When the light appeared the first Galaxy Note, it was unanimously predicted a failure – say, keep it in the hands of the impossible, such a device should only complete geeks, of which the world is not so much. To everyone’s surprise, perhaps even for the company Samsung, Galaxy Note has sold millions of copies. They took him not only geeks, the bill that really is not millions – say, the Taiwan subway at every turn, with young beauties, gaining her friend a message on the Galaxy Note in pink cheholchika.
In general, in the wake of the success it was decided to continue. The new Galaxy Note at ordinal 2 was introduced to the world at the IFA in Berlin, like its predecessor the year before. Presented with fanfare – Koreans invited to a presentation by Wim Wenders, the director of the cult art-house film “Wings of Desire”, who calls himself not only as the first ambassador Galaxy Note. What does the Wim Wenders? Given that Samsung is positioning Note how the device for those who want to create. Let’s see what the Koreans have done themselves.
? # Appearance
Confuse Samsung Galaxy Note 2 can not be with virtually nothing – except that a single ancestor, the original Galaxy Note. Two devices are indeed very similar – especially the size: these “megalopat” and no one really does not. New Note was a few millimeters long, just a couple – a narrower and thinner quite a drop, but within the context of the large size of these changes are subtle. Weight increased, but also quite a bit, on the matter of program. But many argue that the phone became uhvatistee, now that he’s better in the hand. Is still here and samsungovsky distinctive design. Is that the new Note, and there is something of Galaxy S III – in the forms was a little more rounded, and overall smartphone looks more modern.
Everything else is the same: a huge screen the entire front panel, which now takes up even more space – very thin frame, the standard for Samsung combination of buttons – one and two touch-sensitive mechanical, “chrome” edging on the sides, thin back cover polycarbonate. Illuminated touch keys when they are inactive, Samsung still does not consider it necessary, chrome grille, it seems, will come out again, as it did in all previous models.
All buttons on their usual places – it was easier to change with the Samsung Samsung. Even the speaker was there where he was, and S Pen stylus is still sticking to the bottom right corner, and it still (an old habit from the time of Windows Mobile) by mistake sometimes you want to stuff into the headphone jack on the right, respectively, upper right corner.
changes lie in the details: in Note 2 a little more than an elongated mechanical button, there was a multi-colored LED indicator – again from SGS III. In general, if the Galaxy Note seemed stretched Galaxy S II, Note 2 that seems about as grown-up Galaxy S III. The device will be released in two colors: white and dark blue, with the same glossy back cover. Convenient knurled cap as the first Note, for new items not provided. But the most important thing in Note 2, of course, restyling.
? # Screen
display, however, is not the most important change, but it is important that it has become even more – 5.55 inches compared to 5.3 at the source – with virtually no gain unit. Managed to achieve this by changing the proportions of: previously aspect ratio was 16:10 – 1280×800 pixels, but now – 16:9, 1280×720 pixels. That is, the display has become a bit more elongated.
truth is long, yes?
It could give a hint about the lower the resolution, but changed and technology of the display: this was once a PenTile AMOLED, and now a full RGB AMOLED. On the marketing language and Samsung both called HD Super AMOLED, according to official specifications difference impossible uglyadet. But the fact that the actual screen resolution even increased – not a pixel is made of two sub-pixels, and of the three. The point density is 264 PPI, that is, it is not the famous “retina”, but the seed can be uglyadet only if closely to bring the device to the eyes.
Our measurements showed that the luminosity of the white field of the screen, traditionally low for AMOLED-display is 161.1 cd / m 2 – more than the Galaxy Note and Galaxy S III, but once a three less than the Apple iPhone 5 with its IPS-matrix. The contrast, of course, a huge – almost black lights.
luminosity white for AMOLED is not the sum of luminosities of the color components like LCD displays, and about two times lower. For example, only the green shines even brighter than white – for the formation of white color green subpixel, obviously, we have to tone down.
But in connection with the gamut AMOLED-display has no equal. At Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Note and Galaxy S III is about the same range of colors and … it is wider than the color space of Adobe RGB, not to mention the sRGB. However, this does not necessarily rejoice – modern graphics usually “sharpened” still under space sRGB, so that the display with wide coverage so the colors look oversaturated, especially the green.
lack of screen brightness is compensated by its size – the total light output from Galaxy Note 2 is quite impressive. So that the display can be called a very, very decent: in fact, it eliminated the only downside of the first screen Note – from PenTile, thus keeping all its advantages.
? # Iron
Each new Samsung phone should surpass its predecessor in the number of nuclei and their speed, even if the resolution of its screen has become smaller. It is therefore not surprising that the place of the dual-core Exynos 4210 Note the previous generation quad-core Exynos 4412 finished with a frequency of 1.6 GHz. While fans consider the core and Hertz are happy, we recall a more skeptical readers that incidentally has thinned process: Exynos 4210 Note from the first produced on 45 nm process technology, and the Exynos 4412 – a 32 nm. But the same graphics card, Mali 400 MP4.
subject of enthusiastic fans tsiferok in the specifications – 2 GB of RAM. This is no almost no one. Additional memory is, of course, eating extra watt hours battery, but no application to the Galaxy Note 2 does not think even somewhere to slow down. Flash memory varies depending on the model: from 16 to 64 Gbytes plus MicroSD.
Wireless capabilities are also not left without updates. About the GSM, HSPA, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi will not rant too much – and everything is clear, but at Galaxy Note 2 will be NFC and (theoretically) LTE. Here do not interfere with minor refinements.
If you look near the battery can be found two pairs of contacts. One connection is for a special cover for wireless inductive charging. Samsung not really advertise this for the simple reason that the charge, as well as caps, are currently only available as an accessory from a third party. Samsung itself does not make them, referring to the fact that today’s wireless chargers shorten the life of the batteries. The second pair of contacts on the cover corresponds to a kind of “blotch” – is just the same NFC-antenna. So all the tricks that allows you to create NFC , you can implement and use the Galaxy Note 2.
With LTE
more fun and easier. In some markets, for example, in South Korea, Galaxy Note 2 with LTE is. Well, or will have. And the smartphone that visited us, and who, in fact, will be sold in Russia, do without LTE – this is the usual GSM-device with a maximum data rate of 21 Mbit / s with a spherical connection to HSPA + in a vacuum. Based on existing data, even had the support 4G version of Samsung Galaxy Note II will not work in those bands that made it possible for LTE-network in Russia.
? # Performance
powerful processor paired with two gigabytes of RAM and an older, but it is a serious graphics should show a very respectable numbers differ in the tests. Compare the “bubble” makes sense in the first place with its predecessor. In some benchmarks, it can still chase with not outside of the mouth of the masses of iPhone 5.
| device | Samsung Galaxy Note 2 | Samsung Galaxy Note | Apple iPhone 5 (iOS 6.0) |
| Rightware Browsermark, scores | 172397,6 | – | 189522,2 |
| SunSpider JS Benchmark, ms | 1021,28
| – | 947,5 |
| Quadrant Standart, scores | 5811 | 4179 | – |
| Linpack Single Thread, MIPS | 62,64 | 63,55 | – |
| Linpack Multi Thread, MIPS | 124,33 | 96,88 | – |
| Nenamark 2, FPS | 57,86 | 32,8 | – |
Zhelezyaka live up to expectations: a giant machine has indeed become significantly faster than its predecessor, and that’s funny, mainly in the graphics department. In on-line (and therefore cross-platform) disciplines iPhone ahead, but not that far away – the gap is less than 10%.
One of the strengths of the Galaxy Note 2 – is a battery capacity of 3100 mAh (11.78 Wh, 3,8 V). It’s no joke – a quarter of the average laptop battery! Of course, a powerful processor and large screen expend a lot of energy, but it does not prevent “head for” live without charging an average load of about two days. In the benchmark Antutu Tester machine dials 659 points and is in third place in the rankings of the test.
? # Camera
Judging by the Apple iPhone 5 and the latest models of Samsung, then megapixels in the sensor for more than eight does not happen, and not necessary. There are companies who believe differently, but the worst of the same does not remove the iPhone. In the Galaxy Note 2 also installed an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash.
However, if you do not change the settings, it shoots directly – is worse than the camera in the first Note. If the settings set correctly, the frames are quite decent. For example, under the fluorescent lights Galaxy Note 2 Shinichi frankly, but with the appropriate preset white balance gives a more or less realistic colors. And in the dark, if you do not set the night mode, the device converts any light source into large patches of light that cover part of the picture. Note the first such problems did not suffer.
Video written, naturally, in Full HD-resolution and quality it exactly the same problem as that of the photographs – we must constantly tighten up the settings. There is a front facing camera is 2 megapixels, but it is usually better to use exclusively for video calls.
In general, the camera in Galaxy Note 2 is not so good. It’s great that it makes good pictures in the correct settings, but the settings when shooting on the phone gets one percent is removed, the remaining photos will also not of the highest quality.
? # Pen S Pen
One of the first major chip in the Samsung Galaxy Note pen called S Pen (Koreans insist: “This is not a stylus, it’s S Pen!») and, accordingly, the screen is Wacom, able to work with this pen. The fact that many a time the use of “courtesy light” never got a pen out of his seat, Koreans are not confused – in the Galaxy Note 2 also features S Pen, additions and improvements.
should start with the fact that the pen itself was thicker – now as much as 8 mm in diameter (the diameter is said to be, although the pen and not round in cross-section), so that it is almost easy to handle. At a press conference saying something about rubber grip for extra comfort – but get us S Pen for some reason it was not. Recognized by the 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, while that of the original Note was only 16. In the eye, however, to determine the number of gradation is difficult.
Moreover, now the “bubble” feels the presence of the pen even if you do not touch the screen, but only to bring S Pen to the screen at a distance of about half a centimeter. This feature was called the Air View, and has acquired a number of software support: for example, let’s say, if you bring the pen to the thumbnail image in the gallery, it is slightly increased.
Generally, the hardware changes – a trifle compared to the number of software bloat, which was not in the first Note and which appeared in the second. If you list all – you can inadvertently create a second a full-fledged article, so go over the main one.
1. Easy Clip – the opportunity to circle any image on the screen, and then it is copied to the clipboard. From there it can be attached, for example, to the letter. However, in the Gmail insert will not work – only works with corporate email client Samsung. So great, in general, the chip while not universally applicable, which is sad.
2. Gestures. At the S Pen is a whole one button – and it’s there for a reason. If you pinch it – “bubble” begins to see some sign language. For example, turning back – if you draw a squiggle shapes Menu – squiggle another form. Actually, Easy Clip also relates to such gestures. In addition to the above, you can take a screen shot, simply hold down the, pointing a pen at the screen and little hold. Oh and one more chance – after spending a pen while holding the button from the bottom up, you can call the so-called fast menu commands.
3. Quick Commands . In fact, about the “fast” – is someone joked. It is necessary to first conduct a stylus across the screen, in the window that appears to draw a symbol that you assigned to one or the other team, even a moment, he will be recognized – and only then the action you want to perform, will finally be fulfilled. Provided, of course, that the gesture was recognized properly. That is, in general, it does not take too much time.
convenient thing is that the cause of fast menu commands can be from anywhere, in fact, the team can create yourself. For example, you can draw a character sheet and hang it on a challenge to the music player. However, it quickly called by clicking on the appropriate icon, but fun the same. Supports macros, and a kind of – you can not just call up a set of messages, but also to ask who will have to send this message when entering the appropriate command.
4. S Note . Appendix S Note existed in the past generation “lampshades,” but this has become an unprecedented functionality. Previously, it was allowed, in fact, only combine in one handwritten note, the recognized text and pictures. Now, however, it can be used, for example, recognize mathematical formulas. This can greatly simplify the lives of all those who deal with them. Mathematics will not lie: even in a specialized computer program to ensure that any record double integral nonweak length, it takes several minutes. Then it all done in a matter of seconds.
5. Paper Artist. This application allows you to apply all kinds of filters to photos, changing them beyond recognition and bringing into the world more hipster pictures. A lot of filters, all of them funny, while using the S Pen can tint of the image, which adds to one another pretty cute effect effect. Also in the picture with the S Pen can append any comment. To some this may get bored quickly, and some will not be able to come off, after covering similar picture the entire Internet.
There are a lot of other chips, both useful and not so. For example, it is necessary to remove the pen from the device – and its screen will display a menu for “feather” applications. You can adjust the “bubble” and so that the extraction of S Pen opens a small window with the S Note. This is useful in its own chips. From controversial features are, for example, is this: if you bring a pen – a smartphone no longer accept keystrokes and screen taps. Or is this: when you take into the hands of S Pen, by inertia, poking them in all, and the touch buttons with the pen device does not play well – you have to put off his fingers and push already.
However, in general, S Pen functionality has increased by an order: it has a presence in the smartphone is justified and even somewhat comfortable.
? # Software
Actually, most of all the software charms Samsung Galaxy Note 2, we have listed above. So let’s not spread mysyu the tree . Powered updated “cover” immediately under Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. This is a big plus, since many phones over the years promise to upgrade to the next version of the kind of green robot, while not all the update. For an idea of ??when these updates reach Russia and localized, and even he does not want.
Naturally, Android stretched TouchWiz, which, as we have said, no longer slows down and therefore does not cause any irritation. The device easily determined by the computer when connected, do not hang up, not buggy, and generally behaves consistently and correctly – I would like to tell you about some epic failures, but it is functional so that even something to talk about. Skukota.
itself, the firmware found a number of preinstalled programs, including demos and some toys. Of these, the most memorable wonderful game about fighting robots. One of the arenas for multiplayer skirmishes in Moscow it is, you probably do not see it anywhere such as there. If you suddenly do not know what the Kremlin has nothing but the Tsar Bell and four red stars on the corners, the Mausoleum of the Kremlin wall, pushed for greater safety, and about fifty meters from the Spassky Tower of Moscow University can be found. Do not miss out – a few minutes of healthy laughter are guaranteed.
? # Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 arrives in retail stores on October 18 at the price of 29,990 rubles, and at the time of publication of this article is to open pre-order the device. If it seems that he is fantastically a lot, we recall the price of the first Note at the start of sales – 34,990. With competitors situation is simple – to 5-inch LG Optimus Vue to Russia really did not get, so that will compete Note 2 except that his predecessor, now still fairly depreciating.
new “bubble” is better than the old in almost all respects: it is more convenient to hold, it has larger screen, which is now relieved he hated many PenTile, S Pen stylus finally became meaningful and functional iron – faster Battery – more capacious. Is good, and pre-Android 4.1, which is on the first Note, is likely to appear, but not in the very near future. The disadvantage is that the camera does that suddenly became worse, and not entirely intuitive interface to work with S Pen. Iron and bug-free interfaces in Samsung have learned to do, but difficult to master the science of ergonomics Koreans have yet to.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S III
If the concept of a huge number is close to you, today Note 2 – the best of the devices with a very large screen. If for you there is no difference between a giant screen and just big, it may be better to pay attention to
