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Who stole my butter? Solving slowness probelms in Galaxy Note after Jelly Bean update

April 9, 2013 in Galaxy Note Guides

slow-jelly-beanJelly Bean 4.1 updated for Galaxy Note has been rolled out in phases since February 2013. This update brings Galaxy Note owners many excited improvements, new features and apps. Some of the new features were explained in  the Top 12 new features you should try after getting Jelly Bean 4.1 update for Galaxy Note.

However, some users reported serious slowness issues after the Jelly Bean update in their Galaxy Notes. It seems the Project Butter is nothing, or Samsung stole our butter.

What are the causes, and what are the solutions?

First, Galaxy Note is powerful enough for running Jelly Bean smoothly. 1GB RAM, and dual core 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Dual 4210 chip are still decent hardware specifications even after1.5 years. A lot of middle range Jelly Bean handsets has far less powerful hardware specifications.

So, do not suspect your hardware. Jelly Bean is not hungry for hardware. Any hardware that can run Ice Cream Sandwich should meet the requirements of Jelly Bean. A lot of manufactures do not give Jelly Bean update simply because  they do not want to put more resources on an old model. In this sense, Samsung did an excellent job.

The slowness problem in Jelly Bean update lies on the update itself. When you update the system, most of your old settings will be kept, some are necessary, some are unnecessary . Some of these settings are fully compatible with Jelly bean; some are compatible  but with degraded performance. For the known incompatible settings, the update will handle them. The biggest issue is that some old settings are not compatible to the new OS/ROM, but it is unknown yet.  Therefore, for the slowness caused by such problematic settings, a factory reset will solve the issue.

Please be careful when performing the  factory reset because it will erase your internal storage. You need backup all your data in the internal storage, including your contacts and messages. Apps can be re-installed, but the settings will be gone. If you have rooted your phone, you can use Titanium Backup  to backup and restore almost everything. If your phone is not rooted, you may try Carbon to backup and restore your apps. You may check this tutorial on how to use this app.

Of Course it is a good idea to use Kies to backup  all supported items (contacts, messages, s notes, photos…) to your PC. After resetting, you can restore the backup.  But you should never rely on Samsung’s Device backup. It is not reliable based on my personal usage.

Sometimes, the slowness is due to insufficient available RAM. Yes, I just said our Galaxy Note has sufficient RAM (1GB)  for Jelly Bean. Even you add up all Samsung’s TouchWiz, and all bloatware from Samsung and from your local carriers, the 1GB RAM (800-900MB accessible) should be able to handle all apps easily. So, why is there this  insufficient RAM issue?

As discussed in Why did I get less free RAM after the ICS update in my Galaxy Note? Android is very efficient in memory management. The RAM in our Note has 4 portions: reserved, used, cached, and available.  Reserved part is for system devices, e.g., GPU, in this Jelly Bean update, it is about  130-140MB. So, about 860MB is available for Android, and all stacks over it. Among this 860MB, Jelly Bean actually only require less than 200MB, slightly more than Ice Cream Sandwich. The TouchWiz UI (aka Samsung’s skin) is over-bloated, and needs about 200MB. This implies users get more than 400MB for their apps. This is more than enough for any app in the Play Store.

But in our Galaxy Note, there are some bundled apps (bloatware) from Samsung and local carriers, e.g, Yahoo Finance, Learning Hub, always running because these apps mark themselves as essential (it will restart itself if you kill them use task manager), although they are not essential.

An app can also listen to reboot or start services, and therefore launches itself when you reboot your phone. So, immediately after you reboot your Galaxy Note, if your Note uses more than 600MB RAM, you may have RAM issue with apps. Your Note may be sluggish gradually. You can read the RAM info in any task manger or through Application Manager–running. If this happens, it simply means you have too many apps either marking them as essential (usually bundled ones) or trying to auto-restart themselves. You should check the RAM before using any other apps except task manager. Only check this immediately after rebooting.

So, the solution for the slowness problem caused by insufficient available RAM includes:

  1. disabling some unnecessary bundled apps (of course, if your Note was rooted, you can uninstall them). You should be very careful and only disable the apps that you are not going to use. This can be done in Application Manager–all. For each apps, you can choose disable. If there are updates installed, you need uninstall the update first, then to disable.
  2. preventing some apps to start automatically. You can go to Application  Manager–downloaded. For each app,  you can choose “force stop” if it is not grayed out. During the Jelly Bean update process, the updater actually marked all old apps to start automatically! This was done in the optimizing apps stage in the updating process.  Force stop may be not consistent (depending on app). So, a more powerful approach is to use some autorun manager. For non-rooted phones, you may try an app called Autorun Manager (in basic mode).

 

To sum up, if you feel your Galaxy Note is getting slower after the Jelly Bean update, you may try:

  • Step 1: Back up all important data in the internal storage. You may use Kies for some files, contacts, S Notes, messages, photos, and Carbon for app settings. Make sure the backup is in a safe place.
  • Step 2.: Perform a factory reset (settings–backup and reset)
  • Step 3: Disable some unnecessary bundled apps;
  • Step 4: Reboot and monitor the RAM usage. The used RAM  immediately after reboot should be less than 600MB.
  • step 5: Re-install backups from Kies
  • Step 6: Re-install apps one by one  from Play Store.
  • Step 7: Reboot
  • Step 8: Force stop all downloaded apps,
  • Step 9: Install Autorun Manager, and disable most apps in the list (in the Basic Mode)
  • Step 10: Reboot and check.

Is the slowness problem in your Galaxy Note solved? If not, post your questions in the comments box below of discuss it with other Galaxy Note owners in Galaxy Note discussion forum.

 

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by Simon

S Note tutorial: how to change text styles (appearance)

February 17, 2013 in Galaxy Note Guides, Galaxy Note News, Galaxy Note Videos

how-to-change-s-note-styleThis is our second S Note video tutorial. In this tutorial,we will learn how to change the appearance or typesetting of your text in S Note. This includes  font type, text size, text decoration, paragraph spacing, paragraph alignment, paragraph indent, pre-defined styles,  and list styles.

Of course, this covers both typed (from keyboard) text, and handwriting recognition text (from Productivity tools). If you are not sure about productivity tools, you may check this post (http://www.allaboutgalaxynote.com/s-note-tutorial-how-to-use-productivity-tools/ ).

The transcript is attached below the video for your convenience.

If you have questions, please post in comments section below, or start a new thread in discussion forum.

Transcript:

Hello guys, this is the second S Note video tutorial from AllAboutGalaxyNote.com.For more tutorials and update, please visit our blog at: AllAboutGalaxyNote.com.

The S Note Survival Guide e-book will be available in March 2013!

Today we will learn how to change the appearance or typesetting of your text in S Note. This includes font type, text size, text decoration, paragraph spacing, paragraph alignment, paragraph indent, pre-defined styles, and list styles.

This tutorial applies to S Note on all Galaxy Note series devices, including Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Note 10.1.
Font settings can be accessed by long tapping Text button. And you can put this font setting window on the screen when typing or writing text. This is very handy if you want to change font settings quite often.

The typesetting, or in other words,full text settings window can be accessed in two different ways. One way is tapping this color button in font setting window. Another way is to double tap the text button. Different from font setting window, this typesetting window is fixed and cannot be moved.In typesetting window, you can preview any settings on the top. This gives you immediate feedback to your settings.In addition to font and text decoration, you can access paragraph settings, style selections and choose list symbols in the typesetting window.

First, let’s try font settings.This is the default font: Roboto font, 24 points, black color and no decorations.You can directly choose the colors from the 15 available colors. If you need more colors, you can click the color button to get the typesetting window.

In typesetting window, in addition to pick colors from palettes directly, you can pick colors from other objects, e.g., from a picture.

As mentioned earlier, in the typesetting window, you can access more settings, in addition to more text colors. For example, create a list and choose list style.

You can convert existing paragraph to a list.

Under paragraph settings, you can change the align, indent, spacing and text directions.

Under styles, just like in any word processing software, you can apply the pre-defined styles directly. It seems you cannot define your own styles in current version.

You can apply different font styles, for example, different font, different size, different colors, in one paragraph.

In S Note, the text is always aligned on the bottom in vertical direction, and it seems you cannot change this to align in middle or top.

Fort existing text, you can double tap any words, then the selection handler is available. Drag the handler to the desired locations to select words you want to change appearance. Then select any of the settings, for example, sizing, color and font. The style of text selected will be updated immediately.

Now let’s try the typesetting for text from handwriting recognition under productivity tools.

If the handwriting recognition is used in a text input paragraph, the formatting can be done in the same way of typed text.

However, for textbox, it will not take your current format settings. It always uses its own default settings for any new textbox. So, you can only change the typesetting for them after you finish the writing, not before the writing.

For textbox, you can select it by long tapping any area of the box until the context menu pops out. You can then move it to any locations, and it is not constrained by the lines.

Once the textbox is moved to the desired location, you may enter text input mode, and double click any words in the box. Selection handler will be presented with the word selected.

You may move the handler to select any more words, then formatting the selected text just like the typed text.

You can even continue to type the text to the text box.

You can also type the text, then continue to use handwriting recognition. In this case, it is similar to use the handwriting recognition in your keyboard input.

You can play with the paragraph settings: spacing, alignment, etc.

When you apply any of the pre-defined styles, all your previous settings for the selected text or paragraph will be removed.

Ok, now, I think you know how to change the appearance of your text in S Note. Please try them now.

For more tutorials and update, please visit our blog at: AllAboutGalaxyNote.com. Thank you for watching this video. Enjoy your S Note.

 

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by Simon

S Note Tutorial: how to use productivity tools

August 24, 2012 in Galaxy Note Guides, Galaxy Note News, Galaxy Note Videos

s-note-tutorial-productivity-toolsS Pen is something unique in our Galaxy Note. ICS (aka Android 4.0) update simply made our Note more useful with some new apps specially for S Pen. S Note is one of these new and interesting apps.

However, some Galaxy Note users are not sure how to use S Note, although, Samsung already includes the 6-page S Note tips, 6-page productivity tips, and 6 samples (not sure why Samsung guys like 6, 6=s) in the S Note app.

So, I created this tutorial to give you some idea how to use the productivity tools in S Note. In the 8min 30s video (screen cast with audio), the following topics are covered:

  • 1). start and navigate through S Note;
  • 2). find and use the productivity tools button;
  • 3) handwriting to text;
  • 4). shape match;
  • 5). formula match;
  • 6) export S Note

Enjoy the video.

 

Tools used to create this video include:

 

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Why Galaxy Note 10.1 will fail?

August 6, 2012 in Galaxy Note News, Galaxy Note Reviews

Galaxy Note 10.1 was announced in last February to take the momentum generated by Galaxy Note.  This is a wise decision to create a unique tablet with S Pen (and productivity tools).  The initial specifications announced in MWC2012 were not impressive and the design was just another out-of-the-mill Android tablet.

galaxy-note-10.1-poor-displaySo, Samsung decided to re-work it. Now after more than 5 months, pre-order of this tablet was announced by Negri Electronics at $750 (No Jelly Bean, still ICS). Maybe the price will drop to around $500 soon.

After reading the specifications, my first impression is this is just another DOA (death on arrival) Android tablet.

The specifications were bumped up: quad core CPU (initially, dual core), 2GB RAM (initially 1GB), 5MP primary camera (initially 3MP), 2G/3G/WiFi/ USB/Bluetooth connectivity. It sounds nice. But when you read the display, omg, it is still 1280*800 (WXGA), same as your 9-month old 5.3″ Galaxy Note, 17-month old Motorola Xoom, or similar to 2-year-and-4-month old iPad, and 17-month old iPad 2. 

This poor display will destroy Galaxy Note 10.1. Two years ago, this was a decent display. But, now it is 2012, and  people expect higher pixel density (thanks to Apple’s retina display in the new iPad, aka iPad3).

Don’t blame Android or chipsets. Acer has been shipping the full HD 1080p Android tablet (Acer A700) since this summer at $450. Full specifications of this tablet is here. Another Asian PC maker, ASUS, also is offering full HD 1080p (actually 1920*1200, WUXGA) transformer pad infinity. You can get it at $500 (32GB) or $600 (64GB).

As a comparison, the new iPad (released about 5 months ago, 9.7inches) has a screen resolution of 2048*1536 and the pixel density is 264ppi (pixels per inch).  Our Galaxy Note boosts 1280*800 pixels on a 5.3-inch screen. So the pixel density is about 285ppi. This is one of the major reasons users like their Galaxy Note: sharp and vivid display!

Of course, there is a limitation of human eyes. Normally, pixel density higher than about 250ppi will make no differences for most people without using special equipment, if the contrast and brightness are not an issue. If your eyes have been spoiled by Galaxy Note’s display, you will immediately feel 1280*800 on a 10.1 inch screen (pixel density about 150ppi) is very uncomfortable. Putting a 1280*800 screen on a 7-inch screen  (pixel density is about 210-220 ppi) is quite reasonable, like Google Nexus 7.

It is really hard to understand why Samsung put such a subpar (resolution) display in their high end tablet. As you may know, Samsung supplies most of the new iPad display for the fruity company. Technology surely is not an obstacle for Samsung to put a full HD display.   Just to save $20 in the cost!!

Why can none of  the Android tablet challenge iPad in the 10in form factor? Initially, it is due to OS and apps. Android 2.3 is not suitable for 10-in form factor. Honeycomb is a rush product. Now, Android 4.0 (ICS) and 4.1 (Jelly Bean) already surpass iOS 6, and iOS is trying to catching up.

So, the competition is more on display!! Retina display in the new iPad made all Android tablets like a toy when it was announced. Thanks to Asus and Acer, we now do have a few Android tablets in the market: Acer A700, ASUS Transformer Infinity, and probably Google Nexus 7.

We had been expecting Samsung would have brought us another Android tablet. But it turns out to be another Android toy!

What a joke!

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Top 10 new features in Galaxy Note after ICS update

July 16, 2012 in Galaxy Note Guides, Galaxy Note News

After the official release of ICS 4.0.3 update for Galaxy Note  in May and ICS 4.0.4 update last week, some users asked me what the new features are. Thanks to Samsung’s Touch Viz UI, most users will not visually find any changes after the update. Here I prepared the top 10 new features in your Galaxy Note after the ICS update.

Each update fixes some bugs and the performance should be improved, so we usually recommend users to apply the update, although some new problems may be reported, e.g. battery issues, RAM issues. Given the short lifespan (1-3 years) of samrtphones, it is impractical to wait for the perfect firmware.

In this post I will try to introduce you the features. I will create  tutorials for some of these features later.

1. Pop- up play (ICS 4.0.4 update is needed)

pop-up-play-galaxy-notePop up play was debuted on Galaxy S3  last May. In the Googl Play store, there are a few paid apps (e.g., Stick it! (Pop-up Player)) doing the similar job. What it does is quite simple, you can watch your video and use other apps at the same time. The video will be re-sized as thumbnail and you can move it to any locations on your screen. Pretty cool, right?

Of course, only the built-in video player support this. Once the video is open, you can find the re-sizing (or pop up play?) button in the top right corner. If you want to stop the video, just touch the video area and release your finger. If you want to go to full screen, you can long press the home button to get the task manager and open the video player.

Two limitations: 1). the size of the video cannot be adjusted, at lest I did not find any ways to adjust it; 2). If you want to go back to full screen, the video will be played from the beginning, not from where you stop in the pop up play mode. Thanks to julien for correcting me. (Tap the video,  it will go back to the full screen and continue.)

2.  S Note

S Note is part of the Samsung’s Premium Suite for Galaxy Note and is installed as part of ICS update. It comes with 6 samples, 6-page S Note Tips, and a 6-page productivity Tools Tips. So, you can start to use it quite easily.

With S Note, you can directly convert your handwriting into text, convert your drawing into polygonal shapes, and convert your writing into mathematical formulas. You can even import PDF file for annotation!

After the ICS update, you should be able to find this app among your applications.

3. My Story

My Story is also part of the Premium Suite for Galaxy Note. But it is not installed automatically during your ICS update. You can download it either from Samsung Apps or Google Play store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sec.android.app.mystory)

This apps help you create multimedia letter or a card or an album. It comes with 4 templates (birthday, thank you,  letter in a bottle, ans memory).

This apps need verify your phone number. So, when you open it first time, it will ask your phone number and a verification code will be sms to you. So, remember to provide correct phone number, especially country code.

4. Face unlock

Face unlock is a standard feature in ICS (Android 4.0). You can unlock your phone by using your face (and the front camera). You can turn on this by going to settings–security–screen lock. Of course, if the light is so weak, you cannot use this feature. So, your Galaxy Note will ask you to setup PIN or password as well in case your face is not recognized.

5. Notification

In ICS, notification is significantly improved. Shortcut for Settings is added there. From the lock screen, you can also launch apps directly.

6. Data usage monitor

ics-data-usageFor people with data quota, monitoring mobile data usage is important to avoid hefty and stupid charges from the greedy telecom operators. In the past, you may use some apps, e.g. 3G Watchdog to monitor the data usage. Now, it is not necessary.

Under settings, now you can find Data Usage. All your data usage will be reported here. You can set the limit, and disable background data if your data quota is very low.

7. Developers options

Occasionally, some background processes (usually from poorly written apps) may drain your battery  quite quickly, and hog on the ram. So, your system may be not so responsive. IN ICS, you can go to Settings–Developer options to setup the background process limit. You can choose No Background processes as a test if you suspect the battery drain is due to background process. Normally, you should not choose no background processes, as Android system may need this function to improve performance.

Under developers options, you have a quite a lot advanced controls, e.g., show CPU usage, or force GPU rendering.

8. Quick access to task manager/ Swipe to close

ics-task-manager-swipe-to-closeAt any time, long press Home button, you will get the task manger (pop up). From the thumbnail list of running and recent apps, you can swipe to left or right to close it . Touch it once to open the corresponding app.

9. Signature unlock (ICS 4.0.4 is required)

This is a cool feature, although not so useful. You can unlock your phone with your S Pen by signing on the screen. That’s it.

You can set it up from Settings–Security–Screen lock.

10. Chrome browser

ICS has a improved web browser. You can open up to 16   8 tabs (thanks for Thomas who found we can actually open 8 tabs in Galaxy Note, not 16, It seems Samsung gave us 50% discount.).  It sounds good?

Even better, you install Chrome browser ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.chrome) on your Galaxy Note. It is super fast and you can even share the bookmarks and browser windows with your desktop!.

Any comments? please post in the comments section below or in our Galaxy Note forum.

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How to solve battery issues after ICS update in your Galaxy Note

June 17, 2012 in Galaxy Note Guides

galaxy-note-battery-issuesAfter ICS update, some Galaxy Note users complained about poorer battery life compared with that with Gingerbread. Initially, I thought it is a problem of “feeling” because I personally felt similar battery life after the ICS update. I was a bit disappointed because I had expected some sort of battery life improvements.

Suddenly, last week, I encountered the battery drain issue: battery just draining crazily. In one hour it can drain 3-10% battery capacity when the phone is idle. So, I know the users complaining are not alone.

As I finished my investigation and found the culprit, now I share with you how to solve battery issues on your Galaxy Note after the ICS Update. If you already have battery issues or you feel you have battery issues, you may follow my steps.

First, I installed an free app called CPU Spy (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bvalosek.cpuspy), which will give you the duration of  each CPU state. When your phone is idle (screen off, no music playing, no downloading), normally, your CPU should be in “Deep Sleep” state. For example, after one night, you check your CPU Spy, it should look like this.

cpuspy-normal

Normal CPU state in a Galaxy Note when you are sleeping.

As you can see, this is the normal situation. In the night, 95%of the time, the CPU is in deep sleep, and after 11 hours, about 6% battery was drained (I also checked emails before sleep).  If your phone does not go to deep sleep, you will find the duration on other state is higher. Very likely, you have battery drain issues if more than 20% battery are drained when you are sleeping (6-10 hours),  You probably will find far larger percentage on 200MHz state. If more than 30% are drained in one night, very likely, your phone never goes to Deep Sleep state.

So, install the CPU Spy (free), use your Galaxy note as usual for a few hours,  fully charge your phone, disconnect your Note from the charger, close all apps (it is NOT necessary to clear the cache; but is a good idea to disable WiFi). Then go to sleep. Check the battery status after 6-10 hours (if you can sleep that long).

If the battery drain is less than 1% per hour  (this gives discharging rate of less than 25mA, as your Note has a 2500mAh capacity) in idle state, you phone should be able to go to deep sleep state and don’t worry for the battery drain issue for the time being (as you may encounter another issue as I did).

If your phone drains battery faster than 1% per hour when you are sleeping. It means the phone has an insomnia problem. You need find out which app casues the problem.

Now you need installed another app named Better Battery Status (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.asksven.betterbatterystats&hl=en). If you want to support the author for this incredible app, you can buy it for about $2. Yes, if you are just want to do a short time test, you can download the identical (and also official) free one from XDA-Developers (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1179809). This is an official copy the author released for XDA-Developer community for free. You can find the download link for the APK file in the second post. Once the APK file is saved on your Note, you can then use any file exploer (e.g., MyFiles) to browse it and you will be offered to install it. Please make sure the Unknown sources is checked (under Settings–Security–Device Administration) if you install from APK file instead of the paid one from the Play store.

Once you start Better Battery Status, you can straightaway see a lot of info. You can select Partial Wakelocks since unplugged if you want to find out which app prevents your phone from going into deep sleep.  Here is an example (normal situation, no issues).

better-battery-status-app

This is a normal situation; no major issues.

So, in the past 19 hours, some apps just keep the phone awake for a few mins. If you find any apps that listed here has long time associated with it (do NOT judge on the length of the bar; you should make judgement based on the percentage of this time to the total time), congratulations, you find the culprit. You can proceed to check the app settings.

Again, the image above indicates there are no problems. The longest partial wakelock is only a few mins. Don’t be panic when you look at the bar.

As I told you at the start of this post, last week I encountered battery drain issues caused by the kernel, possibly a kernel bug. All of a sudden, my Note went crazy: draining the battery very fast. Initially I though it could be caused some apps. But after I checked the battery status, I found out it was caused by the kernel  (fuel_alerted).  and here is the screenshot.

better-battery-status-kernel-wakelock-fuel-alerted

If you encounter this fuel_alerted guy, you have to shutdown your phone, remove the battery.

Anyway, this is a kernel bug in ICS, we have to wait for new update. The solution for this is: shutdown your Note, peel off the back cover, remove the battery; hold the battery for more than one min, put the battery back, put back the back cover; start the phone. Then, everything goes back to normal. Reboot your phone will NOT solver this issue, at least for me.

Next time, when you encounter this issue again, try the procedure again.

But it seems it is hard to hit the bug again. I tried to enable/disable power saving; tried to reboot, tried to turn on/off GPS, I simply cannot get the problem again. I know the problem is NOT fixed, it will come out someday, but I don’t know when.  We have to wait for another update to permanently fix this issue.

Do you have any other battery issues?

 

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Galaxy Note Android 4.0 ICS source code is available now, why Samsung must release the source code?

May 23, 2012 in Galaxy Note Guides, Galaxy Note News, Galaxy Note Reviews

Today, Samsung finally released the Android 4.0 (ICS) source code for Galaxy Note. If you are enthusiastic developer, you can work out your own ROM now very easily. Very likely, within one month, several different flavors of Galaxy ICS ROMs will be floating around.

open-source-softwareWhy does Samsung (and all other licensed Android hardware manufactures) have to release the source code to the public?  This is simply the obligation of using Android, because Android is using Apache license 2.0 except the Linux Kernel (which uses GPL v2 license).

Under Apache 2 license, user has the right to get the source code so that they can modify as they want (although this very likely will void the product warranty). So, the manufacturer MUST make the source code available to users, but it is NOT necessary to be under Apache license. For example, Samsung has its own license on using the the Android source code released by Samsung.

The Linux Kernel is released under GPLv2 license, which requires all modified work must also be released under such a license. Sometimes, this is named as “copyleft” license. Under this license, user get more controls of the source as manufactures are NOT allowed to impose additional terms on using the source code.  But due to its copyleft obligation, manufacturers usually want to avoid such license for competition reasons.

Although there are some critics on the openness of Android project,  Android is unarguably the best open source OS for mobile phones. It gives you the freedom you deserve.

This is one of the biggest advantages of using open source software, for consumers. You are not locked in; you can check how good or how crappy the code is.

For fruity fanbois, or M$ slaves, they never understand what freedom means, as a consumer.

 

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Ice Cream Sandwich is coming to your Galaxy Note

May 10, 2012 in Galaxy Note Guides, Galaxy Note News

ICS update for Galaxy Note

The long-waited Ice Cream Sandwich (aka Android 4.0) is quitely rolled out to unlocked Galaxy Notes. This is firstly reported by Devin Balentina.
It seems only some users in Europe can update now, and none of users in Asia can get it up to now. The size of this update is reported at 318MB. The hyped Premium Suite is included.

Of course, this update is for international version, not the US (AT&T) version.

I will post my hands-on report once my Note get updated.

Did you get the update?

Update 1: The update is only available for Galaxy Note users in Europe up to now (8:50am GMT, May 11).

Update 2: Samsung Mobile Singapore confirmed the ICS update for Singapore Galaxy Note users is still under local testing. So, Singapore Note users have to wait at least a few weeks.

Update 3: Samsung Mobile Hong Kong confirmed the ICS update will be available for Hong Konmg users in May.

Update 4: Update for US (AT&T version) Galaxy Note users has not scheduled, although the leaked ROM seems close to release. But AT&T will decide when to roll it out.

Update 5: ICS update for Galaxy Note has been rolled out in India and Korea today (May 23).

Update 6:  ICS update for Galaxy Note has been rolled out in Singapore today (May 25).

Update 7:  ICS update for Galaxy Note has been rolled out in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Taiwan,the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and  Vietnam today (May 25)

Update 8: ICS update for Galaxy Note has been rolled out in UK today. (June 1)

Update 9:  ICS update for Galaxy Note has been rolled out in Baltic states,  Czech, Ireland, Russia, Spain and Trinidad and Tobago today. (June 8)

Update 10:  ICS update for Galaxy Note has been rolled out in Kuwait, Morocco, Portugal,  Slovenia,  United Arab Emirates today. (June 13)

Update 11:  ICS update for Galaxy Note has been rolled out in Iran. (June 14)

Update 12. AT&T Galaxy Note received ICS update (4.04) (July 10)

Update 13: Selected German Galaxy Notes received ICS 4.0.4 update today  (July 11)

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CyanogenMod 9 (Ice Cream Sandwich) for Galaxy Note

May 2, 2012 in Galaxy Note News, Galaxy Note Stories

CyanogenModCyanogenMod is an aftermarket firmware distribution and CyanogenMod 9 is for  Android 4.0 (ICS). Now, there is a mostly workable distribution for Galaxy Note with S Pen support.

According the dedicated  forum thread of CyanogenMod 9 for Galaxy Note in XDA-Developers, almost everything works  except:

The good thing is the firmware works for both international version of Galaxy Note and the AT&T version.

Of course, CyanogenMod is for geeks and nerds. For most users, we are still waiting for the official ICS update for Galaxy Note due in this quarter (within less than 2 months if Samsung can keep the words.)

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Ice Cream Sandwich for Galaxy Note leaked (for AT&T version)

April 5, 2012 in Galaxy Note Guides, Galaxy Note News, Galaxy Note Stories, Galaxy Note Videos

galaxy-note-with-ice-cream-sandwich.jpgYes, about 5 million Galaxy Note users are patiently waiting for the update to the delicious Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS, aka Android 4.0) since last November. Initially, we heard the ICS update will be available together with Galaxy SII  in March. Later, Samsung officially announced the ICS update for Galaxy Note would be pushed to Q2, with Premium Suite specially for Galaxy Note.

Yesterday, another ICS ROM for Galaxy Note was leaked. According to Rootzwiki, the build is for AT &T version, not the international version. It has most functions (e.g., face unlocking) expected in ICS and almost all works flawlessly.

SlashGear/Android Community also put a 5-min video on Youtube:

If you have an AT & T version of Galaxy Note, and want to try the update, you may follow these steps (it may avoid your warranty and may damage your phone!!):

  1.  download the file from RootzWiki site to your Windows PC (it works on Windows PC only)
  2. Connect your Note to PC through USB
  3. Power off and boot to flash mode (press volume down and power buttons simultaneously ), then confirm with volume up
  4. Run the downloaded Odin OneClick file
  5. Follow the instructions to flash your ROM
Anyway, it seems the waiting for ICS on Galaxy Note will be over soon!

 

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