Hello,
I plan on getting the S3 in a couple of months, after when I save up and was wondering which one should I get? The AT&T or the international version? I will he using it on Straight Talk with the Bring your own phone plan. I'm using the Nexus right now, just having trouble trying to figure out which one I should get. Thanks!
asheehanjr said:
Hello,
I plan on getting the S3 in a couple of months, after when I save up and was wondering which one should I get? The AT&T or the international version? I will he using it on Straight Talk with the Bring your own phone plan. I'm using the Nexus right now, just having trouble trying to figure out which one I should get. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're using it on Straight Talk and you want the more powerful one, international (it's what I use). The downside is that if something goes wrong with the phone, you're pretty much screwed unless you can send it to someone in the UK or Europe to send to Samsung for repair. The upside is you have a beast phone with faster updates (custom ROMs don't show up out of thin air; you need some sort of leak or OTA to work off of for non-CM ROMs). Another perk is you get FM radio, but I don't know how important that is to you.
If you want a cheaper S3 with all the features but a slightly slower processor (only for intense gaming; 99% of things will run great), get the T-Mobile or AT&T version. I think they're like $50-$100 cheaper. You'll also be able to send the phone to Samsung US if there's an issue. I ran into a fairly common (from Google searching) issue where my i9300 could no longer make calls, but everything else including the earpiece and speaker were fine. The modem rebooted everytime I made a call and I later found out it was a hardware issue. I had to send the phone back to the Amazon seller who was in Germany so they could send it to Samsung. Cost me $73 for 3-day shipping. HOWEVER, the seller told me in an email that I have a 2-year warranty, not 1-year. So that's a perk you may want to consider. I have the Vodafone UK version, but Samsung will repair it in any country that's part of the EU (e.g. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, etc).
Basically, unless you game a lot, go for the US version. I happen to game a lot, and I didn't wanna wait for the US versions (I bought my i9300 in July). If I had waited, I'd probably have gone for the US version. And for anyone who brings up RAM, it doesn't affect performance. It only allows more apps to be open in the background, and Android fills up unused RAM anyways, so it really is not a deciding factor.
I agree with Product F(RED). Unless you're going to do intense CPU processes the US variant will suit your needs wonderfully. You won't need to worry about lag or slow downs. And if you plan to root there are custom ROMS that are faster than the Stock rom.
Product F(RED) said:
And for anyone who brings up RAM, it doesn't affect performance. It only allows more apps to be open in the background, and Android fills up unused RAM anyways, so it really is not a deciding factor.
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Click to collapse
It doesn't affect performance, true, but also owning an orignal Galaxy S (i9000), I can assure you RAM is a factor when it comes to upgrading the OS!
The 512Mo in the SGS1 is the main reason why Samsung didn't upgrade the device to ICS.
There are ICS and JB custom ROMs available for the SGS1, but the device is definitely suffering from the limited of amount RAM.
Because of this, RAM, for me, is definitely a factor that made me choose the North American variant over the international one.
idk to be honest i would get galaxy note 2 at this point the gs3 is already 6m old
I was also going to hold out for the note 2, but it just to big and I already have a nexus 7.
Had both multiple times, i went ahead and stayed with the US version. I dont game at all and i see NO difference in speed, plus LTE is AWESOME.
Nickel Dime Bay said:
Had both multiple times, i went ahead and stayed with the US version. I dont game at all and i see NO difference in speed, plus LTE is AWESOME.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No LTE on Straight Talk, so it's not like it matters.
Oh wow i totally missed that, i say get the international then.
I learned the Stratosphere II existed like a week ago and I've been researching this phone like crazy. Seems like a better version of the Glide. Is this essentially an unofficial update of the Glide? The specs seem to match up, with the only thing lacking on the Strat's side is the megapixels (the Glide has 8, the Strat 2 has 5) and the Strat 2 having a dual 1.2GHz CPU compared to Glide's dual 1.0GHz CPU.
I've been looking to get a Glide for a long time. I've been keeping up with this board for updates and everything. And while it seems like an awesome phone, the GPS problems worry me. But, there are plenty of guides here so when I finally get a Glide, I can see if the GPS solutions here work.
But the Stratosphere II...I mean its so new I don't think anyone has figured out how to root it yet. So no custom roms for the time being, but I'm sure it would be coming as more people learn of its existence and start working on it.
My main cause of concern is the GPS, as I travel to Mexico alot. I already have service there that I maintain here (Movistar) by going to a tienda every three months and putting a few dollars on it. While you can't root the Stratosphere II, I could at least slap the SIM card in there and use it (apparently if I buy it outright Verizon can/should/will unlock the GSM functionality for me) until that magical moment does come when a root guide finally pops up online. And I could be wrong but I think there's no GPS issues with the Stratosphere II.
So that's where I am. Get the Glide for pretty cheap ($225 online), with the ability to root and flash roms but with shaky GPS (and apparently no Jelly Bean?), or get the Stratosphere II for not pretty cheap ($445 directly from Verizon) with no ability to root or flash roms, but, great (as far as I know) GPS? Thoughts, comments, suggestions?
I knew about the original Stratosphere but not the 2. It looks like a nice device. Personally I wouldn't buy a device without root, let alone some sort of dev community. I can pretty much confirm your GPS worries about the Glide. It blows and there is no nicer way to put it. I have tried tweak apps, modding files myself, even copying the conf files right from my N7 to it. It still takes like 2 minutes to get a lock and loses it rather easily. Compared to my N7 which takes under 10 seconds.
The Glide is a good phone though. Our dev community kind of sucks, being so small and relying on key people to do most of the work. But at least we have one and a pretty decent JB builds.
I'm not sure what to suggest. If you can live on stock without root and such, the Strato 2 looks nice. But after having my Glide for nearly a year, I still really like it. But I don't use GPS much with it either.
I sell for all carriers so I'll give you my thought.
Glide is an older device with a tegra 2 processor and operates on GSM. It has an older touch wiz on it meaning the skin and other tweaks Samsung applied to the gs3 isn't all their.. The strat 2 is a well built phone slightly smaller than its older brother. But had newer touch wiz along with newer things Samsung threw in. I'm not going to go into a lot of tech specs of the two phones since u can do that but if I had a choice it would be the strat 2 because of the newer touch wiz which is faster and nicer to look at. Plus the over all look and feel much nicer on the strat 2.. the glide is pretty bulky you really must consider who you want to pay monthly and who has better coverage Verizon or AT&T?
Good luck Bud.:beer:
My battery is dead now.. Have fun!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
bobbinthreadbare said:
I knew about the original Stratosphere but not the 2. It looks like a nice device. Personally I wouldn't buy a device without root, let alone some sort of dev community. I can pretty much confirm your GPS worries about the Glide. It blows and there is no nicer way to put it. I have tried tweak apps, modding files myself, even copying the conf files right from my N7 to it. It still takes like 2 minutes to get a lock and loses it rather easily. Compared to my N7 which takes under 10 seconds.
The Glide is a good phone though. Our dev community kind of sucks, being so small and relying on key people to do most of the work. But at least we have one and a pretty decent JB builds.
I'm not sure what to suggest. If you can live on stock without root and such, the Strato 2 looks nice. But after having my Glide for nearly a year, I still really like it. But I don't use GPS much with it either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the advice. I have a rooted Epic 4G (hence my name), so I know the joys of having a rooted phone. But I want to switch to a GSM device (more on that below in dincdoes.me), but unlike you would rely on the GPS a lot.
dincdoes.me said:
I sell for all carriers so I'll give you my thought.
Glide is an older device with a tegra 2 processor and operates on GSM. It has an older touch wiz on it meaning the skin and other tweaks Samsung applied to the gs3 isn't all their.. The strat 2 is a well built phone slightly smaller than its older brother. But had newer touch wiz along with newer things Samsung threw in. I'm not going to go into a lot of tech specs of the two phones since u can do that but if I had a choice it would be the strat 2 because of the newer touch wiz which is faster and nicer to look at. Plus the over all look and feel much nicer on the strat 2.. the glide is pretty bulky you really must consider who you want to pay monthly and who has better coverage Verizon or AT&T?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing is, I want to go to Net10, do their BYOD program, and basically have AT&T service through Net10. Why? Net10 has that international coverage plan, its like $60-$65 a month, and I can call my friends in Mexico (via an 800 number I believe) and talk as long as I want (well as long as THEIR minutes will allow). And it makes no difference if its to a landline or a cell phone. Also when I go TO Mexico, just swap out the Net10 sim card for my Movistar one.
Also, at least in NC, the AT&T coverage is second only to Verizon. Definitely better than Sprint, and T-Mobile might as well not even exist with its shaky coverage.
The GPS function is VERY IMPORTANT to me, especially in Mexico, and I have seen my friends in Mexico's Androids use GPS (Google Maps) to find stuff just fine. So...I may have to go ahead and get the Strato 2 and just live with it being unrooted for a while.
That's a tough decision. If time wasn't a factor, I would wait a month or two to see what happens with the i415 (Stratosphere) within the XDA community. Unfortunately for qwerty keyboard lovers, the phones we want don't get as much hype and publicity as the candybar phones. Otterbox and CyanogenMod barely acknowledged our phones. We happened to get VERY lucky getting this much support for the i927 (Captivate Glide) as the early stages were definitely desperate.
I'm currently running the Vanilla Rootbox rom and even though there are still a few bugs, the essentials work well enough for me not to upgrade. I heavily use GPS as I have a memory of a fish and it works flawlessly.
Long story short, after watching the i927 go from a simple request in a Captivate forum to it's own forum with no devs to what it is today, I would go with the Captivate Glide. Who knows if the i415 will get also get lucky with support or not? After all, qwerty phones are a dying breed.
rogernizzLe said:
That's a tough decision. If time wasn't a factor, I would wait a month or two to see what happens with the i415 (Stratosphere) within the XDA community. Unfortunately for qwerty keyboard lovers, the phones we want don't get as much hype and publicity as the candybar phones. Otterbox and CyanogenMod barely acknowledged our phones. We happened to get VERY lucky getting this much support for the i927 (Captivate Glide) as the early stages were definitely desperate.
I'm currently running the Vanilla Rootbox rom and even though there are still a few bugs, the essentials work well enough for me not to upgrade. I heavily use GPS as I have a memory of a fish and it works flawlessly.
Long story short, after watching the i927 go from a simple request in a Captivate forum to it's own forum with no devs to what it is today, I would go with the Captivate Glide. Who knows if the i415 will get also get lucky with support or not? After all, qwerty phones are a dying breed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the advice. Well...what I am considering is getting the Glide (the Rogers version, which it appears that you have) and just root and put a rom on it (I would like one that mimic's the Jelly Bean, but if the Vanilla Rootbox you're using is fine, I may try that), and use that until more development pops up for the Stratosphere II. If you have the Rogers Glide, and your GPS problems are nil...I don't know, I'm considering it. I probably should have mentioned if I get the Glide it would be the Rogers version (somehow its cheaper than the AT&T version, which costs more than the Stratosphere II! ).
I could do that, or just get a Strato 2 and live without root/flashed roms for a while (but if it already has Jelly Bean may not need it). Thinking, thinking...
Is time a factor? Well I plan on going to Mexico sometime in April, so kinda sorta. But since I plan on making regular trips, not really, I guess.
5-row keyboard!
rogernizzLe said:
That's a tough decision. If time wasn't a factor, I would wait a month or two to see what happens with the i415 (Stratosphere) within the XDA community. Unfortunately for qwerty keyboard lovers, the phones we want don't get as much hype and publicity as the candybar phones. Otterbox and CyanogenMod barely acknowledged our phones. We happened to get VERY lucky getting this much support for the i927 (Captivate Glide) as the early stages were definitely desperate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If all other things were equal, and they're not (in terms of development progress here on xda), I would go for the 5 row keyboard. One of the things I found very irritating very early on with the glide is that every time you type a number, you have to hit Alt first. Given the number of characters and numbers in text these days, this gets really old, really fast.
If I had had more patience, and thought more deeply at the time, I suspect I would have preferred to wait.
CDN$0.02.
bs27975 said:
If all other things were equal, and they're not (in terms of development progress here on xda), I would go for the 5 row keyboard. One of the things I found very irritating very early on with the glide is that every time you type a number, you have to hit Alt first. Given the number of characters and numbers in text these days, this gets really old, really fast.
If I had had more patience, and thought more deeply at the time, I suspect I would have preferred to wait.
CDN$0.02.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I forgot the Glide only had four rows. As much as I've been using my Epic 4G...well it would be a learning curve to go from 5 rows to 4.
Stratosphere II has a locked bootloader and hasn't even been rooted yet. Also, while I haven't seen any reports yay or nay, it probably suffers the same domestic GSM lock all other Verizon phones have. It is possible to counter this, but not without a lot of dev support and root.
I switched from Captivate Glide to the Galaxy S Relay 4G. It has 5 rows, supports AT&T and a few other odd UMTS frequencies (Wind Mobile for instance) and has a fairly decent (but small) dev community with a working unofficial cyanogenmod 10.
The other choice is the Motorola Photon Q for Sprint, which comes comes with GSM capabilities, but you have to remove the pre-soldered SIM chip and add a SIM card adapter. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1929143 I have seen no information on whether it is locked domestically for GSM. It can be reflashed to Cricket and PagePlus on the CDMA side as well, and there is a CM 10 for it http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1929143
Nardholio said:
Stratosphere II has a locked bootloader and hasn't even been rooted yet. Also, while I haven't seen any reports yay or nay, it probably suffers the same domestic GSM lock all other Verizon phones have. It is possible to counter this, but not without a lot of dev support and root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply. That no one has tried to root or unlock or even just manipulate the settings on this phone, which to me appears to be the true [yet unofficial] successor to the Epic 4G...blows my mind. Is there just no interest, or people don't know that it exists...I just don't understand.
I switched from Captivate Glide to the Galaxy S Relay 4G. It has 5 rows, supports AT&T and a few other odd UMTS frequencies (Wind Mobile for instance) and has a fairly decent (but small) dev community with a working unofficial cyanogenmod 10.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well my gameplan was to have a phone I can use both in the US and in Mexico...in Mexico it wouldn't be a big deal, but here any GSM (like from Net10) will go straight to the T-Mobile network since its a T-Mobile phone. And T-Mobile sucks and doesn't appear to be getting any better. I don't know how good or bad the 4G functionality is, but its not enough to have me go back to T-Mobile. That was a year of hell, not just from the almost non-existent coverage but the idiotic customer service as well. My uncle still has them and he complains about them all the time, but he's with them for a reason (something about coverage in Canada, I forget).
The other choice is the Motorola Photon Q for Sprint, which comes comes with GSM capabilities, but you have to remove the pre-soldered SIM chip and add a SIM card adapter. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1929143 I have seen no information on whether it is locked domestically for GSM. It can be reflashed to Cricket and PagePlus on the CDMA side as well, and there is a CM 10 for it http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1929143
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not good at soldering. Plus if I mess up, gotta buy another phone.
Dang. Looks like I'll have to stick with the Glide for now. Well, I'll have to GET the Glide, then stick with it for now.
Um, I hate to break it to you, but your gsm service depends on which sim card you have. I am using the Galaxy S Relay just fine on AT&T.
Sent from my SGH-T699 using xda premium
Nardholio said:
Um, I hate to break it to you, but your gsm service depends on which sim card you have. I am using the Galaxy S Relay just fine on AT&T.
Sent from my SGH-T699 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not the way Net10 worded it, and I've spoken to them many times. They said it depends on the phone itself, as far as the BYOD program goes.
QWERTY Geek here
I've had the following QWERTY phones:
OG Droid
Stratosphere 1
Stratosphere 2 (current phone)
And my wife had the Captivate Glide until she dropped it recently.
Here are my thoughts:
1. Out of this list of phones, the Stratosphere 2 is best, no question. It's slightly faster than the Captivate Glide, has NFC, has a 5 row keyboard, has Verizon LTE, and has Bluetooth 4.0. There's hardly anyone even talking about this phone, much less getting dev/root work going. Sucks, too, since this is basically a Galaxy S3 Lite w/ QWERTY. Everything about this phone is solid.
2. The Captivate Glide GPS's sucked. And the ICS upgrade was an utter disaster. The new ICS upgrade isn't as bad, but the GPS on this phone is definitely much worse than any other phone on the above list. My wife stopped using it altogether and would just use Google Maps like I did back in the iPhone 3G days.
3. I liked the Captivate Glide's keyboard, but my wife hated it. She preferred the Stratosphere 1's keyboard and then the Strat 2. And in case you are wondering, I was barely surviving on the Strat1 when I upgraded in January... a 1GHz single core 512MB RAM phone just doesn't hold up any more, and battery life was awful (about 10 hours with light use, 16-20 hours with no use).
4. A Jellybean (4.1) update just came out for the Strat2. I've been holding back on upgrading due to my wife's horrible experience with ICS. In researching it, I discovered that FoxFi would apparently be broken and 4.1/4.2 has issues with a lot of N-only routers. I've been happy with the Strat2 and ICS, so I won't upgrade. But I so wish Cyanogen would pick up the slack.
5. Are we sure the Strat2 has a locked bootloader? My understanding is that Samsung phones have an unlocked bootloader but switch a flag if you change the ROM so warranty can be denied. Can someone verify?
Thank you very much for the note, some good and interesting stuff in here.
JoeFresco said:
1. Out of this list of phones, the Stratosphere 2 is best, no question. It's slightly faster than the Captivate Glide, has NFC, has a 5 row keyboard, has Verizon LTE, and has Bluetooth 4.0. There's hardly anyone even talking about this phone, much less getting dev/root work going. Sucks, too, since this is basically a Galaxy S3 Lite w/ QWERTY. Everything about this phone is solid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any comments, Glide vis a vis Galaxy S Relay 4G? [e.g. you say Stratosphere 2 is basically a Galaxy S3 Lite w/qwerty - I've yet to come across a similar 'rating' for the 4G. I believe Glide would be S2 (Sii). I don't know what the 4G is.]
For me LTE vs anything else doesn't matter - I don't do data. Wi-fi, yes, so the N only issue is biting me. (Which I think is a phone hardware, not a software, issue. Guessing.) Much the same for Bluetooth - most any bluetooth, and within, say, 10', does what I need it to do. Can you say what Bluetooth 4 brings to the party?
JoeFresco said:
2. The Captivate Glide GPS's sucked. And the ICS upgrade was an utter disaster. The new ICS upgrade isn't as bad, but the GPS on this phone is definitely much worse than any other phone on the above list. My wife stopped using it altogether and would just use Google Maps like I did back in the iPhone 3G days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New ICS upgrade? (Link?)
JoeFresco said:
4. A Jellybean (4.1) update just came out for the Strat2. I've been holding back on upgrading due to my wife's horrible experience with ICS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you comment on that horrible experience? I've yet to upgrade from Gingerbread to something ICS here, so looking to be forearmed with (your) forewarning, here.
JoeFresco said:
In researching it, ... 4.1/4.2 has issues with a lot of N-only routers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm now wondering if this explains what I'm seeing on a certain router - across multiple phones and laptop. It's becoming a PITA. At home I get around some problem by setting a static IP.
Is this a common experience for people, across hardware - be it phones or laptops?
The Galaxy S Relay 4G looks like it basically has the tech of the Strat2, so I'd expect them to be equivalent. It looks like it has a physical mashup of the Captivate Glide and Strat2. Assuming you like the keyboard, the S Relay 4G looks like a better phone than the Captivate GLide. I have no experience with this phone.
Bluetooth 4 lets you use super low power bluetooth devices. StickNfind.com (I bought 6) is the first one I know of, but there will definitely be more over the next year or two. Lots of workout type devices and other sensors will start using it. It first arrived in phones in the iPhone 4s.
The Captivate Glide's original ICS upgrade was over Kies and was pulled due to horrendous user response. You can read threads all over by googling. Here's a taste: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1879432
Basically, GPS went to completely useless, phone app crashed constantly, contacts app crashed constantly, keyboard backlight never lit up, text messages coming in 15 times even though only sent once, and more. Most were fixed in a latter OTA update, though the text message thing still happened. The GPS also would sometimes go in and out of lock and wasn't really dependable.
Until the OTA update came out, I was about to have my wife take the phone back to the ATT store to exchange for a Gingerbread model under warranty. Incidentally, a month ago she dropped it and broke the screen and I replaced it with an LG Escape, which she LOVES (no qwerty). She never liked the Captivate Glide keyboard and considers the LG Escape's software keyboard to be just as good and it resolved all her other problems.
The router problem I'm seeing is only on phones that were working fine with ICS and then were upgraded to Jellybean. Here's a couple links:
https://community.verizonwireless.com/message/950253
https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=34786
What you are experiencing sounds like a poor/dying router. It's definitely not normal. A firmware update may resolve the problem or you may try installing ddwrt.
Oh, here's a thread about rooting the Strat2 with no success yet:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2078615
Incidentally, I just tried to root the Samsung Stratosphere II i415 via SRSRoot, which claims it can root that phone. Unfortunately, after 3 attempts, I have nothing but failure. It tries to use root4, 4b, and 5 regardless of whether all root options or smartroot is selected.
Sucks because now VZ is forcing the JB update down. My options were simply to install now or defer 5 days. I chose the defer option, but from what I'm reading, that's a one time deal. So if I can't get rooted in the next 4 days and stop it, I'm going to be running JB whether I like it or not.
Stratosphere II gsm access
Hi
does the samsung stratosphere ii 2 work with gsm in the United States? What about internation gsm?
JoeFresco said:
Incidentally, I just tried to root the Samsung Stratosphere II i415 via SRSRoot, which claims it can root that phone. Unfortunately, after 3 attempts, I have nothing but failure. It tries to use root4, 4b, and 5 regardless of whether all root options or smartroot is selected.
Sucks because now VZ is forcing the JB update down. My options were simply to install now or defer 5 days. I chose the defer option, but from what I'm reading, that's a one time deal. So if I can't get rooted in the next 4 days and stop it, I'm going to be running JB whether I like it or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm more interested in flashing it to another service like Cricket. I think its possible, not 100% sure. People barely know this phone exists, let alone have taken the time to hook it up to QPST to see what happens.
liongood9 said:
Hi
does the samsung stratosphere ii 2 work with gsm in the United States? What about internation gsm?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the question. Like I said, except for the nice fellow in this very thread, no one else really has it, so so far no one has bought it and taken it abroad to see if the GSM works. I would think its locked out the box, though. Verizon refuses to give me a straight answer, and I think its kinda obvious why: its impossible to be unlocked abroad yet locked here, meaning its unlocked all the way or not at all. Meaning if they unlock it, I could just buy it and take it to AT&T.
My guess (heck the Verizon folks are guessing if not outright lying) is that the CDMA functionality works in tandem with the GSM functionality, if you use the phone in the US. It kinda has to, since the GSM slot is also the 4G LTE slot and how you'd get the 4G functionality. Abroad, the CDMA functionality will both detect the 4G LTE SIM isn't there (you'd have to remove it to put in the international SIM from the carrier of your choice while abroad, like Telcel or Movistar in my case) and that you're not in the US, thus giving you "permission" I guess you'd say to let it be unlocked for the duration of your visit. Once you return, however, Verizon will say "Ah you're back in the US" (the CDMA will detect an active Verizon network and account) and lock it right back so you'd have no choice but to replace your international SIM with the 4G LTE sim.
Basically, Verizon through the CDMA functionality can lock or unlock the GSM functionality, merely through network detection (if you're in the US) and by itself using the GSM (4G).
So if you buy the phone outright, you'd never have to worry about the CDMA part since you never had an active service with Verizon through that phone. Without an active CDMA, its merely...a GSM phone, meaning it can be unlocked and can be used on any GSM network. Hence Verizon's reluctance to say yay or nay to whether the GSM can be unlocked. They can't stop you from buying the phone outright, but they don't have to help you unlock the GSM part and potentially take it to another carrier, either. I've heard more or less "Well by law..." yes, but they either don't know the law or count on you not knowing the law. And even pointing it out to them can simply result in "well we don't know how to unlock it, so..." Which would be BS, but there being a law won't make them do anything. They'll just find ways around it. Plausible ways.
All guesswork, and I could be 100% wrong. But hey, that's what it seems like. If I'm right, at least it could potentially be used as a GSM phone at least abroad until someone figures out how to root it.
Go for the Strat 2.
1. Faster CPU
2. Better GPS.
3. Jelly Bean Released on it.
4. 4 row keyboard, I hate having to hit ALT to hit a number. Use excel a lot and that is really annoying.
5. I think it has more internal memory as well. Glide has only 4GB useable internal memory. (they say it is an 8GB phone)
Don't get me wrong GLide is a great phone but it is stating to show its age. Unfortunately I have a 3 year contract, so still have another year and a half on it.
JB
dudejb said:
Go for the Strat 2.
1. Faster CPU
2. Better GPS.
3. Jelly Bean Released on it.
4. 4 row keyboard, I hate having to hit ALT to hit a number. Use excel a lot and that is really annoying.
5. I think it has more internal memory as well. Glide has only 4GB useable internal memory. (they say it is an 8GB phone)
Don't get me wrong GLide is a great phone but it is stating to show its age. Unfortunately I have a 3 year contract, so still have another year and a half on it.
JB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems unrootable, but I'm wondering if its unflashable. I would like to buy it, flash it to Cricket, and just wait till someone roots the sucker. Flash it to Cricket and also unlock the GSM for use abroad. :good: That's my dream anyway. :fingers-crossed:
I have two primary uses for the tablet in question:
1. I will be using it as a GPS navigation unit on my motorcycle. And it will be used to play music thru my motorcycle's speakers.
*I will most likely be using the headphone jack, or possibly some kind of usb audio out / charger (if I can find such a product) to send audio to an amplifier on the motorcycle. Or possibly via bluetooth.
2. When not on the bike I will be using it mostly for watching videos on it, via plex, netflix, memory card, etc.
Questions:
Network/ Internet connectivity:
I live in Canada B.C.
At first I only cared about a basic WiFi only note 8.0, but now I'm thinking I might be inclined to put on a network in the future, and would like to keep that door open(maybe).
1. If I import a USA note (AT&T):
a. will it work on our networks, fido/rogers/bell/etc
b. I will have to root it and flash it with a custom rom to do that right? and if that is true, will I notice any complications in the future?
Note 8.0 vs tab4 pro
I have already done a bit of research into this but thought I would ask a bit on the subject
The tab4 pro looks overall better, but also more expensive.
!. The only spec difference that I would really care about is the higher resolution screen that the tab4 has. would any one say it's a major difference in reality?
2. Are there any other notable feature that the tab4 has over the 8.0 that I might be overlooking?
Thank you for your help. any amount input is welcome.
Are you talking about the tab pro 8.4 or a tab 4 8.0? I really like the 8.4 tab pro. The screen is amazing on it but I'm not going to count my note 8.0 out either as the picture quality has been plenty satisfying to me. The tab pro has the newer faster processor with a far better gpu. Had I not gotten my note at such a cheap price I would have gotten the tab pro 8.4. That being said I think that if you find a really cheap price on the note 8.0 it's worth it. I'm not disappointed with mine at all. Far as getting an AT&T branded note you'd probably have to sim unlock the device to use it on a Canadian network.
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msd24200 said:
Are you talking about the tab pro 8.4 or a tab 4 8.0? I really like the 8.4 tab pro. The screen is amazing on it but I'm not going to count my note 8.0 out either as the picture quality has been plenty satisfying to me. The tab pro has the newer faster processor with a far better gpu. Had I not gotten my note at such a cheap price I would have gotten the tab pro 8.4. That being said I think that if you find a really cheap price on the note 8.0 it's worth it. I'm not disappointed with mine at all. Far as getting an AT&T branded note you'd probably have to sim unlock the device to use it on a Canadian network.
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I was referring to the 8.4tab and 8.0 note.
You remind me about my nature, bang for the buck, is probably the biggest factor.
I guess it will come down to which ever one I can save the most on, relatively.
I find when entering the $300+ for a tablet, I get in the zone for I might as well upgrade my laptop instead.
Thanks for the reply.
Not sure about GPS other than it works fine on Wi-Fi.
Video decode in my experience is good, it can generally play most Blu-Ray video fine via MakeMKV (Basically decrypt and remux into Matroska). YMMV with subtitles and audios and third party apps. It's not as powerful as a Snapdragon 800 but very nice (and has more codec support than my Nexus 5 when both are compared at stock).
Can't say anything about USB audio out as I've never dealt with that.
If you only care about HSPA+ service anything supporting 1900 / 850 Mhz will work and as far as I know all cellular ready models support those. I don't know about the LTE bands up there. Unlike us in the USA, Canada pretty much uses the same frequencies for all the carriers.
If you get the AT&T model you will have to get it SIM unlocked by AT&T before hand. I am not sure that can be done from Canada rather than while on AT&T's network as I've never tried it. Typically you have to stick in a SIM from another carrier and enter a code. On T-Mobile with my Galaxy S3 it took a few weeks to get the code via e-mail after supplying my data via phone; YMMV. You would want to SIM unlock before rootinng; bootloader unlock is different than SIM unlock; and custom ROM's don't SIM unlock your device.
If you want 8" and a S-Pen you have no options. Only other alternative would be an Tegra Note 7; I believe they've started making an LTE model but I'm not sure. Personally if you don't want the pen, I'd go with the Galaxy Tab 8.4 Pro because it's got a more powerful processor and a higher resolution panel. If it's all the same to you by all means save money. The Note 8 is likely at it's end of retail life pending a newer version so prices are going down (at least in the USA they have; my fiancee got hers in Alberta last month for $349 and I think they're now $329 here in Georgia).
Feature wise is probably improved MultiWindow mode and anything you like about Samsung's 4.4 tabs that isn't available on 4.1/4.2 era devices like the Note 8. I'm not sure what functionality we're getting in our 4.4 update (AFAIK 3G and Wi-Fi, not AT&T model).
Spidey01 said:
Not sure about GPS other than it works fine on Wi-Fi.
Video decode in my experience is good, it can generally play most Blu-Ray video fine via MakeMKV (Basically decrypt and remux into Matroska). YMMV with subtitles and audios and third party apps. It's not as powerful as a Snapdragon 800 but very nice (and has more codec support than my Nexus 5 when both are compared at stock).
Can't say anything about USB audio out as I've never dealt with that.
If you only care about HSPA+ service anything supporting 1900 / 850 Mhz will work and as far as I know all cellular ready models support those. I don't know about the LTE bands up there. Unlike us in the USA, Canada pretty much uses the same frequencies for all the carriers.
If you get the AT&T model you will have to get it SIM unlocked by AT&T before hand. I am not sure that can be done from Canada rather than while on AT&T's network as I've never tried it. Typically you have to stick in a SIM from another carrier and enter a code. On T-Mobile with my Galaxy S3 it took a few weeks to get the code via e-mail after supplying my data via phone; YMMV. You would want to SIM unlock before rootinng; bootloader unlock is different than SIM unlock; and custom ROM's don't SIM unlock your device.
If you want 8" and a S-Pen you have no options. Only other alternative would be an Tegra Note 7; I believe they've started making an LTE model but I'm not sure. Personally if you don't want the pen, I'd go with the Galaxy Tab 8.4 Pro because it's got a more powerful processor and a higher resolution panel. If it's all the same to you by all means save money. The Note 8 is likely at it's end of retail life pending a newer version so prices are going down (at least in the USA they have; my fiancee got hers in Alberta last month for $349 and I think they're now $329 here in Georgia).
Feature wise is probably improved MultiWindow mode and anything you like about Samsung's 4.4 tabs that isn't available on 4.1/4.2 era devices like the Note 8. I'm not sure what functionality we're getting in our 4.4 update (AFAIK 3G and Wi-Fi, not AT&T model).
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A funny thing happened to me last night.
For the longest time I was under the impression that NON-RT Windows tablets were quite expensive and quite large. Then I find out that there are 8inch full version windows tablets with decent specs and a reasonable prices.
So in short now i'm after a windows 8 tablet, the lenovo miix 2 and thinkpad 8 being my first choices.
Edwii said:
A funny thing happened to me last night.
For the longest time I was under the impression that NON-RT Windows tablets were quite expensive and quite large. Then I find out that there are 8inch full version windows tablets with decent specs and a reasonable prices.
So in short now i'm after a windows 8 tablet, the lenovo miix 2 and thinkpad 8 being my first choices.
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Click to collapse
Venue Pro 8.0 would be my choice.
gooberdude said:
Venue Pro 8.0 would be my choice.
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I had one for a day before I returned it.
First of all it has no GPS, so right from the start it got eliminated from my options.
Secondly it's speaker is TERRIBLE, even at full volume It was barley audible in a quite room. With my Air conditioner on i couldn't even listen to a movie. I don;t know if the lenovo has better audio but can't be much worse if anything.
Tablet wise, I am coming from an iPad 3 AT&T LTE, but my phone is a T-Mobile Note 4 (and I have had the Note 3 and S3 and S4 previously). I am tired of constantly having to jailbreak my iPad to customize my tablet the way I want, and I think the Tab S 10.5 is the way to go (unless there is an even newer 2015 version coming out). I mostly use the iPad to read Reddit, web browse, read books and comics, listen to music, view my photography, and watch movies. The Tab S 10.5 should be able to handle all that nicely... plus have the added benefit of being able to run all the stuff on my phone.
Since I have an AT&T grandfathered tablet account, I have unlimited data for $30 a month. I can get their tablet http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab/SM-T807AHAAATT and use it with or without wifi.
On the other hand, since I have a T-Mobile phone, I can get a 5GB a month data plan from T-Mobile for only $10 a month http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab/SM-T807TTSATMB and then just make sure I pop on wifi when I am home (or use wireless tether on my phone).
So my question are:
1.) Are there any differences between the AT&T and the T-Mobile 8707 tablets? Both the carrier sites say they are Snapdragon chips (which I prefer), but after reading on the threads here, I think they are both Exynos.
2.) I have read on here that the AT&T is not rooted. Is that the same for T-Mobile version? Is there any chance of a root happening? I really want to root for backup purposes and to put a ROM in.
In my opinion, Samsung and the carriers have messed up the selling of these tablets. Samsung has too many version (Pro, Note 10.1, and Tab S 10.5) with different processors, confusing buyers. And the carriers having the wrong specs on their site doesn't help.
EvanWasHere said:
Tablet wise, I am coming from an iPad 3 AT&T LTE, but my phone is a T-Mobile Note 4 (and I have had the Note 3 and S3 and S4 previously). I am tired of constantly having to jailbreak my iPad to customize my tablet the way I want, and I think the Tab S 10.5 is the way to go (unless there is an even newer 2015 version coming out). I mostly use the iPad to read Reddit, web browse, read books and comics, listen to music, view my photography, and watch movies. The Tab S 10.5 should be able to handle all that nicely... plus have the added benefit of being able to run all the stuff on my phone.
Since I have an AT&T grandfathered tablet account, I have unlimited data for $30 a month. I can get their tablet http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab/SM-T807AHAAATT and use it with or without wifi.
On the other hand, since I have a T-Mobile phone, I can get a 5GB a month data plan from T-Mobile for only $10 a month http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab/SM-T807TTSATMB and then just make sure I pop on wifi when I am home (or use wireless tether on my phone).
So my question are:
1.) Are there any differences between the AT&T and the T-Mobile 8707 tablets? Both the carrier sites say they are Snapdragon chips (which I prefer), but after reading on the threads here, I think they are both Exynos.
2.) I have read on here that the AT&T is not rooted. Is that the same for T-Mobile version? Is there any chance of a root happening? I really want to root for backup purposes and to put a ROM in.
In my opinion, Samsung and the carriers have messed up the selling of these tablets. Samsung has too many version (Pro, Note 10.1, and Tab S 10.5) confusing buyers. And the carriers having the wrong specs on their site doesn't help.
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1.) I know that the AT&T has a locked bootloader so no root but I'm unsure about the T-Mobile version.
2.) If I were you I would buy the SM-T800 (WiFi Only) or SM-T805 (LTE) as they are rootable and there are ROMs for those two
Kahun said:
1.) I know that the AT&T has a locked bootloader so no root but I'm unsure about the T-Mobile version.
2.) If I were you I would buy the SM-T800 (WiFi Only) or SM-T805 (LTE) as they are rootable and there are ROMs for those two
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My only options are the T800 or the T807. From what I understand T805 won't work on AT&T or T-Mobile.
But if I go with the T800, every time I want to go online with my tablet away from home, I will have to turn on tether mode on my phone, which sounds like a pain in my a$$.
Stick with Apple, Samsung quality control is just bad
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Hi!
I previously had a Note 4 for a day or two after release, coming from at that time, an iPhone. I subsequently returned the note, kept the iPhone, and recently upgraded to the 6+. Now with ATT's mobile share, I'm looking at adding a second line for how cheap it is. I'd like for that second line to be an android device, to get the best of both worlds. As a result of being out of the mix when it comes to android, or more like never having been in it, I have a couple questions.
I distinctly remember how much junk was on my ATT Note 4. Junk apps from Samsung, junk from ATT- and worst of all, I couldn't do anything about it (no root?). Has that changed? Is there a way to remove these apps, fix touch wiz annoyances, etc? I'd think that would require root, but like I mentioned, I don't know the details of note4 root status, or even rooting in general.
I currently have a Nexus 6 and Oneplus One on order (good prices on both of them), but personally like the Note4 the best- can I change it to make it perfect? Or is it still locked down and junked up?
Thanks for your help!
Don't get the AT&T Note 4. Get the T-Mobile Note 4 and use it on the AT&T network. The AT&T version is locked down whereas the T-Mobile version is not which means it's rootable. It looks like the AT&T Note 4 will never see permanent root, ever.
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I just bought my note 4 two weeks ago. If I could go back in time I would have bought the nexus 6. This phone lags too much for my liking. It is actually slower than my g2 was at opening apps. I thought I would like this phone but at this point regret my choice.
Gods Son said:
Don't get the AT&T Note 4. Get the T-Mobile Note 4 and use it on the AT&T network. The AT&T version is locked down whereas the T-Mobile version is not which means it's rootable. It looks like the AT&T Note 4 will never see permanent root, ever.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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So just to be clear, I can root a T-Mobile version of the note 4, and use it on att, with no loss of functionality(network speeds/lte bands/that sort of thing)? That sounds like a really attractive option to me. Would T-Mobile let me walk in and buy a device just straight up?
Thanks for the help!
citius117 said:
So just to be clear, I can root a T-Mobile version of the note 4, and use it on att, with no loss of functionality(network speeds/lte bands/that sort of thing)? That sounds like a really attractive option to me. Would T-Mobile let me walk in and buy a device just straight up?
Thanks for the help!
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OK heres what you do if they won't let you buy it straight up. Buy the t mobile version on the payment plan because like that there's no contact or ETF. Go home and make a call for 5 min on T mobile sim, then submit the imei to cell unlocker net. Then in a few days call and cancel the service with Tmobile and pay the remainder of the phone off, which by the way is $100 cheaper then the AT&T version. After receiving the unlock code from cell unlocker stick the AT&T sim in and when it boots it will ask for the unlock code, put it in and your good to go.
I have both versions of the note 4 and the t mobile version works perfect on the AT&T network except you have root, custom roms and kernels. All the rom developers in the note 4 t mobile forum full support the AT&T network in there roms straight out the box.
You might want to wait 3 months for the note 5 because this phone is already dated and is a big investment.
Good luck.
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Thanks for the help Sand, that is a great explanation. The tmobile device is clearly better then- no loss of service quality or anything, but still having the root, roms, etc. I think regardless of the imminent release of the note 5, I might still get the four for now, or just keep that incoming OPO One- waiting 3 months for the note 5, plus however much more time for rooting dev is a bit long for me. Regardless, I appreciate your information!