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Note 5: Samsung Self Sabotage

johnpjackson

Android Enthusiast
Nov 16, 2013
352
165
Western Massachusetts
That's what Samsung appears to be trying its hardest to do to the Note 5. Sabotage.

They appear to need and want the Note 5 to be a big hit for them, right now, so much. They appear to want us to feel the Note 5 is the latest and greatest thing we could want.

And at the same time, they seem to be making the Note 5 as bitter a pill to swallow as possible:

They gave the device the best camera ever. Yet, they eliminated expandable storage, and held back on the model with 128GB of (always grossly overpriced) internal storage at the (obviously) absolute last minute.

They gave the device an improved CPU that uses less power, to improve length of run time on a single charge (among other things). Longer battery run time is still a huge area of improvement customers want. But what did Samsung do? Not only did they eliminate the ability for users to carry a spare battery to swap in when they need it, they cut the capacity of the battery from the previous model!!! And then even had the temerity to say right out loud at the public unveiling that they cut the charging time by 30%!! Who doesn't see that if you make the battery smaller that it will take less time to charge it!?? And they also said they can charge phones this way (wirelessly) faster, than most phones with a cable - even when it (the Note 5) has a SMALLER BATTERY.' Excuse me??

How does that all not add up to having our legs pissed on by Samsung, and then them trying to say it's raining?
 
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A few years back, Motorola released the much anticipated Xyboard tablet, finally an Android answer to the iPad. Well really just another nail in the coffin for Motorola mobile. Instead of giving people what they really wanted, which was a great tablet with expandable storage, they delivered a lackluster device without the storage customers asked for.

Note 2,3,4 and that is the end of me buying Samsung mobile phones. With cloud services being so readily available, some people question the value of expandable storage, but not everyone can afford a expensive high tier data plans. That being said, the Note 4 is still available and in my opinion, a better choice than the Note 5 or s6 plus.
 
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A few years back, Motorola released the much anticipated Xyboard tablet, finally an Android answer to the iPad. Well really just another nail in the coffin for Motorola mobile. Instead of giving people what they really wanted, which was a great tablet with expandable storage, they delivered a lackluster device without the storage customers asked for.

Note 2,3,4 and that is the end of me buying Samsung mobile phones. With cloud services being so readily available, some people question the value of expandable storage, but not everyone can afford a expensive high tier data plans. That being said, the Note 4 is still available and in my opinion, a better choice than the Note 5 or s6 plus.

I have the Note 3, and actually just purchased a Dev Edition Note 4 today (I won't receive it until next week) because the N5 is so gimped with lack of storage options. The thing about cloud storage I have to talk about is how limiting it is. You HAVE to have data to use cloud storage, which of course is a huge catch. Not only do you have to use you data (I am often not at a place with WIFI), but you have to HAVE at least 3g to use cloud storage. I own several businesses and at times work in places that have no data. I need far more than 55gb of available onboard storage, so an SD card (I have a 1228gb in my N# I will transfer to my N4) is a must. I also use my phone as my GPS navigation and GPS backcountry mapping device - and for my business where I am daily travelling to many different addresses, having a viable GPS app is a must. It is MUCH nicer to use GPS apps that allow offline storage of maps than ones that force you to stream data to use maps. Also when I am in the backcountry and usually have no service I still have offline topo type maps on my GPS apps. I turn off the radios on my phone since there is no signal anyway and the battery can last a good couple of days this way, plus I carry a couple of extra batteries and can go up to a week without ever needing to charge. Can be kind of important since I use my phone as my backcountry navigation.

Those are some examples where people like myself need far more than a measly 55 (or 22 gb on the 32 gb model) of available storage and where cloud storage just isn't even remotely close to the same thing as onboard SD card storage.
 
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I have the Note 3, and actually just purchased a Dev Edition Note 4 today (I won't receive it until next week) because the N5 is so gimped with lack of storage options. The thing about cloud storage I have to talk about is how limiting it is. You HAVE to have data to use cloud storage, which of course is a huge catch. Not only do you have to use you data (I am often not at a place with WIFI), but you have to HAVE at least 3g to use cloud storage. I own several businesses and at times work in places that have no data. I need far more than 55gb of available onboard storage, so an SD card (I have a 1228gb in my N# I will transfer to my N4) is a must. I also use my phone as my GPS navigation and GPS backcountry mapping device - and for my business where I am daily travelling to many different addresses, having a viable GPS app is a must. It is MUCH nicer to use GPS apps that allow offline storage of maps than ones that force you to stream data to use maps. Also when I am in the backcountry and usually have no service I still have offline topo type maps on my GPS apps. I turn off the radios on my phone since there is no signal anyway and the battery can last a good couple of days this way, plus I carry a couple of extra batteries and can go up to a week without ever needing to charge. Can be kind of important since I use my phone as my backcountry navigation.

Those are some examples where people like myself need far more than a measly 55 (or 22 gb on the 32 gb model) of available storage and where cloud storage just isn't even remotely close to the same thing as onboard SD card storage.

The sealed battery probably is here to stay,but,I wouldn't be at all surprised if one or more of the following pop-up:

1) The SD Card makes a return in the Note6,much like HTC seemingly listened to their customer base & brought back the SD Card for the M8 after a 1yr absence w/the M7.
2) 128 GB option for the Note6
3) 1&2 both happen next year
4) 1 &/or 2 happen later this year as a carrier exclusive with AT&T
5) 1&2 both happen later this year w/a Note5 somewhere (prolly a South Korea exclusive w/improved chip set).

A bit off topic,but,the I-R Blaster is prolly gone for good as well. As someone else stated in another thread,the usage data probably led to the decision to axe it.While I love having the convenience of the I-R Blaster,admittedly,I don't use it as often as I did when the feature became available a couple-three years ago.

If sales are embarrassingly dismal,I think Samsung will take a slice of Humble Pie & do at least one of the above.
If for no other reason,Apple has 128GB options,gotta (re)keep up with the Joneses................. :rolleyes::paperbagdroid::p
 
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I certainly hope the SD card option is brought back. Sealed battery - I could see it staying, but I don't think that is set in stone. A lot depends on how consumers react to phones offered like the Moto X Pure - ala carte phones at a good value price with great specs and unlocked to be used on any carrier. I think this kind of offering could be game changing and force other companies to rethink their "buy this or nothing" theme. No, we have options, so you can keep your locked down, gimped and overpriced phone.
 
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Where there is a need someone will have a solution: I know its would be nice to have it all in one package but reading on the SD card issues I can see why they did it. Here are some interesting ideas that I will be looking at if I need that extra storage. The last one on this page with a sd card built into the case is pretty slick alternative.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Need...ote5-Heres-how-to-add-some-extra-gigs_id72909
 
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I have read about the technical implications of keeping SD storage around along with the new storage technology inside the device now, and I disagree with that being justification for why they abandoned SD storage. I think it says they prioritized keeping their design goals simple and easy for them over making sure they were making a product with everything people would want. I think that was a long term sellout for short term gain.
 
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FWIW, I have had my Dev Edition Note 4 for a week now, and I love it. I am sure some things about the note 5 are better, but they gimped it so much I couldn't justify buying one. Very happy I went ahead and bought a Dev Edition Note 4. Definitely a worthy upgrade to my Note 3, which had worked great for me for almost 2 years. I do hope the Note 6 brings back the things they took away from the Note 5 though.
 
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