convergent
macrumors 68040
I'm sure it's possible to get it to lag if you load enough crap on it, but I've not seen it at all.
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Returned X.... Going to Samsung (runs away...!)
- Thread starter dwjpaypal
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Hi All,
Guess who's back....
OK, so firstly let me say I have given the Note 8 a week of use.
I am coming back to iPhone.
Everything was fine for the first couple of days, it was really cool having a new phone, going through the hundreds of new settings and being able to configure the hell out of the device is something really different to iOS, where you are constrained by the OS.
But, after 3 days you start to realise that being able to change all of these settings was great, but actually you just want the phone to work and then leave it as it is.
A couple of points annoy the hell out of me;
1. Having both "Samsung" and android variants of things. It's like Samsung wrote some apps initially for an earlier version of Android, but now that Android has caught up it still bundles the software in and it's really un-necessary. I ended up switching default messaging app quite quickly to Textra as it is much more streamlined than the messagins app.
2. Notifications are not as intuative. The flashing light is great, but for the most part pretty useless unless you are going to remember what every colour in the rainbow represents. When you recieve a new message the AOD (always on display) just shows a symbol, it doesn't show the portion of the message. You can show this, but it requires you to touch the screen.
3. No iMessage/Facetime/Find my Friends/basically anything Apple. I thought this wouldn't be an issue, but it just is. Everyone I know is on iPhone, which means I have to use additional brain power to comminucate easily. I needed to facetime my wife yesterday, so I had to use whatsapp video call. I needed to see how far away my wife was whilst she was driving and I couldn't as i didn't have find my friends. I needed to stream music to my airport express' so I had to download Airsync and play through that.... The list goes on.
4. The finger print sensor is in a silly place- no getting away from it. The majority of the time I used facial recognition which for me worked really well. Coming from an X (which seems to be the benchmark), it's really very good, and only generally struggled in low light or awquard angles. Apps do NOT seem to have implemented facial recognition so banking apps still need fingerprint.
5. Samsung pay is incompatible with Barclays. Not a biggie, just seems like a bit of a half baked attempt.
6. And this was the straw that broke the camels back- the general software interface was not speedy enough. Saturday night was the first night I really needed to push the software and do loads of things on the phone at the same time, rather than my usual just watching programmes and making phone calls, and it really didn't do well. I needed to find cinemas in the local area shoowing a show, when i found there weren't any i then needed to use TeamViewer to log into my Mac at home and download a film instead, publish it to plex and then stream it to my phone. The phone worked fine, but I have done the process a few times on an iPhone, and it's just much more slick.
Anyway. I'm going to go back to the Apple store and get myself an 8 Plus.At the moment I think this is going to be my best option, and hope that Apple decides to pull an X plus out of the bag next September.
David
Guess who's back....
OK, so firstly let me say I have given the Note 8 a week of use.
I am coming back to iPhone.
Everything was fine for the first couple of days, it was really cool having a new phone, going through the hundreds of new settings and being able to configure the hell out of the device is something really different to iOS, where you are constrained by the OS.
But, after 3 days you start to realise that being able to change all of these settings was great, but actually you just want the phone to work and then leave it as it is.
A couple of points annoy the hell out of me;
1. Having both "Samsung" and android variants of things. It's like Samsung wrote some apps initially for an earlier version of Android, but now that Android has caught up it still bundles the software in and it's really un-necessary. I ended up switching default messaging app quite quickly to Textra as it is much more streamlined than the messagins app.
2. Notifications are not as intuative. The flashing light is great, but for the most part pretty useless unless you are going to remember what every colour in the rainbow represents. When you recieve a new message the AOD (always on display) just shows a symbol, it doesn't show the portion of the message. You can show this, but it requires you to touch the screen.
3. No iMessage/Facetime/Find my Friends/basically anything Apple. I thought this wouldn't be an issue, but it just is. Everyone I know is on iPhone, which means I have to use additional brain power to comminucate easily. I needed to facetime my wife yesterday, so I had to use whatsapp video call. I needed to see how far away my wife was whilst she was driving and I couldn't as i didn't have find my friends. I needed to stream music to my airport express' so I had to download Airsync and play through that.... The list goes on.
4. The finger print sensor is in a silly place- no getting away from it. The majority of the time I used facial recognition which for me worked really well. Coming from an X (which seems to be the benchmark), it's really very good, and only generally struggled in low light or awquard angles. Apps do NOT seem to have implemented facial recognition so banking apps still need fingerprint.
5. Samsung pay is incompatible with Barclays. Not a biggie, just seems like a bit of a half baked attempt.
6. And this was the straw that broke the camels back- the general software interface was not speedy enough. Saturday night was the first night I really needed to push the software and do loads of things on the phone at the same time, rather than my usual just watching programmes and making phone calls, and it really didn't do well. I needed to find cinemas in the local area shoowing a show, when i found there weren't any i then needed to use TeamViewer to log into my Mac at home and download a film instead, publish it to plex and then stream it to my phone. The phone worked fine, but I have done the process a few times on an iPhone, and it's just much more slick.
Anyway. I'm going to go back to the Apple store and get myself an 8 Plus.At the moment I think this is going to be my best option, and hope that Apple decides to pull an X plus out of the bag next September.
David
bchreng
macrumors 65816
Slow software updates aside, the Note 8 is an awesome device.
1. That's known as bloatware. Samsung gets an A+ for hardware but should just stop ever thinking of adding to android. Android is all about google and that's what you want to embrace. Doesn't the Note have a Bixby button or something like that? It's such a step back when google's strength is AI not that they all don't kind of suck but google is in the lead.
3. This is what makes an iphone the most accommodating smartphone. You cannot get others to work with you and download some special app that would work wonderful (i mean you can, but it's not easy), you have to be able to accommodate them with imessage or facetime.
I'd put universal search in apple's favor too. I stopped organizing screens a long time ago. Along with icloud photo, apple watch, couple of macs, and a lot of itunes stuff, I'm kind of buried in Apple's ecosystem. I'd love to see Apple's version of the Note as I was a strong Palm user and loved the stylus. It's a niche but Apple should cater to it.
Puddled
macrumors 6502a
Sounds like you are too invested in the Apple ecosystem to make a successful jump, esp your points 3 and 6 which are no fault of Android in fairness.
I don't get you on point 2. I think the notification LED is fantastic, esp when charging. Your mileage varied obviously.
It would be interesting for you to do a follow up after a week back on Apple.
In regard to a portion of point 3, both Android and Samsung have "find my device" apps which work the same way with the same options as "find my iPhone". You're right about iMessage and Facetime, though I've found that most iPhone users have Facebook messenger which mitigates that problem somewhat.
You're absolutely right about the fingerprint sensor and several reviewers have also mentioned it.
Switching from iOS to Android for the first time takes a *lot* of research quite a bit of time to get everything right--I'm still working on it after a month and half. The complexity of Android is significant compared to iOS but that can be fun. I'll be playing around and suddenly I discover something new and interesting.
That being said, I knew when I purchased my Note 8 that it was a fun diversion because I was bored with iOS and I was always planning on going back to the iPhone. However, I had the opposite experience and found that I liked the Note much more than I thought I would and I've kept it longer than anticipated. I'll go get an iPhone X when it gets to the point where I'm too frustrated by the Note.
robbietop
Suspended
Oh, you're gonna love the Note8! The people I know who have bought one have had zero complaints (other than a bit of animoji envy, but that's so novel we don't know how widespread it will be).
I would never leave Apple as any advance Samsung or Android makes, Apple will eventually add to their phone. I'm in no rush for a stylus, however. I still have flashbacks to Palm and Handspring devices whenever I play with the Note8.
However, the Infinity Edge display is incredible. I could see myself using a device like that if I didn't have an Apple Watch, 2 TB iCloud space, an iPad, a Macbook and Pro, and an iMac.
My only warning to you is security on Android. Do please be careful of what texts you open and what apps you install.
And get an antivirus.
Other than that inconvenience, the Note 8 is spectacular and we'll see you next year when the X Plus hits and you realize the notch grows on you. Hell, I forgot it existed until you mentioned it.
I would never leave Apple as any advance Samsung or Android makes, Apple will eventually add to their phone. I'm in no rush for a stylus, however. I still have flashbacks to Palm and Handspring devices whenever I play with the Note8.
However, the Infinity Edge display is incredible. I could see myself using a device like that if I didn't have an Apple Watch, 2 TB iCloud space, an iPad, a Macbook and Pro, and an iMac.
My only warning to you is security on Android. Do please be careful of what texts you open and what apps you install.
And get an antivirus.
Other than that inconvenience, the Note 8 is spectacular and we'll see you next year when the X Plus hits and you realize the notch grows on you. Hell, I forgot it existed until you mentioned it.
convergent
macrumors 68040
I agree... I was just as deep in the Apple ecosystem months back, and its taken me a while to start working my way out of it. Much of his issues I have not had a problem with, and the "last straw" was something that sounds like it would take a little work to perfect on a completely new platform.
For me, the only thing that has created much friction at all is sharing photos/videos with my family. We all used to just send them in text, and now we are doing it a little differently. Otherwise, for every minus there is a plus somewhere else.
You don't know if there is a Bixby button, so clear you've not used a Note 8... but you've decided it has bloat? The "bloat" thing is getting old. I've used a Note 8 for a month now and there is nothing about it that I'd describe as "bloat".
I can communicate with the Note 8 via voice or text with any other phone user on the planet. I don't need to have iMessage or FaceTime. If they want to video chat with me, they'll need to install Duo, or be OK with a voice call. Its not really a big deal. Anyone I'd want to FaceTime with is willing to take 30 seconds to install Duo.
Its funny you bash Bixby and you probably have no idea what it does. Its not a replacement for Google Assistant. You can use both since Google Assistant is also built in. Bixby has deep phone integration and can do and automate pretty much anything the phone can do.
Dirtydutch
macrumors 6502a
Android offers 'Trusted Contacts'. While not as slick as 'find my friend', it works both on Android and ios so you can track all your friends regardless of OS!
How was battery life? Similar situation to you and I was ready to switch despite these shortcomings. I just loved that big screen.
My problem is by the time I got home I always had to plug in the charger. I could never get more than 5-6 hours of usage.
convergent
macrumors 68040
I haven't really noticed any difference in battery life vs. 6S+, which was fantastic.
Puddled
macrumors 6502a
convergent
macrumors 68040
I don't find anything about the Note 8 fiddly, buggy, or frustrating. Its a very well refined experience, to me.
jimmy_uk
macrumors 68030
I've tried various Android phones over the years but only for a few days or hours. I owned a Nexus 7, until I bought the Lenevo Yoga Tab 3 ( a steal at £180 beginning of the year), and Nexus 5 but the screen went bad within 2 weeks.
The N5 was a good device but I didn't like the lack of backup options at the time as I'm embedded in iTunes for backups and music (although I also loathe the lack of features and controls). I don't want to root and mess with roms etc, I want the device to work out of the box once setup how I like it. I bought a Nexus 6 but out of the box the back was separating from the screen. I'm very unlucky with gadgets no joke!
I've had a play with the Note 8 and there's something about it which frustrates - most likely the 10 years I've used ios so conditioned to how that works.
I've currently got an Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 tablet running 6.0.1 which I use for showbox and other streaming apps exclusively. I appreciate this is old software and not a powerful device but it's glitchy all the time. Random app crash, lockups, junk and temp files needing to be dumped constantly. Any device will have these issues from time to time buts it's regular on this tablet. Again probably down to how I use it and compare it with ipad.
I didn't buy it for its power (or lack of), more for the build, speaker and display and to use for streaming tv + movies so I'm happy enough with this as I use my iphone 7+ and windows desktop for everything else. Ipad pro 12.9 doesn't get used, just comics. Need to sell that!
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KingslayerG5
Suspended
Props to the Note II to be the first to offer split-view. Took four years for Google to add it officially for Android with Nougat.
Split-view
2012 - Note II
2014 - iPad
2016 - Android
PiP
2012 - Android (via third-party apps)
2015 - iPad
2017 - Android (officially)
Split-view
2012 - Note II
2014 - iPad
2016 - Android
PiP
2012 - Android (via third-party apps)
2015 - iPad
2017 - Android (officially)
jimmy_uk
macrumors 68030
But it doesn't work like ios on an iPhone, I know this is the most obvious thing I could say as they are quite clearly different operating systems. But using iphone for 10 years has given me a specific experience and when trying to use an Android devices things happen in a way which throws me.
It's me I know, I'm trying to use it like an iPhone and I don't take the time to learn it. I spent years fiddling and fixing windows PCs (Amigas before that) so the iphone and ipad where a breath of fresh air as they just worked and when they didn't you just rebooted. This has made me a lazy user.
But when I can't do the things I want with ios or I see all the bugs I get annoyed and start to look at the green grass of Android land but when I'm there I'm reminded of the bad old windows days of having to constantly interact with the system to make it work. I always come back to iphone because I know it. Shame on me.
Also I'm not really a fan of AMOLED because of the yellow whites and over saturated colours. Plus I like a bright display but this always seems to rinse Samsung devices so when brightness comes down the screen looks too dark for my taste. Don't get this issue with lcd. I wanted to give the Pixsell 2 xl a go but the screen reports are pretty damning.
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Would just like to add that I had the same experience as the OP.....I switched from my iPhone to the S8+, and found that the operating system was very customizable compared to iOS but that iOS just "worked".....the display on the S8+ was stunning, and I loved everything I could do with the phone, than one day things just started to get "buggy".....I didn't install anything out of the ordinary, I started missing out on group text messages, some messages I wouldn't even get etc.....So after seeing the iPhone X, I decided to go back, because well, it just "works"......the Samsung phones that are out now are beautiful, and the displays are remarkable, but the OS experience (for me) was less than gratifying....
Blondie&Dagwood
macrumors 6502
I love the iPhone X software gesture-based UI over Android or regular iOS UI. But I like how Android has a ton of customisation. Sure, I don’t customise my S8 everyday, but every now and then, I’d enjoy just spending some time customising it.
But IMO, I feel that the “back-home-multitasking buttons” on Android kinda old-fashion now (regardless of whether the buttons are hardware or software based). I’d love to see Google release a gesture-based Android next year.
Anyway, I love Samsung’s hardware design and I don’t mind the compromise in bloatware. I prefer watching videos on the S8 over the iPhone X too.
I know people who hate non-stock Android and would prefer the Pixel 2... but IMO, the hardware is so lacking that spending that much money on one is not worth the compromise. Heck, even with the more expensive price tag, the iPhone X is much better value than the Pixel 2... and the software experience is excellent (minus the ability to customise) and the hardware much more advanced.
Oh, Google Assistant > Siri. And while you can download Google Assistant on iOS, you need to actually launch her app to use it, which is annoying.
EDIT: If you’d ask me to pick the single, best, standalone smartphone right now, I’d say the Note 8. But if I had to pick a smartphone for everyday life (which includes work), then I have to pick the iPhone X. Using an iPhone gives you access to virtually all services (Microsoft, Google and Apple) and syncs seamlessly with all your other work/personal devices without hassle (if you use a Mac or iPad). The two main things lacking on the iPhone X that the Note 8 have are (proper) stylus support and split-screen multitasking.
But IMO, I feel that the “back-home-multitasking buttons” on Android kinda old-fashion now (regardless of whether the buttons are hardware or software based). I’d love to see Google release a gesture-based Android next year.
Anyway, I love Samsung’s hardware design and I don’t mind the compromise in bloatware. I prefer watching videos on the S8 over the iPhone X too.
I know people who hate non-stock Android and would prefer the Pixel 2... but IMO, the hardware is so lacking that spending that much money on one is not worth the compromise. Heck, even with the more expensive price tag, the iPhone X is much better value than the Pixel 2... and the software experience is excellent (minus the ability to customise) and the hardware much more advanced.
Oh, Google Assistant > Siri. And while you can download Google Assistant on iOS, you need to actually launch her app to use it, which is annoying.
EDIT: If you’d ask me to pick the single, best, standalone smartphone right now, I’d say the Note 8. But if I had to pick a smartphone for everyday life (which includes work), then I have to pick the iPhone X. Using an iPhone gives you access to virtually all services (Microsoft, Google and Apple) and syncs seamlessly with all your other work/personal devices without hassle (if you use a Mac or iPad). The two main things lacking on the iPhone X that the Note 8 have are (proper) stylus support and split-screen multitasking.
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agree with you on most of what you said above^^ ask google assistant to "turn on do not disturb" and see how confused it gets....lol