Galaxy Note Tips & Tricks

Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update: Top 5 disappointments and top 5 consolations

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galaxy_note_3_kitKat_updateSamsung released the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update (Android 4.4.2) to more and more regions. You may check the update through your Galaxy Note 3 or through Kies. Some users may have to wait for the KitKat update a bit longer

The Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update equips Galaxy Note 3  with the latest version of Android, following Nexus (Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10), Moto X, Moto G, and some Google Play edition handsets (e.g., Google Play edition Galaxy S4 ).

However, just like other Samsung’s Android updates,  this Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update brings mixed experience: some disappointments and some consolations. If you are a Galaxy Note user, you probably still remember the battery drain issues in ICS update and slowness issue in Jelly Bean update.

In this post, I will share with you the top 5 disappointments, and 5 cool features (consolations)  in this Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update.

Table of Contents hide
1) Disappointment #1: No ART options
2) Disappointment #2: SD card support is limited
3) Disappointment #3: Third-party accessories may not work
4) Disappointment #4: Messaging app becomes useless
5) Disappointment #5: Poorer camera performance
6) Consolation #1: Change home screen easily
7) Consolation #2: Full screen music player on lock screen
8) Consolation #3: More emojis (although some are really ugly)
9) Consolation #4: Quick access to camera from lock screen
10) Consolation #5: Transparent notification bar
11) Other improvements in Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update

Disappointment #1: No ART options

One of the most important new features in KitKat (Android 4.4) for advanced users is the new runtime option: ART ( Android runtime).  Although Google baked this  new runtime as a beta feature in KitKat, most tests already reported significant speed improvement for almost all apps. In Moto X, we saw extremely good results when this runtime is enabled.

Unfortunately, Samsung totally disable this option in Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update. There is no way to try it in Galaxy Note 3 (with the official ROM).

Samsung may use the “beta” feature as an excuse of disabling ART in the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update. It does not make sense because Samsung always bundles many alpha-level features  or apps in the handset. As one of the flagship handsets, Samsung should give customers the option.

We have to wait for next update if you want to try ART in Galaxy Note 3.

Disappointment #2: SD card support is limited

Update 1: the SD card issue in Galaxy Note 3 after KitKat update is apparently now solved. In some regions, there is another small update after the KitKat update. This update addressed the SD card issues. At least, ES File Explorer File Manager works as in Jelly Bean: you can freely write, copy, paste and delete files in SD card.

For whatever reasons, Google dislikes external SD card (since Android 2.3).  All Nexus devices has no external SD card slots. Its little kid, Motorola, also killed external SD card support in all new devices.  In KitKat 4.4, Android tighten the controls on external storage in the name of “security”.

Some consumers choose Samsung devices because of its external SD card support (also the removable battery). FYI, HTC executives still cannot understand this. Such SD card support is very important for users in regions without high-speed mobile network. Cloud is nice, but it requires high-speed network available most of the time.

Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update still supports external SD card. But some third-party apps may have some issues to write or copy files directly.  If you encounter some issues with files on external SD card, you have to wait for the app developer to find a workaround.

To be honest, this is not the fault of Samsung. But Samsung should tweak the code so that Galaxy Note 3 owners can still enjoy full support for the SD card  after the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update.

Don’t rely on Google for future update, they will point you to Google Drive.

Disappointment #3: Third-party accessories may not work

“Official” accessories usually are bloody expensive.  The selection is often very limited.

Thankfully, there is a big market of third-party accessories. So, as a Samsung customer,  we can get many innovative accessories at an  affordable price.

But the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update attempts to change the status quo. Samsung now is attempting to squeeze  more dollars from your pocket.

After getting the  Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update,  you may find out some third-party accessories are not working! You are not alone, because you are NOT using the official accessories.

Although Samsung denies the linkage of Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update with the nonfunctional third-party S View cases, the workaround for Spigen’s S-View case after Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update indicates this is unlikely an inadvertent mistake.

Anyway, if the third-party accessory has to talk to  or interact with Galaxy Note 3 (e.g., S-View),  it may not work after the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update. Samsung is ready to extort money from third-party accessory makers (actual Galaxy Note 3 customers).

Disappointment #4: Messaging app becomes useless

We all know Hangouts is good, and eventually may replace the messaging app. But there are still some Galaxy Note 3 users who are not ready to switch.

The Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update makes the messaging app simply outdated. For example, although emoji is natively supported in KitKat, messages composed with emoji in the messaging app will be converted to MMS. This is same as that in Jelly Bean. Of course, in Hangouts, such messages can now be sent as SMS. So, the issue is purely due to the messaging app.

Apparently, Samsung did not update anything for the messaging app for the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update.  This will surely force loyal users to migrate to Hangouts. Google applauds probably.

Disappointment #5: Poorer camera performance

If the messaging app is a disappointment because you had expected some improvements, then the camera app in the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update will be a disaster  for you.

The camera in Galaxy Note 3  is not so good, but it is not so bad either. Before the KitKat update, at least the app is not slow.  But after the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update, it seems it now takes considerably longer time to process and save the photos.  If the light condition is not so good, the situation is even worse and the image quality looks far inferior (than that before the KitKat update).

So in the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update, Samsung did update the camera app. But the update simply make the app worse.

Update 2: the slow processing in normal lighting conditions can be alleviated by turning off Burst shot (in Camera app, tap settings gear, tap camera button)

Consolation #1: Change home screen easily

Since Android 4.4, Google makes it easier to change launchers.

Now after the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update, you can easily change the home screen under Settings. The pre-installed options are TouchWiz home and TouchWiz home easy. Of course, you can install more.

Consolation #2: Full screen music player on lock screen

If you enjoy music in your Galaxy Note 3 often, there is good news for you. The Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update brings the full-screen music player control to the lock screen.

You can control your music player in the lock screen without unlocking the Note 3.

Consolation #3:  More emojis (although some are really ugly)

Samsung started their own support for emoji since Jelly Bean 4.2. You can find them in Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 before the KitKat update. Such emojis works with Samsung own devices and iPhones (black and white only).

Android finally brought native support of emoji in Android 4.4 (KitKat). Most of the stock emojis are quite nice.  Of course, Samsung wants to put some Samsung stamps here. In Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update, you can find far more emojis than those in Nexus.  Some additions are good. But some are really ugly.

Probably Samsung prepares such emojis for you when you want to message your exes.

Consolation #4: Quick access to camera  from lock screen

After the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update, in the lock screen you can find the camera button. You can start camera app quickly by swipe the icon.

It is not fancy, but it is quite useful when you suddenly want to take a picture.

Consolation #5: Transparent notification bar

KitKat officially comes with a transparent notification bar. If you are using the stock wallpaper, you probably will not appreciate this new feature.

But if you are using customized wallpaper, sometimes, the notification bar does not work well with it before the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update. With the KitKat update, notification bar works well with all wallpapers.

Other improvements in Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update

Of course, there are some other improvements in the Galaxy Note 3 KitKat update, for  example,

  • more responsive (most of the time, except camera)
  • new full screen mode (immersive mode)
  • select the Default applications  (Settings–General)
  • location accuracy control and reports for location request  (Settings–Connections–Location)
  • wireless printing (Settings–Connections–More network–Printing)
  • updated Google  apps

What do you think about this Galaxy Note 3 KitKast update? Let us know in the comment box below.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. kommi says

    S-pen has become inaccurate. The workaround fix no longer works because the switching option of dominate left or right hand has been removed! Seems like the are trying to force an upgrade by systematically removing capabilities.

    Reply

  4. Shehab Elhariry says

    I had my note 3 since a year.Since i had the kitkat upgrade, i am experiencing multiple sms consuming. everynow and then the network keep sending me a message with lost credit from my bill. actually i do not know which app actually sending this sms. it is driving me crazy. i tried 3 reboots for factory settings. anyone have an answer?

    Reply

  5. sai sudha says

    I have note 3 with kitkat 4.4.2. From few days i am encountering with camera initialization failed. I love taking photos and this is really disappointing me. I do not want to reset the faxctory settings. I have cleaned cache memory and also force stopped camera option in application manager. Could you please suggest any solution

    Reply

  7. cecily says

    I am now unable to save pictures from my text messages. I can go on facebook and save those pictures but if I want to save one from my mom that she sent in a text it will say it saved to the device but I can’t find it in the gallery.

    Reply

  9. Debra says

    Kit kat killed my Samsung Note 3. Before update long battery. Fast response time and was able to use my SD Card. Now with 18 months left on phone payments my phone battery life sucks. Can no longer use my SD card and now my phone keeps freezing. After clean reset by Samsung at best buy noting has changed. Hate my phone. Get me out of of the rest of my purchase. A GITTER BUG will work better than this piece of CR@P.

    Reply

  10. Garvey harris says

    after the lates update my phone now says it is overheating and the battery life drops by 15% every hour. It was fine before the update they did in April 1st. Now I own an expensive paperweight

    Reply

  11. kikki says

    I dont like how the colour icons are now white.. boring n frustrating to read in a hurry. I should have a choice. The font has changed and its awful to read. My biggest gripe is on the internet I cannot scroll through my window manager.. if Im researching multiple subjects I could scroll up n down my open windows. Now it tells me I might have 6 or 7 windows open but it wont go or scroll to them unless I delete them,time consuming to keep looking up one at a time then deleting and going back.

    Reply

  12. Juanita Judd says

    I’ve been messing around more with my phone and noticed that it isn’t just the texts that pop up at the bottom of my screen also notices when something is installed or uninstalled and if there are any game notifications. It stays in the notification bar at the top but flashes on the screen at the bottom for a few seconds. I don’t know if it’s part of KitKat or what and if I can do anything to turn it off.

    Reply

  13. Juanita Judd says

    I’m trying to figure out how to turn off the preview text that shows up on my home screen. I am not using the default messaging app and actually have it turned off and I’m using Go SMS. I’ve Uninstaller Go SMS and used the default and turned off the preview text and it still happens. Is there something I’m missing? I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with KitKat.

    Reply

  14. alex says

    hi, after updating my note 3 , I am facing a new problem: I cannot control volume on screen while streaming and watching a video. I have to use volume rocker for doing that which is practically very difficult while using an s view cover on. any solution for this situation.

    Reply

  15. NeilT says

    Thanks to all the feedback here I’ve turned off my auto updates.

    I get the wifi issue from time to time, but I can live with that. SD issues and work exchange unlocking issues I can’t. Also I don’t need a broken camera or music file issues.

    For those who have work Exchange I’ve found that Touchdown is a very good answer. The exchange policies are pushed to the encapsulated Touchdown environment and you can set your phone back to swipe to open.

    I always wanted a Windows phone but the screen size, processor, graphics and memory were pitiful compared to the Samsung offerings. Now that is level set I think I will probably go for a Luma 1520 or it’s successor. iThings do not make it into my home portfolio. Downloadable maps are a very important thing for me and I’ve always hated google maps on a mobile.

    Having my phone dead end on 4.3 is not a situation I want to continue with but it looks like Google and Samsung have at least a year’s worth of work to resolve the issues already seen plus they appear to have a “no fix” attitude to things they don’t want to see.

    This is not conducive to my “buy Samsung/android” mentality.

    Reply

  16. John Koessler says

    Thanks for the link Rick, I’ll check it out. I’ve already done two factory resets and I’m not doing anymore. If the issues can’t be resolved without another factory reset, I’ll have to live with them. I heard that both Samsung & Google are finally working together to create a resolution. Hopefully it comes sooner than later.

    Reply

  17. saif says

    My phonr battery drains very fast after update. I have installed battety doctor with that issue had resolved. Second issue is that my phone alarm has totally got unreliable. Mostly it does not ring. Just the screen lights, slarm written on top corner n screen become dark. Please help.

    Reply

  19. Fred says

    After my kit kat update to my note 3, m ysignal strength dropped considerably. I used to be able to make calls from home, now all I get is “mobile network not available”. I’d never even seen that message prior to the update. My 4g signal is also significantly worse. Tried a factory reset to no avail. Anyone else with this problem? My screen is cracked so they just say to send it in for$200…

    Reply

  20. Alex says

    Ever since the kitkat update, certain songs magically “are not supported by the player” and refuse to play at all anymore. Before the update, EVERY song on my playlist played perfectly fine. What’s the deal with this?

    Reply

  22. Stevie Gee says

    I also have the same problem as Bill and others above. The Note 3 after update now rnadomly (I can detect no pattern to when this happens sometimes it is fine for weeks) forgets all my WiFi passwords even my home one and requires the reinputting of the password to connect. This never happened before the updates. You make no suggestions in the above post. Could you look into it further please??

    Reply

  23. zainab says

    Hi…my gallery is not working…its not showing anything since i updated my phone…any solution..plus u said by flushing we can shift to jelly bean..hws dat done?

    Reply

  24. Mike says

    Simon,
    I received a replacement for my Galaxy Note 3. Is there a way to turn off the OTA software updates for Verizon? I don’t want 4.4.2 on my phone. It destroyed my other one. If not, if I keep declining the update, will it push through eventually anyway?

    Reply

  25. Brit says

    Anyone having issues with the text messaging? I start typing a message and nothing types however, the keys show they are being pushed. I have to completely close out and reopen to type a message. Its happening often and my husband is having the same problem with his. I was not having this issue before the update.

    Reply

  27. Mario says

    I received the 4.4.2 update on my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and I lost my sound, ringtone, text, and even You tube videos. Only vibrates. I took it to Best Buy to Geek Squad and they factory reset and still doesn’t work. I’m frustrated because it seems I have to get a refurbished phone.Does anyone have suggestions?

    Reply

  28. khairy says

    Aftwr i updated my note 3 to kitkat i found that air commabd is lagging!!! I dont know what is wrong with it!

    Reply

  29. Jon says

    Simon, I did 2 factory resets and i still have delays or downright missed texts, i’ve done side by side tests with other phones, set-up for notifications, texting is now totally unreliable, seems everything with a smiley face is an mms now? sometimes batches of texts will come in bursts all at once that users sent previously days earlier. I’ve seen the other phones…much of this seems to be related to the change to mms for many texts and incompatibility with other devices and carries Wifi calling also bad, some calls i hear no rings and people pick up, other times people can’t reach me, also many distorted tones from the phone that the volume doesn’t control…..Is there any way to put the old firmware and 4.3 on the phone until 4.4 is fixed?

    Reply

  30. mark says

    Since the horrible kit kat update, my phone screen sharing with my samsung laptop does not work. The app doesn’t even show up in the Samsung app store on my phone. It was a feature I loved using. AT&T and Samsung both said the app was no longer compatible because of kit kat. I’m angry I can no longer use this feature. Any suggestions?

    Reply

  31. tommylinsley says

    I have Galaxy Note 3 (AT&T, N900A). Phone auto-updated itself to KitKat 4.4.2 this morning. Ever since the update, I can’t use the screen with Finger gestures. Only the stylus pen will operate the screen. My finger will work on Back and Menu buttons only. Screen will not accept any Finger gestures at all. EDIT: I rebooted my Galaxy Note just now, and it does now accept finger gestures. Maybe this info may prove useful to others if you had the same problem.

    Reply

  32. g8tor says

    Simon it’s g8tor back again mate if you notice on my last reply to you I asked you another question ! After downloading flash it wanted me to go to either local folder or peer to peer I went to local folder which then it said apps leave little bits of info on your local folder and always was chosen but I decided to use only sites that I visit which will block third parties or should I have chosen never Simon ? If it should be never how do I go back and rectify this.

    Reply

  33. g8tor says

    What is Samsung doing about a flash player for the galaxy note 3 coz with kit kat you can’t use adobe flash and the battery drain is absolutely criminal too ! ?

    Reply

  34. Hendro says

    Simon, my problem is solved now. Like you said, I go to Samsung Service Center this morning. They reinstall Kitkat offline using their PC then tried connecting to charger. My Note3 kept turning OFF then showed a battery icon as common display.
    They adviced me and other users to contact them if update needed shown because upgrade OTA needs a stable data connection.
    Thanks a lot fo the advice and keep posting to better solution

    Reply

  35. Ram says

    After Kitkat update the following have begun to happen
    – Phone goes hot in pocket … .battery drains even when background apps are running minimal
    – When in vibrate mode …alarm doesnt sound … as the notifications volume is disabled
    – Touchwiz crashes regularly

    Reply

  36. Hendro says

    Hi Simon,
    I have bought Note3 a few months ago since upgrading to Kitkat 2 days ago. I usually turn off my Note3 while full charging but aftet Kitkat, my Note3 is getting ON automatically just a few seconds after the charger connected so I have to push power button to turn it OFF. Unfortunately, it turns ON automatically again! I have tried to factory reset and pull out the battery, still no difference. It does not happen in JB. Can please advice how to fix?
    Thanks

    Reply

  37. vinc says

    I am having the same issue (missed calls due to dark display after opening the S-Cover) after upgrading the Note3 to 4.4.2. Went to Samsung service center, and they claimed that due to some compatibility issue between the 4.4.2 and the Corp./enterprise email. They suggested to me not to install the Corp. email until the new release of software available. So far my unit works after reset…. But what the use to have a powerful phone that can only make phone call…..

    Reply

  38. Poyzzone says

    Hey guys,
    I have a question I update from 4.3 to 4.4.2, I’ve root the phone and I have some shortcomings:
    1). The camera has no settings.
    2). When you go into the alarm settings are no options like in Android 4.3
    3). In alarm section, missing tab dock, a kind of screensaver that was current month, the weather and some optional shortcuts. That missing too.
    The problem is KitKat 4.4.2 or is because I rooted?
    (Since I have studied, I noticed that it is a bug of android)
    If anyone has encountered the same problem and it was resolved please contact me.
    Thanks in advance.

    Reply

  39. aziz says

    My gallery dosent open after the update also battery usage for gallery although it dosent open is 56% the battery is drained

    Reply

  40. EricRuzz says

    Has anyone also experience reboot loops everyday? My note 3 has been rebooting for over 10 times a day. Just finished the factory reset and still no luck. I really hope they would actually fix this Kitkat software soon. I have no idea how I can deal with this.

    Reply

  42. Marco says

    Have the Note 3 for some 5 to 6 months: worked well until 4.4.2. The additional update did not do any good either.
    Using screenlock with pincode cannot be used, so security is an issue.
    Tried numerous factory resets, clear cache, removed apps and what have you. So Simon, please, do not comment with do a factory reset: it is not the solution.
    The software is having major faults, security is at risk, camera is slow, memory leaks.
    I do not have the black screens anymore, now that I removed the pin code and thus security of my device, the lagging still is present.

    Reply

  43. Asfandyar says

    It is simply worst!! When I press the Home Button to unlock it responds after 2 seconds. Very slow. I get a call and sometimes the screen is blank. I click on call back and it wont work. I tried a few times and nothing happened. From contacts it dialed fine but when I disconnected it started dialing the same number itself again and again – Crap update. It was perfect from it updated to KitKat.

    Reply

  44. carlos says

    I just bought a note 3 yesterday and have 2 issues. I can’t tether to my Internet connection.. on computers I get the wifi bars or Internet connection icon with an exclamation mark.. have created an open wifi connection with phone and changed the connections name with no luck.

    Other issue is lock screen. Seems I don’t have permission to just use swipe.. I only have pin and password, I’ve set the Google play administration feature on where you can remotely wipe and lock ur device with no luck.

    Simon ! Hopefully you have some insight 🙂

    Reply

  45. Jon says

    Bought the Note 3 on Tmobile with 4.3, for 10 days was most glorious tech buy of my life. Installed 4.4.2, suddenly I’m losing sms messages with the stock viewer. I’ve done side by sides with verizon and others and seen things not go through, just now a Push upgrade came, maybe this will help. Camera blurry and slow now. performance with chromecast declined, Wifi calling quality is worse. Certain numbers don’t ring when i dial them, Sprint friend in particular, suddenly phone is answered, never rang………Wish i had held back, i had 1 day literally to return or swap it, guess i could make a fuss, we’ll see, also small problems like with clock widget that refreshes the time only when it’s active so it will display the last time it was running and then suddenly becomes current in front of your eyes……

    Reply

  46. Ahmad Ata Zakarne says

    I have a problem since i update my mobile to kitkat..it take too long time to charge the mobile !!!maybe between 5 and 6 hours 🙁
    Im the only one that suffer from this problem? Btw everything is turned OFF

    Reply

  47. Wina says

    Hello guys. I need your suggestions. I have been using Samsung Galaxy note 3 for almost 2 month. Nothing bad happened until i upgraded my software to Kiktat. My Samsung has experienced green hue on the screen twice time. The only thing i did when it came were shutting my phone down and then opened it again. Surprisingly the green hue color disappeared. Did you guys experience it too? Do you guys now what happen to my note 3?

    Reply

  49. Pete Beaupre says

    I attempted to update to the 4.4.2 but it fails…now I have a continuous “Unfortunately, Direct pen input has stopped.” error every 8-10 seconds making the whole phone unresponsive and unusable…anyone have a similar problem like this?

    Reply

  50. Bill says

    Any idea why my phone seems to “forget” saved wifi passwords? This never happened pre-kitkat and now it seems like I have to re-enter passwords every few days.

    Reply

  51. shawn says

    My emails that I delete return every time I get a new email notification. I’ve deleted the same emails 7 times now. Also my music player will stop for a few seconds and then continue playing. Now of this happened before the update.

    Reply

  52. Morris says

    Hello, first time poster and only found this site while searching for a way to resolve this issue (i.e. revert back). Kit kat is a disaster. The issue is not samsung directly, but google’s insistence that samsung, like the other carriers, bow down to their edicts that the SD card be wiped out. The camera issues are bugs, and I am sure samsung will fix those, but for me, the SD card is the killer. It is an external hard drive and must act that way for me. This new handicap they installed makes the device worthless. There is no plan to fix it. And as far as I know the only way to fix it is to root. I try to avoid that because of my warranty trade in upgrade plan with tmobile.

    SO instead, I had tmobile send me a new unit. It is their cost, which will be kicked back up to samsung. Its the only way I know how to satisfy both criteria: me getting the phone I paid for, and not voiding warranty.

    My current issue is to figure out a way to safely turn off the update notice. I do not want to see it, I do not want to accidently click on it. As long as I can maintain JB on this device, I will be content. After all, the improvements in Kitkat are pathetic and it should actually be 4.3.1 not 4.4 As near as I can tell, it breaks a bunch of crap, and makes google now more usable (Something a google now update could have done). It also makes the notification bar a little less organized, amorphous, and less useful.

    I have no idea what a full screen emersion experience is, and I dont think I will miss it.

    So if anyone know how turn that notification off, my life will be all the better for having never heard of kitkat (actually considering boycotting the actual candy at this point).

    Reply

  53. Ian Dawes says

    On my Note 3 since the kitkat update I have noticed I cannot play an album in music player. It plays the first track of the album then selects random songs by the same artist from other albums.
    Also can no longer use animated wallpapers or lock screen.
    Battery life is worse than before.
    Also if I receive a message and pick it up on my Gear I also have to clear it from the notification bar on the phone.
    Hope its all sorted soon as I had no issues with jellybean.
    Still the best operating system out there but little things can sour the taste.

    Reply

  54. Taylor says

    My issue is with the camera self-timer in conjunction with the flash. Before the update the countdown would start, and just before taking the picture the flash would begin and I’d have a great photo. Now after the update, when I take a photo using self-timer and the flash, it immediately flashes, then counts down from 10 seconds, then a quick flash and the photo turns out terrible, and super dark. I don’t know how they screwed that up and hopefully will fix it in an update soon.

    Reply

  55. erza says

    I hope they fix the camera problem. I purchased Samsung Note 3 due to the great performance of the camera. It is a great disappointment to me that its response time is not good anymore. 🙁

    Reply

  56. Bill says

    Since the update I have noticed significantly more static when playing SD card music through my car stereo via the headphone jack. Also there is a popping sound when changing tracks. Has anyone else experienced this?

    Reply

  57. nospam says

    “in the lock screen you can find the camera button. You can start camera app quickly by swipe the icon”

    You need to fix your article…The camera button is only available when “swipe to unlock” is used. The button is unavailable when secure unlocking methods like PIN or Pattern unlock are used.

    Reply

  58. k_rod says

    My lg g2 allowed me to update it and I eagerly updated. Right after I noticed that when I received texts my screen would.not turn on. Anyone know how to turn the screen on for notifications?

    Reply

  59. pam says

    I want this update off my phone. I did it today Nd I’m ready to buy a new phone. Grrrrt.I loved my phone before this.

    Reply

  60. Jenck says

    I was waiting for the kitkat update as i heard that after 4.3 update many people had fat batteries , as i had.
    So 2 days ago i got the update and i done it.
    Sincerely i’m very dissapointed right now !!!! :((
    The first thing what i encountered was that i cannot even rename a directory on the SD card with third party software…such us total commander and ES fileexplorer!!!!
    For me its a must to have this feature…
    The second one is that when i want to setup VPN its asking for password which i didnt set !!!
    So Samsung also try to move,handle people like Apple did from the beginning … but thay didnt put the question , why some people choose samsung instead of Iphone ,… thats because of freedom what we had … but sincerely those days seems to goes away and samsung make worser and worser … even if we talking about Android 4.4 os .
    Now i have 2 critical issue with 4.4 and who know what else will be more 😛
    Nice Samsung … just go ahead and Your custommers will switch to Iphone as it will be nonsense which one you choose …

    Bytheway someone know how to handle my issues ?

    Reply

  61. maria says

    Hi.. i am using note 3. My home button does not work.. it does not direct me to the home screen when an app is open. Also i cannot access the shortcut of notification panel.. do you also experience this?

    Reply

  62. will says

    well, from reading the article and seeing the multitude of issues that people are experiencing from the update, which the only reason i was looking forward to it is to see if this would resolve the “your wifi connection is unstable” problem since day 1 that i have had the note 3. looks like i am might be going back to apple after my two years are up and i am eligible for an upgrade. apple may be restrictive when it comes to apps and their IOS but at least it’s one person you have to deal with, any time you have a situation of a multiple parties involved then you have the finger pointing game (carrier aka AT&T “the issue is with the phone manufacturer” , phone manufacturer aka Samsung “the issue is with the OS developer” OS developer aka Google “the issue is with the phone manufacturer” ) so basically Samsung and Google are making it pointless for those that are currently I phone users from switching, so if they’re restricting the use of an SD card then they’re cutting their own throats, that is one of the selling points for me when i bought the galaxy note 3, the open app playing field was another, like i said the biggest issue i have had at this point is the wifi related problem, which makes having a wireless transmitter in he device useless and i have already hit my cap, thinkfully i am grandfathered in on my unlimited plan with att otherwise i would have thrown the phone out the window a month ago. at least from a hardware perspective apple’s devices are fairly reliable when it comes to the basic function of their devices.

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  63. John Koessler says

    Now the worst issue is still with the camera. If I move the phone while the “processing” is taking place, the photo captured is a blurred image of me moving the phone, not of what I took a photo of. To take a good picture I literally have to hold the phone still until the processing is complete. This is ridiculous, and not what I paid for.

    Reply

  64. William says

    sd card issue is extremely frustrating for me. I’d never update if I knew that. shame on samsung and google that they kept that almost secret. Removable sd card and battery are the main reason I chose a galaxy; one may not always have coonection with the cloud, especially when they are travelling.

    Reply

  65. Michael says

    Seriously, after the upgrade to Kit Kat, my Note 3 has become almost totally unusable. It’s been back to Samsung for full factory reset and reload of the software, it’s had the Smart Cover removed and reverted to the standard battery cover, it’s had every damn thing done to it possible. It us unusable. The screen goes to sleep and you cannot wake it up at all…I’ve pulled the cover and removed/replaced the battery at times to get access to the keys…

    Literally everything is running like treacle.

    I’ve just removed the SD card (a Samsung SD card by the way) to see if the issue described above is the root cause of this.

    If it’s not it’s time to get into the Samsung store here in Singapore and be an arsehole…this needs to be rolled back or replaced or something. I cannot even answer a call when it’s ringing…

    Before this, I raved about this phone to friends and colleagues and have recommended several people into this device.

    Now, I could not be more peeved with a device and will look elsewhere soon…

    Reply

  66. peedoffnote3owner says

    Installed KitKat OTA however since then Screen Mirroring has stopped working, tries to connect then fails. So performed a backup and factory reset firstly restore didn’t work so had to download all apps etc… again only to find that the Screen Mirroring still isn’t working! I am slowly giving up with trying to find a solution!

    Reply

  67. madhatternalice says

    I really, really loathe the full-screen album art on the lock screen. Many album covers make seeing my unlock pattern rather difficult. I hope that this becomes a feature one can disable, because right now you’re screwed.

    Reply

  68. John Koessler says

    Now I’m also having Barry issues. Full battery only laud 4 hours yesterday. Phone dais battery drain read from a programi want even using (have open). Several times the power button won’t wake up the phone. When I’m making a call and have to dial an extension (after prompts) the screen goes black and becomes nonresponsive. Occasionally during a call it sounds like I’m pushing one of the # buttons. Very distracting during a call. It doesn’t matter if the phone is up to my face or in the car cradle, so I know I’m not pushing any buttons. So far I have not had anything good come out of this update and there doesn’t seem to be any recourse. On another note I just saw yesterday HTC will be reintroducing a phone with a SD card (main reason I didn’t upgrade with another HTC). Can’t tell me they’re worried about how KitKat affects SD card usage. With all the hype about this Samsung Note 3, I am very disappointed and locked into a 2 year contract. Is it possible I just have a bad phone? Sprint is my carrier.

    Reply

  71. John Koessler says

    Many of my indoor pictures aren’t even what I snapped a photo of. When the picture comes out it’s great! Did not have this issue prior to the update My main usage of the Note 3 was the camera. I hope they bring a solution soon.

    Reply

  72. rajiv says

    Music player is always reset equilizers while changing songs ..its a big problem in kitkat upgrade…….I think jellybean is better than this….

    Reply

  75. Anand MK says

    i did an OTA update for my Note 3. The upgrade went well, the moment the restart happened after the upgrade, my Note 3 has become very very slow in its response. its pathetically slow even in entering my unlock code now. i am looking for a way to downgrade the device to jelly bean. i dont need a kitkat update that slows down my phone terribly. Its bad design and bad user consideration i would say.

    Reply

  76. Dylan says

    My phone goes into boot loop after update to KitKat. Only way to stop this is to remove the SIM card or put it in Flight mode. Factory reset is not an option for me…help!

    Reply

  81. Randy Seetoh says

    After the up date to kk 4.4.2 i find out the s voice can’t work properly example to wake up the phone on sleeping mode.

    Anyone here have the same problem?

    Reply

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