Samsung Galaxy Note - One Month On

The wait for Ice Cream Sandwich is now over, so I have updated my Galaxy Note. The upgrade went smoothly, with the exception of the battery stats getting corrupted. This was resolved by letting the battery drain until the phone switched off, and then recharging. I had to do this twice before the phone would recharge fully again.

I also had problems with Onavo Count, which became a battery hog with ICS. However, this was not a problem, as ICS adds data usage functionality, so I just uninstalled the now redundant app.

Almost every app available seems to work on the Galaxy Note with ICS, and it has been interesting trying them out. One of my favourites has been the BBC Iplayer, which allows me to catch up on radio comedy that I have missed. It is time now to try out some S pen apps.

Samsung Galaxy Note - First Impressions

The first thing you notice when you open the box is the size. It is a lot bigger than most mobiles, but within an hour of use, your old 3.5" screen just looks too small. It fits comfortably into a standard trouser pocket, to the point were you hardly know it is there. I could not say that for my old phone, a Samsung Galaxy Ace.

Battery consumption is excellent for normal use, calls, email, internet browsing etc, but can increase dramatically if used for screen intensive games. The battery lasts more than a full day with plenty to spare thanks to the 2,500 mAh capacity.

The main attraction of the Galaxy Note is the 5.3" screen size. The screen is not just longer, but wider, making it the perfect size for internet browsing or reading an e-book. It is the perfect size for using the Marvel comic app for example. Some apps look too big, but most are able to make use of the additional space available.

Internet connection is fast, with HSPA + available in many places. I have even noticed a faster connection when using wifi. Updating apps is certainly faster.

I considered the S pen to be an added bonus, and I have not used it much to date. The Galaxy Note learns your handwriting, making it easier to write with use. It is great being able to annotate pages by hand, and I look forward to using this more in future. One thing I have used a lot is the screen capture, which can be done by sliding the edge of your hand across the page line a scanner. This has saved a lot of time writing notes.

Making calls is no different than using any smartphone. You do not feel self concious at all about the large size of the phone against your ear. You certainly won't worry about dropping it like many smaller phones, which can be hard to hold in larger hands. The is enhanced by the clip on case I bought, which provides a very good grip at the sides.

The anti smear screen works very well, and is very responsive. My Galaxy Ace was always hard to read due to finger marks, but that is not an issue here.

 I will add more impressions over the coming weeks and months.