal memory.
Those who have already updated their devices to the latest firmware and looking for a root method may follow our guide to root Galaxy Note 2 on Android 4.3 bypassing Knox warranty void bit.
Samsung starts rolling Android 4.4 Kitkat for Galaxy S4 LTE-A in South Korea
The internet is abuzz with rumours of an impending Android 4.4 KitKat update making its way for a handful of older Samsung devices including Galaxy S3, S3 Mini, Note 2, Tab 3 7.0, Note 8.0 and a whole bunch of Galaxy S4 US variants, besides a few international models.
Though Samsung is yet to announce any list of devices that will be receiving the KitKat update, an unspecified source close to Phandroid has confirmed the devices that are eligible to receive the highly celebrated KitKat upgrade.
Take a look at the check list below to know if your device features among the lucky few Samsung phones and tablets that are expected to get the Android 4.4 KitKat in the near future:
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 SGH-i317
Samsung Galaxy S3 SGH-i747
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 SM-t217a
Samsung Galaxy S4 SGH-i337
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active SGH-i537
Samsung Galaxy Mega SGH-i527
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom SM-c105a
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N900a
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 SGH-i467
Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini SM-g730a
The two smartphones highlighted in the list, the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 3, have already started receiving the KitKat update from Samsung. The Note 3′s rollout has begun with Poland, and will arrive in other countries gradually as Samsung completes its logistics and testing.
In contrast, the Galaxy S4 LTE-A model is receiving the KitKat update in South Korea, which will slowly make its way to other countries.
Earlier leaked firmware reports of Galaxy S4 and Note 3 suggest Samsung has released significant upgrades such as new camera features and support for the Galaxy Gear with Android 4.3 release. Hence, it is ascertained that the new KitKat update will only bring minor UI changes with cosmetic upgrades and performance improvements.
Nevertheless, it is a huge relief for owners of older Samsung devices such as Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 and S3 mini, as they are the budget models running the older Android 4.1 Jelly Bean firmware. With no signs of receiving further Jelly Bean upgrades for these devices, users would only be too eager to get the taste of KitKat, by any means necessary.
So, the big question is whether Samsung will take the risk of jumping the firmware upgrade directly from Android 4.1 to Android 4.4, somewhat along the lines of what Motorola did to Moto G recently. Not to mention, Moto G has become an instant hit among the budget consumers for its impressive features with low selling price.
Related
Galaxy S4 I9505 Gets Android 4.4.2 XXUFNA5 KitKat via Omega ROM [How to Install]
Update Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 to Android 4.4 KitKat via OmniROM
Update Galaxy Note 3 with N900XXUDNA6 Android 4.4.2 KitKat Official Firmware [How to]
With most smartphone OEMs sticking to the 18 months’ software support policy, it is likely that most devices (if not all) that were released last year will qualify for the Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade. In the worst case scenario, last year’s mid-range and high-end devices should at least get the latest Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update before their life support ceases from Samsung.
To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail: v.yalburgi@ibtimes.co.uk To contact the editor, e-mail: editor@ibtimes.co.uk
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