Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs Note 2: Time to upgrade? [Comparison]

Both the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 & the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 are high end smartphones and even though the note 2 is a year older than the note 3 but it's still a very powerful device, so let's see how they'll stack up against each other.

Display

The main selling point of our phablets is the big display, as the devices are targeting users who are in search of a generous screens for better web browsing, watching videos & gaming experience.

Galaxy Note 2 has a 5.5 inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels & a pixel density of 267 ppi (Pixel Per Inch). It's successor the Note 3 rocks a slightly bigger display, a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution. Courtesy of the higher resolution, the Note 3 brings an impressive pixel density of 368 ppi.

This point goes to the Note 3.

Dimensions

The Note 2 measures 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4 mm, weighing 183 grams. Even though the Note 3 has a bigger display, it is about the same size as its predecessor to a level what you won't notice the difference in size at first glance, while being thinner and lighter than it. Note 3 measures 151.2 x 79.2 mm x 8.3 mm, having a weight of only 168 grams, the weight is the first thing you'll notice when you held both phablets.

This point also goes to the note 3.

Processor

Under the hood of the Note 2 it has a Samsung’s proprietary Esynos 4412 Quad SoC based on four 1.6 GHz Cortex A9 cores (32 nm) and Mali 400MP GPU.

There are two Galaxy Note 3 variants each sporting a different chipset. our version of the review - the N9000 - packs an octo-core Exynos 5420 chispet with quad-core 1.9 GHz Cortex A15 CPU + quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex A9 CPU and Mali T628 GPU.

Again, This point goes to the Note 3.

Memory

The Note 3 has two internal storage options, 32 GB and 64 GB & The Note 2  has 3 internal storage variants 16/32/64 GB both devices come with support for microSD cards up to 64 GB.

The Note 3 is the first smartphone in the world to come with 3 GB of RAM out of which 2.66 GB is available for the user and the Note 2 has only 2 GB of RAM out of which 1.7 GB is available for the user. For this reason, the Multi View multitasking experience provided by the Note 3 will be much smoother.

You can see the pattern, this point also goes to the Note 3.

Design

Some people have been bitching unsatisfied with the use of plastic materials in Samsung's devices, The Galaxy Note 2 follows the “Inspired by Nature” design philosophy introduced by the Galaxy S3, with rounded corners and case finishing reminding of various rocks. The Note 2 looks more or less like a Galaxy S3 on steroids.

Samsung wanted to show the world that their smartphones can have a premium construction too and the Note 3 is the first of a new wave. The new phablet manufactured by the Korean company invites you to feel the faux-leather back, while moving towards a sharper design with less rounded corners and an aluminium finishing for the bezel around the body, borrowed from the Galaxy S4.

The Galaxy Note 2 is not an ugly device, but it’s not as good looking as the Note 3. That’s another point for the new Note.

Operating System

We are looking at two smartphones running Android Jelly Bean with Samsung's TouchWiz Nature UX. You’d be tempted to say that it’s nothing to compare here. Oh, how wrong you are!

The Note 2 -announced in 2012- runs Android 4.1.1, but you can upgrade it to Android 4.1.2. with TuchWiz Nature UX on top, the Note 2 was Samsung’s first to introduce features like Multi Window, Air View, or Quick Command. It also comes with a lot of S Pen-optimized applications like Popup Note, Easy Clip, Photo Note, Paper Artist, or handwriting support.

Samsung recently started testing Android 4.3 for the Note 2 and the update should start rolling out by December, nothing official yet though.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Note 3 brings all the above and a lot more. Running Android 4.3 out of the box, it has most of the Galaxy S4′s features (Smart Scroll, Smart Pause, Air View – with finger support, S Health, Air Gesture, etc.), while introducing a new batch of S Pen-optimized features like Action Memo, Scrapbook, or Pen Window, along with Samsung KNOX and S Finder. The new smartphone also updated the S Note and Easy Clip apps, also bringing support for Direct Pen Input, the S Pen now working with the captive buttons below the display.

Til the 4.3 update for the Note 2 start rolling out, this round is in favor of the Note 3.

Connectivity

The devices I'm reviewing are the N7100 and N9000 (Both are 3G versions) the ones that support 4G LTE connectivity are the N7105 and the N9005, it depends on the market. at LEVANT region (Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq) we always get the 3G version.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 brings HSPA, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, LE (Low Energy), EDR, & supports microUSB 2.0.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 brings HSPA, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, LE (Low Energy), EDR, IR blaster & supports microUSB 3.0.

Did you catch that? Yes, you’re right, support for microUSB 3.0, Wi-Fi ac and the infra red port on the Note 3.

It's getting more obvious, the Note 3 scores this point. 

Camera

The Note 3 has a 13 Mega Pixel primary camera with autofocus, LED flash, Dual Shot, simultaneous HD video & image recording, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, digital image stabilization, panorama & HDR, It can also record slow motion 1080p@60p videos, The 4G version has 4K video recording.

The Note 2 has an 8 Mega Pixel primary camera with autofocus, LED flash, simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, digital image stabilization which records 1080p@30fps videos.

It’s obvious that the Note 3 has the better camera, so it scores another point.

Battery

The Note 2 has a 3100 mAh battery & it can easily stay awake for a full day of moderate to intense usage. On the other hand the Note 3 has a 3200 mAh battery and even though it′s only 100 mAh bigger the more power-efficient CPU should be able to conserve enough energy to give the handset over 2 days of battery life of average usage, a full day with the Galaxy Gear connected to it.

Note 3 wins the battery round, too. This battle has become pretty one-sided.

Conclusions

When it comes to two generations of the same smartphone lineup, it's pretty obvious that the newer one will dominate the previous device with upgraded software and hardware and even though that the Android 4.3 update for the Note 2 will bring a lot of the Note 3's to it, you shouldn't forget that the Koreans upgraded almost every aspect of the Note 2, from Display to RAM and Processor to Camera. So is it worth to upgrade? Most definitely yes.

Video Comparison in Arabic

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs Note 2: Time to upgrade? [Comparison]

By: Unknown on: Friday, September 27, 2013

Everything there is to know about the Samsung Galaxy Gear [Review]

Unveiled at IFA 2013 September 4 with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the Android-powered smartwatch is intended to be the prime example of what a smartwatch should look like & be able to do. It's not about high specifications or high definition or high anything really; so let's see what it's all about:

Hardware & Design

Gear has a metal body made from stainless steel and adjustable buckle set on a flexible rubbery and subtly ridged strap. It comes in 6 colors  black, gray, orange, lime green, and beige all with a silver face and buckle; and a sixth version with a beige strap and champagne-toned gold metal accoutrements, the swatch weights only 74g, It's a lot less chunky than I expected.  

Under the hood there's an 800MHz processor and 512MB of RAM powering the smartwatch, the touch interface is sleekly responsive, and the 1.63-inch, 320x320-pixel super AMOLED screen enormously bright and clear. White text and simple icons, each app sitting in its own clear square that you can swipe between left and right to find the one you want.

To charge the 315 mAh Battery that comes inside the Gear there's a row of copper charging dots on the inside. You have to clip it into an odd-shaped dock, which is shaped a bit like a tiny photo frame that hinges open for the watch to sit inside & become a sort of stand (Above).The dock has a standard Micro-USB socket but the watch itself doesn't. That means carrying the dock around or risking the battery dying & leaving you with no way to charge the thing, that being said; it does hold up for an entire day while being connected to a smartphone, And with Bluetooth off it could go on for 2 days.

Camera

On the side of the strap there is a small 1.9 MP camera, The camera options are basic: You can switch between auto & macro focus, You can change the image resolution to a (1:1) 1392x1392 or a (4:3) 1280x960 pixels. Videos is limited to 10 seconds only, with sound & can be a (16:9) 720p,(1:1)  640x640, (4:3) 640x480, or a (1:1) 480x480 pixels.

To take a picture, swipe up from the home screen & tap on the screen. The camera took a moment to respond after swiping the screen, so it could struggle with fast-moving action, here are some samples: (Click to view in full size)

Software

You control the watch by swiping left & right through a selection of screens. You can change the order they appear, but out of the box when you start scrolling to the right you go from the home screen to notifications, then voice memos, then S Voice commands, then your photo gallery, the music player, a pedometer, settings, & an apps shortcut. Scroll to the left & you see your contacts followed by a phone call log. The screens scroll continually, so when you get all the way to the end you come back round to the home screen & continue on out the other side.

The home screen can be customized with a variety of watch faces, or to display extra information. It can show your next calendar appointment, or the temperature & a little icon saying whether it's sunny or cloudy, which you can tap to see a forecast for the next few days, You can choose the home screen display you want either in the settings menu, or in the Gear Manager app on your phone.

Notifications show you what new messages & alerts you have. Tap on them & your phone will show you the message. You can record voice memos up to 5 minutes long, or command the watch by scrolling to the S Voice app, tapping it & voicing your desires; you might intone "Check the weather," for example.

Tap on the photo gallery & you get thumbnails of your photos & videos in a 2x2 grid where you can transfer to the phone one picture or video at a time or delete the selected item, But you can't view how much storage you have remaining for more media.

Tap the music player & you get a basic set of controls (play, pause, skipping backward & forward) which control the music playing on your phone. No more getting your phone out of your pocket to skip a track, find out what a particular song is, or tie yourself in knots trying to pause proceedings when someone unexpectedly engages you in conversation.

Swipe up from the home screen & you launch the camera. Swipe down from the home screen & you get your dialer keypad, where you can enter a phone number & make a call.

At any point, swiping in from the top of the screen takes you back 1 step & to return to the home screen, there's a single physical home button on the side of the watch to the top right of the screen.

Apps

Tap on the Apps screen & you're taken to a submenu of apps installed on the Gear. Samsung says at launch there'll be around 70 apps optimised for the Gear's small screen, most of which are basic apps like a calendar. There are some big names though, including Evernote and Pinterest, which can record & share your quick snaps; eBay and Path to keep an eye on your auctions & social networks; and RunKeeper & MyFitnessPal to follow your latest physical jerks.

But currently only 27 apps are available at the moment (As in September 25th) the list include:

Arabic version of the Gear app store
(Click to enlarge)

• RadiON
• Path
• Evernote
• Vivino
• Easily Do
• Life 360
• My fitness pal
• Glympse
• Highlight
• RunTastic
• Run Keeper
• Snap Chat
• Line
• ChatON
• Banjo
• Cam Dictionary
• MiniGallery
• 10 other apps that are basically different themes for the home screen watch.

Always Connected

The Galaxy Gear uses low-power Bluetooth to communicate with your smartphone - and by smartphone I mean "only the Galaxy Note 3," at least for now, The smartwatch is only compatible with Android-powered Samsung devices with Android 4.3 only. but sources at Samsung say the update is coming soon for the S3, Note 2 and the S3.

When you pair the Galaxy Gear smartwatch with the Note 3, the watch connects to the phone to let you control music or view notifications without having to taking the phone out of your pocket. And it works the other way, too: the Gear Manager companion app installed on your phone lets you adjust the settings of your watch. 

Other options include the Find My Device feature: lose track of your phone, and you can use your watch to signal the errant blower, which will make a racket until you locate it. And vice versa: lose your watch, and use the companion app on your phone to set the watch ringing so you can return it to its rightful place on your wrist.

The Verdict

The Galaxy Gear is a game changer, It's not exactly something you won't be able to live without but once you get used to it, man it's hard to to go back, Honestly my Swatch is just not going to cut it anymore! Still, it's just the beginning and there's more from where that came from. the Galaxy Gear is in someways limited but it makes your life easier, The price tag could be an obstacle for some people which swings between $300 in the States to $425 in Jordan, It's battery will last for a full day, it runs smoothly and there are no downsides other than the limited storage, having to carry the charging dock in case of an overnight stay and since it's connected to the phone via Bluetooth you'll have to keep your phone within 10 meters from the watch to use "Find my device" feature. 

Are you planning on getting the Galaxy Gear? Leave a comment and tell us what you think!

Arabic Video Review

Everything there is to know about the Samsung Galaxy Gear [Review]

By: Unknown on: Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 [First Impressions]

Samsung gave their latest Galaxy Note smartphone a stylish makeover. The Galaxy Note 3, unveiled at the Samsung Unpacked event on September 4th , has a soft, leather-like back. It feels like you're holding a fancy leather-journal. Grooves on the side of the big-screen phone make it easier to grip. I tested out the Note 3 for about 30, But I saw enough of the Note 3 to at least like its look and feel.

With its leather-like back and the stitching around it, the phone feels expensive and well made in my hands. The soft back can be snapped off the phone to reveal the battery. Samsung will sell replaceable back covers in several different colors, but the phone itself will come in just three: black, white or pink.

The Note 3 has a bigger screen than its predecessor, measuring 5.7in (14.5cm) diagonally compared with the Note 2's 5.5in (14cm). But it weighs less (167 grams compared with 182 grams) and is slightly thinner at 0.33in (8.4mm) rather than 0.37in (9.4mm).

The biggest changes are with the S Pen. The pen unlocks a new feature called Air Command. With that, you can open five other features:

• Action Memo lets you handwrite a note.
• Scrapbook lets you circle content you like, such as a YouTube video or a news article. It automatically saves and organises the content into a format that's easy to scroll through. Scrapbook, with its boxy format, looks a lot like social media site Pinterest.
• Screen Write captures a screen and allows you to write comments on that captured image.
• S Finder is the phone's search engine, to find chat messages, documents or other content on the phone.
• Pen Window, the most promising of the five, lets you access one of eight apps by drawing a box of any size on the screen. Let's say you're on a web page and need to calculate something. You can open Air Command, then Pen Window. Draw a box on the screen, and eight icons pop up. You then click the one for the calculator. Pen Window currently opens a limited number of applications: calculator, clock, YouTube, phone, contacts, a browser and two separate chat apps – Samsung's ChatON and Google's Hangouts. (Two different ones? Did I mention the phone's complicated to use?) It's possible Pen Window will support additional apps later.

The phablet is packed with features, Samsung has done a great job with TouchWiz, it has improved even more than the one you find on the Note 3, but I think this is enough for this post, I'll post a more in-depth review of the device, you'll find a YouTube video of a quick hands-on video in Arabic.

Are you going to upgrade to the Note 3? let's me know in the comments section below :)

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 [First Impressions]

By: Unknown on: Sunday, September 22, 2013

Smartphones usage habits and addiction in MENA‏ [Infographic]

It's no doubt that smartphones has became a big part of our lives, we relay on them to do so many things whether it was the essential stuff like talking and texting or social networking, web browsing, emails and gaming, smartphones make our lives easier by allowing us to access  and share information on the go. 

Folks at froot apps did some research and put together the results in the following infographic for us: 

Smartphones usage habits and addiction in MENA‏ [Infographic]

By: Unknown on: Wednesday, September 18, 2013

10 features you probably didn't know about in your Galaxy S4

The Galaxy S4 has been embraced by critics and consumers the world over since its global release in April. It has the world’s first Full HD Super AMOLED display that showcases images at their very best on a 5-inch screen. Equipped with a powerful rear 13MP camera, the Galaxy S4 also boasts a Dual Camera function that allows simultaneous use of both front and rear cameras. The Galaxy S4’s new and innovative software features include Air View and Air Gesture for effortless tasks, while it also keeps users up-to-date with information about their health and wellbeing using S Health. . 

While making calls, web browsing and taking excellent photos are features that people use every day, the GALAXY S4 can do so much more. To help ensure that everyone can make the most of the smartphone and enjoy all it has to offer, here are ten “hidden” features that will increase user convenience and improve the experience as a whole.

1. Access Quick Setting Panel with two fingers

On the home screen, if you pull down the status bar with one finger, you will be able to see five icons at a time in the Quick Setting panel. But by using two fingers, you will be able to directly access the full Quick Setting panel for a complete overview of all options, thus avoiding the need to swipe through them to find what you are looking for. 

If you tap and hold the Quick Setting panel icon, you can directly access settings.

You can also rearrange the order of the icons within the Quick Setting panel by long-tapping the icon you wish to change in the notification panel settings and dragging it to the new location of your choice.

2. Add TV remote control to the notification panel 

WatchON allows you to use the phone as a real-time TV guide and TV remote for a TV/set-top box synced to the device. This function can easily be added to the Notification panel.

To create this shortcut to the TV remote function, sync the phone with your TV/set-top box, and then, on the Applications screen, tap WatchON > Settings > Show remote control on notification panel.

It is useful to note that the GALAXY S4’s infrared LED sensor can also be used as a remote control for other media devices not just TVs. This app is compatible with almost all TV brands, DVD and Blu-ray players and Home Theater Systems

3. Multitasking with pop-up keyboard

GALAXY S4 offers a pop-up keyboard function that allows you to move around the keyboard, perfect for when you’re using Multi Window applications. 

For example, if you want to send a message while checking Google maps, on a standard phone there would be no space for the keyboard if the two application windows were open simultaneously. 

The pop-up keyboard allows you to efficiently use the screen space as you can check both the map and chat at the same time.

4. Blocking mode for when you do not wish to be disturbed

By turning on Blocking mode, you can block notifications from selected features such as phone calls and text messages during chosen periods, such as when you are in class, at work or asleep. 

For added convenience, even when the feature is on you can still receive important calls from contacts on the Allowed list. 

To enable the feature, tap Settings > My device > Blocking mode.

5. Wi-Fi Timer for efficient data usage

With the GALAXY S4 you can set the Wi-Fi to automatically activate at a time of your choosing. This way, users can enjoy free data usage by using stored networks such as those at work, home or friends’ houses, ensuring they are less likely to go over their data limit watching high-definition videos, social networking or surfing the Web.

On the Applications screen, tap Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > Advanced > Wi-Fi timer. 

6. Adapt Sound optimizes sound quality 

Adapt Sound optimizes music and in-call audio quality by automatically measuring the audible range of the user wearing earphones/headphones.

When earphones/headphones are connected to the phone tap Settings > My device > Sound > Adapt Sound. After selecting Start, you will hear a series of beeps that resemble a hearing test.

For each of the 20 tests, you will be asked to confirm if you can hear a sound. Once the tests are complete, you will get a graphic analysis of your left and right ear hearing abilities.

Adapt Sound was developed to accommodate differences in users’ hearing abilities and the fact that left and right ear hearing can often be different.

7. Optimizing in-call audio clarity

When receiving or making a call in a noisy environment such as outside on the street or inside a busy office, you can increase the volume by tapping the on-screen Extra volume button. You can also improve the call quality by suppressing ambient noises by activating Noise reduction.

You can also personalize the sound of an incoming or outgoing call by selecting an audio equalizer setting, such as Soft or Clear sound to suit your taste. 

These options can also be adjusted by going to My device > Call.

8. An easier way to enjoy video content

The pinch-to-zoom feature that enlarges and shrinks pictures can also be used for videos. When watching video content on the phone, you can zoom-in to a particular part of the image to get a closer look. You can also adjust brightness by using the up-and-down scroll bar on the left hand side of the screen and the volume using the scroll bar on the right hand side. The scroll bar appears simply by putting your finger on either the left or the right hand side of the screen.

9. Access the camera right from the lock screen

With the GALAXY S4, you can easily access the camera from the lock screen. 

To set this up, on the home screen tap Settings > My device > Lock screen > Lock screen widgets > Favorite apps or Camera > Camera. Once this is done, you can launch the camera when you swipe to the left on the lock screen.

*Please note this shortcut does not work if the pattern or PIN security setting is activated.

10. Change lock screen message

Users can change the “Life companion” message on the lock screen to one of their choice and even add their own personality to it using a font and color of their choosing.

From the lock screen, tap and hold the “Life companion” line and drag it down. You will then see a pencil icon. Tap it to change the text.

Please note with a pattern lock or PIN code on the lock screen, to activate this option users need to navigate to Settings > My device, Lock screen > Lock screen widgets > Edit personal information.

10 features you probably didn't know about in your Galaxy S4

By: Unknown on: Friday, September 13, 2013