Here's a pretty cool video review of the S-Pen functions...
-
After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.
Note 7 specs - whoa! (if it becomes a reality..)
- Thread starter johnpjackson
- Start date
Teegunn
Android Expert
I stopped by Best Buy for ten minutes yesterday. Had a 1000 mile multi-state drive to get back home, but still couldn't help myself stopping at Best Buy to see and hold the phone. Wow. Talk about an improvement over my N4. Cannot wait until I have this thing. Anxiously waiting for my preorder shipping email to hit....
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
Convinced you enough actually holding it, Teegunn?
I have to admit, I was initially concerned about the dual edge display, just from my experience with the Priv (and to a certain degree, the Note Edge), but once I actually tested it out in store, all those worries went out the window. Only thing I kept thinking was wishing that they'd have offered the option of purchasing a 128gb version in the US.
Teegunn
Android Expert
Convinced you enough actually holding it, Teegunn?
I was already convinced, but actually getting to hold it and compare it side by side with my Note 4 - the Note 7 is a real leap forward. I also wish we had the 128 gb version along with 6gb, the 821 processor and a battery at least as big as the S7 edge, but I guess you can't have everything. The steeper dual edge display, much smaller size of the bezels and phone in general and also the curved ergonomics holding the phone are SO much better than my N4 it is not even in the same ballpark. The display is way better than the N4 (my N4 looked like a 1985 console TV in quality comparison). Hell, I may even use touchwiz instead of putting Nova launcher over the top as I always do. Can you tell I was impressed? Lol.
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
It's funny cuz the Note 4 didn't actually impress me enough to upgrade from the note 3. Then when the Note 5 was released, I was more impressed with the design, but it was a deal breaker not having a micro SD. Holding the Note 7 and comparing to my Mate 8, I almost wished Samsung had bumped up the screen size just because of the ergonomics they pulled off on the 7. Their ability to drop the width by so much, I almost feel like they could have pulled off a 6 inch screen, but still have a phone that matched dimensions (or possibly smaller) than the mate 8, Nexus 6p and iphone 6plus. Overall, I definitely felt like this was the first time in a while that Samsung impressed me.
Teegunn
Android Expert
I feel the same way. Even though I did end up getting a Dev edition Note 4, I actually preferred the Note 3 in almost every aspect. I agree that Samsung could up the display size of the next Note a bit if they wanted - the almost zero bezels on the sides and just better ergonomics and smaller body size in general would make it easily doable.
BTW, the Note 7 has been tested and rated far and away the best smartphone display ever:
http://www.displaymate.com/Galaxy_Note7_ShootOut_1.htm
Now I know why I was so impressed after handling the real phone in person for 10 minutes. Made my N4 feel ancient.
J_Hansen
Well-Known Member
Looking forward to some real life reports rather than the reviews seen so far, I was leaning towards maybe waiting for the Note 8 instead but might just get a 7 anyway around x-mas when prices have dropped a bit, Note 4 is holding up well so a 7 would be a want rather than a need type of thing
I was scanning Youtube for reviews and came across this young lady, who has been using the Note 7 since the Unpacked event. And according to her, the iris scanner WILL work with glasses! Now they'd probably have to be thin lenses... I doubt that really thick, heavily-corrected lenses will do it, but my lenses aren't that bad. Hope for me yet!
10 hidden features... pretty cool stuff!
A great article on using Samsung Cloud as a phone backup:
http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-samsung-cloud/
http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-samsung-cloud/
You know, I've been thinking the last day or so...
With the perfect symmetry of the Note 7, I have to wonder if Samsung has designed themselves into a corner. I mean, how on earth will the Note 8 improve on this? Sure, 4K resolution would be great, 4000 mAh battery, and maybe front-facing stereo speakers... but how much more can they pack into the Note series after this?
With the perfect symmetry of the Note 7, I have to wonder if Samsung has designed themselves into a corner. I mean, how on earth will the Note 8 improve on this? Sure, 4K resolution would be great, 4000 mAh battery, and maybe front-facing stereo speakers... but how much more can they pack into the Note series after this?
J_Hansen
Well-Known Member
256 GB storage, 6-8 gigs of RAM plus their new fancy type fast memory card with the slot that reads regular micro SD as well ( there was talks about for the 7 so good chance we will see it on the 8 ), 4000+ mah battery or even swappable ( probably hard to do and stay water proof but not impossible ) bring IR blaster back, up it to 6 inch screen ( with the design of the 7 it should be done on the 8 without making much bigger if at all ) dual stereo speakers, option of a model with dual sim card for those who want it, plenty they can do and then there is the software side as well
Teegunn
Android Expert
Plenty of us have gotten to hold and use a real N7 at Best Buy. It is light years nicer than the N4, which I also have. There is no way I could wait another entire year for an N8. No way. I also can't wait around for the phone to drop in price a little bit, but then I went with the 24 month payments with Verizon that actually knocked an extra $25 off my line access fee, so the phone isn't costing me nearly as much as the $864 retail price (Verizon).
Teegunn
Android Expert
J Hansen posted some things that can be improved upon, but I agree, the N7 has evolved into pretty much what the Note line should have been, or at least what we have been wishing for in quite some time. Tech improvements will mean some changes, but I think the N7 has hit a real sweet spot for phone design/shape/bezel along with several other very key improvements. I don't think we need 4K res for anything - can our eyes even discern the difference? Maybe only when using the phone with the Oculus VR. So OK, 4k res capable, but only for the Oculus. I could see that.
Teegunn
Android Expert
That is awesome, thanks for the link. My problem is that I want to do this with my N4 - migrating my apps and their complete data to my new phone. Since we won't be able to root the N7 I can't use Titanium to do this as I have done for many years with all my other phones. So I am looking for a different, non-root app that can actually migrate apps AND their data over to a new phone. Is there such an app? I have heard of Helium, but never tried it and heard it is hit and miss. Anyone who knows an actual working app that doesn't need root and can truly migrate over apps with the intact APK AND data, please post that info here!
Android 6.0 Marshmallow supposedly has the ability to back up apps AND app data... but I have yet to try it...
Teegunn
Android Expert
Hmm, I will have to look into that. Unfortunately I am on a custom (stock based) ROM on my N4 (5.0.1) so I would have to try to load up a marshmallow ROM onto the N4 to even try that. Sounds like a lot of work for something that is probably not likely to work very well. This has been my biggest hangup over the N7 - no root means I cannot migrate my apps and data, which is VERY important to me to keep the data for many of my apps.
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
Absolutely agree with offering 128 and 256gb options, 6-8gb RAM, 4000+mah battery. IR blaster isn't quite a general necessity for general consumers, especially with advancements of voice activated products, as well as Smart remote offerings from Logitech and other competitors.
Now, regarding the increased screen size, I absolutely agree...just looking at the Note series dimensions starting from the Note 3:
Note 3
151.2X79.2X8.3
Note 4
153.5X78.6X8.5
Note Edge
151.3X82.4X8.3
Note 5
153.2X76.1X7.6
Note 7
153.5X73.9X7.9
Since the Note 3 and Note Edge, all of the other Note series increased in height by 2mm, width was reduced (w/ exception to the Edge), but they still maintained a 5.7 screen (5.6 on the Edge). There has to be a way for them to squeeze in a 5.9-6 screen in a phone that has close to the same dimensions as the past generations.
Considering that the original Note 8 was a tablet (but also had phone connectivity for the International version), I'm still holding out hope to see a dual offering (regular phone version and hybrid phone/tablet version).
Teegunn
Android Expert
The Note 3 was the most comfortable for me of the three Note's I have owned (N2, N3, N4), I wish the N7 was a tad shorter (they could have easily shaved off a couple mm of the length). Actually, I do think the N7 is just a tad shorter than my N4, but very little, even though the above specs say it is the same height as my N4. The difference in width is tremendous however - and then the autonomous front/rear curve of the phone - it is much, much more comfortable to hold and is definitely much smaller overall than my N4. Feels so much better in hand.
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
Right there with you Teegunn. Reason I didn't get the Note 4 was because of the increased height. And with the Edge, even though I have one now, it was just too wide. With the new unibody approach, that is one thing that has puzzled me about Samsung designs. The Note 3 was smaller overall than the Note 2,but had a bigger screen, by 0.2 inches. It really does seem realistic that they could increase the Note screen to 5.9 based on the changes they made from the Note 2 to the 3.
kokiangel
Android Expert
Sadly, Marshmallow is limited to apps that target API 23 and those appear to be precious few. At least among my apps. I use Helium with a fair amount of success. I choose to back up data only for most apps and save that backup with a label. Then backup those few apps that I can't find on the play store any more (those pesky discontinued apps) as app and data and label those. It is very much slower than TBU but it does work.
Don S
Android Enthusiast
Thanks. Sounds useful. I will definitely use it - if Verizon includes it. I heard some rumor they weren't going to, I hope it is false.
Teegunn
Android Expert
That is great to hear about Helium. I was just looking at Helium on the play store, and the reviews are spotty - seems like it works for some, doesn't for others. Sounds like it is slow an buggy and getting the right drivers on your PC and have things work properly can be a pain. But hopefully I can get my apps AND data to transfer to my N7. I have quite a few that I just cannot afford to lose the data for business purposes.
I do have Wondershare by Mobilego - It wasn't cheap, I think $30 or $40 when I bought it. It is a heavy duty PC program that is designed to backup apps and everything else on your phone. I am going to try that first to backup my apps/data from my N4 and then see if I can get them to transfer to my N7. I have my doubts it will work as it seems to want root to really work correctly, even though it says it doesn't "need" root to work. We will see. I know I will soon be spending MANY hours getting my N7 set up, and many, many hours getting my apps and data to (hopefully) transfer from my N4 to N7. I have decided to not worry about my SMS/texts - I have transferred them before as I use Handcent SMS which backs up all the SMS to their cloud. But with many thousands of texts/SMS I think I might just start fresh - I think when a person has something pushing 80,000 plus SMS clogging up the phone it can slow things down. Might be time for a fresh start on SMS.
