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Wondering what everyone's opinion is on which one to get or which one is better, price included etc...
I can imagine that the screen on that thing will be beautiful. Though the small battery concerns me. I have never had good luck with HTC's customization and battery life. How important is the S Pen to you?
I'd have to mess with it but I've had smart phones for years with out a problem but the s pen would probably come in handy
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
jackholl92 said:
I'd have to mess with it but I've had smart phones for years with out a problem but the s pen would probably come in handy
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, the S Pen and the multi-window feature is the entire reason I am purchasing the phone (It isn't time for my "upgrade" yet). Spec wise it is really kind of a wait and see. I personally like the black and red, but I am not a fan of the glossy black. I prefer the look of the brushed "metal" of the galaxy series.
Has HTC cooked up any compelling software features?
I'm almost positive I'm getting the Note 2, but the HTC DNA is definitely intriguing. I sorta made this pros and cons for myself, it may be helpful to you or others though.
HTC DNA
Pros
Nice build quality from HTC
Very sharp screen with around 440ppi
Aesthetically pleasing (personal opinion of course)
SD Slot (possibly)
S4 Pro
Great camera normally by HTC
Cons
First generation of 1080p screen may have unexpected problems
Battery is on the small side
No multi-window or S-Pen (my 2 main reasons for going for the Note 2)
Non-removable battery (personally I like just having the option to have a spare on hand)
Galaxy Note 2
Pros
Larger screen
S-Pen
Multi-window
Allshare (not sure if HTC has something like this or not)
Removable Battery and SD Card Slot
Exynos 4412
Light weight for such a large phone
Home Button (definitely personal preference, but I like it)
Cons
Home button Verizon branding (can fix however with these,http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-ALUMINUM-HOME-Button-Keyboard-Sticker-f-Samsung-Galaxy-Note-2-II-N7100-Slv-/121002308301?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item1c2c4cb2cd
My brain won't let me think of any other since I've already bought 3 cases and the Allshare Cast Dongle for the Note 2.
I will be going to check out the HTC DNA for sure when it arrives in store either way though.
jackholl92 said:
Wondering what everyone's opinion is on which one to get or which one is better, price included etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i would def choose note 2 over dlx anyway bc bigger screen size s pen although i could care less and removable battery
clemson91 said:
I'm almost positive I'm getting the Note 2, but the HTC DNA is definitely intriguing. I sorta made this pros and cons for myself, it may be helpful to you or others though.
HTC DNA
Pros
Nice build quality from HTC
Very sharp screen with around 440ppi
Aesthetically pleasing (personal opinion of course)
SD Slot (possibly)
S4 Pro
Great camera normally by HTC
Cons
First generation of 1080p screen may have unexpected problems
Battery is on the small side
No multi-window or S-Pen (my 2 main reasons for going for the Note 2)
Non-removable battery (personally I like just having the option to have a spare on hand)
Galaxy Note 2
Pros
Larger screen
S-Pen
Multi-window
Allshare (not sure if HTC has something like this or not)
Removable Battery and SD Card Slot
Exynos 4412
Light weight for such a large phone
Home Button (definitely personal preference, but I like it)
Cons
My brain won't let me think of any since I've already bought 3 cases and the Allshare Cast Dongle for the Note 2.
I will be going to check out the HTC DNA for sure when it arrives in store either way though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the list of Cons for Galaxy Note 2 (Verizon)
Locked bootloader (unless someone can crack it or another leak happens)
The Logo on the home button (it may not bother some, but due to the volume of posts I figured it should be mentioned)
SFBPro said:
On the list of Cons for Galaxy Note 2 (Verizon)
Locked bootloader (unless someone can crack it or another leak happens)
The Logo on the home button (it may not bother some, but due to the volume of posts I figured it should be mentioned)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh well I had thought of the locked bootloader, but then thought the HTC DNA's would be locked as well so they sorta cancelled each other out. The home button is a good point since those who don't like would need to get those cover up stickers.
clemson91 said:
Oh well I had thought of the locked bootloader, but then thought the HTC DNA's would be locked as well so they sorta cancelled each other out. The home button is a good point since those who don't like would need to get those cover up stickers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While the bootloader may be shipped locked on the DNA, at least you could "unlock" it via HTC Dev. I for one am going to try the sugar water method to get rid of the logo.
clemson91 said:
I'm almost positive I'm getting the Note 2, but the HTC DNA is definitely intriguing. I sorta made this pros and cons for myself, it may be helpful to you or others though.
HTC DNA
Pros
Nice build quality from HTC
Very sharp screen with around 440ppi
Aesthetically pleasing (personal opinion of course)
SD Slot (possibly)
S4 Pro
Great camera normally by HTC
Cons
First generation of 1080p screen may have unexpected problems
Battery is on the small side
No multi-window or S-Pen (my 2 main reasons for going for the Note 2)
Non-removable battery (personally I like just having the option to have a spare on hand)
Galaxy Note 2
Pros
Larger screen
S-Pen
Multi-window
Allshare (not sure if HTC has something like this or not)
Removable Battery and SD Card Slot
Exynos 4412
Light weight for such a large phone
Home Button (definitely personal preference, but I like it)
Cons
Home button Verizon branding (can fix however with these,http://www.ebay.com/itm/Metal-ALUMI...308301?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item1c2c4cb2cd
My brain won't let me think of any other since I've already bought 3 cases and the Allshare Cast Dongle for the Note 2.
I will be going to check out the HTC DNA for sure when it arrives in store either way though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks that definitely helps I've definitely called Verizon twice to pre-order then I just hung up lol
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Both seem like great devices. I personally don't really care about the s pen, I probably won't use it much. But I do like the multi-window and large battery of the Note 2.
It's the battery that did it for me. I was really excited when I heard rumors that HTC was going to make a note competitor but then when I saw that the battery was only around 2000mah and non-removable that ruined it for me. Plus I kind of see the lower resolution as a plus, I've always gone with the highest resolution I could for computers but when the pixels are as small as they are on this I don't know how much better 1080p can really be but I do know it will be a lot more taxing on the GPU so the note 2 should have better graphics performance.
IvanNCase said:
It's the battery that did it for me. I was really excited when I heard rumors that HTC was going to make a note competitor but then when I saw that the battery was only around 2000mah and non-removable that ruined it for me. Plus I kind of see the lower resolution as a plus, I've always gone with the highest resolution I could for computers but when the pixels are as small as they are on this I don't know how much better 1080p can really be but I do know it will be a lot more taxing on the GPU so the note 2 should have better graphics performance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes a lot of sense lol has anyone messed with the Note 2 yet?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
jackholl92 said:
That makes a lot of sense lol has anyone messed with the Note 2 yet?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the t mobile note 2 for a couple days and the only con I have is the physical home button. I really wish it was capacitive. It's kind of a pain to actually click the button when you're holding the phone with one hand because it messes up the balance of the phone in your hand making it feel like it's about to fall.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
I love the phones HTC makes. However reading the 12 page review of the N2 on GSMArena the other really dived into all the extra bits samsung and put into the Galaxy phones and then the note widgets as well. I can see them being very useful.
I like using Google Voice actions in the car, but never in a crowded area, with the S Pen a few swipes and boom a text is sent.
r0n0c said:
I love the phones HTC makes. However reading the 12 page review of the N2 on GSMArena the other really dived into all the extra bits samsung and put into the Galaxy phones and then the note widgets as well. I can see them being very useful.
I like using Google Voice actions in the car, but never in a crowded area, with the S Pen a few swipes and boom a text is sent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
SFBPro said:
While the bootloader may be shipped locked on the DNA, at least you could "unlock" it via HTC Dev. I for one am going to try the sugar water method to get rid of the logo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And chances are that someone may stumble upon an unlocked bootloader for the Note 2, so how is it any different? There is also no confirmation that it can be unlocked via HTC Dev.
The lack of SD card and too small nonremovable battery leaves out the DNA.
Oh I just thought of probably the biggest reason I'm going for the Note 2 now, and I'll wait for another 1080p device later, nothing will really take advantage of all those pixels, everything is just now starting to work well a 720p. Hopefully more 1080p phones come out over the next year, and then the Note 3 comes with a 1080p screen, so by then more apps will be taking advantage of all those pixels.
If it is true that the DNA/DLX only has a 2000mAh battery (or thereabouts) then that would be a huge con IMO. People complain about battery life all the time, even when they're getting better than average battery life. You're taking a device with a larger screen than a SGS3, plus has twice the CPU cores, and putting the same sized battery in it. For battery life comparisons, I would guess that the DNA will have worse battery life than the SGS3.
While the Note 2 has a HUGE screen and quad core, it also has a huge battery to go with it, and from what I've read, it gets battery life comparable to the SGS3, maybe slightly better, depending on usage. Add in the S-Pen, and you have two major selling points IMO. But, there are always going to be fans of HTC, and Samsung haters. One thing to note is that if both are unlocked, the DNA/DLX is more likely to get AOSP going due to the Snapdragon processor, at least at this point. If Samsung lives up to their word and releases the Exynos sources as requested, that could change.
Here is my LONG and slightly biased review of the 3 top devices right now.
I had a DNA, Nexus 4, and Note 2 all at the same time and here is a summary of my thoughts on how they compare.
The DNA and Note 2 were my personal phones, the Nexus 4 belonged to my company and was purchased for a tear down analysis. I got to use it for about a week.
I have been following the HTC J Butterfly ever since it was announced in Japan. Although I was 100 percent satisfied with my Note 2, I was quite intrigued with the phone's full 1080 progressive display. So many pixels crammed in 5" of screen real estate must be amazing I figured. I wanted to see if this phone would give me second thoughts and sway me away from my beloved Note 2.
Screen:
1. DNA
2. Note 2
3. Nexus 4
The crown jewel of the HTC DNA is the display, while quite amazing in person, it reminds me a lot of the iPhone 5's Retina display, just bigger. I know the DNA has a much higher ppi density, but in reality you really can't tell the difference once the resolution gets so high in a 4-5" screen. Only situation where I could clearly distinguish the difference was in text, and when zoomed all the way out and the texts are all microscopic but still legible if you put a magnifying glass to it.
The novelty of the 1080P screen wears out QUICK. I showed a few of my co-workers and friends/families and they couldn't really see what the big fuss was all about. They say their iPhone 4S/5 ect. looks the same. Oh well, I should have brought with me a magnifying glass to brag about the difference I suppose. Once the novelty wears off, the beautiful screen becomes more of a curse. A LOT of games/apps don't work right with the 1080p display. I know developers will eventually update their apps, maybe, to support the 1080p resolution but in the meantime it's a waiting game. I hate waiting...and it seems like I'm missing out on a lot of good games and apps while other phones get to enjoy it RIGHT NOW.
Next, The high ppi count combined with HTC sense lags this phone. You can tell it taxes the GPU/CPU pushing all those pixels. If you claim your DNA doesn't lag, then you either don't know what lag is, or never experienced a phone that is lag-free. The iPhone 5 is lag free, the Nexus 4 and Note 2 are "almost" lag free but those two still offer much smoother UI performance as a whole than the DNA.
The Nexus 4 screen is "nice" but it's nothing to write home about, nor is it super uber amazing like some Nexus fans might lead you to believe. The viewing angles and resolution are above average but the color is quite disappointing. Everything looks washed out and drab on the screen next to the DNA and Note 2, no real pop or anything to make it stand out. It reminds me a lot of the display on my LG G2X, just higher resolution.
Note 2's screen, don't be fooled by the "only" 267ppi count. This screen is by far one of the best displays I've seen on a smartphone, and I've had pretty much most all high end smartphones due to the line of work I do and frankly, my addiction. The lame background that Samsung loads on this phone default from the factory does not do the phone justice. I can see how a person would think the screen isn't anything special when they first turn it on. Com'on Samsung, load a high resolution default background to show off that beautiful screen, not some low resolution, plain blue background with a feather in the back.
This display is not like the other Samsung AMOLEDs of the past like the Note 1, Galaxy S, Nexus, Galaxy S3. Those are all Pentile matrix. Those are not comparable to the Note 2's screen.
The Note 2 is an RGB matrix OLED HD NON-PENTILE display, the highest resolution one that Samsung has ever put on a phone. And it's a spectacular display, which blows the other Samsung SuperAMOLED's out of the water. Everything looks sharper on a non-pentile display. Don't be fooled by the ppi count on AMOLED's when comparing pentile to non-pentile, the S3 might have a higher ppi density but the Note 2 offers a superior viewing experience. Text, images, ect. all look much more clear, sharper and cleaner on the Note 2.
It doesn't quite match the DNA's overall brightness and resolution but it's a solid, high resolution beautiful screen. Better than the Nexus 4's screen by far.
Camera:
Camera quality wise I would rank them as follows.
1. Note 2
2. DNA
3. Nexus 4
The Note 2 takes the best pictures in all light conditions, the DNA takes good pictures in good lighting but they produce a LOT of noise and it gets worse as the lighting drops. Noise is very apparent when you blow the picture up to 100 percent crop. The Nexus 4 is last place, I could not take a decent picture with that thing especially low light. The Note 2 takes really high quality pictures without a lot of noise, I am very impressed with it.
Build:
Build quality and feel.
1. Nexus 4
2. DNA
3. Note 2
I got to hand it to LG and Google on the Nexus 4, this thing feels like a million bucks in your hand. Glass front and back, rubber surround between. It just feels very premium. Like German Engineered. =) It just feels really good in your hand. Just don't drop it.
The DNA feels... Japanese. Very well built, gives the impression that it should last for a long time and fare well in drop survival . Doesn't quite match the Nexus for that extra premium feel. Very ergonomic to hold, I think it was my favorite thing about the DNA. It felt really nicely balanced in your hand for it's size.
Sadly the Note 2 feels like a GM product. Plastic, plastic, plastic. Even the simulated metal surround is just painted plastic. Upside is it's relatively light for it's size but don't expect it to have a premium feel to it, it's not bad, it's actually very solid but just not premium feeling like the other two. Feels better in the hand than the Note 1, which was kinda ridiculous and shaped more like a tablet. The Note 2 feels like a phone, just a large one. Not the most comfortable phone to hold for a long time one handed but definitely not that bad.
Software.
1. Note 2
2. Nexus 4
3. DNA
The Note 2 is on a whole different planet when it comes to functionality and software. I know many people scoff at Touchwiz and Sense, or any UI overlay that messes with the pure Android experience. I too was one of those people. My mind was blown when it came to the Note 2. It's been a month since I had my international Note 2, and about a week with my T-Mobile Note 2. I am still finding out new incredible things the software and S-Pen can do on this phone. Touchwiz is truly great on this phone, also it is butter smooth in operation. I can't believe I'm saying this but Touchwiz on the Note 2 makes pure Android 4.2 on the Nexus 4 seem rather lame and boring. It seems like Samsung really took their time, did their homework to really optimize the operation of their UI on this phone. Rooting and Installing custom roms is as easy as they get on the Note 2. Flash 1 simple file, and bam you got a custom recovery. Root and install custom roms and kernels till your hearts desire!
HTC Sense, now this is one beautiful looking UI. Unfortunately DNA is loaded to the gills with bloatware, OMG I've never seen so much bloat on a phone. You can tell the UI really taxes the phone's CPU and GPU. The performance definitely do not match the benchmarks. Don't get me started on unlocking the bootloader on this thing, have you guys seen the instructions? Seems more complicated than brain surgery with the risk of bricking your phone the whole process.
What can I say about the Nexus 4? It has pure 4.2 Android and is very smooth. On par with the Note 2. Pure Android feels sorta naked, with not much stuff to discover. It's plain jane, what pisses me off is Google decided to take out the AOSP browser and made Chrome the default browser. No flash support and performance isn't that great. I'm surprised that Chrome is actually pretty decently smooth on the Nexus 4 but still not as good as the stock AOSP browser. I did not like the on screen buttons which took a lot of screen real estate away.
I always found the S-Pen on the original Note kinda gimmicky, not so much on the Note 2. It is incredibly useful on the Note 2 and I find myself using it ALL THE TIME and I'm not a pen/tablet kinda guy. It's literally 10 times more accurate and functional on the Note 2 loaded with all kinds of great features. Air view is one of them and awesome!
Battery life:
1. Note 2
2. DNA
3. Nexus 4
Okay this is no contest. I am a HEAVY user with a lot of screen on time, I hardly charge my phones. The Note 2 gets me through the day with Heavy Usage, 10+ hours and I still have 25 percent reserve. Same type of usage, the Nexus 4 is dead in 3 1/2 hours flat The DNA is slightly better but still dead in about 4-5 hours of the same type of usage. With light to moderate use, the Note 2 got me through a weekend of camping with no charger in sight, that's with browsing the web, checking email, doing some work related stuff, streaming a few Youtube videos for my daughters. I would never attempt that with any other phone. Impossible with the Nexus or DNA. The Note 2's battery life is simply unbelievable. What's even better than the Note 2's amazing battery life? The ability to carry MORE if needed, since it's removable! The Nexus 4 battery blows! I'm at 60 percent just browsing the web on that thing for 45 minutes, hopefully with the next few updates Google will find a way to make the battery last longer.
Storage:
1. Note 2
2. DNA/Nexus 4
Again, No contest.
I had a 64GB Sandisk from my GS3, popped it into my Note 2 and now I have 80GB of combined storage. It's perfect for putting in literally my whole movie collection and mp3 songs on the go. My daughters could browse through the movie collection and find the ones they want to watch anywhere to keep them quiet, no need to plan ahead and only put in only 1 or 2 choices due to storage limitations. I could carry along more SD cards as I wish, basically limitless storage capacity is priceless to have.
After having owned and used all 3, I returned the DNA pronto.
There is absolutely no device that has satisfied me in all areas like the Note 2, it's basically the Swiss army knife of phones. It's a no contest comparing the DNA or Nexus 4 to the Note 2. They don't stand a chance. This is the ONE and ONLY device that has ever stopped my urge and yearning to try something different because I know there is no other phone out there that can measure up to it. Literally and figuratively.
I wouldn't put the fragile Nexus 4 at the top of build quality when the glass cracks easily. There's even been reports that temperature change (it being warn in your hand and then sat on a counter top) cracks it. Plastic is better build quality because it's built to last.
Thanks.. Well written comparison between the three phones and i think it's fair for the most part.
Highly biased towards the note 2 but that's your opinion
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda premium
Unless the DNA overheats or I use chrome, I don't see low framerate. I got it to overheat and used chrome at the same time today.
Wasn't pretty.
I wish people would stop calling low framerate lag. Lag is not even a relevant term.
LOL This sounded like a "Gather around kids, let me tell you about these phones, I had all 3!" "ooohhhhhhh aaaahhhhh"
Seriously though I have to agree with the OP on Touchwiz. I have a Note 10.1 tablet and I had a Galaxy SIII. I traded my S III to my sister for her upgrade so I could get the Note 2 on Verizon when it came out. Got tired of waiting and got the DNA. The DNA is a great phone, don't get me wrong, but after playing around with the S III and the Note 10.1 I found Sense to be just . . . boring. The whole 1080p thing really gets boring quick and I was just left with a skin that doesn't do all that much.
Today a friend was showing me that she bought the S III I recommended her to buy and I was showing her all these little things I liked and I kept having to say "no, my new one doesn't do that... but look at the screen!".
I carry 2 phones with me at all times. My Serious "work" phone (Verizon) because I need a phone that will work wherever I travel and my "Just for fun" phone (T-Mobile prepaid).
There is a lot I do like about the DNA, call quality is great, display really is amazing, I love the looks of it and it just feels reliable. So I made the decision that I'm going to keep the DNA on Verizon and instead I'm going to replace my Galaxy Nexus on T-Mobile with the Note 2. I think it makes sense, Verizon is my Reliable line and I think the DNA will be the most reliable PHONE, T-Mobile is my for fun line so I think the Note 2 will be the most fun phablet for it.
That's a whole bunch of hardware to carry around lol.
It really is an addiction LOL, I carry a manbag (IT'S NOT A PURSE!) with my Galaxy Note 10.1 and my Nexus 7 and my Bluetooth keyboard and a bunch of cables and a portable hard drive and chargers and then I carry my 2 phones around and I don't do **** with any of it. It's always a "Just in case" thing. It's that Ti and Ne kicking in.
People always slagged off Touchwiz but I tried Android on a phone in store in 2010 and I hated it, I then decided to go for the iPhone 4. When it came to the GS2 launching I had gotten so fed up of how restrictive IOS is that I sold my iPhone 4 and got the GS2 last year. It was so much better than the Android I used before and I messed around with lots of roms after people saying how stock is much better and I hated it, stock just lacked so many features that TouchWiz had. I also thought the apps Samsung had on the phone all just worked, where the stock apps felt rather dated. Then using the Note 2 in store I just the added functionality of the pen, especially being able to quickly write numbers down while on the phone without having to go through menus. PiP and the multiple windows open is just something I so badly want now and I loved how Samsung have improved TouchWiz so much since the GS2.
I would buy the Note 2 if the specs were more impressive, however the Mali 400 is a real let down, it struggled a bit on the GS2 and it would be even worse on the Note 2.
Though I've tried The Nexus 4 at work as my mate has one and I still think stock Android is **** compared to Touchwiz.
I truly appreciate this, thank you very much! I agree with everything you said as well (as far as the DNA and N2 go, I haven't used the N4). You've made the decision to return the DNA in for the Note 2 that much easier!
DNA has no screen stuttering when navigating the launcher or any of the apps... there will be some moments when its loaded up with apps that ive been using where it might have a very slight stutter but it usually corrects itself ... I personally love sense compared to anything else... the rest of my family all got GS III's and i hate touchwiz so much... the entire UI stutters from opening apps navigating screens and settings.. haven't played with a note II yet so i cant really go into detail with that...
Don't know what your whole family did to their S3's but I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in saying the S3 is quite smooth. Of course its not nexus 4 quick though
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
I had the note2 on T-Mobile for two weeks and now the DNA for one week. They are both great phones! Personally I don't care for sense or touchwiz, but then again that's why we are all here....you can get your android os anyway you like. I settled on the DNA because, I have always used HTC, even pre android, and think that they have the finest build quality in the android world. Also the note2 felt just slightly to big.
I think it really comes down to those little personal preferences when dealing with these power house phones! You won't be sorry with any of these.
I really wanted to like the S3, but nothing about it was 'woah' for me. It didn't look that good, and I didn't mind waiting to see what else was around the corner. So I got the DNA, and I'm blown away. I really don't care about comparing Touchwiz vs. Sense vs. Pure Android, because regardless of what skin I have, I'm going to either find an AOSP ROM or I'll be uninstalling all the bloat ware and using a different launcher.
The S3 is a good phone, and I would recommend it, but I love my DNA a lot more. The screen isn't a novelty for me really, its just beautiful and not Pentile.
The note2, I feel like that's not considered on the same category. I've never gotten to play with one, but if we are looking at $200 on contract, DNA is the way to go and not go to up for the Note2.
Pretty insightful, especially since I'm deciding between the DNA and Note 2. I haven't tested either phone in the store yet, but I plan on doing that soon. Swaying to the DNA because of the awesome design (IMHO) and the screen. Note 2 is looking good because of the removable battery and expandable storage. 6+GB of music will fill the DNA FAST since I can't really use cloud storage (NYC subway has no service). I have only 2 problems with the Note 2 from all the videos I've seen: 1. That sore thumb of a logo on the home button 2. Doesn't seem like the S-Pen works with AOSP roms like CM/AOKP/PA, based on what I've seen with the Note. Sort of a problem since I'm sure the S-Pen is a considerable amount of the final cost of the phone.
How clear would you say the screen on the Note 2 is? I've really only experienced the screen on my GNexus and a few of the first Galaxy S phones. I actually love my Nexus's screen, but at 5.5", I can't think of it being as nice.
Talked to a friend of mine who has tested both. He feels the Note 2 is no faster than the DNA even at lower resolution.
.torrented said:
DNA has no screen stuttering when navigating the launcher or any of the apps... there will be some moments when its loaded up with apps that ive been using where it might have a very slight stutter but it usually corrects itself ... I personally love sense compared to anything else... the rest of my family all got GS III's and i hate touchwiz so much... the entire UI stutters from opening apps navigating screens and settings.. haven't played with a note II yet so i cant really go into detail with that...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree here 100% I hated...HATED! Sense on my thunderbolt but this is a whole new sense.. I'd almost venture to say I prefer this newest sense to stock android... Just my input on that
This is very good thread, not biased at all to be honest. I was in love with the DNA display for the first few days, and guess what it wore off, lol. Now I can't tell a difference between 1080p and 720p lol. I now tell people hey you won't be able to tell after 2 days, lol.
I am about to go tomorrow to check out the note 2 and see if the narrow design fits my hands. I might switch it out but I am not going in with the mindset to pick one up, I however will be ready to exchange it if I am impressed. I am really tired of sense I like other launchers and for some reason they don't seem to run as fast on the 1080p screen.
Sense is so unproductive it looks nice but seriously why the hell do I have to go in to settings to change a wallpaper, the long press on home screen just lets you add widgets, so stupid. HTC seems to have made it worse.
I love the DNA but if I am as impressed by the note 2 I might exchange it out tomorrow.
---------- Post added at 06:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:05 AM ----------
adrynalyne said:
Talked to a friend of mine who has tested both. He feels the Note 2 is no faster than the DNA even at lower resolution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trust me unless your friend was a robot he wouldn't know. They are both fast phones, if someone says they can see the difference when they use it, they are most likely lying, lol.
I could be wrong but regarding battery category,
Is your Notes 2 using TMobile's network ? since Verizon's Note 2 is only available tomorrow, I guess the Notes 2 you own is GSM version.
Verizon's DNA is running on LTE.
So I would give it some kudos for running on LTE doing the heavy usage you had for 4-5 hours with 2020 mAH battery, (note 2 has a 1.5 bigger battery inside.)
Thanks for the review - and thanks for trying out phones that you know you are going to return. Helps everyone out when our carrier has to handle RMAs for people that want to try phones just to review them.
*sighs*
-D
Like the title says, I've been a Samsung leg humper since the original Galaxy S. In my line of work, I always had access to the latest handsets. Had almost every variant of the Original Galaxy S (ATT, International and T-Mobile 4G version) Galaxy SII again in ATT, International and T-mobile versions, The S3 in the Quad-Core International Version and T-Mobile Dual Core S4 version, then had also both the Note and Note 2.
I just preferred Samsung phones over other Android phones. My most recent addition is my T-Mobile Galaxy S4.
I am currently in the process of returning it! Wow did Samsung disappoint me in this edition. It feels unfinished, unrefined, slap together with a bunch of gimmicky tricks that I disabled immediately after 10 minutes of messing with them. The phone feels cheap... especially in the black version. That back plastic finish and pattern looks SUPER TACKY. They should have at least made it look like the finish on the Note 2's Titanium Gray, that at least looks pretty premium for plastic.
Don't get me started on the software, the phone LAGS. I mean A LOT! I was using a Nexus 4 while waiting for the S4 and boy is it night and day. The Nexus is buttery, the S4 lags in simple tasks like closing and opening the dialer and switching between homescreens, it lags when you open the camera. It stutters everywhere. It feels like a 2 generation old Android Phone, not the latest and greatest. It's quite pathetic really.
The stock keyboard is terrible, it lags when you type fast. It just can't keep up with fast typing. I was even pushed the latest software update a couple days ago which everybody raves fixes a bunch of lag, it helped but honestly the phone still lags and stutters all over the place. Completely inconsistent and frustrating. What really ticked me off was that Samsung disabled flash player support in their native browser and chrome. That was the last straw..
Today my T-Mobile HTC One arrived, I've been playing with it for the last 5 hours and I can't put it down! Well it's currently on the charger right now so I can play with it some more. That's the biggest compliment I can give it, when my S4 arrived, I played with it for maybe an hour and was so disgusted by the lag that I haven't really enjoyed picking it up and using it much since I received it 9 days ago! The HTC feels just so much more refined in everything, it feels finished and polished. Software is smooth, I saw a tiny, and I mean TINY bit of lag during closing a couple apps but it's nothing compared to the stuttering on the S4. Boom sound is overrated I think, the S4 is just as loud (seems almost louder?) but the HTC sounds fuller. I thought I was going to be blown away, but I wasn't. Sounds pretty good though, just not as amazing as all the reviewers make it seem. Camera is nice so far, nowhere near as feature packed as the S4, but it took decent low light pictures tonight. I'll try it again out in daylight tomorrow.
The LCD screen on the HTC ONE is so much better than the AMOLED screen on the S4 in my opinion. Text and everything seems just so much easier and smoother to look at. Everything looks crisp, and smooth.
Well that is it so far, I'm so glad I gave the HTC a shot. This one is a keeper for sure! Goodbye Samsung, you used to wow me with your products....HTC just kicked your butt on this round.
I completely agree that Samsung did not do as well as HTC this time
What is your line of work if you don't mind? I played with my friends s4 today- I have the note 2 and also noticed the lag on stock touch wiz and the keyboard. I put him on nova launcher and it was buttery smooth going through the phone's interface. I know what you mean by keyboards lag but I think Samsung will push an update to smooth things out, which honestly should have been done from the start. I like how the s4 looks with that texture but it is a bit tacky and wow does or attract fingerprints. It's plastic body does allow it to be thinner and lighter though. Each phone has its advantages and disadvantages .
JediX13
gonna give the HTC one a try if i dont like it, hopefuly the 32gb s4 will be out by then
Well after almost 24 hours of use I can report some other findings.
The Camera on the S4 is hands down better in good lighting, the HTC produces a lot of noise even in great light. A little disappointed in that area since I do use my phone to take lots of family photos.
NEED FOR SPEED: Most wanted. Not available on the HTC One but is available for the Galaxy S4. Lame. They have the same processor and the same screen resolution yet the Samsung supports it and the HTC one doesn't. It's one of my favorite time killing games. A little sad there...
The LED notification on the HTC seems to time out after about 5 or 10 minutes, which makes it useless. I sometimes come back and glance at the phone thinking there are no messages because the LED notifier turns off, I check my phone just in case and I have lots of texts and emails. Minus another point for the HTC. The S4 will glady blink all day long until you open it up to check it. This one really bothers me because I rely heavily on the LED notification.
Boom sound still is overrated...
Overall, the HTC disappointed me in a few areas so far... I've yet to find a phone that is near perfect as the Note 2. Which in my opinion is an awesome phone, just needed a little speed boost in games and maybe a tiny bit smaller form factor and it would have been perfect.
I'll hang on to the HTC for a while and wait to see what the Note 3 can offer...... So far the Note 2 is still my favorite handset of all time.
Nice to hear that update. I too miss the LED notification that the S3 has. It's nice having something, but Samsung really nailed the notification LED. I can live with the size of the LED on the One, but it would be nice to have more of it, and different colors for different notifications.
I also agree with the daytime photos. The One is good enough for my needs but the S4 does indeed pull in a great amount of detail.
I do however love "boomsound". I watch a lot of videos on my phone and can clearly hear the difference between the One, my GS3 (which I still have), and my Z10. It might not be louder than the other two, but man it just sounds better. If you do a blind sound test, you can clearly pick the One over the others.
HTC Could have really put a dent in Samsung's sales if they'd included an 8 "ultra pixel" camera.
Some of the things I agree with about the One. But I have a few pointers, I see no reason whatsoever why you're are getting noise on the One. The sensor is far to large to get noise unless you are in low light where it stills blows away other devices. Check your settings.
I've been using the camera in mediocre light with no noise.
As for the LED it is pretty much useless, especially coming from the world's greatest in the Galaxy Nexus. What I did was root and flashed the kernel that enables the capacitive lights to blink on a notification and it doesn't shut down after 5 minutes.
Also I finally heard the difference today between beats on and off. The difference is night and day, you will lose a good quarter volume but the sound is worlds better. Loud < Quality.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
I honestly thought I would be one of the few to get the One after having the S3. Looks like there are plenty!
I don't get any noise on my One either.
I think I'm going to get a HTC....
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Im using Galaxy S3 now, its a piece of crap. Im on vacation when the One isnt release yet. So I went and bought S3, will give this to my nephew.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
I owned the S2 and the S3, then I bought the HTC One as well. The S4 is just full of useless gimmicks honestly, and they are marketing it as such. They didn't change much other than internal hardware compared to the S3 and the HTC One is a completely fresh new idea.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
I think the S4 is a damn fine phone. However I've owned ever galaxy s and note series except the S4.
I needed the change. Just something different.
The ONE fit that bill perfectly.
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
mr.orange303 said:
I think the S4 is a damn fine phone. However I've owned ever galaxy s and note series except the S4.
I needed the change. Just something different.
The ONE fit that bill perfectly.
Sent from my HTC One using xda premium
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I agree. Both are good phones. I bought the one at Wal-mart. Saw that they had a 14 day return policy. I expected to check it out and return the phone. But today the 2 weeks is up, and I just can't make myself give it up.
My latest phones iphone iphone 3g 3gs 4 4s htc sensation samsung galaxy s s2 note note 2 now the HTC one.
Samsung did screw up on their galaxy s3s (s4). I knew they were on this path without a better phone with metal body or any other material besides plastic. Even though most won't admit it people buy the HTC one because of its looks.
I too agree the galaxy note 2 is/was my most favorite phone ever since I got the first iphone in 2007 before that maybe the motorola rzr . The note 3 should not be bigger unless they make it narrower, The note 2 is still too wide.
I have been all samsung phones like you too. It wasnt really the koolaid it was because they did have the best phones since the s2.
HTC one camera sucks ass!
Yes i said it, ok low light its good, but its still 4 megapixels so if you're going to zoom at all there is no clarity.
Boom sound is overrated
my note 2 with volume mod is louder
I hate the HTCs notification!!!
I also hate the battery life. I'm biased because my note 2 lasts a day and half of heavy use without a charge yes 24 hrs + 12 hrs/
I also dislike the ceo of htc. Production delays (because of the 4 gigawiggle pixel) cost over a month of HTC ones sales they lost out on billions of sales!! because of the inferior camera. Why not just put a 8 or 13 megapixel camera??!??
I guess im a little angry because I bought HTC stock and because of the production delay it cost HTC its early lead before the S4 launch.
Both sides made huge mistakes
Samsung if they made the s4 with a metal build would have maybe crushed the htc one.
The HTC one lucked out that samsung didnt.
Because can you imagine if samsung's s4 came in a fancy new metal design?
HTC one metal design no microsd card no removable battery 4.7" screen
S4 metal design microsd card slot removable larger battery 5" screen
I'm good with my s4,i love the design on the one, but I wouldn't be able to live without a extended battery. Both phones are awesome, up to user choice. I just hate people putting rants and complains and blah blah blah. Both phones are flagship phones, they both are new. They both are good.
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So basically Dan there is no pleasing you. HTC one hands down better device than s4. It seems you want perfection though , which you will never get.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Okay, here is a picture I took in front of my friend's house. In good lighting.
Can somebody tell me WTF is up with the HTC ONE camera? It looks like utter **** at 100 percent crop in full daylight condition.
Quality reminds of something you get from those $20 kids toy digital camera.
Dan37tz said:
Okay, here is a picture I took in front of my friend's house. In good lighting.
Can somebody tell me WTF is up with the HTC ONE camera? It looks like utter **** at 100 percent crop in full daylight condition.
Quality reminds of something you get from those $20 kids toy digital camera.
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that looks bad real bad. settings must be off?
I have noticed when I take a pic say of a building with a phone number. When i zoom to read the numbers. the numbers are blurry. Not with my note 2 and i would assume s4 13 mp
seattletecg said:
that looks bad real bad. settings must be off?
I have noticed when I take a pic say of a building with a phone number. When i zoom to read the numbers. the numbers are blurry. Not with my note 2 and i would assume s4 13 mp
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Yes the HTC one pictures look like they were taken by a home made Lego camera. Very Very bad.
I just got my G2 3 days ago and I do really like it but after looking at the specs of the Note 3, I'm having second thoughts. I'm a specs guy, that's really all I care about. The best of the best. In the end, should I stay or should I go?
Sent from my LG-D801 using xda app-developers app
what exactly does note3 have over the g2? 3gb ram and 4k capture?
ayman86 said:
what exactly does note3 have over the g2? 3gb ram and 4k capture?
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Wireless charging for non VZN G2s also
5.7" screen
3,200 mAh battery
S Pen
Micro SD
Removable battery
4.3 out of the box
And what you just pointed out, I made a pro and con list.
Sent from my LG-D801 using xda app-developers app
I see far too many people comparing these phones and asking which to get, but in all honesty they are in two different categories.
Either you want a phone, or a phablet... You can't compare the two as they will be two different user experiences.
I just wanna hear your guys opinions!
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S1D3winder016 said:
I just wanna hear your guys opinions!
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No one has the Note 3, so all you will be getting is opinions of people who haven't even touched the phone yet.
I don't get threads like this, and it's not even posted in the correct forum.
Actually, I think I just made my decision. As long as T-Mobile lets me keep this G2 until the Note 3 gets at my doorstep. I'll do it! I'll have to call them. You guys can still give me your opinions on this factor.
Sent from my LG-D801 using xda app-developers app
I think it is interesting that the G2 screen is only 1/10th inch smaller than Note 1.
Namtaru said:
I see far too many people comparing these phones and asking which to get, but in all honesty they are in two different categories.
Either you want a phone, or a phablet... You can't compare the two as they will be two different user experiences.
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Click to collapse
This.
The Note 3 isnt a phone as much as it is a tablet that can make phone calls. The G2 is a phone and no where near a tablet.
And 4.3 isnt a selling point, IMHO, because there are loopholes that were fixed that make third party dev even harder. Just look at the S4 with ME7 or higher.
So far loving the G2. I considered the Note 3 for about 10 minutes, but its just too big and too expensive for my needs (which are, a phone). I can go buy an N7 and have money left over.
S1D3winder016 said:
5.7" screen
3,200 mAh battery
S Pen
Micro SD
Removable battery
4.3 out of the box
And what you just pointed out, I made a pro and con list.
Sent from my LG-D801 using xda app-developers app
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oh yes. forgot about that.
i liked my note2 except it was a bit too big and i have gotten to the point i disliked amoled screens now. lol
but besides those two, i enjoyed it very much
S1D3winder016 said:
Actually, I think I just made my decision. As long as T-Mobile lets me keep this G2 until the Note 3 gets at my doorstep. I'll do it! I'll have to call them. You guys can still give me your opinions on this factor.
Sent from my LG-D801 using xda app-developers app
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In the end its your choice, I'm frankly tired and bored of samsungs design. And I despise that front home button lol. But this phone to me hits the sweet spot, the note 3 otoh, also I see the lg's cpu speed is clocked higher out the box I believe.
Note 3
5.95 x 3.12 x 0.33 in 168 g (5.93 oz) <- bad
Lg g2
5.45 x 2.79 x 0.35 in 143 g (5.04 oz) <- good
p.s. The screen too, no contest. Lg's display is beautiful even with that annoying auto brightness issue which will def get fixed soon.
And don't forget about the Note 3's best features.... Lag and stutter. I'm completely done with Samsung until they optimize their software. Get the Note 3 at your own risk. The G2 will end up the better choice imo.
Sent from my LG-D800 using xda premium
Amoled
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I'm leaning towards returning this and waiting for the bigger screen.
I think it all depends on what you use your phone for. I do lots of web browsing and watching tv shows. Bigger screen wins.
Note 3 will probably have a lot more development.. it seems to overshadow the G2 right now... must resist canceling G2 order
Even though Samsung burned me with the Galaxy S4, I'm willing to give them a second chance.
I'm a bit skeptical after having two lag fest S4's, I really hope they got the S-Lag ironed out with the N3.
The things that intrigued me with the N3 is the new faux leather plastic back cover, 5.7" screen while being roughly the size of the 5.5" Note 2. It's also rumored to use the AB S800 binned SOC. Higher CPU(2.3GHz) and GPU frequency(550MHz). 4.3 out of the box, most likely better sounding speaker, S-Pen (which I used a lot on my Note 2). Expandable memory and removable battery is also a plus.
The things that I am not too thrilled about is the new pentile matrix display, I guess it wouldn't be so bad at such high pixel density, it didn't bother me too much on my S4 but would prefer a good traditional IPS LCD over any AMOLED. I'm also disappointed it lacks hardware optical image stabilization, I always thought my S4's camera would be amazing if it had included OIS. I also wished Samsung would tone down their gimmicky air gesture ect. bloat crap or better yet not include it at all on their more premium Note line.
I always thought my Note 2 was almost the perfect phone (probably the phone I held onto the longest), just wished it had a higher resolution screen, more ram, capacitive touch buttons that work with the s-pen and a higher resolution camera with OIS. Looked like the N3 addressed *most* of my wishlist, but then again a lot of baggage came along for the ride. I just have my fingers crossed that it doesn't lag down, but then again I don't have high hopes much after using the S4. I swear if it lags I'm going to use an iPhone 5S as my daily.
Dan37tz said:
Even though Samsung burned me with the Galaxy S4, I'm willing to give them a second chance.
I'm a bit skeptical after having two lag fest S4's, I really hope they got the S-Lag ironed out with the N3.
The things that intrigued me with the N3 is the new faux leather plastic back cover, 5.7" screen while being roughly the size of the 5.5" Note 2. It's also rumored to use the AB S800 binned SOC. Higher CPU(2.3GHz) and GPU frequency(550MHz). 4.3 out of the box, most likely better sounding speaker, S-Pen (which I used a lot on my Note 2). Expandable memory and removable battery is also a plus.
The things that I am not too thrilled about is the new pentile matrix display, I guess it wouldn't be so bad at such high pixel density, it didn't bother me too much on my S4 but would prefer a good traditional IPS LCD over any AMOLED. I'm also disappointed it lacks hardware optical image stabilization, I always thought my S4's camera would be amazing if it had included OIS. I also wished Samsung would tone down their gimmicky air gesture ect. bloat crap or better yet not include it at all on their more premium Note line.
I always thought my Note 2 was almost the perfect phone (probably the phone I held onto the longest), just wished it had a higher resolution screen, more ram, capacitive touch buttons that work with the s-pen and a higher resolution camera with OIS. Looked like the N3 addressed *most* of my wishlist, but then again a lot of baggage came along for the ride. I just have my fingers crossed that it doesn't lag down, but then again I don't have high hopes much after using the S4. I swear if it lags I'm going to use an iPhone 5S as my daily.
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damn.. sounds like u change phones as much as you change underwear (just a little jelly lol)
arctic84 said:
damn.. sounds like u change phones as much as you change underwear (just a little jelly lol)
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I'm bad like that too, def agree that Note 2 was the best phone I've had.. if it had 1080p and IR blaster then i would have never got rid of probably
As far as Note 3, i cannot stand the home button any more
Namtaru said:
I see far too many people comparing these phones and asking which to get, but in all honesty they are in two different categories.
Either you want a phone, or a phablet... You can't compare the two as they will be two different user experiences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I'm saying!
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Never used any of the Note devices before and only glanced at them in the store. I just knew it had the features I wanted in a phone, so I pre-ordered. Yet when it arrived yesterday I don't think my mind was prepared for just how big of a device this is. I came from a Gnex so it's quite the change. The speed on this device is incredible though, love that. Don't love that it looks like I'm holding a brick to my face when talking.
I find I'm having trouble finding places to keep on my person without it looking too obtrusive in pockets. Any thoughts fellow Note users? I'm seriously considering returning it for a smaller device, like a LG G2...
P.S. Hell no to a holster / belt clip
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 4
Xerrus said:
Never used any of the Note devices before and only glanced at them in the store. I just knew it had the features I wanted in a phone, so I pre-ordered. Yet when it arrived yesterday I don't think my mind was prepared for just how big of a device this is. I came from a Gnex so it's quite the change. The speed on this device is incredible though, love that. Don't love that it looks like I'm holding a brick to my face when talking.
I find I'm having trouble finding places to keep on my person without it looking too obtrusive in pockets. Any thoughts fellow Note users? I'm seriously considering returning it for a smaller device, like a LG G2...
P.S. Hell no to a holster / belt clip
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk 4
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Click to collapse
I went from Gnex to Note II to the 3. I know what you're feeling. Honestly give it a day or two. You'll be used to the size before you even realize it. You'll pick up your Gnex and wonder how you ever used a phone so small.
As nice as the G2 is, this her Note 3 is one beast of a phone. Give it some time. I swore I'd never get rid of my Note 2, and only did so to get the 3. This is honestly the best phone I've ever used and could never see myself using anything but the Note line.
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You will need more than a day. Give it a week or 2...by that time the device will be normal.
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Trust me just give it time and it will seem normal size to you. I went from a note 2 to an HTC one and although the phone was nice I hated how small it was. At least in my opinion everything else is too small after having the note. I usually keep it in my back pocket.
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I am coming from S3 and the Note is much larger, it will be a more of a challenge to keep it in a pants pocket but hopefully it won't be too much of an adjustment, and I plan to get a very thin case to go with it. But the positives of having the larger screen far outweigh this minor inconvenience.
Coming from an S3 I have to say the size doesn't bother me at all. I don't have big hands, but it just seems to feel right.
dohturdima said:
I am coming from S3 and the Note is much larger, it will be a more of a challenge to keep it in a pants pocket but hopefully it won't be too much of an adjustment, and I plan to get a very thin case to go with it. But the positives of having the larger screen far outweigh this minor inconvenience.
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Yeah, I got a spigen Neo-Hybrid case but it feels too slim and doesn't make me feel like the device will be safe if I drop it from ANY height.
As for the pros of a larger screen, I have a Nexus 7 (which now feels pointless). So that serves to feed my need for a large screen. I just can't help but feel for my go - to service, it should be more...compact.
jdubsss said:
Coming from an S3 I have to say the size doesn't bother me at all. I don't have big hands, but it just seems to feel right.
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I feel like the ergonomics of the device are good, it still feels like a chore to stuff in a secure place when out and about though.
I guess I'll give it more than 2 days. We have what, 14 days to return if we're unhappy? Here's hoping I adjust. I really do like the features and the stylus. Although many have said you tend to stop using the stylus after a while.
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leyvatron said:
You will need more than a day. Give it a week or 2...by that time the device will be normal.
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I hope you're right. I just wish I could stuff it in my front pocket without making it look like I have a rectangular chub...just sayin.
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Please take this discussion to the sticky thread here > http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2466108