Remove multi window sidebar in Samsung Galaxy Note 2 & Galaxy S3

How to remove Multi-window Sidebar

This article explains how to disable the multiwindow sidebar present in the Samsung Galaxy smartphones like Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy grand, Galaxy Mega etc.
Galaxy Note 2 was the first Samsung phone to get launched with Android JellyBean out of the box. One of the exclusive features of Galaxy Note 2 was a Multi-Window functionality which was initiated from a sidebar.
Another Feature was a new Sidebar to replace the dock, which usually lies at the bottom of your display screen. The multi window Sidebar can be customized & as well as removed from the screen. Some of the users could not found way to get rid of it in Galaxy Note 2 as well as Galaxy S3 Premium Suite.

How to remove the Note 2 Multi-Window on Android 4.1.1

The sidebar can be docked in the left or right orientation of your phone. Hiding the Multi-Window from your phone is simple though it is not readily apparent to some, all you need to do is touch and hold the back button of your Android device - Note or Galaxy S3 for a moment and sidebar will be hidden.

Holding the back button works for Android JellyBean 4.1.1 as well as 4.1.2 You can use this trick to toggle your Android sidebar on and off on your device. Another way to do this is to pull out the notification center, go to the settings and toggle the multi window feature. Disabling the Multi window will remove the unwanted sidebar from your display screen.

How to remove sidebar from Jellybean 4.1.2

Samsung S3 has already received Android JellyBean 4.1.2 and the Premium Suite along with it in which there is new edition of  an option called 'Multi window' in notification panel. You can easily enable and disable the Multi window function from the notifications quick shortcut.

[Read more]

Samsung releases Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 Update for Galaxy S3

Samsung Galaxy S3 updated to Android Jelly Bean

Samsung has now started seeding the Android 4.1.2 update for the their flagship smartphone Galaxy S3. The update brings the new Multi-View multitasking interface, system apps, controls, settings and more. The official Jelly Bean update is available over-the-air and the first country to get it is Poland and other countries should join the roll out very soon. The official Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 update was announced only a while ago and Samsung seems to be in no hurry to step up the ante by reducing the time lag between the official Android updates and their own customized version of it. This of course is not very good news for all the Galaxy S3 owners out there who like to keep their device updated with the latest tech.

S3 Jelly Bean update adds new features

The update, however brings lots of new features to the Galaxy S3, which were introduced with the Galaxy Note2. Here is the complete list of features being added to the Jelly Bean update:

Android version 4.1.2

• Multi-View
• Page Buddy
• New Gallery App (Same as in Note2)
• Notification Panel (Notification Panel can now be customized)
• Brightness Slider in Notification Panel Can Now Be Disabled
• Smart Rotation (Screen Display adjusts to your angle of sightings)
• Paper Artist App
• Group Cast App

[Read more]

Unlock Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note2 for free

New Hack to Unlock the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note2

A new hack has been discovered to unlock the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note2 phones from their carrier contract. The procedure is yet unconfirmed to us and we be updating it as soon as we receive one. For now here are the steps involved to make your phone contract free.

The hack is too easy to believe in my opinion all you have to do to unlock your Galaxy S3 or Note2 device is enter a code from your devices’ menu. There is no need to send information to a website, or pay anything or wait for an unlock code. All you need to do is follow the steps and your Galaxy device will work with the inserted SIM card.

Note: This method may not work for all Samsung Galaxy S3 or Galaxy  Note2 variants. Also keep in mind that this could probably void your warranty, so please proceed at your own risk or wait for a confirmation.

Update: This method seems to be working for some users and not for others. Even if it doesn't work, it isn't causing any problems with the actual carrier so users can try out the hack without worrying about that risk.

Steps to Follow:

1. Insert the desired SIM card you want to use unlocked into your device, and restart the phone.
2. Enter the code *#197328640# into the keypad and press send.
3. Go to Main Menu -> [1] UMTS -> [1] Debug Screen -> [8] Phone Control -> [6] Network Lock -> Options [3] Perso SHA256 OFF (after choosing this option, wait for at least 30 seconds)
4. Go back one step by pressing the Menu button, select back, which should bring you to [6] Network Lock, then choose [4] NW Lock NV Data INITIALLIZ.

If you followed the above steps correctly, your Samsung Galaxy S3 or Note2 device should now work properly with the new SIM card without any problems!

Let us know if the method worked for you as a confirmation, and on what device and carrier.

[Read more]

Compare Samsung Galaxy S3 v/s HTC droid DNA

The flagship Samsung Galaxy S3 goes head to head with HTC's latest phone, the Droid DNA. HTC Droid DNA is the most recent entry from HTC  in 5 inch screen segment. Both the Android smartphones have very similar Features and Specs so it would be quite interesting to see which one gets an edge.

Compare Samsung Galaxy S3 versus HTC droid DNA

We will be comparing both the phones on the various aspects such as display, design, CPU chipset, camera, camera features, internal & expandable memory and battery life to determine which one is the best overall as a smartphone.

Display

The Droid DNA has a display of 5 inches, a first in any HTC phone till date. The Galaxy S3's screen is of a slightly smaller form – 4.8 inches.The Droid DNA's screen has a quite a bit more sharpness than the Samsung I9300 Galaxy S3’s screen simply because of the resolution of the screen. The DNA offers an astounding 441 ppi and has display resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. On the other hand, Galaxy S3's display is at 306 ppi with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution. Both the display screens are protected by Corning's Gorilla glass, which is another plus point for the smart phones.

Design

Samsung I9300 Galaxy S3 has a thickness of 8.6 (5.38 mm and has footprint dimensions of 136.6 x 70.6mm. Samsung I9300 Galaxy S3 is a lightweight phone, weighing mere 133 grams, while the Droid DNA weighs 138 grams. The S3 features a single hardware button whereas the HTC Droid DNA has none. Both the cellphones have 3.5 Audio jack to connect headphones. Both Gadgets support all the common functionality such as multi-touch, gyroscope, accelerometer etc.

Processor & OS

Both phones - Samsung Galaxy S3 & Droid DNA contain identical Quad-core processors which is are both at the peak. Galaxy S3's processor runs with a Exynos 4412 Quad chipset where as Droid DNA contains a Qualcomm MDM615m/APQ8064 chipset. Samsung Galaxy S3 has the Android OS with version v4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). This Operating System is upgradeable to 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Its competitor, HTC Droid DNA has the Android OS with version v4.1 (Jelly Bean). This Operating System is upgradeable to v4.2 (Jelly Bean).

Memory

The Samsung Galaxy S3 houses 16/32/64 GB storage internal space and 1 GB RAM. The Droid DNA has 16 GB (11 GB user available) storage Memory and loaded with 2 GB RAM. Galaxy S3's memory is expandable up to 64 GB using microSD and one of the disadvantages of the HTC Droid DNA is that there is no provision to add microSD card.

Camera

Both phones are equipped with 8 MP shooters in the rear. Both the smart phones have auto focus as well as LED flash which comes handy when you need to take pictures in low light. Both the phones have secondary camera which is great advantage for tho who love to make video calls & use Skype. Both the Phones are capable of shooting great videos at 1080p@30fps(frames per second) & 1080p@30fps respectively.

Battery

As far as the battery life is concerned, Samsung I9300 Galaxy S3's battery life is much better than DROID DNA's battery life. It is preloaded with a battery of 2100 mAh standard capacity on the other hand, DROID DNA is equipped with standard battery of 2020 mAh capacity. Samsung I9300 Galaxy S3 lasts for maximum 590 hours when 2G is used & lasts for 790 hours when 3G Internet accessed.

Pros & cons of Galaxy S3 & Droid DNA

Galaxy S3 is awesome phone with great features.  Droid DNA has bigger LCD3 screen with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution which is best in the segment. Droid DNA lacks the MicroSD card which is a major flaw. The DNA has 11 GB of internal memory which is not expandable. Galaxy S3 supports internal as well as external memory and lauded the best features like-S Beam,Smart stay, direct call, all share cast.

[Read more]

Samsung S3 vs Google LG Nexus 4 - In Depth Comparison, Display, Processor, Storage and more

Samsung S3 vs Google LG Nexus 4

The galaxy S3 has been one of the most popular Android phones in the market for some time now. It has a beautiful screen, amazing specs and overall is a pretty good phone. The newest contender to the S3s throne is the recently launched Google LG Nexus 4. The newest Android flagship phone launched by Google and manufactured by LG has mind-boggling specs for a really cheap price. Does it have what it takes to replace Samsungs S3 as the popular choice?

Display

The first thing we notice about a phone is its size. When Samsung launched the S3 it was mocked for having a huge 4.8 inch screen. Most of the Android fans felt it was too large, however people soon got comfortable with its size and its now actually a major selling factor for the phone. The LG Nexus 4 sports a similar 4.7 inch screen. The Nexus 4 however has a slightly higher resolution and pixel density than the S3 (302 for S3 and 320 for S3) The Displays use separate technologies with S3 using its Super AMOLED and Nexus 4 using the IPS Plus LCD display. Both have Gorilla Glass 2 protection but the S3 will be slightly better in sunlight whereas the Nexus 4 will be sharper.

Processor and Memory

Both the Nexus 4 and the S3 devices have quad-core processors. The Galaxy S3 sports a 1.4GHz Exynos 4412 and the Nexus 4 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro clocked at 1.5GHz. The Nexus 4 offers 2GB of RAM, which outperforms the 1GB of RAM in the European and international versions of the S3. The U.S. version of the Galaxy S3 matches the Nexus 4's 2GB of RAM however it has a dual-core instead of a quad core processor.

Storage

The Nexus 4 comes in 8GB and 16GB versions and has a huge disadvantage in the fact that it has no microSD slot and sports a Uni-body design which even though adds class takes away the removable battery. The Galaxy S3 comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB varieties and you can expand by a further 64GB using the microSD slot which you can get to by removing the back cover. The Nexus 4 might have a lot going for it but lags behind in the storage department.

Cameras

When it comes to comparing the main camera of the phones, both devices have 8-megapixel cameras that can record high definition 1080p video at 30 fps. They both have the usual LED flash, face detection, and loads of other features. Android 4.2 brings the new Photo Sphere feature for panoramas to the Nexus 4, but the Galaxy S3 camera app has some added features thanks to Samsungs bloatware. It’s easier to differentiate between the two phones on the front-facing camera because the Galaxy S3 has a 1.9-megapixel camera and the Nexus 4 has a 1.3-megapixel camera.

Battery

Both the S3 and the Nexus 4 phones have batteries rated at 2,100mAh. The Galaxy S3 battery is removable while the Nexus 4 battery isn’t which might be a big deal for some and might not for some. People who have the habit of carrying a spare battery for their phone will hate the Nexus 4 for that. We’ll need to wait for more extensive hands-on testing to see if there’s any difference in the consumption and use of the batteries but one novel feature the Nexus 4 has is that it supports wireless charging and has a nifty Wireless Charging Orb accessory, even you do have to buy it separately.

Connectivity

Both the phones have NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DLNA, and everything else you would expect to find on the latest Android phone. The widely criticized flaw is that the Nexus 4 doesn’t support 4G LTE. Im unsure how much that matters, since LTE is fully functional only in the US and probably only a couple more countries but also because HSPA+ can be very fast. But if you're buying a Nexus 4 as a long term phone, by two years LTE will have entered every major market and will be a coveted feature.

User Interface

As a Google release the Nexus 4 has a stock Android and it offers version 4.2 which contains lots of refinements over 4.1, but is still named as Jelly Bean. There’s a new Quick Settings screen, widgets on the lock screen, improvements in Google Now, Voice Search, among a few other refinements in the version 4.2. The Galaxy S3 launched with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), but the Jelly Bean 4.1 update has rolled out devices already. It also has Samsung’s TouchWiz interface, which has already added some features such as a Quick Settings menu in the Notifications bar. There isn’t a huge difference in usability and the UI looks the same, but the latest version of Android is always the best as it has refinement, bug fixes etc. The 4.1 update for the Galaxy S3 brought a very noticeable improvement in speed and performance, as well as expanded Notifications and Google Now.

Additional Notes:

• While the Nexus 4 has a faster CPU it's GPU is lacking and thus games will work better on the GS3. Even though the GS3 only has 1GB or RAM it doesn't seem to have a problem storing/retrieving from memory. That may change in the future as apps begin to use more memory space. 
• The biggest difference you will note is the GS3 screen is a bit darker in broad daylight which is a result of its AMOLED screen vs the N4's True HD IPS Plus.

[Read more]