I thought it would be a good idea to get the Samsung Note 3 again. It arrived yesterday at 11am, took over 2 hours to complete 7 software updates one after the other. If that wasn’t bad enough every app installed seemed to have an update even after 7 software updates. Then every Samsung app or service had same issue.
I have tried two hard resets wiping the phone clean and starting again. 2 restores after a hard reset. And despite the Samsung and Google backups in place, the restore process is crap compared to that provide by Apple for iPhones and iPads. None of the layouts are remembered in the restore and no app data either. Useless.
As I write this at 6pm I still don’t have a fully working phone. The positive. It’s a great piece of tech. Lovely sound quality via headphones, camera better than expected actually took best photo to date of my dog George. See below. This compares even to the amazing Nokia Lumia 1020 and iPhone 5S. It has the kitchen sink of specifications and I love every aspect of it.
But it cannot play music streamed via Google, using Google Play Music. It plays one track, maybe a second, but on third no sound comes out of the headphones even though the track is playing. If you pause song and press play again you hear sound immediately.
So, I have to ask why were there 7 software updates? Why not consolidate them into one, and update the default applications at the same time?
Not sure whether I have a faulty phone re the music issues, as I have read about other people having same issues. It’s a real pity as the technology inside the device is magical.
As an update it appears Google Play Music app got updated and became incompatible with many Note 3’s, see screen shot below of review of app..
Gavin's Gadgets & Photography 
Well, that photo of George is I think the best you’ve ever taken – looks right professional. But your woes with the GN3 make me glad I’m not doing Samsung products now.
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I’m so over Android. Sticking with Windows Phone and iOS devices. IPhone 5S and iPad mini (LTE) and Nokia Lumia 1020 and 2520 here and not looking back on the train wreck that is now Android. Oh yeah, to quote a prominent member of the technology industry, “We’re in the hardware and software business. Not selling our customer’s information business…” – Tim Cook
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Don, your data and info is being sold right now whether or not that’s what you want. Just being on a social network for example places info about you out there.
What I will say is that this Note 3 is a powerhouse of a device from a hardware aspect, but you do have to go bald setting it up. Once that is done it’s rather amazing. It’s the payoff for hardware ahead of its time vs something simpler that works as described.
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That’s true Gav. But I’m here because I choose to. With Android, it’s not an option. Everytime you use your android device, you are whether you want to or not.
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Gavin you must have an old Note 3. Sounds like all the updates I’ve had since end of September. I switch off auto updates to make sure firmware updates get priority and I think this will reduce the repeated app updates. Is it not a good thing that Samsung is actively updating their apps? The backup and restore for Android is the same as it has always been. I am lucky that all my data is in the Cloud and therefore platform independent. So all you issues were with software? This would be the same for any Android device I assume? You are happy with the hardware? What about the quality of the screen?
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It’s not an old phone. We can’t use that as an excuse 🙂
I am saying it as it is, and it is not as slick as it should be, far from it. I will cover off hardware etc tomorrow. No issues with the screen 😉
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Will be interested to see if you use the S Pen. If you are used to keyboard input up may see much value in all the specialised note support. I make a lot of notes as my business involves a lot of meetings and documentation. Also I like free hand mind maps as these I use for planning and client projects. I have also invested in a special Wacom pen specially designed for the Note range of devices.
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Early days. It’s one of those things that is useful when you need it. I might use it a little but not heavily. Too early to tell really.
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