• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Help struggling with note 2

Liam548

Android Enthusiast
Oct 7, 2011
416
24
Yorkshire, UK
I am having difficulty getting to grips with the device. Not having an android device before.

I am finding that there are just so many icons and apps running, i feel out of control with it. I mean drop box, i dont use that and may not ever, what can i do with it? there is just so much "clutter" it is out of control, it is syncing with stuff all over the place and adding contacts... argghhhhh



There are icons all over, such as Chat On, I wont use this, its bloatware, whatsapp has this market area covered. But I have to see a chat on icon everytime i go to send a message!!?

help
 
That's the problem when you have too much freedom. Freedom on what you can do with android is a double edge knife in that it provides too may options to setup what works best and thus requires more time to learn it. I would suggest that you take the time to try and test things out as in the end you will be happier. You should also look at the threads about best apps, top 5 apps, post your screen shots to see how others have setup their devices.
 
Upvote 0
The thing is I dont think I am a numpty when it comes to tech, people often come to me to help them out. Im only 29 haha

And I am a pretty heavy user of the web, but i just feel like I have a box with a mind of its own. I dont like the fact I cannot add my own message alerts and have to use stock ones.

I feel to be in for the ride with stuff updating and sending all over the place.

Lets start with the basics, Acuweather comes as standard but i read on here the met office widget is better, so how do I go about swopping these?
 
Upvote 0
The thing is I dont think I am a numpty when it comes to tech, people often come to me to help them out. Im only 29 haha

And I am a pretty heavy user of the web, but i just feel like I have a box with a mind of its own. I dont like the fact I cannot add my own message alerts and have to use stock ones.

I feel to be in for the ride with stuff updating and sending all over the place.

Lets start with the basics, Acuweather comes as standard but i read on here the met office widget is better, so how do I go about swopping these?

If you are looking into customization i would suggest to wait until someone comes out with a Root guide, and some custom roms, and go that route, if you are truly looking to experience your device at its' full potential.

Until then, you will just have to live with accuweather being the default, unless you put some widgets around with the Weather app.
 
Upvote 0
The thing is I dont think I am a numpty when it comes to tech, people often come to me to help them out. Im only 29 haha

And I am a pretty heavy user of the web, but i just feel like I have a box with a mind of its own. I dont like the fact I cannot add my own message alerts and have to use stock ones.

I feel to be in for the ride with stuff updating and sending all over the place.

Lets start with the basics, Acuweather comes as standard but i read on here the met office widget is better, so how do I go about swopping these?

Need to start looking at your settings. Tons of settings that you need to change to make the device do what you want etc.

Dropbox is for storage place for your music/pictures etc over wifi.

Have you found the widget section? You can add widgets on google play.

You can arrange icons as needed, in folders etc so you don't have icons all over the place. Called organization :)

To further do what you need (message alerts) check out google play to buy apps
 
Upvote 0
If you are looking into customization i would suggest to wait until someone comes out with a Root guide, and some custom roms, and go that route, if you are truly looking to experience your device at its' full potential.

Until then, you will just have to live with accuweather being the default, unless you put some widgets around with the Weather app.


thanks, dont think i will root it yet though, need to get to grips with it first.

How much money do samsung make from these app makers for putting them all over their hardware. I mean allshareplay?? do i need that? not yet and if i did i want to install it not have it stuck on the screen.

I suppose I will tidy it up a little by making an original apps folder and sticking all the carp in there.

It wont get rid of the chat on icon though when I go to send a message will it..
 
Upvote 0
That's the problem when you have too much freedom. Freedom on what you can do with android is a double edge knife in that it provides too may options to setup what works best and thus requires more time to learn it. I would suggest that you take the time to try and test things out as in the end you will be happier. You should also look at the threads about best apps, top 5 apps, post your screen shots to see how others have setup their devices.

You hit the nail on the head. There's so much freedom. I had been reading so much of what you can do with the phone, and when I finally got it, all I could do was stare at it. I was like "Okay, what the hell do I do now? What the hell do I do now!?" I just didn't know where to start. My suggestion is to do what I did. I'm coming from ios, so I stay moving apps around and removing apps from the home screen until I got to a place I was familiar with. Then just go from there as far as more customization. Keep it simple. There are a ton of launchers and themes but you don't have to use them just to show your a "serious"Android user.
 
Upvote 0
I've read through this a couple of times now, I have a note 2 and use it as a phone/tablet/laptop. It has so many settings and capabilities its unbelievable. To answer one of your questions you can use your own notifications and are by no means stuck with using what's on the device. But if you've never used android at all before its going to take a bit of time to get used to that in itself and then all of the notes quirks. If you haven't already done so can I suggest you read the online users manual which will take you step by step through the basics. You will find it already in internet bookmarks, then tackle one thing at a time on it. Enjoy the note 2 its very probably the best android you could have.
 
Upvote 0
As a convenience, in the link below are all known USA Galaxy Note Owners Manuals along with the "International Master Reference"

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-note-2/645075-usa-carrier-os-fragmentation.html
I'm also coming from an IPhone 4 and due to receive my AT&T phone today.

But tell you what, I may simply delay inserting the SIM for a few days and instead just run the device off WI-FI at home for a while until I'm more familiar with this phone.

No need to jump into the deep end of the pool on the first day if this is your Only communication device.
 
Upvote 0
The thing is I dont think I am a numpty when it comes to tech, people often come to me to help them out. Im only 29 haha

And I am a pretty heavy user of the web, but i just feel like I have a box with a mind of its own. I dont like the fact I cannot add my own message alerts and have to use stock ones.

I feel to be in for the ride with stuff updating and sending all over the place.

Lets start with the basics, Acuweather comes as standard but i read on here the met office widget is better, so how do I go about swopping these?

Hey Liam548
Only 29 wish I was or do I........LOL just take note of the advice given on the forum don't let it beat you patience and perseverance that's what it takes you will get to grips I am just an old godgers of 66 years now I can master this beast after a month.........LOL
 
Upvote 0
Hey Liam548
Only 29 wish I was or do I........LOL just take note of the advice given on the forum don't let it beat you patience and perseverance that's what it takes you will get to grips I am just an old godgers of 66 years now I can master this beast after a month.........LOL

lol

I fly planes, I ride bikes I operate ANPR systems at work, I am sure it will come. I just like the device to be "neat" and sorted for me if that makes sense. Out of the box there is more chaos than a windows machine with all this bloatware and random syncing and chat apps.

You know where I am coming from... ;)
 
Upvote 0
Man I hope I can catch on to this OS. I am coming from iOS as well and now that Im

reading this and seeing what you're going through Im kinda scared. One of my friends told

me last night that I'll be back to iOS because Android is too cluttered


Saying something is too cluttered is a relative statement. That is the point of an OS like Android - customization. If you want a lot on your screen(s), you can; if you don't, you don't have to. It's up to you. I've seen some Android users that have nothing but their wallpaper on their homescreen.


lol

I fly planes, I ride bikes I operate ANPR systems at work, I am sure it will come. I just like the device to be "neat" and sorted for me if that makes sense. Out of the box there is more chaos than a windows machine with all this bloatware and random syncing and chat apps.

You know where I am coming from... ;)


Liam, I know where you're coming from. I come from a very complicated background (professionally). The profession that I'm in now, I work with many who can not handle complexities. So I always use the K.I.S.S. method (Keep It Simple Silly).

With that being said, please don't give up on this amazing device. As others have said, look through the settings. To take that a step further - try out each setting, one at a time, to see how it works for YOU. Then try out each app, each widget, each screen, & so on, one at a time, always finding what works for YOU. It will be less overwhelming &, at least in my opinion, makes the newness of the device last much longer.

It's great that with all of the different Android devices that I've seen, no 2 layouts have ever been the same!
 
Upvote 0
hey OP... first relax.. take a breath.

you homescreen is what you see most of the time. remove anything off that you dont want to use. it will be in the app drawer if you want to bring it back. Dont think about what is in the app drawer.

next.. you might notice thinks running in the background...
my best suggestion to you: dont think about it!
android likes to try to use up the RAM and have things it think you will need or use.
it does not slow your system or use up battery.

bloatware.. you can not get rid of them.. unless you root the device.
it is put there by the carrier... and some by the manufacturer

first, play with the apps that you have with the phone... get to know them first.
later, you can look for replacements.
 
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones