Excited for Galaxy Note 3 announcement tomorrow...

[jpeyton]

Samsung ran into this "issue" at the S4 launch (and now the Note 3 launch), and Apple will face the same problem a week from now.

How do you get people to upgrade when both the cosmetic and technical updates to your products are small improvements at best?

The ONLY reason I upgraded from an S3 to an S4 was so I could use GPE ROMs instead of homebrewed ROMs. But I didn't upgrade for the screen, or the faster CPU, or better camera, because the S3 was good enough in all those areas.

 

[Ns1]

Samsung ran into this "issue" at the S4 launch (and now the Note 3 launch), and Apple will face the same problem a week from now.

How do you get people to upgrade when both the cosmetic and technical updates to your products are small improvements at best?

The ONLY reason I upgraded from an S3 to an S4 was so I could use GPE ROMs instead of homebrewed ROMs. But I didn't upgrade for the screen, or the faster CPU, or better camera, because the S3 was good enough in all those areas.

yeah, nothing about this announcement blew me away, so my decision isn't as cut and dry as I expected. I'll wait until next week to make my upgrade decision ^_^

 

[KentState]

Samsung ran into this "issue" at the S4 launch (and now the Note 3 launch), and Apple will face the same problem a week from now.

How do you get people to upgrade when both the cosmetic and technical updates to your products are small improvements at best?

The ONLY reason I upgraded from an S3 to an S4 was so I could use GPE ROMs instead of homebrewed ROMs. But I didn't upgrade for the screen, or the faster CPU, or better camera, because the S3 was good enough in all those areas.

The Note 2 is the first phone in a long time that fits me perfectly. Yeah, the 3 would be a small upgrade, but I'm 99.99% happy with mine and see no reason to buy a new phone for the next 4 years.

 

[Geekbabe]

I will be preordering this the minute VZW makes it available. Jesus, this phone looks like a total beast!

 

[Red Storm]

Samsung ran into this "issue" at the S4 launch (and now the Note 3 launch), and Apple will face the same problem a week from now.

How do you get people to upgrade when both the cosmetic and technical updates to your products are small improvements at best?

The ONLY reason I upgraded from an S3 to an S4 was so I could use GPE ROMs instead of homebrewed ROMs. But I didn't upgrade for the screen, or the faster CPU, or better camera, because the S3 was good enough in all those areas.

Small improvements across the board have driven people to upgrade products in every industry since the beginning of time. Not everyone already has a Note 2, so a Note 3 makes sense for them. They didn't need a drastically different phone, the Note 2 was a great phone, so those little improvements all across the board will make the Note 3 a great phone as well.

 

[Yongsta]

Samsung's marketing has got to be run by the biggest idiots on the planet. At least get a presenter that speaks flipping english.

And that faux leather back is a complete deal breaker assuming I wanted something this outrageously large for my phone

Since you can replace the battery, the back pops off meaning there should be plenty of 3rd party backs that won't be faux leather.

 

[Red Storm]

Since you can replace the battery, the back pops off meaning there should be plenty of 3rd party backs that won't be faux leather.

He doesn't want a Note to begin with, he's just hating.

 

[isekii]

Contemplating on jumping ship to the note 3.. currently on note 2

 

[WelshBloke]

Samsung's marketing has got to be run by the biggest idiots on the planet...

Wait... I thought Samsungs marketing were supposed to be evil geniuses that were the only reason people were buying Samsung phones.

It's all too confusing.

 

[Zaap]

Contemplating on jumping ship to the note 3.. currently on note 2

Exactly the same here. Very happy with my Note 2, but the best just got even better.

 

[CZroe]

I must say: I'm a little disappointed.

No water-proofing to compete with Sony's answer to the Note series, no durability improvements, no value-model, no monster battery, ... none of the stuff I *really* wanted.

I think it should have been a bit thicker than the Note II so that the components could be spread out underneath a huge ~5" battery for all-day use.

I guess there's still a chance that an "Active" version will be announced soon.

 

[isekii]

I must say: I'm a little disappointed.

No water-proofing to compete with Sony's answer to the Note series, no durability improvements, no value-model, no monster battery, ... none of the stuff I *really* wanted.

I think it should have been a bit thicker than the Note II so that the components could be spread out underneath a huge ~5" battery for all-day use.

I guess there's still a chance that an "Active" version will be announced soon.

can't you already go full day on the note 2 ?

 

[shortylickens]

can't you already go full day on the note 2 ?

you should if you dont have lots of junk running in the background.

 

[CZroe]

can't you already go full day on the note 2 ?

Not if I intend to watch movies on it or play through an emulated console game or browse the web all day.

I'm talking about all day use use, not all day waiting for phone calls punctuated with the occasional email / call.

 

[isekii]

Not if I intend to watch movies on it or play through an emulated console game or browse the web all day.

I'm talking about all day use use, not all day waiting for phone calls punctuated with the occasional email / call.

Uh.. not even tablet would go all day movie ~ emulated console games..

 

[Ravynmagi]

People that are not blown away... look at it from the other side. Last year's phone is still good enough that you don't have to upgrade it only 12 months later. That can't be a bad thing, right?

 

[CZroe]

you should if you dont have lots of junk running in the background.

I'm talking about the foreground, as in, if I wanted to spend all day playing games and watching movies without running my phone dead. As I discovered with my Xperia PLAY: It's one thing to run a PSP or other dedicated device dead but it's something else entirely when it takes your phone down with it. Even with great battery life and a second battery I rarely use my Xperia PLAY for it's distinguishing purpose (games) just so that I have it for the more important one (communications). That means it didn't really keep me from carrying around a second device. If the Note 3 doesn't have all day battery life for active use then it doesn't really replace carrying around two devices (tablet + phone).

 

[CZroe]

Uh.. not even tablet would go all day movie ~ emulated console games..

I can use my brother's iPad mini almost as much as I could possible want in a day and, combined with the time available doing those same things from my phone, the two device approach has rarely proved lacking.

I do have to work, eat, sleep, and *gasp* pause to take a phone call every now and then.

Basically, the screen size invites other uses and it needs the battery life to support that additional usage.

 

[shortylickens]

I'm talking about the foreground, as in, if I wanted to spend all day playing games and watching movies without running my phone dead. As I discovered with my Xperia PLAY: It's one thing to run a PSP or other dedicated device dead but it's something else entirely when it takes your phone down with it. Even with great battery life and a second battery I rarely use my Xperia PLAY for it's distinguishing purpose (games) just so that I have it for the more important one (communications). That means it didn't really keep me from carrying around a second device. If the Note 3 doesn't have all day battery life for active use then it doesn't really replace carrying around two devices (tablet + phone).

Nope. You cant run games all day and stream HD movies. They want phones to be sleek so they still arent giving us the batteries they need.

 

[CZroe]

Nope. You cant run games all day and stream HD movies. They want phones to be sleek so they still arent giving us the batteries they need.

That's why this conversation thread about "all day" battery life started: I was saying that they should have made it slightly thicker than the Note II so that the components could be spread out under a much larger (area) but thinner battery, like an iPad. Instead, everything that's not the display is crammed around the battery which must then occupy a smaller area on the back.

 

[lopri]

I expected thinner bezels, so it's somewhat of a disappointment. The faux-leather back should be user replaceable, I assume? Otherwise it'd be a huge minus because it will wear and tear over time.

I wonder Samsung have modernized the TW somewhat. And control UI bloats to a more reasonable level. Otherwise, this phone is not as exciting as the S4. The Nexus 5 based on LG G2 will be more interesting, except for the pen support.

 

[CZroe]

I expected thinner bezels, so it's somewhat of a disappointment. The faux-leather back should be user replaceable, I assume? Otherwise it'd be a huge minus because it will wear and tear over time.

I wonder Samsung have modernized the TW somewhat. And control UI bloats to a more reasonable level. Otherwise, this phone is not as exciting as the S4. The Nexus 5 based on LG G2 will be more interesting, except for the pen support.

I'd like to say "of course it is: it's the battery door." but it didn't work out that way for my Xperia PLAY. eBay was full of replicas or factory seconds or something but NONE had the rubber gasket for the stereo speakers or the foam surround for the noise-canceling microphone (even the ones that showed them in the pictures). Luckily I can say "of course it is: they've already shown all the flip and S-view covers" because these replace the battery door too.

 

[Zaap]

I'd say there's zero reason to believe that the N3 battery door won't be easily replaceable given that it's never been a problem on with Samsung's latest flagship phones. And of course there has to be an OEM flip-cover back.

Leather by default is a strange choice. Seems they are acknowledging the Notes are very popular with women.

You can actually get it in pink(??!)

http://www.engadget.com/gallery/pink-galaxy-note-3-hands-on/947109/#!slide=947107

 

[CZroe]

I'd say there's zero reason to believe that the N3 battery door won't be easily replaceable given that it's never been a problem on with Samsung's latest flagship phones. And of course there has to be an OEM flip-cover back.

Leather by default is a strange choice. Seems they are acknowledging the Notes are very popular with women.

You can actually get it in pink(??!)

http://www.engadget.com/gallery/pink-galaxy-note-3-hands-on/947109/#!slide=947107

It's already been shown with both types of covers (standard and "S-View") in a multitude of colors.

 

[lopri]

That's good to hear. Looking at more pictures, the phone looks quite nice and Samsung did a very good job minimizing bezels, esp. top and bottom this time. Sony should take note.

With the removable back, I think this phone can be carried around without a case very nicely.

P.S. It seems like Samsung is the only vendor that gives more usable screen estate by moving the buttons out of the screen while maintaining/reducing device size. Why no other OEMs do this?