If you are a user of Samsung Galaxy Note, or Note II, you will find the S Note in Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is quite different from that in Note or Note II. For example, a lot of seasoned S Note users will ask “where is the productivity tools?” in Note 3.
In this post, I will share with you the top 10 new features of S Note in Samsung Galaxy Note 3. These include select and transform (replacing and enhancing productivity tools in old S Note), select and format (formatting your S Note), easy chart, line eraser, searchable S Note, full screen by default, landscape template, preview S Note, default template and default cover, and add from scrapbook.
Please note, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition has almost identical S Note as that in Galaxy Note 3. So this post also applies to Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition, although I just mention Note 3 in the post.
1. Select and transform (replacing productivity tools)
Productivity tools is one of the most welcomed features in S Note. It is powerful and east to use. If you are not sure about the productivity tools in previous generations of Galaxy Note devices (Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Note 8.0, and Galaxy Note 10.1), you may check this video.
Once you get the new Galaxy Note 3, you will find you can not find productivity tools in the new S Note. Quite a lot Galaxy Note 3 owners asked me where to find the productivity tools.
In Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the productivity tools are deeply integrated into S Note. The term is no longer used for the new S Note.
All of the functions and features (except formula search in Wolfram Alpha) of productivity tools now can be easily accessed from select and transform in Galaxy Note 3. You can write/draw whatever you want in the S Note, tap the selection button, draw a closed (roughly) line to include the written objects, now you have the options to convert/transform the written objects to text, shape, formula, text shape+text. This is more efficient than that in productivity tools.
The transform function is more accurate compared to the productivity tools. You can also convert text+shape. This is something that you cannot do with the old productivity tools.
For the function search in Wolfram Alpha, you cannot access from S Note any more. But you can use this feature in S Finder. In other words, if you want to search a function in Wolfram Alpha, you can simply write the function in S Finder and you can get the search results from Wolfram Alpha.
2. Select and format
Formatting S Note used to be a tedious task in creating a S Note (you may refer to this video on typesetting/formatting on the old S Note) . There are quite a few useful functions buried here and there in the old S Note.
In the new S Note in Galaxy Note 3, formatting S Note becomes easier. You just select the range to be formatted use the select function, then tap properties. All the typesetting settings are there now.
3. Easy chart
Easy chart is a new feature. It lets you create charts and graphs quickly and easily using S Note.
You can create tables, line charts, bar charts, and pie charts with easy chart, which can be accessed from insert button (bottom left). It is also very easy to edit the chart.
Easy chart is one of the most polished features in S Note. For Galaxy Note or Note II users, it should be quite straightforward. A lot of Samsung device owners complain about bling-bling features in its high-end smartphones. Easy chart definitely does not belong to this category.
4. Line Eraser (erase the whole line)
In the old S Note, eraser is just a eraser: it clears the area it passes. Of course, you can define the thickness of the eraser just like that in many photo/image editing apps.
In the new S Note in Galaxy Note 3, the eraser has additional function: line eraser. It can erase the who line with one tap. The line eraser can also clean your S Note line by line.
A lot of S Note heavy users will find this function is extremely handy.
5. Searchable S Notes
Now, you can search your S Notes in Galaxy Note 3. The search covers tags and contents of the notes.
This actually is a feature of S Finder, which allows you search almost everything in your Galaxy Note 3. Of course, you can limit the search to S Notes only, and limit the date range as well. It seems the S Finder does cover a blind area of Google search.
6. Full screen by default
5.7″ is not so large when you take notes. The new S Note give you more working space. S Note in Galaxy Note 3 now works on full screen by default. The toolbar also shrinks to one line.
You can even hide the one-line toolbar to get really full screen for your S Note. The gesture for hiding the toolbar is a bit nerdy. You need touch the screen with 3 fingers and spreading them apart.
7. Landscape template
Although you still cannot create your own template with other apps or tools, there are more templates to choose from for your S Note in your Galaxy Note 3. As many S Note users noticed, the templates in the old S Note are for portrait mode. When you use S Note in landscape mode, the S Note looks less impressive.
In the new S Note, there are some landscape templates. They are especially useful if you want to export the S Note as an image for a PowerPoint slide. Of course, Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition owners will use these templates more frequently than Note 3 owners.
8. Preview S Note
When you open the new S Note in your Galaxy Note 3, you can now preview existing S Notes by just dragging the cover down a bit with your S Pen. You can preview all pages of the S Note without opening it. Of course, you can tap any pages to open the S Note.
9. Default template and default cover
Another nice feature I like is the default feature and default template. In the old S Note, when you create a new S Note, you have to pick a template. For occasional users, it is not a big issue. But for heavy users, this can be annoying.
In the new S Note in Galaxy Note 3, by default, a default template and a default template is used. So, it is not necessary to select template every time when you want to create a new S Note. For new users, this may cause minor inconvenience.
10. Insert from scrapbook
Scrapbook is a new and exciting feature in Galaxy Note 3. It is essentially your own digital collection of contents from webpages, videos and many other sources on your Galaxy Note 3. You may refer to Galaxy Note 3 online user manual page to know more about scrapbook.
The better thing is that the new S Note can use all items in your scrapbook in your Galaxy Note 3.
Do you like these new features? How do you enjoy these new features? Let other Galaxy note 3 owners know in the comment box below.
More tutorials for S Note app can be found here in the S Note guide page.
More tips on Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 8.0 and Galaxy Note 10.1 can be found in Tips and Tricks page.
Galaxy Note 3 online manual (HTML edition) is available here.
If you want to download the PDF version of Galaxy Note 3, Note Ii, Note 8.0. Note 10.1, or read the PDF version on line, you can find all of them in this User Manual page.
Eric says
September 26, 2015 at 1:06 amI own the 10.2 note. My lecture notes are in PDF and power point files. How do import them to S note to add comments. I saw a video on you tube that allowed importing files on the note 10.1 but I don’t see this option on the 10.2…Thanks
Simon says
September 26, 2015 at 3:23 amDo you mean Note 10.1 2014 edition or Note Pro (which is 12.2″)? There is not Note 10.2 device.
For newer S Note, when you open S Note, switch to All notes view (top left), then tap Menu button (3 vertical dots in top right), tap Import.
You can only import PDF or S Note files, not powerpoint files. You need convert Powerpoint files to PDF format.
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Eric says
September 26, 2015 at 2:36 pmSimon, thank you, super helpful…10.1….once I import the file how do I save the entire file for manipulation? I seem to be only editing and saving screenshots and not the entire file. Also… is there a tutorial out there for my specific questions?
Simon says
September 27, 2015 at 1:43 amS Note is NOT a PDF editor. Once PDF is imported, it is treated as images. You can write on it. You cannot find the matching fonts for the original PDF file in S Note. Once you finish writing, you can export it as PDF again. But the object is embedded as images, not text.
What exactly do you want to do with the PDF file?
We did plan to release a free user guide for S Note a few years ago (based on Note and Note II). But Samsung changed the S Note app so rapidly in each iteration and it is hard to cover all versions and therefore we suspended the plan. It seems Samsung did not change S note app too much since Note 4, we are considering to re-write guide based on current version.
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Doug says
January 16, 2015 at 9:38 pmI would like to use s note to communicate with my designers while I am in the field but they are running on windows based pcs. Is there an app or anyway that I can transfer an s note file to them for viewing notes and videos that I have attached to the s note file? Right now they can open the file but it will not play the video.
Willemien says
June 19, 2014 at 3:24 pmHi there, can you tell me if it is possible to use Microsoft Office 365 on the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition
Simon says
June 20, 2014 at 11:03 amYes, you can use the official Microsoft Office Mobile app. But I don’t recommend it. it is a resource hogger. And it requires some unnecessary permissions.
For basic editing, Quickoffice and Kingsoft is sufficient. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.quickoffice.android or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cn.wps.moffice_i18n
Both are free, and both are far better than Office 365 in Android devices.
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Pat says
March 12, 2014 at 4:21 amYeah, BUT – NONE of this stuff works.
Simon says
March 12, 2014 at 12:03 pmAll of them should work in Note 3, Note 10.1 2014 edition and Note Pro.
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David Wildasin says
January 30, 2014 at 4:34 pmI come from using iPhone and iPad. Just got G Note 3 and love it. Thinking about getting a Galaxy 10.1 2014 to replace my iPad, but am not sure when the 10.1 came out, is it going to be replaced anytime with a new version. I know there is a new 12″ version coming sometime, will this be the replacement for the 10.1?? I know Apple products timelines for new products but not Samsung yet. Is this website a good place to keep up with Samsung products? Thanks
Simon says
January 31, 2014 at 2:33 amThe Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition has been available in most regions for some time already.
The 12″ Galaxy Note Pro or Tab Pro will be available in early February.
The distribution channel of Apple and Samsung products are different. For Samsung products, in some regions, it depends on the distributor. So, if you are not in a big country, you probably have to check with local Samsung distributor.
Of course, for tablets, if you only need WiFi or WiFi/3G, not 4G, you can get some international versions from Amazon. If you need 4G. you need make sure the bands (frequencies) match your carrier’s (sometimes, even if they match, it may not work).
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David Wildasin says
January 31, 2014 at 3:29 pmThanks for getting back so soon. I’m in Ohio USA. I seen on the news that Samsung is opening stores much like Apple, The closest large city is Cincinnati, where they do have apple store, maybe a Samsung will open there. The Samsung TV’s say that you can watch from a tablet, I am assuming that would have to be a Samsung tablet and that my iPad won’t work like that. Also I am learning that the software is different from phone makers as opposed to Apples’ ios which doesn’t change from device. I believe it was you that said you used a daily device by one brand, but have others. That seems odd, do you have different phone numbers for each? Although the upside is that I could have more toys. lol
Simon says
February 1, 2014 at 12:34 amIn US, Samsung has many distributors. Some BestBuy stores have a special Samsung section.
To watch contents from smartphones or tables (on a TV), it is extremely easy for Android phones/tablets. Most Samsung devices has AllShare support, which allows you share/mirror the screen to Samsung TVs, or any (not only Samsung) TVs with a HDMI port (you need get a Miracast adapter or AllShare adapter).
For other Android phones/tablet, wireless display (Miracast technology) is natively supported in Android 4.2 and later versions. There is no limitation on the brands on the TV. If the TV does not support Miracast (most new smart TVs should have Miracast support out of box), you can get a HDMI Miracast adapter ($50-$80).
For Apple’s iPhone or iPad, Apple has it is own AirPlay. They only play nicely with Apple devices. You need an Apple TV (attached to your TV) to get wireless display.
For Android phones, all manufactures do some customization (different UI). But the core part is identical: Android (but may at different versions). Some vendors may bundle some exclusive features/apps, for example, Galaxy Note devices have a unique feature: S Note (and S Pen). No other Android phones have this feature.
Your SIM card should work for all phones, no matter it is an Android, or iPhone. Of course, if the phone is locked (under contract, or subsidized by carriers), you can only use certain SIM cards per the agreement.
Actually, some Android phones now have dual-sim support (i.e., you can use two SIM card at the same time in one phone). But it is hard to find in US because US carriers do not like such phones (less sales for them).
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David Wildasin says
February 1, 2014 at 1:53 amThanks again where are from? I need to learn more about unlocked devices. I do have a contract on my gal note 3. Though I have always purchased out right so I wouldn’t be under contracr.
Simon says
February 2, 2014 at 2:07 amI’m based in Singapore. One of the guest editors is based in US.
If you have any questions, you can always start a thread in the forum, or contact us.
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Colin McKinney says
January 23, 2014 at 5:02 amFantastic post! As a new Galaxy Note owner,I was getting more and more frustrated at the lack of help for its features… but this has helped me hugely! Thank you .
Uli says
January 20, 2014 at 11:12 amSorry, but I strongly disagree that new way of using productivity tools is better … when drawing shapes it is much better realtime changing of separate shapes. I never managed to draw the same picture and then convert it to shapes afterwards … I’m glad I’ve tried this first time in the store, because now I realy won’t purchase new Note generations!
Simon says
January 20, 2014 at 11:52 amI got your points. I also think Samsung should keep some good components when testing new things.
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martin says
April 23, 2015 at 10:27 amI agree, the new version fails in this respect. Old productivity tools were way better.
Arawak says
January 19, 2014 at 9:02 pmAs a user of GN2 I can compare both old and new version of the app (recently Samsung ported the new S Note to GN2 users). In my opinion the new version is a failure, if you use the app mainly for drawing. A few improvements do not balance removed functionalities. “Vector” philosophy (each pen stroke is a separate object) probably solved certain tech issues but the feel and visual quality of the old version (which I admired) are gone. Shame.
Simon says
January 20, 2014 at 11:49 amProbably a lot of other users have the same feeling.
Unfortunately, it seems the software development team in Samsung does not listen to users. They always try hard to impress new users with fancy features, and forget to keep good things in old releases..
The sad truth is that there are no real alternatives for S Note yet.
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Ray says
August 29, 2014 at 9:27 pmtotally agree with you. I want the productivity tool back so bad!
MO says
December 15, 2013 at 5:20 amI am excited about every new feature of the new S Note, except the eraser. It’s great they added the option to erase a whole line, but when that option is not selected, it doesn’t erase pixel-by-pixel (clearing the area it passes) but instead it does this weird area-erasure and takes whole chunks of content. Ruined it.
Galaxy Note says
December 15, 2013 at 1:25 pmMany Note owners are waiting for the pixel-by-pixel eraser.
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chicaton says
December 13, 2013 at 1:51 pmIf you want new S Note features You have to buy new hardware.
No software upgrades from Samsung for the old Notes.
subi says
December 11, 2013 at 6:08 amThanks for the post, it’s very useful to new owners of GN 3 and 2014 GN 10.1. Just bought 2014 Gn 10.1 and learning to use those features.
choetech says
December 3, 2013 at 4:56 pmThanks Simon for this excellent post!
The top 10 features of the new S note in Galaxy Note 3 are really lucrative enough. I’m highly excited and determined to buy it soon.