Review of the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear Smart watch

The Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear

A note talking smart phone and a smart watch

From Sprint

By Kurt von Behrmann

The Galaxy Gear and the Galaxy Note 3

                One of the pleasures of reviewing computer software and hardware is coming into contact with emerging technology.   There is a certain “joy” that comes with being on the “bleeding edge.”    As a pair, The Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy Gear Smartphone represent an extension of the smart phone into new arenas, namely note taking and transforming the venerable watch into an extension of the smart phone.

                With new smart phones, Android phones appear to growing larger and larger.  The mammoth Galaxy Note 3 is no exception.  Measuring a whopping 5.9 inches x 3.1 inches x 0.3 inches and sporting a 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED® touchscreen display with a resolution of 1920x1080, there is nothing small about this device.  For all of its size, the handset still fits conveniently into a shirt pocket without fuss. 

                Where size becomes important is in function.  Gaming, web browsing, nearly all of the nice “extras” that apps can provide become all the more enjoyable when you have adequate room to do them.   Size matters in smartphones and Samsung has appeared to have found a nice “sweet spot” that makes this the near ideal size for a phablet.  As a mixture of smart phone and tablet, Samsung is making the Note 3 something of a mobile Swiss army knife of convenience.  This is no doubt the move for note taking into the mix.

                As the name clearly implies, one of the big distinguishing features of this phone is that it can take notes.  While this may not seem to be a particularly useful function, it is surprisingly valuable when you find yourself jotting down bits of information.  I found this out myself during a meeting.

                During a meeting a member was citing a particular book.  Minus paper and pen, I immediately went to the Galaxy Note 3 without thinking and started jotting down the title in my own distinctive writing style.  Having the same feel as writing on paper, the Note 3 captured my text with accuracy and ease.  I was able later to recall not only the book title, but other bits of information that may have been lost had I to rely on memory.  If you happen to be a note taker, or even a casual note jotter, having such functionality built into a smart phone makes sense.   It is one of those features you may not think of when you think of mobile computing functionality, but certainly is much appreciate when it is there.

                The implantation of the feature is well done. The included software is easy to use and will spring into note taking mode once the stylish stylus is removed from the body of the handset.

The Galaxy Note 3's faux leather back.

                Speaking of stylish, the Galaxy Note 3 is conservative in design.  Aside from its scale, there is little to distinguish it from the pack.  But, when you turn it over the back has a leather like feel complete with stitching on the sides.  While this is all an illusion, the phone is totally plastic, the texturized back provides a certain “upscale look.” It also makes the phone firmer in hand than a smooth backed plastic phone that can easily slide around.

                As to be expected, the Note 3 is a fully powered.  Complete with a 2.3GHz quad-core processor (Qualcomm® MSM8974 Pro chipset) dual cameras, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with camcorder and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera with camcorder, what you would expect of a high end phone is here.

                If you are one to store data on your phone, The Note 3 does not disappoint on that front.  It ships with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of memory.   There is also room for a Micro SD card, which totals out at a 64 GB memory card. The card does not come with the device. It is optional.  In short, there is plenty of memory and plenty of storage available.

                Bucking the trend toward non removable batteries, Samsung has wisely made the battery removable by the end user.  Should things go south, it is always preferable whenever possible to have access to the battery. 

                Sprint and Samsung have also included their own signature software, as to be expected.  Thankfully the bloat ware is kept to a discrete minimum.  Android phones usually come with their own apps, and the Note 3 carries a full complement of google applications. 

The Galaxy Gear, a smart watch that could be the shape of things to come.

                As an adjunct to the Note, Galaxy Gear provides the functions of a watch with some of the functionality of a smart phone.    Virtually useless without an accompanying handset, the device links to provide access to contacts, galleries and some applications. While limited by size and power, it can take pictures with its 1.9 megapixel camera.  

                While this is more of a “want to have” than a “must have,” there is a certain cachet in having a watch that does more than tell the time.   There has always been in an inherent attraction by those that like leading edge technology.  For those for whom buying another mobile apparatus is not an issue, the Gear could be well worth having.    One thing is without question, the phone is a definite conversation starter.  Start taking pictures with the phone and you will draw a crowd.

Summation

                Samsung has put in another strong entry in the high stakes world of Android phones.  With competition for mobile computing dollars at an all-time high, The Galaxy Note stands out for its size and its ability to allow users to take actual digital notes with it.  That feature is compelling, and it sets the phone apart from the crowd.   If you look past the all plastic construction, which is something of an irritant to some users, the phone has enough power to make that Achilles heel less annoying.   While it may not win design awards, Samsung has made a pleasant to look at phone that delivers where it ultimately counts, power, speed and an impressive battery life.

                Depending on the user, and how much you like being on the forefront of computing, the Galaxy Gear is stylish enough and packed with enough “wow” factor to make it compelling on its own terms.  Again, it may not be a must have item.  However  it certainly could  persuade those interested to like it if for nothing more than  the novelty of having a watch that is reminiscent of Dick Tracey’s.   When the dust settles, phone watches maybe the next wave.  As difficult as it is in tech to tell where things are headed, the integration of smaller devices into wearable ones could be a trend well worth watching.

                Samsung has put forth a noteworthy handset in the Note 3.  It has also begun the first steps toward a wearable mobile smart watch that could very well be a hint of things to come.