I went to the dark side - Android Samsung Galaxy Note

I tried one Android phone before this one, a budget device by the name of the HTC Wildfire S. And truth be told, I HATED it. As many of you know, I've been a HUGE Nokia Communicator fan since, well since the Nokia 9000. But Nokia isn't what they once where, instead of churning out great business orientated devices, they churn out half dead handsets that have fallen flat. (Well, when it comes to my uses anyways.) The Nokia E7, the phone I had up until now, was a great device. But far from perfect. It used Symbian, which I know and love, but unlike other Symbian phones I've owned, my E7 would lock up quite often.

So realizing the next Nokia Communicator (if one even comes) will be based on Windows Phone 8, I decided to go ahead and look for another device that would fulfill my needs. The biggest need is a hardware keyboard. But unfortunately, not many devices today have this implemented. (One reason why I still use 'ancient' HPC's.) The other was connectivity. The last need I had was for a decent screen.

Seeing that I found no phones with a hardware keyboard I concentrated on the other two. What I found, was the Samsung Galaxy Note. I won't lie, I checked it out in December '11 and liked it, but I was still waiting for the Nokia Belle release for my E7 so I didn't bite. Then I saw it (the Galaxy Note) 'cheap' so I went for it. I got it today and have been toying around with it for a while. I've also stated that I'm not a huge fan of the Android OS. Mainly due to the openness of the system. However, I purchased the Symantic Anti-Virus app (it also has other things it does) which I hope will work.

So far though, I'm enjoying the sheer screen (5.3 inches!) size. Having a screen this big makes up for not having a hardware keyboard. It's also got a stylus! Ok, it's not called a stylus, but rather an "S Pen". But it does the same thing as a stylus. Which reminds me of all my old PDA's I had when I use it. Like my old Palm Pilots.

Here's the wiki page for the phone: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Note

I never thought I'd say this, but I think I found something I like as much as my beloved Nokia Communicators!

I saw the Galaxy Note at Radio Shack and was impressed with it after using my brother-in-laws Galaxy S. Lots of applications, and you can use it as a phone too...but I wondered how long it would be until I broke the screen if I used it like a cellphone.

Still it seemed very cool.

It uses Gorilla Glass, so that's a plus. So far I've been carrying it around in my pants pocket. I've sat with the thing in my front pocket, had it in there with change (accident) and still no scratches. Not sure how well it would handle a drop though, or a hard hit to the screen.

Hi Solidus, congratulations for you new baby!
I must confess that me too have bought myself a note several weeks ago and the large bright screen was a major factor in my decision.
I am also not happy with the overall Android arrangement with Google, PlayStore, etc, etc, but most of all I am completely unhappy with the lack of overview on the so many existing custom roms and kernels. No rom or kernels list, no features list, no comparison tables, just so many paralel developments of various individuals and teams. No objection to development, it is for sure an absolute great thing what the developers are doing, but now many weeks of reading and how many flashing should a newcomer perform to find the rom that fits best his needs???!!! I just need to find out fast what rom is best for my needs and USE the phone, that is why I have bought it for and NOT for keep on flashing new roms.
I recall I have experienced the same feeling of desorientation a few years back with Linux flavours on my Asus eeepc. That is why I got back to Windows.

About dropping down the beast, I have come accross some cases on forums where it was not the glass that got broken, but the SCREEN!!! So take good care of it and hold it tight. I was also reading about micro scratches on the Gorilla glass (???!!!), therefore people are using a protective foil.
In case you are running the IceCream Sandwitch Android OS , DO NOT PERFORM any wipe or factory reset, there is a bug in the emmc that is bricking the phone. So far only the "old" GingerBread is safe for wiping. You might want to do some reading on the xda developers forum, there is planty of it.


Edited by arlex 2012-07-31 10:43 PM

Hey Arlex, great to find another Note user here.

Thanks for the heads up regarding ICS. I didn't know that and was actually considering doing it a few minutes ago but decided against it. I too loathe the tight integration with Google. I try to avoid Google due to their stance on privacy (and here I have a phone infested with Google!) but what are ya gonna do? Mozilla is coming out with a Firefox branded OS which looks nice. But anyways... There's an update for ICS but can't download it as Kies on my Mac isn't 100% compatible as I'm using Mountain Lion. Have you updated? Do you know if that resolves the issue about resetting the device?

About privacy, please note that there are a few free programs in Play Store that pretty much detect the CIQ (Carrier IQ) software, even if the phone is not rooted. Just do search in the PalyStore with "CIQ". Forums are also talking about a cure through the Logging TestApp, but you need to go root for that. I did not test it yet. It is also said that the CyanogenMod rom is much safer from this point of view.

I am not on ICS yet, I bought the phone with GB (Ginger Bread) and I prefer to stay on the safe side (so far). I am still tinkering on my phone, yet I don't have much time for that, but most of all I have no firm idea about even the benefits of the stock ICS vs. the stock GB, not talking about various custom roms and kernels.

For the Win PC the main flashing program is Odin, but Heimdall was developped first for MacOS and now it works also for Windows I've read. You can download any stock rom from the SamMobile.com FirmWare page and flash it with Heimdall (I guess). So far I have only used the Kies and Odin pc sw.

You can also update via OTA (over the air) or you could install Odin Mobile which doesn't need any PC. I did not touch yet any of these two ways and I have no idea on whether you are warned about the availability of a new ICS version when ready.

For sync with the Win PC there is a great program My Phone Explorer, but can't tell about compatibility with Mac.

Oh, another warning though: Note has a built in binary counter which is not incremented when flashing any stock (official) rom, but rooting or flashing any custom rom is incrementing the binary counter and also bringing in an yellow triangle on the boot screen. For warranty claims Samsung is turning the warranty void in case of rooted phones or using custom roms, therefore they are particualrly looking for the binary counter value and the yellow triangle.
Not being allowed to root your Android phone is a MAJOR difference to the Windows CE or Mobile.......:-(((

Hope that I managed to give you a bit of overview on some important issues, yet I am sure that some of them were known to you already.
But please mind that I am only a beginner and not an experienced advisor, Note is my first phone with Android....

Edited by arlex 2012-07-31 11:30 PM

Sorry, I misphrased this statement. I just wanted to say that I am happy to talk with you any time about note, but the deep competent advise is on the forums, I am not that good.

Hey Arlex, no problem. I had one Android device before, but quickly got rid of it as I didn't feel Android was for me. However, this time around it feels VERY different. I don't like messing with custom roms unless it's on WinCE devices. So it'll be stock as it is unless I get updates directly from Kies. It came with ICS already installed and so far, it runs like a dream. I am tempted though to play with some custom roms, could you suggest what you feel is "the best"? And if you have a link I could read about it that'd be great. I really appreciate the information, as I do hope to eventually start modding my phone and this is a great start.

Off to bed, noapte buna!

Edited by SOLIDUS 2012-08-01 11:34 PM

Sorry I am not in such a position, my knowledge on Android is so limited, so far I have played a bit with only GB stock roms and rooting with CWM. And couldn't avoid trouble with wiping and with the yellow triangle on the boot screen and with incrementing the binary counter....But now it's all right. Maybe I will go on step further over this week-end with the first custom rom..... Anyway I regeret my Windows CE and Windows Mobile time.......



Considering the vast amount of available information I have put toghether for my reference a list with a number of important thread titles and links to the xda-developers forum mainly. I will stick it down below in the next post, hopefully this is not against this forum rules.
You know that a few posts back I was complaining about the lack of overview on the large variety of roms and kernels with no comparison of the features. Well the situation has improved a little bit thanks to the work of various contributors on the xda forum. Although a comparison of features is still not available, at least there are consistent reference lists with the stock roms, with the custom roms and with the kernels.
And you are right, this immense variety comes from the open system, with Win CE we didn't have that... I was wondering the other day how my Galaxy Note would look with Win CE or WinMob 6.5 on......



Wow, thank you, this is amaizing, how do you know that, I guess it is not a simple Google translation.....

Edited by arlex 2012-08-03 8:47 AM

I hope this post is not against the rules of this forum, but if so, kindly ask the moderator to deletet it!

Enjoy.........

Important Forum Threads for Galaxy Note GT-N7000
Check if you are running the dangerous eMMC chip firmware by installing and running the GotBrickbug-v1.1.zip aplication from the thread Got Brickbug ? v1.1 at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1693704&highlight=got+brickbug+v1+1

Heimdall - Open-Source Cross-Platform Flashing Suite (1.3.2 Now Available) at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1104826

Galaxy Note: tips and tricks at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1407787&highlight=galaxy+note+tips+and+tricks

[FAQ] HELP THREAD - Noob Friendly at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1774208&highlight=n7000+all+stock+roms+install+root+guide

New comers like myself, this just may help at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1739492&highlight=n7000+all+stock+roms+install+root+guide

What are the underlying principles of Flashing and Rooting at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1746067&highlight=what+are+the+underlying+principles+of+flashing+and+rooting


About Rooting

How to Root/Unroot Samsung Galaxy Note + CWM at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1329360

[CF-Root 5.6] KJ*,KK*,KL*,LA-1346,LB1,LC1,LP-1YF89,LQ-23,LRG - su+bb+CWM5 at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1331784

[Tool] OneClickRoot - ONLINE at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1783733

How to root on Android 4.0.3 ICS without incrementing flash counter at http://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-note-gt-n7000-root-clockworkmod-recovery-no-flash-counter-90787/

About ROMs and Kernels

[STOCK ROMS] N7000 All stock ROMs + install + Root guide All at 1place,Latest 4.0.4 at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1424997&highlight=n7000+all+stock+roms+install+root+guide

Stock Rom v4.0.4 with CF-Root LRG Kernel and Binary Reset Tutorial at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1770668

Custom ROMs/Add ons/Stock ROMs at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1590284

[CUSTOM ROMS] N7000 All custom ROMs in one place at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1762081

(roms-db.com) Samsung Galaxy Note (GT-N7000) Android™ Roms at http://galaxynote.roms-db.com/

[JB][ICS][GB] Kernel Repository at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1789397


SamMobile Firmware page at http://www.sammobile.com/firmware/?page=3&t=1&o=1&m=GT-N7000&r=1#modelsa

Various Tools

Toolbox at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1801341&highlight=n7000+all+stock+roms+install+root+guide

Check Fus Downloader - Download and decrypt latest firmware [Kies2.0] at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1032437

Replacing Superuser app with Super SU by CF at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1539711



Edited by arlex 2012-08-03 8:27 AM

That is great stuff Arlex, I may have to dust off my old XDA account and start using it for Android. Thanks for your valuable help!

I started to learn a little Romanian thanks to a good friend from Romania (same city as you actually) named Bogdan. Noapte buna is pretty much the only thing I still remember as I used it daily.

Hi again Solidus, very nice to hear from you again...;-)



Yes, it looks you have to, the amount of existing informations is absolutely huge and every day there are hundreds of new threads added (which is normal considering the amount of sold Androis phones). ICS seems to be now quite obsolete and JellyBean is the new rising star. (while I am still struggling to dig our the basic secrets of GB).



Well. this is interesting, sincere congratulations for you open mind and receptivity, although you never visited Romania yet, I guess.... But the future is laying in front of us....

Hi Solidus,

Today I've come accross 2 interesting threads that have enlightend me a lot, here are the links:
[GUIDE] How to Flash ICS and Survive at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1640679
and
Samsung Galaxy Note/GT-N7000 Wiki at http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Note/GT-N7000#Custom_Roms

Maily I have learned that there are 2 general types of ROMs from the point of view of comaptibility with the current Samsung TouchWiz interface, i.e. (quoting)
"Touchwiz based ICS Roms - They are very close to what you have got when you bought your Note. All the Samsung addons are there, including S-Memo, Clock Package etc.

AOSP/AOKP/CM based Roms - All the Samsung apps are chucked out of here. Samsung stuff is generally replaced by the similar apps from the Market."

The second link leads you to a list of customns ROMs and kernels, but not only. Very instructive overview.

Hope these are news to you too.



Edited by arlex 2012-08-05 9:23 PM

I've always wanted to visit Bogdan in Bucharest. Get some nice photographs too while I'm there. He also opened my eyes (or ears rather) to some Romanian folk music. Yes, those two links are new to me. Will have to give them a good look through. Thanks for your continued help Arlex!