I think I want a Note 3

[John Jason]

I have an SGS2 that I bought new on Craigslist within days after it was released for T-Mobile. It works great, except for one glaring problem. My local credit union has an app that allows you to deposit checks by taking a picture of it. The app works fine on my SGS2 except that when I go to take a picture of the check the image does not appear in the viewfinder screen. I can take the pic, but it's a crap shoot whether it will be good enough because I can't see what I am taking a picture of. The viewfinder screen works fine when I use the Camera function to take a pic normally; it's only from within the app that the viewfinder screen displays just a black rectangle.

The credit union is singularly unhelpful ("Gee, it works fine on my iPhone.)

After much web searching and reading I went to a T-Mobile store and checked out a Note 3. I like it. There is even one for sale on Craigslist not far from me for $500. But I worry about spending the money on a new phone that I don't otherwise need, only to discover that the deposit function of the credit union's app still won't display the image of what you are going to take a picture of in the viewfinder screen.

I suspect that the "take a picture of a check" function is recycled code that is the same in all such bank mobile apps. Does anyone here 3 have such an app on their Note 3, and when you go to take a picture of a check does the image of the check appear in the viewfinder? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[michaelwy]

My daughter and I both take pictures of checks with no problem at all, I just did one yesterday. She has the Galaxy S3 and I have the Note 3. Not sure why you have the problem but ours work great.

 

[Goldenakin]

In terms of debating just throw whatever idea of not getting a note 3 away in your local trashcan.

The note 3 in itself is a mobile computer and does leaps and bounds that is not even advertised by Samsung because it just does too much. You will not be disappointed.

Active note 3 user

 

[bigredsfan83]

you are in the wrong forum if you want anyone to talk you down lol

 

[drexappeal]

If there's a phone that's worth dropping the $500 on, it would be the Note 3. That said, I can't really justify it for you and your needs because you're the only one that would really know the answer to spending $500 being worth it or not.

That said, I deposit checks via mobile all the time, using the Chase app. Works perfectly. I can't speak for your credit union's app, but Note 3 is perfect.

BTW, have you checked to see if there's an update for the banking app? Or emailed the developer for the app?

 

[John Jason]

... I deposit checks via mobile all the time, using the Chase app. Works perfectly. I can't speak for your credit union's app, but Note 3 is perfect.
BTW, have you checked to see if there's an update for the banking app? Or emailed the developer for the app?

Thanks to all for the replies.

I have the latest update for the app, which was a month or so ago when they added the "deposit by photo" feature. The other parts of the app continue to work fine; I can see my balances, use bill pay, etc.

The credit union in question is tiny by banking standards; maybe 10,000 depositors. I can't believe they have the ability to write their own app from scratch or hire coders to write their own app. Undoubtedly they bought/licensed code and added their own logos, etc. to make it look like it is their own proprietary app. And that is part of the problem - no one at the credit union has a clue how it works. They recognize the problem that I experience (they have taken screenshots of my SGS2 failing to display the image of the check that I am trying to photograph), but they couldn't fix it even if they wanted to. And, of course, for security reasons they probably feel they must remain fairly tight-lipped about the source of the code.

It is encouraging to me to hear of other Note 3 owners who are using the "deposit by photo" feature of their bank's app without problems. It's no guarantee that my credit union's app will work properly with the Note 3, but it increases the likelihood.

My big problem is that I can't be sure that it will work properly on the Note 3, and if I buy a Note 3 on Craigslist, I can't return it. What I really need to do is go back to the T-Mobile store and insist on installing the app on their demo so I can see if it will work. I think I know the answer they will give me, but tomorrow I'm going to go there and see if they will let me install it.

Oh, and the credit union is Advantis, but even if you install the app you can't get to the "deposit by photo" part of the app to test it without logging in. And I'm not giving you my username and password.

 

[drexappeal]

...My big problem is that I can't be sure that it will work properly on the Note 3, and if I buy a Note 3 on Craigslist, I can't return it. What I really need to do is go back to the T-Mobile store and insist on installing the app on their demo so I can see if it will work. I think I know the answer they will give me, but tomorrow I'm going to go there and see if they will let me install it...

Um, if you're buying the phone, just for the app...don't get it. I can almost guarantee if you get the phone, you won't want to return it, even if your bank's credit union app doesn't work properly with check deposits.

 

[toptobottom]

If you still decide to buy the Note 3 on Craigslist for $500.00 you may not be alive after you go to pick it up and then you won't have to worry about the Credit Union app deposit feature not working.

 

[clitrenta]

In terms of debating just throw whatever idea of not getting a note 3 away in your local trashcan.

The note 3 in itself is a mobile computer and does leaps and bounds that is not even advertised by Samsung because it just does too much. You will not be disappointed.

Active note 3 user

Completely agree. First time ever I actually felt like I had a computer in my hand vs a smart phone.

 

[cyberrico]

Don't buy it. Too much awesome for you!

 

[Rxpert83]

:rofl:

 

[John Jason]

Don't buy it. Too much awesome for you!

You may be right, but I bought one anyway. I found one on the local Craigslist for $400, only a month old, and the seller gave me $50 in trade for my old SGS2. My old SGS2 was in great shape and will serve him well until he can afford to move up to more expensive phones again.

Now I'm working getting my apps installed and configured. I am happy to report that the deposit-by-photo function of the credit union app works exactly as it is supposed to. The speed is nice too, but I especially like the fact that I can read the screen without my glasses.

Thanks to all for the comments and advice.

 

[evohicks]

Hi and welcome to the Note 3 club ��

 

[drexappeal]

Hi and welcome to the Note 3 club ��

Ditto... only caveat i can give u is to "try" not getting addicted... lol