Samsung Galaxy Note 3: benchmark tricks are lame attempt to gain critical acclaim

Samsung is hardly lagging behind the pack when it comes to smartphone sales.

The most recent Gartner figures showed it was well in the lead, with 31.7% of smartphone users across the globe packing a device made by the Korean giant.

Critically, it’s also right up there with Apple. Its Galaxy S4 is rightly lauded as one of 2013’s best and the new Galaxy Note 3 isn’t too shabby either.

But it’s that device which sits at the heart of a new controversy, unearthed by the hardcore tech types at Ars Technica.

Their discovery that Samsung has been artificially boosting benchmark figures on the new phablet are incendiary and show just how dirty even the biggest players are willing to fight in order to stay on top.

The premise is somewhat convoluted.

When running a popular benchmarking app, the Galaxy Note 3’s CPU goes into a special boost mode, showing it to be clocking up far more impressive figures than rival devices that use exactly the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip.

Ars used the Geekbench app and then tweaked it to trick the Note 3 into thinking it was just a standard benchmarking tool that isn’t used by many tech fans.

The results showed Samsung was artificially pushing up the Note 3’s benchmarks by a colossal 20%.
Why does this matter? Well, for a start it throws into question the whole point of benchmarking a device.
By and large, it’s a handy means for hardcore tech fans to see how snappy a phone really is.


But it’s also a way for Samsung to show off that its device is faster, and therefore better, than its rivals.
Some might call it fraudulent. Others might say it just shows how lame Samsung is being in trying to push its flagship product.
Samsung could easily big-up the amazing screen, heaps of proprietary apps and the fact it works with the new Galaxy Gear watch.
Instead, it’s using underhand means to make the phone look better than it really is.
Frankly, that extra speed is something that most mainstream users couldn’t care less about.

Why Samsung feels the need to pull this move, when there are technically savvy web users able to suss it out is beyond comprehension.
It feels tacky and undermines the product completely. Doubtless, rivals will have tried to pull the same trick.
So, from now on, let’s focus on what a phone can do rather than simply how fast it can do it.
We should aim to guarantee that whatever modern device you buy, it’ll be zippy enough for your needs.

How to Root Galaxy Note 3

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There’s already a working CWM recovery which means you may be able to easily root your brand, new Galaxy Note 3 easily.
Although we do not have the device yet (it will be coming in 2 days), here’s an outline of steps you must do to root your Galaxy Note 3.
Currently this root guide is for Windows only (or use VMWare for Linux/Mac) but I will have an updated Mac/Linux guide soon.
Step 1. First, make sure you have either SM-N9005, SM-N9006, SM-900, Sprint SM-N900S, or T-Mobile SM-N900T model Note 3.
(Currently there’s no root available for AT&T Note 3 SM-900A as bootloader is locked but we should have a solution soon.)


Download the following files:

Download appropriate CWM recovery for your Note 3 (Make sure you download the CORRECT version for your Note 3 model!!!)
Download ODIN program and unzip.
Download SuperSU zip file
Download and install Samsung USB drivers




Step 2. Turn off your Note 3.

Step 3. Hold down, Volume Down, Center Home, and Power buttons together for about 2-3 seconds then let go of all buttons when you see a warning screen like below:

Then hit Volume Up button to enter Download mode.

Step 4. You should now see Download mode. This is the ODIN download mode where you can use ODIN to install custom recovery.
Step 5. Plug a micro-USB cable from your Note 3 to your computer.

Step 6. Run ODIN program you downloaded earlier in Step 1. (only for Windows or use VMWare on Linux/Mac).


You should see a yellow-highlighted box with a random COM number in ODIN program.  If you do not see it, download and install Samsung USB drivers then unplug/re-plug the micro-USB cable.
Also, you may have to use a USB 3.0 cable supplied with your Note 3, try plugging it in a USB 3.0 port first and if that doesn’t work plug it into a regular USB 2.0 port.  One of them should work.

Step 7. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE but choose “PDA” in ODIN program then find the CWM recovery .tar file you downloaded earlier then hit Start button.




Step 8. Your Note 3 should now reboot. When rebooted, copy the SuperSU zip file you downloaded in Step 1 to your Note 3 internal storage.


Step 9. Turn off your Note 3.
Step 10. Hold down, Volume Up, Center Home, and Power buttons together for about 6-7 seconds then let go of all buttons
.

Step 11. You should now be in CWM recovery. Choose “Install zip”, then “Install from sdcard”, then choose the SuperSU zip file you downloaded earlier.


Step 12. Reboot and your Note 3 should be rooted.  You can verify by downloading and running Titanium Backup app from Play Store.

Q&A

Q: Will this erase any apps or settings on my Note 3?
A: No, this root method does not touch your apps or settings, it simply installs custom recovery such as CWM or TWRP then root using SuperSU zip file.
Q: Will rooting void my warranty?
A: Most likely yes but there may be a way to unvoid your warranty in the near future (as happened with Note 2),


 NOTE: THE AUTHOR OF THIS SITE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU MESS UP YOUR PHONE, PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS TWICE BEFORE TRYING IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME TO ROOTING AND CUSTOM ROMS!

Galaxy S4 “hidden” features

In a new blog post, Samsung describes ten “hidden” or “semi-secret” features of the Galaxy S4, which some of you may not be aware of.
Coincidentally or not, the Samsung post went live on the same day Verizon and Motorola unveiled new Droid smartphones, and a day ahead of the upcoming Nexus 7 announcement.
Here are these semi-secret Galaxy S4, as tipped by the company:
 


1) Swiping down with two fingers offers access to the full Quick Settings panel. (How: swipe down from the status bar with two fingers. Touch and hold to access settings. Long-tap an icon to drag it into a different place.)

Galaxy S4 Quick Settings | Image credit: Samsung

2) The TV remote control can be added to the notification panel for quick access. (How: Application screen > WatchOn > Settings).

Galaxy S4 remote control | Image credit: Samsung

3) The keyboard can be pop-up-ed on top of other apps for multi-tasking-like features. (How: With the keyboard active, tap the settings icon on the left of the space bar and then select the pop-up keyboard icon.)

Galaxy S4 Keyboard pop-up | Image credit: Samsung

4) A blocking mode can be set up to prevent the phone from ringing on incoming calls and other notifications. (How: Settings > My device > Blocking mode.)

Galaxy S4 Blocking mode | Image credit: Samsung

5) A Wi-Fi timer app should help users save cellular data, as the phone will try to connect to available Wi-Fi networks for a specific period of time. (How: Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi > Advanced > Wi-Fi Timer.)

Galaxy S4 Wi-Fi timer | Image credit: Samsung

6) With the Adapt Sound function, users can improve (and properly calibrate) the sound quality of their Galaxy S4, especially those people affected by hearing impairments. (How: Settings > My device > Sound > Adapt Sound > Start.)

Galaxy S4 Adapt Sound | Image credit: Samsung

7) In-call audio can also be optimized in order to improve call experience. (How: Settings > My device > Call.)

Galaxy S4 in-call audio | Image credit: Samsung

8) Video watching on the Galaxy S4 also has some “hidden” features such as pinch-to-zoom (for enlarging and shrinking the image on the screen). Brightness and volume adjustments are available also. (How: activate the bars when touching the left and right side of the screen, respectively.)

Galaxy S4 video: pinch to zoom, adjust brightness and volume | Image credit: Samsung

9) The camera can be accessed directly from the lock screen for quicker pictures and videos. (How: Settings > My device > Lock screen > Lock screen widgets > Camera. Feature requires lock screen to be other than pattern of PIN.)

Galaxy S4 Camera on lock screen | Image credit: Samsung

10) The lock screen message can be personalized with custom fonts and colors. (How: Settings > My device > Lock screen > Lock screen widgets > Edit personal information; if screen is protected with pattern or PIN lock. Or: Tap and hold the lock screen message and drag it down from the screen.)

Galaxy S4 custom lock-screen message | Image credit: Samsung

Galaxy Note 3 Tips & Tricks

#1 – Never lose your S Pen!

The S Pen is integral to the power of the Galaxy Note 3 – not something you want to lose. Here’s how you can set the Note 3 to alert you that you may have left the stylus behind:

• Go to Settings > Controls > S Pen
• Uncheck “Turn off pen detection”
• Check S Pen keeper

This will only work when the screen is off, and if you press “okay” when it warns you once, it won’t warn you again until you redock the S Pen and leave it behind again. So be careful!

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#2 – Control your Galaxy Note 3 while wearing gloves

The capacitive screen on the Note 3 isn’t only good for writing and drawing with a stylus, it can also be set to operate while wearing gloves, but you’ve got to enable the option:

• Go to Settings > Controls > Increase touch sensitivity (it’s the very last option)
• Turn this ON!

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#3 – Type with one hand

The Galaxy Note 3 is HUGE which may turn some small-handed people away, but if difficulty in one-handed typing is a concern, please know you can adjust your keyboard accordingly!

• Go to Settings > Controls > One-handed operation
• Check “Use for all screens”
• Only check other boxes if you want them automatically resized all the time

The S Pen also makes typing with Swype an absolute pleasure… give that a try as well!

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#4 – Block notifications while you’re sleeping

You don’t want to miss an important call or text from a family member or friend in case of emergency, but notifications from apps and drunk dialing idiots threaten to keep you up all night. And those stinking LED notification lights are BRIGHT! Luckily the Note 3 has a feature for this specific problem called “Blocking Mode”:

• Go to Settings > Device > Blocking Mode (the last option)
• Turn the feature on
• Press “Blocking Mode” to set options
• UNCHECK “Turn alarm and timer” unless you want to be late for work
• UNCHECK “Always” and set the time period you’re sleeping (otherwise turn this feature on/off at night and in the morning)
• MAKE SURE you set your list of “Allowed Contacts” who can bypass this feature (family, friends, booty calls, etc…)

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#5 – Lower the screen saturation and contrast

Is Samsung’s outrageously bright and colorful Super AMOLED screen a little TOO bright and colorful? You can do more than lower the screen brightness and instead tone down the contrast and saturation:

• Go to Settings > Device > Display > Screen Mode
• Select “Professional photo” or “Movie” to tone down the screen if you feel the colors are too vibrant

It doesn’t have a huge impact but it can certainly help.

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#6 – Vibrations too strong?

The default notification vibrations are pretty darn strong! You can turn them down:

• Go to Settings > Device > Sound > Vibration Intensity
• Adjust your incoming call, notification, and haptic feedback vibrations as you see fit!

You can also set your phone to vibrate even when ringing (great if you’re at a bar, party, concert, or other loud place) and change the pattern of the vibration from the same settings area.

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#7 – Show the battery percentage in the status bar

It can be really annoying trying to guess how much battery you have left by estimating how much of your little icon is filled up with green. We want numbers! Here is how you can put your exact percentage in the notification bar:

• Go to Settings > Device > Display
• Scroll down and select “Show battery percentage”

Ah… much more helpful.

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#8 to #12 – Motion controls annoying? Only enable these!

Samsung has a boat load of features that detect your eyes and your hands and attempt to behave automatically based on your intents. Most can be annoying but some are pretty useful. I recommend turning ALL of them off except the following. Go to the Settings > Controls >  Motion Control section for all of the below:
See notifications without touching your phone!
Air gesture > Quick Glance > On. Wave your hand over the screen for a quick look at notifications. (Turn Air jump, Air browse, and Air call-accept off)
Added Stylus hovering functionality!
Air view mode > On > Auto. This provides extra features when hovering over items with the S Pen, for example popping up larger images when browsing the gallery or scrolling pages up/down. Open “Air view pen options” to see exactly where it works.
Special Air Command Features!
Air Command > On: Quickly add recent attachments and frequent recipients by hovering over these respective fields
Turn both Motions & Palm Motions OFF
Prevent screen from sleeping when you’re looking at it!
Smart Screen > Smart stay > On. Uncheck the rest of these features.

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#13 – Search for settings

Already overwhelmed? You can now search your settings to more easily find hidden options!

• From the home screen press the Menu button
• Select “Settings”
• Tap “Search” at the top and have at it! Don’t forget this feature is here… it’s very useful.

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#14 – Customize your quick settings buttons

Prefer to have different quick setting toggles in your notification bar? You can change them easily:

• Pull down the notification bar
• Tap the square icons at the top right
• Tap the pencil icons at the top right
• Drag available buttons to the Notificaion panel (you’ll have to replace an existing button)
• Re-order as you like by dragging and dropping

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#15 to #18 – Customize your lock screen

Your lock screen can be more than just a lock screen… you’ve just got to set it up. You can find all of these options in:
Settings > Device > Lock Screen.
15) Add quick launch icons to your lock screen.
Shortcuts > On. Further customize by tapping the icons and selecting your own quick launch apps!
16) Add widgets to your lock screen
Multiple Widgets > On > Favorite Apps. The “Camera” option is relatively useless since you can set a quick launch icon (above) to your camera and it launches much more quickly and smoothly.
17) Personalize with contact info and personal message
If you lose your phone, it’s helpful if your screen shows your contact information so a good samaritan can help you retrieve your device. You might also want to add a little of your own pizzaz.
18) Create a memo without unlocking
Action Memo on lock screen > On. To create an “Action Memo” without unlocking your phone, simply hold down the S Pen button and tap anywhere on the lock screen twice. An Action Memo note will immediately pop up at your disposal! Make sure the setting is enabled in

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#19 to #25 – Home Screen Shortcuts

When you’re on the home screen the following buttons provide extra functionality.

• 19) Hold back button to enable/disable Multi Window
• 20) Double Press Home Button for S Voice
• 21) Hold Home button for Recent Apps and access to RAM Manager and Google Now
• 22) Press Home Button for My Magazine
• 23) Swipe up from the home button for My Magazine
• 24) Hold Menu Button for S Finder
• 25) Press Menu Button to edit your Home Screens, access settings, and read help docs

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#26 – Prevent Air Command from launching when stylus removed

Air Command is greatly, but you might get restless if the menu pops up EVERY time you remove the Stylus. You can choose to turn this off (or toggle to automatically open Action Memo, which is probably more annoying).

• Go to Settings > Controls > S Pen > Pen detachment options
• Select “None”

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#27 – Capture screen without S Pen & Screen Writer

To get a screen capture without using Air Command, simply hold the Home and Power Button at the same time. You can also prevent the screen captures from entering edit mode by going to Settings > Device > Display > Edit after screen capture (the last option)

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#28 – Turn your phone into a Senior Citizen Saver

Did you buy the Galaxy Note 3 for Grandma or Grandpa because they don’t need a telescope to read the print on the HUGE 5.7 inch screen? Make things even simpler by transforming their phone into an incredibly basic layout that’s hard to NOT understand.

• Go to Settings > Device > Easy Mode
• Turn it on!

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#29 – Display your app drawer in alphabetical order

If you’ve got a ton of apps, flipping through page after page to get to something specific can be a hassle. You can change the layout of your app drawer very easily to make it more convenient:

• Open you app drawer
• Press the menu button
• Press “View type”
• Select either “Alphabetical list” or “Alphabetical grid” depending on your preference

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#30 –  Unlock your phone by saying “Hi Galaxy”

I’ve seen many people complain that saying “Hi Galaxy” won’t work and they can’t find the option in the Note’s settings. That’s because the option is actually hidden in the settings of the S Voice app!

• Open S Voice (double tap Home Button or open from your app tray)
• Press the Menu button
• Select “Settings”
• Check “Wake up command”
• Turn “Voice wake-up” On to activate S Voice even while the screen is off!

Note: “Hi Galaxy” won’t simply unlock you’re phone… it must be followed by a voice command to become useful (see below)

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#31+ –  Master the voice commands!

Create and use your own Voice Commands
In addition to all of the default voice commands (see below), you’re able to set 4 custom voice commands (using your own voice) that will trigger actions from the lock screen (display must be on)!

• Go to Settings > Device > Lock Screen > Wake up in lock screen
• Turn this ON
• Tap one of the “Wake-up function” items #1-4
• Tap “Change function” to select an action when your keyword is spoken out loud. Select from one of the following:
  1. Unlock
  2. Check for missed calls
  3. Check for missed messages
  4. Open Camera
  5. Check Schedule
  6. Play Music
  7. Record Voice
  8. Turn on/off Hands-free Mode
• Re-enter the same Wake-up function ,tap “Change command”, tap the microphone button, and speak your customized voice command out loud four times.
• You’re ready to go! Open the lock screen on your display (swipe to unlock) and say your voice command out loud!

Samsung Galaxy Note II secret codes

• *#06# To check IMEI No.
• *#9090# - Diagnostic Configuration
• * #1234# to check software version of phone.
• *#272*IMEI# - Reset User data + Change Sales Code
• *#12580*369# to check software and hardware information.
• *#0228# Battery status (ADC, RSSI reading)
• *2767*3855# Full factory reset (Don't dial it does not ask you to confirm unless you have problem)
• *#0*# This Code shows Screen Test Menu (LCD Test Menu) Hidden Menu
• *#283# Audio LoopBack Control
• *#07# Test History (SAR Level)
• *#228# ADC Reading (Battery Status)
• *#7353# Self Test Mode (2nd Hidden Menu

Works on all Samsung 'Galaxy Series' Smartphones.

Note: We will not be responsible for any damage of your damage!!