There seems to be quite a difference the way OS runs between the Note2 and Note. The Note2 performs so silky, smooth now. I suspect it is a combination of the Quad Core, the 2gb ram and overall improvement with the Jelly Bean Android OS. With the original Note I would usually get a few stalls and lags throughout the day. Also on some occasions the Note would run quite warm, especially around the area which houses the camera lens. More often than not it would occur while accessing the internet or checking email. So far I am happy to not come across such problems with the Note2.
A few Quick Features
There are quite a few new features added to the new Note. Too many in fact to mention all in detail. There are a few improvements however, that I think are worthy of mentioning.
My number one favourite is the pop up browser. If you tap on a link you can choose to pop up a smaller windowed browser. I found this especially useful when searching for info with Google. While the browser is loading you are able to move the window anywhere on the screen and you are still able to browse and scroll in the original browser. You can also do a similar thing to video as well. When you choose a video you have an option to minimise the video. It will play in it’s own little window, while you have access to the rest of the phone functions. The video screen can be pinched and zoomed for screen size adjustment.
With the Note you are spoilt for choice for screen capture. You can either hold down the button of the S-Pen and press it on the screen or you can even do it iPhone style by pressing the power button and menu button simultaneously. The Note2 has an added option of just swiping the screen horizontally with the side of your hand. This by far is the most convenient and fastest way of doing this.
I find the proximity sensor quite useful as well. Generally to help save battery I set the screen to turn off after 15s of idle. If I happen to be reading something it may sometimes take longer than 15s so the phone will just turn off. The Note2 is now able to observe if you are still viewing the screen. On the task bar an eye will appear for a split second to indicate that the sensor is functioning. The screen will stay on so long as I am still viewing the screen. Also if the screen is off in standby mode I am able to put my hand over the screen. The phone will sense this and will show up a screen briefly that has the time and date, missed calls, unread text messages and battery life.
The features I mentioned are relatively minor to what the other things that the phone is capable of, but they have made the Note2 a very pleasant and enjoyable phone to use. It has helped to achieve a level of refinement over the original Note.
Comparisons
Perhaps the most controversial feature of the Note is it’s size. The Note’s size is probably one aspect of the phone which might possibly be the sole deciding factor as to whether one loves or hates the phone. As I mentioned earlier the new Note2 feels more compact to hold than the original Note, but in comparison it is still a fair sized phone.
With the Note2 and the iPhone5 (i5) being released at around the same time I couldn’t help, but grab them to see them side by side. Perhaps I can justify this comparison as both these phones boast a 16:9 aspect screen. Other than that comparisons slowly diverge from there.
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