I recently picked up a cheap, generic lanyard for use with the Note and have found that it completely changed the way I hold and use the phone. It makes holding the phone a lot more comfortable and allows for full single hand usage of the phone. Also, I have done some drop tests and it pretty much drop-proofs the phone (linked below is a video of a drop test I did). I HIGHLY recommend getting one of these, if only for the increased flexibility it gives you when using it single-handed.
How it Helps Single-Handed Use
Because the lanyard I got has a clip on it I am able to detach the lanyard part of it and just have a little “tail” of sorts on the phone. I almost always have this tucked between my middle and ring finger when holding the phone, as it allows me to comfortably hold the phone without needed to support it from the bottom of the phone with a finger. It is hard to explain, so I took a video of it (linked below). This manner of holding the phone means that the ONLY part of the hand that needs touch the phone is the middle and ring fingers on the center of the back plate of the phone. The traction from the skin on the back plate keeps it from moving left/right, gravity keeps it from moving up, and the string connecting the bottom of the back plate to the tips of my middle/ring fingers keeps it from falling. It basically feels like the phone is floating in your hand when holding it like this. It allows you not only to comfortably hold it and use your thumb, but use both your thumb and index finger for zooming and panning as well! And, if you tilt the phone in your hand, you can reach ANY part of the screen with your thumb. You can manipulate the phone however you like, by doing this, without fear of dropping it because the string is firmly between the two fingers.
(This video is in HD so you can press the 720P button and make it fullscreen to see more)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMQ32JT3Uk8
Drop-Proofing
The video shows it the best but you can drop the phone however you want and it will be caught by the lanyard every time. The back plate is fit so securely into the phone that it does not budge, not a single clip of the back plate has come undone in any of my tests (and in one of my tests I flung it around in a circle on the end of the lanyard). Quite amazing really, defeats the need for an OtterBox for me.
(This video is in HD so you can press the 720P button and make it fullscreen to see more)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXFOAuDcmRU
More Pics
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
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A+ for creativity.
Hey, watched your vids. How are you using this 1 handed? It looks like you've somehow got the thick part of the lanyard up close to the phone in that video...
nice work.
By the way, did you hurt your finger doing this mod ?
copualt3: Thanks!
gerizafa:
Hopefully the linked photo below illustrates it more clearly. I simply tuck the lanyard attachment between my middle and ring finger and it holds the phone.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h260/piranha_pilot/IMG_0988.jpg
blobotorian:
Thanks! And lol no I didn't, I accidentally cut myself while absent-mindedly taking knives out of the dishwasher.
would it **** u off if the back cover fell off and ur phone smashed?
bamboo12 said:
would it **** u off if the back cover fell off and ur phone smashed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too use a lanyard, but have mine attached to the flip case back (also at the speaker hole).
Firmly pulling the flap away from the lanyard, and nothing happens. It's not coming off by accident.
BTW... I have a much smaller lanyard with nice leather detailing. Without ever consciously thinking about it, I have gotten into the havit of leaving the lanyard dangling out of my pocket, and my hand subconsciously goes through the lanyard every time I take the phone out of my pocket.
I plan on using a Nillkin TPU case which has strap holes and an SGP Asturias leather handstrap on my imaginary Note. I say imaginary because it's all just an idea, I might get one, I might not. The dev community is so good for the SGS2 that I'll just miss having so many options and tweaks.
@unsinkable can u post some pictures
I did this exactly, sturdy at first but I kind of have the feeling that plastic grill will break some day.
Still better than having the whole phone break after a fall tho.
Not having included a proper lanyard hook like in SGS2 was a huge shortcoming for note designers. SGS2 had the con of an unproperly placed lanyard in the top part of the phone, but still!
I'm finding it rather difficult to get my lanyard's string through my speaker phone grill.
It is in fact hard, the typical lanyard end-cords are thicker than the space avaialble in the grill, but if you push attentively enough, or use the help of a tiny object like a de-tipped needle, to push the loop in the middle for you, it is then pretty easy to do the job.
manhattan212 said:
I'm finding it rather difficult to get my lanyard's string through my speaker phone grill.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm just remove the back plate first and then tuck it in and out?
broke mine.
My lanyard broke the little bar behind the speaker.
I personally don't think much force was used to make this happen.
It didn't break it off completely, just one side. So I pushed it back in, so that cosmetically it looks ok -but I certainly can't attach a lanyard on it again.
I'll have to find a case/shell with a lanyard loop.
Incidentally, does anyone know if it's possible to get a replacement back panel?
manhattan212 said:
My lanyard broke the little bar behind the speaker.
I personally don't think much force was used to make this happen.
It didn't break it off completely, just one side. So I pushed it back in, so that cosmetically it looks ok -but I certainly can't attach a lanyard on it again.
I'll have to find a case/shell with a lanyard loop.
Incidentally, does anyone know if it's possible to get a replacement back panel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Metal ones to be found on ebay
Sent from TapaTalk on my Samsung Galaxy Note
thanks for the vids . .
but seems a bit much to wear a wrist leash to carry a cell phone?. .
manhattan212 said:
I'll have to find a case/shell with a lanyard loop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please share if you do find one. I'd also be interested in a case with a lanyard loop spot!
mcatt66 said:
thanks for the vids . .
but seems a bit much to wear a wrist leash to carry a cell phone?. .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought so at first but it soon becomes 2nd nature (5 weeks now)
zkyevolved said:
Please share if you do find one. I'd also be interested in a case with a lanyard loop spot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the ringke case in the thin case thread has lanyard holes
zkyevolved said:
Please share if you do find one. I'd also be interested in a case with a lanyard loop spot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nillkin has one. They're fairly easy to find on ebay. I think they have multiple colors, or something.
Related
Hey guys, I'm sure most of you have realized that the camera on the evo sticks out like crazy, so how do you rest it on the table? i'm always paranoid I'll mess up the camera
I'm 99% sure the kick stand would solve that dilemma. But hey I'm no genius
Kshawn said:
I'm 99% sure the kick stand would solve that dilemma. But hey I'm no genius
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want to pull out the kickstand every time I put down my phone, i'm likely just going to get two rubber bumpers to put up near the top corners.
Is it really that big of a pain to deploy the kickstand?
chazglenn3 said:
Is it really that big of a pain to deploy the kickstand?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EVERY SINGLE TIME, yes
Not to mention more chance of it getting broken
mrono said:
I don't want to pull out the kickstand every time I put down my phone, i'm likely just going to get two rubber bumpers to put up near the top corners.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
~Agrees.
That what i'd probably do. A very small one.
I kickstand it. It takes half a second to pop it out with my ring finger.
get a full-body case for the phone
TheBiles said:
I kickstand it. It takes half a second to pop it out with my ring finger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I thought. I'm sure I will do the same. The kickstand is aluminum, right? Little chance of breaking it...
Personally I bought a screen protector and set it face down. Everyone wins!
i probably won't kickstand it too often.. all u need is some dumbass to walk by, accidentally hit ur phone and send it flying.. good bye evo
I never kickstand it when I want to set it down. I just put yet on its back and even though the camera glass is touching the table it doesn't have any scratches.
Sent from my HTC Evo 4G using Tapatalk
pretty much any case will wolve the problem, honestly, I'm probably going to cut out a circular protector for the glass on the camera, that way i both don't need a case, and I don't have to kickstand it ALL the time(most of the time i probably will just because the kickstand is awesome and i can use it as a clock if needed).
If the covering over the lens is real glass, then scratching will likely not happen. Glass used in these situations is extremely scratch-resistant.
I wont want to pull the stand out every time either. That would get to be a PITA. Im going to look at body gloves also
I saw one of best buy's demo models on dislay in the store and the camera didnt seem to poke out far enough to hit a surface. Of course this is based off of visual estimation. Plus I cant imagine the HTC developers would overlook something like that.
I'd just use the kickstand or put it back in the pocket.
I's just wanna show the kickstand off.. "Yeah, my phone can sit up... Whatever you know I get the best stuff..."
Dorick said:
Hey guys, I'm sure most of you have realized that the camera on the evo sticks out like crazy, so how do you rest it on the table? i'm always paranoid I'll mess up the camera
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Put it in a case
mrono said:
I don't want to pull out the kickstand every time I put down my phone, i'm likely just going to get two rubber bumpers to put up near the top corners.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cut up some pieces of leftover bike tape (the stuff that goes on the handlebars) and made a little box around it, its soft and feels good in your hands, protects the EVO's (strangely unprotected) camera BUT does admittedly make it look a bit ... odd. As odd as it may look, it does completely put my mind at ease about messing up/scratching the lens.
HTC placed a kickstand at the back so you wouldn't worry about things like this. So I guess we should use it for it's intended purpose.
Hi all,
I've recently bought a DEFY. It works quite brilliantly and very fast.
I've noticed that the USB rubber cover of my DEFY is not very firm when closed. There is a little seam between it and the phone body, and the seam grows a bit thicker as it approaches the USB port side. I've included some pics of it.
Higher res pics are at
ishuo.de/images/defy1.jpeg
ishuo.de/images/defy2.jpeg
ishuo.de/images/defy3.jpeg
(Sorry I don't have enough permission to directly link pics here.)
I've also spilled some water onto it under a water tap. When I opened it I could see some water drops on the edge of the inner side of the rubber closer to the back.
I don't know whether this is normal or defect and I'm not sure whether it will stay up against water which is one of its great and practical feature.
Can anyone compare it with yours? Are all DEFYs like this?
Thank loads and happy holidays!
Cheers,
Shuo
When I close mine I am careful to press it in firmly as otherwise it looks "not quite shut." It has to squeeze in there. I presume this what's suppose to keep water out and as I have dunked my phone countless times without incident. However, if you think yours is twisted or bulging when seated, I don't think that's right.
Mine doesn't have that small hump when in place. I think there is some extra rubber under the clip.
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App
s.yang said:
Hi all,
I've recently bought a DEFY. It works quite brilliantly and very fast.
I've noticed that the USB rubber cover of my DEFY is not very firm when closed. There is a little seam between it and the phone body, and the seam grows a bit thicker as it approaches the USB port side. I've included some pics of it.
Higher res pics are at
ishuo.de/images/defy1.jpeg
ishuo.de/images/defy2.jpeg
ishuo.de/images/defy3.jpeg
(Sorry I don't have enough permission to directly link pics here.)
I've also spilled some water onto it under a water tap. When I opened it I could see some water drops on the edge of the inner side of the rubber closer to the back.
I don't know whether this is normal or defect and I'm not sure whether it will stay up against water which is one of its great and practical feature.
Can anyone compare it with yours? Are all DEFYs like this?
Thank loads and happy holidays!
Cheers,
Shuo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah mines got that, you get the bump when the cover gets bent the other way when you move it to get the usb cable in
After charging mine looks like it will stay with the bulge like that when I put the cover back in place, but even so, I can press it firmly, and it actually snaps into place. Sort of even has a clicking sound. I only started noticing this as before I would press it in even, and the bulge would stay there for a while and slowly smooth itself out, but now if I press it in, and then press my thumb/finger all the way around the cover, it snaps into place very tightly.
EDIT - After looking closely at mine I see the hole is actually at an angle, so pressing it in straight would leave it with the bulge. You need to press it against the angle of the phone for it to snap into place.
bobbyphoenix said:
After looking closely at mine I see the hole is actually at an angle, so pressing it in straight would leave it with the bulge. You need to press it against the angle of the phone for it to snap into place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exactly what i was about to say - works for me.
Wow you are so friendly guys.
Thanks lods! I'll look into it when I come back today!
I did get a slight feel of "snap in". Just dunked it shortly into water, and it still lives!
So I guess it's all right.
I get some moisture around the USB plug hole even when the cover is in place as well. Probably not a big deal. You can try using some grease to improve the seal as well.
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App
One review notes a small amount of "O-ring" sealant or grease around the battery cover rim. I supposed you could add a little. Just don't use vasoline, that's a pertroleum product and will degrade certain types of real and synthetic rubber.
Coming from HD2, on which I had to apply a home-made lanyard mod, involving some insulating tape, which needs to be changed after a while due to usage, I saw with a big surprise the lanyard hole/hook in the SGS2, since I was long used to today's smartphones NOT having any safety hook whatsoever (as if it was more important to fall-protect a 30USD vanilla phone than a 700USD technological grail), so I was kinda counting on said hook on the Note as well.
Since it's not the case, I'd love for someone already owning the device to check whether it would be possible to apply such a lanyard mod somehow to the case, more specifically if insulating tape can be put so the back plastic cover keeps it in place and makes it fall-safe as needed
EDIT: Sillyw4lks proposed this mod
I would make two holes in a rubber gel case and put the strap in the case instead of the Note.
No, I can't find any good way to hook the lanyard. Perhaps a small hole in the back cover? But I wouldn't do that on mine.
maddler said:
No, I can't find any good way to hook the lanyard. Perhaps a small hole in the back cover? But I wouldn't do that on mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would u rather loose the phone or the back cover ?
The rationale behind a lanyard is to not having to use a case at all, because you prevent the phone from falling in the first place
Couldn't you just loop some high strength fishing wire through the speaker grill on the back plate and use that to tie to a hand-lanyard (like the one on the wiimote)? My only concern would be, should it drop, if it would just rip the back plate off or actually stop the entire thing from falling.
Try the speaker hole. It doesn't cause problems for listening music/sounds.
dl.dropbox.com/u/4087751/Imagenes/note/IMG_20111107_172221.jpg
(I'm new and i can't post url's, right click/search link)
Btw, i tried only one fall and it works. The back plate resists extreme pulls.
I would be more partial to something like this, which was posted in the HD2 accessories forum a long while ago, and that has accompanied me through these couple last years. Lifesaver in a few occasions, one of which just today.
Using the speaker grill is interesting enough, I still wonder if it will actually hold in the long term. A piece of tape you can replace thousands of times, a plastic part in the case can be a pain if it gets broken.
Your idea is interesting and inspiring though, and until now sounds like the best.
drgopoos said:
Would u rather loose the phone or the back cover ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I wouldn't. But I see no other options if you absolutely want a lanyard. And I DO NOT WANT
---------- Post added at 12:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:39 PM ----------
ephestione said:
The rationale behind a lanyard is to not having to use a case at all, because you prevent the phone from falling in the first place
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Beside I'd feel quite uncomfortable with a 5 inches smartphone hanging from my neck
maddler said:
Beside I'd feel quite uncomfortable with a 5 inches smartphone hanging from my neck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*wrist, and only when you're actually holding it, otherwise it comfortably sits in your pocket
Sillyw4lks said:
Try the speaker hole. It doesn't cause problems for listening music/sounds.
dl.dropbox.com/u/4087751/Imagenes/note/IMG_20111107_172221.jpg
(I'm new and i can't post url's, right click/search link)
Btw, i tried only one fall and it works. The back plate resists extreme pulls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice idea.
Another place would be to loop the lanyard between the camera lens and LED flash holes on the rear case.
It's only been 1 week and the poor quality, flimsy back cover is showing wear and tear. It won't get into its allocated slot, and by the looks of it, seems that it became a fraction shorter.
It always seems click in better for me if I start at the bottom and work up.
TareX said:
It's only been 1 week and the poor quality, flimsy back cover is showing wear and tear. It won't get into its allocated slot, and by the looks of it, seems that it became a fraction shorter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not putting it in correctly. Gotta make sure the bottom tabs are before you start snapping the rest. I have more success getting the right tab in first and messing around till the other tab falls in and the bottom of the cover kisses the phone.
My grandma beat me down and took my nexus. Sent from a jitterbug with beats by dre.
SOLVED: Thanks to this guy from androidcentral:
"Originally Posted by DBVille: And, make SURE the hooks aren't bent up. I am betting the hooks have been bent up, at least on one side, from trying to push it closed. (dont ask how I know). Look very closely at the hooks. Put your finger nail under them and pry them up/apart from the back if they are too close to the cover to engage the clips on the phone. When done right, it just snaps on. But, you must get the bottom done first."
The hooks were bent up... fixed them with my nails. Now it snaps back on. Still pretty cheap though.
Or user error?
My grandma beat me down and took my nexus. Sent from a jitterbug with beats by dre.
you're not supposed to snap in the bottom hooks, you lock them in first, then snap in the ones rest...
wonshikee said:
you're not supposed to snap in the bottom hooks, you lock them in first, then snap in the ones rest...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 this is how I do it...common sense...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Happen to me too the first week. I'm a pro now.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
God, the build quality and camera are a real disappointment on this phone. thanks for the tip on bending up the tabs.. worked for me..
never the OP's fault that he doesnt know how to put the back cover on.. always Samsung's fault for not making it tard proof.
Zepius said:
never the OP's fault he doesnt know how to put the back cover on.. always Samsung's fault for not making tard proof.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Admittedly the back cover of the GN is one of the more complicated ones to put back onto the phone.
Do not force it on - if you do it right, it will go back on with just a little pressure. Like others said before you have to start at the bottom latches and work your way up from there. Note that the bottom latches are different from the others and do not snap in like the rest.
I'm extremely pleased with the build quality of this phone! A product feels VERY well build when you can't make it flex slightly or make the battery cover creak by squeasing the phone a certain way! Looking at you, HTC! The DInc, Thunderbolt, and Rezound that I've had all suffered from that. (Though I couldn't make the Thunderbolt flex)
And anytime you drop an HTC phone, first the battery door flies in the air, then the battery pops out -.-
Samsung on the other hand, the Nexus is VERY solid, battery door doesn't creak nor does the frame. No creaking sounds at all. I cannot flex the phone. What is it with people dissing Samsung for making plastic phones, what do you want them to do? Engineer a new compound? Geez
As so many have pointed out, the cover doesn't snap at the bottom; you start there by inserting the bottom hooks, then snap the sides and top.
In fact, I've found the easiest, most effective way to do it is laying out face down, insert the bottom hooks, then zip up both sides together with my thumbs, finishing with effortlessly snapping the top in.
As for the build, I couldn't disagree more strongly. The back design is brilliant. The phone overall is rock solid, and has solved the common back pop-off battery pop-out of most phones today.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
I was at a Verizon store last night. Picked up the phone from the display they had it in. The back cover fell off along with the security device. Does the cover have issues staying on? Would a case solve this issue?
Tisosview said:
I was at a Verizon store last night. Picked up the phone from the display they had it in. The back cover fell off along with the security device. Does the cover have issues staying on? Would a case solve this issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no issue if you put it on correctly.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Careful because our store model had a broken back cover since day one. Two sided take is holding it together at the moment.
Tisosview said:
I was at a Verizon store last night. Picked up the phone from the display they had it in. The back cover fell off along with the security device. Does the cover have issues staying on? Would a case solve this issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happens at all the stores. Some have ziptied the backcover back on . However, it really is a non issue. In the case of the store phones, the heavy security device that is glued onto the back cover, pulls very hard at the back cover and it creates issues. In reality, given that it is a completely flat piece of plastic that is sitting flush against your phone with no handles, there is no way to exert even remotely the same amount of outward forces on the back cover.
While removing and putting on the backcover doesn't feel great, the cover does a great job, helps keep the phone slim and light, and looks pretty damn good. The store model did put me off due to this same issue with the security device, but I have had absolutely no issues with the backcover, or the phone feeling flimsy (and I came to the GN from the OG!).
LOL the back cover is well built imo. Just because it is thin does not mean it is of poor construction.The people who are having problems just aren't bothering to learn how to put it on. You don't just snap the whole thing on. Put any backcover on incorrectly and you risk damaging it.
I remove my back cover regularly to swap SIMs and although I've had it since release day not only does it look the same as it did when I bought it but it functions perfectly too (stays on nice and tight).
TLDR; If your tabs are bent you're doing it wrong. Don't blame design for your lack of intelligence.
Thank you for the replies. It is reassuring.
I found it funny that the security really didn't work for this device. Since the alarm didn't go off when the back fell off.
Bottom tabs get bent up
I've had my GN for a little over a week. The problem that I have, and I assume the others have, is that the tabs at the bottom get bent up so that they can't hook in.
I bent them down with my fingernail so that they are horizontal again, and it clicked in fine.
My concern is that this is already a problem after a week, and plastic can only take so much bending and fatigue before it totally breaks, which will eventually occur. I would imagine that at least some people who have had their GNs since launch have already experienced this.
Frankly, I think this is a manufacturing issue that Samsung should ultimately address.
Got my case today and it's OK, but a couple of gripes. There is zero protection for the hinge. Drop it on edge and no safety net. Given that's kind of the heaviest area when folded seems likely to be what hits the concrete on a drop.
The front cover seems to slide around a bit if you put edge pressure on it.
While wireless charging works with the stand slotted, the pen holder prevents it from getting close enough to charge.
Also a bit too bulky to feel natural in the hip pocket with the pen slotted in, though I expected that. The pen is for travel and meetings so I won't have it attached all the time.
The back of the case shows fingerprints almost as bad as the screens do.
*EDIT* And finally I just noticed - the stand is really only useful when folded and in landscape mode. Otherwise you might as well just lay the phone down it leans back so far.
The gray-green of the case is definitely the color I expected the phone to be, so it's not a match to the phone case gray color, but the phone color is only really visible around the power button.
Sorry for potato photos, the only thing I had handy to shoot with was my Surface Duo 1.0.
cybermage1 said:
Got my case today and it's OK, but a couple of gripes. There is zero protection for the hinge. Drop it on edge and no safety net. Given that's kind of the heaviest area when folded seems likely to be what hits the concrete on a drop.
The front cover seems to slide around a bit if you put edge pressure on it.
While wireless charging works with the stand slotted, the pen holder prevents it from getting close enough to charge.
Also a bit too bulky to feel natural in the hip pocket with the pen slotted in, though I expected that. The pen is for travel and meetings so I won't have it attached all the time.
The back of the case shows fingerprints almost as bad as the screens do.
*EDIT* And finally I just noticed - the stand is really only useful when folded and in landscape mode. Otherwise you might as well just lay the phone down it leans back so far.
The gray-green of the case is definitely the color I expected the phone to be, so it's not a match to the phone case gray color, but the phone color is only really visible around the power button.
Sorry for potato photos, the only thing I had handy to shoot with was my Surface Duo 1.0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So as I understand, the colour of the case (Gray green) does not match the colour of the phone (Gray green)?
my front cover keeps flipping of, me no likey
QPR said:
my front cover keeps flipping of, me no likey
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe a 2 sided tape will fix it?
eswar539 said:
maybe a 2 sided tape will fix it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that sounds like a good thing to try. cheers
QPR said:
that sounds like a good thing to try. cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get 2mm one. Fits good
I got black in my free note pack with a grey grey phone are they supposed to give you matching?
eswar539 said:
Get 2mm one. Fits good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought some for when I got a replacement fold 3. It's worth it. I could reuse the case.
mattcall said:
I got black in my free note pack with a grey grey phone are they supposed to give you matching?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to chose the color in the US.
One thing I do like about the pen attachment; when the pen is installed with the phone open and the power and volume buttons ot the top, I can slide the pen out a couple inches and with my left hand I can completely hold the open phone. The pen slides between my middle and pointer fingers and the phone balances while open and is weildable.
Maybe I should add a photo?