Database Users

Interesting stance on the Spen from Samsung

Well like some others here I have a faulty S-Pen. It starts interacting with the screen about 1-2cm away which is VERY frustrating. After seeing some threads here I got in touch with Samsung Customer Support and this is what I got.
I sent
I've had an issue with my s-pen over the last few weeks. The pen will ''''click'''' or ''''draw '''' something on the screen when its about 1-2cm away from the screen.
This makes annotation and drawing very difficult as it keeps pressing when I do not mean to.
Is this a firmware issue or hardware issue? From what I''''ve read online it looks to me to be hardware related.
Many thanks,
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Click to collapse
This is what I got in return.
Dear Ben
Thank you for contacting Samsung.
I'm afraid that the s-pen is designed to work in this manner. It is an option that most customers tend to prefer so that the screen does not actually have to be touched/scratched by the pen. I'm sorry if this is an inconvenience to you.
If you require any further assistance, please contact Samsung again and we will be more than happy to help.
Kind regards
Ciaran
Online Support Team
SAMSUNG Customer Support Centre
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I know thats total BS. Who would want a stylus that unpredictably touches the screen without touching it?
Your thoughts?

khsbenny said:
total BS
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+1

Well, that's not how I would want the S-Pen to work and for me that's not how it does work so I'd suggest you get back to them and explain that what you have is a definite problem.
For me the S-Pen does pretty much exactly what you (or any other sane person) would want - it takes a gentle but quite deliberate contact with the screen to make anything happen.

This is the same problem I have it really is frustrating :-!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

The pen should be detected when slightly above the surface of the screen, that's how my Wacom tablet works as well, but it should never "click" without actually touching the surface so there's definately something wrong.
You could try to calibrate your sensors and do a factory reset. If neither solve the problem then I would press Samsung to send a replacement pen.

bioweb said:
The pen should be detected when slightly above the surface of the screen, that's how my Wacom tablet works as well, but it should never "click" without actually touching the surface so there's definately something wrong.
You could try to calibrate your sensors and do a factory reset. If neither solve the problem then I would press Samsung to send a replacement pen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've resetted, tried different roms and the only way I can get it to work normally is by moving the end of the pen. Its only a temporary solution though and only lasts a few minutes.

It's deffinately a hardware fault within the pen, its a tiny rubber o-ring between the magnet and the coil which breaks up over time allowing them to stay in contact when they shouldnt be, I replaced mine with cotton and it works like a charm now.
Samsung are talking out their arse's!

This is definately not normal behaviour as it defeats the whole purpose of the pen being pressure sensitive and it's just a load of bull that's what people prefer as it screws up any accuracy. I'm not aware of any setting that would invoke this behaviour so I'd say it's definately a hardware related issue.

Samsung Service Idiots said:
I'm afraid that the s-pen is designed to work in this manner.
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My thoughts? Sorry for nerding, but the answer is: LOL! If this is how it´s designed to work, millions of users (including me) are using a defect device.
The only way to reproduce this pen-behaviour is to lie down on your bed and to use the Note with the screen pointing to the ground (technical reasons).

That confirms that the s-pen is scratching the screen!

I've just sent them the exact same message as copied from your post, lets see what reply they give me

RudiRulez said:
I've just sent them the exact same message as copied from your post, lets see what reply they give me
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Click to collapse
That will be interesting actually, I wonder if they'll offer you a new pen.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA

Samsung technical support are crap. I rang them because my 7.7 went into a boot loop every time I powered off and had to let the battery go flat to escape from the loop. The solution they suggested was to never power off and when I argued that I should be able to power down they hung up on me. I returned the 7.7 to Amazon for a re-fund within the 30 days and got a replacement from Hong Kong with 3g for £60 less.

I'm glad samsung is not in automobile or aviation industry - people would die because of such a low quality control.

I think they might send you a free air compressor, when you tell them that the pressure sensivity doesn't work at 2cm above the screen without

Boy124 said:
I'm glad samsung is not in automobile or aviation industry - people would die because of such a low quality control.
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from what I read before, Samsung originated as a company selling trade exports of fish, vegetables and fruits to China.

Wonder if trying a third party penabled pen would make a difference.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

i found the solution. just wrap some metal foil above the button and the behaviour is gone. use some cellotape. saw on youtube. it is not mechanical.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA

Will give that a try tomorrow thanks ;-)
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

msnxda said:
i found the solution. just wrap some metal foil above the button and the behaviour is gone. use some cellotape. saw on youtube. it is not mechanical.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA
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Err which button are you talking about?

Placement of Home button

Is it just me or the placement of the home button really annoying? Logically it should be centered of the space below the screen and not so close to the bottom. I found this odd when I saw this during the announcement but didn't realise it will end up being ergonomically wrong.
I've developed wrist pains that I never had with the sgs2 due to the placement and the hardness of the home button. As I have to consciously reach for the home button lower than need to.
And to make matters worse the time I gotta hold it down for multitasking is a bit longer than needed in my opinion.
Except for this phone is perfect for me!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

I also am really irritated by the buttons and the placing of them.
They are far to far down, so I constantly touch them accidentally. As you say they should be nicely placed half way between the screen and the bottom of the phone.
And to be fair I would have preferred a capacitive button over that huge home button.
Ok, so I've only had the phone for 9 days now so maybe with a bit more time i will get used to this disfunctional design.

I would rather it a bit higher, always feels like I am on the verge of dropping it when using the phone one-handed, and I have big hands!

Not only you amigo!
I think the home button should be bigger - like it was on the S1.
Also the colour of it on "blue" is...more like purple.

Im fine with the home button. What i dont like is the back button on the right and not the left.

incubus26jc said:
Im fine with the home button. What i dont like is the back button on the right and not the left.
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Agree particular if you come from SGS1/2 I keep hitting cancel .
jje

JJEgan said:
Agree particular if you come from SGS1/2 I keep hitting cancel .
jje
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Click to collapse
The back and menu buttons are in the same place they were on the SGS1 & 2.

Baldilocks said:
The back and menu buttons are in the same place they were on the SGS1 & 2.
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x1

Baldilocks said:
The back and menu buttons are in the same place they were on the SGS1 & 2.
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Exactly what i was going to say...made be wonder myself lol

TotallydubbedHD said:
Exactly what i was going to say...made be wonder myself lol
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Maybe he was looking in a mirror as he posted??

Baldilocks said:
Maybe he was looking in a mirror as he posted??
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Think he is talking about those pop ups " cancel - ok" and that switched places in ics :s that's the only explanation I can think of
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

norpan111 said:
Think he is talking about those pop ups " cancel - ok" and that switched places in ics :s that's the only explanation I can think of
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
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Lmao!
You never know....lol

I can agree to some extent about malplaced buttons, I'd want them right up below the screen as before I got my soft-shell for the phone kept touching the back button with the palm of my hand while holding it. What I really like that I didn't like the least with the S2 is the rounded shape, it's so much nicer to hold than the S2. With CM9 it also became so much friendlier in terms of tweaks and hax. Me like!

My only complaint is the button placement should be higher. Yes it is a little long holding the home button for the multitask menu but it is not a problem for me
If I have assisted you, please press Thanks button.

I think the button looks good where it is
No problems

Looks good, but doesn't feel good when reaching for. Especially if you have a case
If I have assisted you, please press Thanks button.

The home button should've been bigger or placed a little bit shifted upwards, i always loved the site of the back button, as it's all the time used and since i use my right hand it's perfect for me.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

The only thing I hate about the home button is that it could be a bit bigger
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

I'm used to it now.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

Habit..

I just got my note today and I was writing and all of a sudden the note wouldn't recognize the pen. Usually when you write with an actual and nothing writes you tend to shake it so out of habit I did that with the s-pen and then realized how idiotic I looked anyone else do this?
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2

antispiral said:
I just got my note today and I was writing and all of a sudden the note wouldn't recognize the pen. Usually when you write with an actual and nothing writes you tend to shake it so out of habit I did that with the s-pen and then realized how idiotic I looked anyone else do this?
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2
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I find running in circles and flapping my arms works best. It's in the manual.

mitchellvii said:
I find running in circles and flapping my arms works best. It's in the manual.
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I knew I should have read manuall first lol
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2

Ah, the old OM (Oscillatory maintenance). It's a pet theory that that will do anything, but clearly it's a technique for wimps.
Everyone knows that when something stops working, clearly the best cure is PM (Percussive Maintenance)...
(Now I'll have to pay attention and see if I ever wimp out )

When I got my first Tablet PC, I used a Wacom stylus with an eraser end (which works with the Note 10.1 - BTW).
When I was drawing, I'd flip the pen over to erase and without thinking, I'd *brush away the eraser crumbs*... which makes sense on paper, but of course, doesn't make sense on a tablet.
I don't do it much anymore - but I still sometimes feel my arm wanting to do it even now...
Amazing how we get into these deep grooves and even more amazing how close to 'the real thing' these devices can be.

Thats nothing, I was reading an actual paper magazine and tried to scroll the page. Had to look and see if anyone noticed thank god no one did.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

bbgt2 said:
Thats nothing, I was reading an actual paper magazine and tried to scroll the page. Had to look and see if anyone noticed thank god no one did.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
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Mine wasnt that bad... I was trying to show something on my brother's 17" laptop the other day and I ran my fingers on the screen to scroll down... Whooops...

junrider said:
Mine wasnt that bad... I was trying to show something on my brother's 17" laptop the other day and I ran my fingers on the screen to scroll down... Whooops...
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I regularly try to use touch on my laptop's external monitor. It looks like a large version of a tablet since it's on an arm, and really messes with my head.

TheWerewolf said:
When I got my first Tablet PC, I used a Wacom stylus with an eraser end (which works with the Note 10.1 - BTW).
When I was drawing, I'd flip the pen over to erase and without thinking, I'd *brush away the eraser crumbs*... which makes sense on paper, but of course, doesn't make sense on a tablet.
I don't do it much anymore - but I still sometimes feel my arm wanting to do it even now...
Amazing how we get into these deep grooves and even more amazing how close to 'the real thing' these devices can be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's funny!

(tip)apps that will save your physical keys

just want share some apps i found on playstore to prevent our physical keys from wearing out
smart screen on: wake on using proximity sensor
button savior: use softkeys for home, volume, power, multitask
both has free and paid version on playstore(i'm not the maker of this apps or have any relation to them, just sharing)
enjoy!

button saviour is ok
---------- Post added at 03:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:56 PM ----------
slaphead20 said:
button saviour is ok
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Click to collapse
Edit....my bad, thought you were asking, not recommending

I might use these if I didn't have a choice but I have friends still using old captivates and Nexus S's and the like.. Buttons all still work just fine, same as they did when they bought the phone. Not sure why people want to "save" the physical keys. I prefer to use touch recovery as well, but only because its faster..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

The hardware buttons used to wear out on the HD2, probably still do, but that's partially due to it's incredible OS longevity.

Use GMD Gesturecontrol for everything. Incredible app.

If your worried about your buttons wearing out, why not be worried about the screen, battery or speaker wearing out? I'm so worried now I just not gonna use my phone at all anymore. Wait, now I'm worried about my legs wearing out. Forget walking.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

razortaz18 said:
If your worried about your buttons wearing out, why not be worried about the screen, battery or speaker wearing out? I'm so worried now I just not gonna use my phone at all anymore. Wait, now I'm worried about my legs wearing out. Forget walking.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
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Physical buttons do wear out over time though, someone who used the same phone as I used to had an issue with his volume buttons wearing out so he could not use CWM and it took us forever to get TWRP ported.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

I don't press HOME button, because it mostly results in Launcher Redraws.
Samsung's smart way to protect the phone

Haven't had a button die on one of my phones since my old Nokia 6630 lool

delsus said:
Physical buttons do wear out over time though, someone who used the same phone as I used to had an issue with his volume buttons wearing out so he could not use CWM and it took us forever to get TWRP ported.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
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Right there mate

Coreym said:
I might use these if I didn't have a choice but I have friends still using old captivates and Nexus S's and the like.. Buttons all still work just fine, same as they did when they bought the phone. Not sure why people want to "save" the physical keys. I prefer to use touch recovery as well, but only because its faster..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
I think most of us here in xda are addick flasher and want to try different roms,
What if someone softbrick during flash and their physical buttons are damaged and cant access download and recovery mode?
Anyway i am only sharing my experience

dikime said:
Use GMD Gesturecontrol for everything. Incredible app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for sharing..

razortaz18 said:
If your worried about your buttons wearing out, why not be worried about the screen, battery or speaker wearing out? I'm so worried now I just not gonna use my phone at all anymore. Wait, now I'm worried about my legs wearing out. Forget walking.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry for your phone
it only eat 1 to 2% of my battery during 8 to 10hrs of sleep mode using this 2 apps and i think they will not wear the screen and speaker by using this.

Edited.. nvm

Coreym said:
Wow really, someone softbricked during a flash and it broke their physical keys? Sounds like there's more to that like maybe perhaps they flashed something they shouldn't have But even still that's a different scenario- your physical DONT work. My point was, having your hard keys or physical keys stop working is a pretty rare occurrence. I've never heard if it. Now dropping your phone, f****ing up your phone so the keys don't work is a different story. But as far as "saving" your physical keys.. there's no such thing. What your doing now is not using them... which I guess you could say is saving them... but not really, its more like an alternative
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 08:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:19 AM ----------
I've never ever heard of physical buttons wearing out. That's a defect and shouldn't happen, within reason. I expect my keys or buttons to last as long as I have the phone. Seriously... how many uses can a person expect to have with a button on a device? Nowadays things are built much better than 10 or even 5 years ago... It/they shouldn't wear out. Not on a phone. Not on a phone that is only a couple years old.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what i mean is if someone already have broken buttons and flashed his phone and suddenly something went wrong and softbricked it, you cant access the recovery or download mode because you have broken keys.
i did not say you dont used your keys, this apps will only help you to used the physical keys often that will save them from wearing out.
i think hardware not created equal maybe someone's key last forever someone in a year or two or broke their keys after warranty period.
this tip is not for all though..

eggman89 said:
I don't press HOME button, because it mostly results in Launcher Redraws.
Samsung's smart way to protect the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that why i used softkeys for this..

Coreym said:
Edited.. nvm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good:

Just install EASY TOUCH from PlayStore.

dikime said:
Use GMD Gesturecontrol for everything. Incredible app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will try it also thanks for sharing

titus1 said:
Just install EASY TOUCH from PlayStore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will try it also thanks..does it have function wakeup on proximity sensor?

Sunk in home button, normal?

Picked up my 32 GS4 yesterday and now I am noticing that the home button is sunk in. It's completely flush with the screen. Doesn't stick out at all. It works completely fine, but makes a really audible clicking noise. Obviously Samsung doesn't manufacture these all the same. I am worried if it will get worse in time. A google search brought many results with the GS3's home button. Apparently some think its normal, some don't. I am really fussy when it comes to QC on flagship phones.
Just wondering if anyone else has a sunk in home button?

its normal.

I don't have one yet, but I just wanted to say that I really wish they would have used a capacitive button instead. I work construction, and dust/sand etc. destroys the physical buttons. Also will miss the search button that I have on gs2 I like pressing and holding it for voice search
Sent from my SGH-i777 using Tapatalk 2

Yup. Flush. You're good.
Sent from my SGH-I337M using xda app-developers app

It's not normal. My s4 didn't have that and one of them did. It should be slightly raised.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app

jetlitheone said:
It's not normal. My s4 didn't have that and one of them did. It should be slightly raised.
Sent from my HTC One using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. I have noticed a couple Note 2's home buttons being flat, while others were slightly raised. I don't know if its considered not normal, as it functions just fine.
I do not like the loud audible click the button makes. I might try to swap it towards the end of my 14 days.
EDIT: Ok, looking at it really closely, its not completely flat. Maybe a tad lower than the other phones. I don't know, I would hate to return a phone because I'm too OCD.

Mine is slightly raised. Does it function properly? Have good tactile feedback? If so, I would say it's all good.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

americasteam said:
Mine is slightly raised. Does it function properly? Have good tactile feedback? If so, I would say it's all good.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
The home button functions perfectly fine. Since it doesn't stick out, the tactile feedback isn't that great. May take it to AT&T this week. Haven't decided. I am actually more concerned about my power button. Seems very hard to push and mushy, like its not sticking out as much as it should.

My home button is just BARELY above the rest of the phone, but it feels very responsive and a bit 'clicky'. While it's not raised so much, it at least feels really solid.
However my unlock button seems like it's really sunken in and almost hard to press at times, does anyone else have one like that as well?

americasteam said:
Mine is slightly raised. Does it function properly? Have good tactile feedback? If so, I would say it's all good.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
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MentalToast said:
My home button is just BARELY above the rest of the phone, but it feels very responsive and a bit 'clicky'. While it's not raised so much, it at least feels really solid.
However my unlock button seems like it's really sunken in and almost hard to press at times, does anyone else have one like that as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same exact issue here with the power button. The home button I can live it, but the power button should be clicky and not feel so mushed.

MattMJB0188 said:
Same exact issue here with the power button. The home button I can live it, but the power button should be clicky and not feel so mushed.
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Click to collapse
Thank god, at least I'm not the only one. This is my second s4, I just brought back my first one from HUGE battery issues. Would lose 15-20% while idle while I was asleep.
Already noticed a huge difference with my new one, except now I've noticed the mushed in unlock button. It's functional, it just feels like it has the possibility of eventually getting stuck somehow...Maybe I'm just being overly attentive and sensitive with the new one.

MentalToast said:
Thank god, at least I'm not the only one. This is my second s4, I just brought back my first one from HUGE battery issues. Would lose 15-20% while idle while I was asleep.
Already noticed a huge difference with my new one, except now I've noticed the mushed in unlock button. It's functional, it just feels like it has the possibility of eventually getting stuck somehow...Maybe I'm just being overly attentive and sensitive with the new one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then exchange it. When they bring your new phone out thoroughly examine it first.

I'm very tempted, but at the same time , I don't wanna be THAT GUY who keeps bringing back phones because one very tiny detail is slightly off-putting of their OCD.

MentalToast said:
I'm very tempted, but at the same time , I don't wanna be THAT GUY who keeps bringing back phones because one very tiny detail is slightly off-putting of their OCD.
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Yeah I know what you mean. And I've been that guy many times. Its just when signing a 2yr contract and paying $200+ dollars, one has to be persistent. They all hate me at my local AT&T store but I pay their paychecks.

delete

wttisme said:
I looked at 3 S4s before I picked one that I was satisfied with before I left the store. Some people don't care, but when paying this much for a phone I feel like it should be perfect.
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And AT&T kept bringing out S4's and let you have your pick? Must have been nice. My local AT&T store would never do that.

Neither would mine. Best Buy MIGHT, but it's not very nice to make them keep opening boxes of new products. Not sure if they can still sell them as such afterward.
The unlock button does seem more sunken than it should be. Might swing by the ATT store in a day or two just to check out their display...If it's that bad, i'll bring it back to best buy and see if they're willing to do another exchange . I only have 4 days left on my 15 day window unfortunately.

Did you put a screen protector

DAMN! I wish I didint see this thread because my OCD just kicked in...
Mine is raised about 1mm up. On my note II its about 2mm.
It feels normal to me...
With the Invisheild HD its flush with that....

artvandalay22222 said:
I don't have one yet, but I just wanted to say that I really wish they would have used a capacitive button instead. I work construction, and dust/sand etc. destroys the physical buttons. Also will miss the search button that I have on gs2 I like pressing and holding it for voice search
Sent from my SGH-i777 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
I'm also coming from a gs2, and while the lack of a capacitive home button and search button is a bit weird, if you long press the menu button it pulls up search. I know it isn't exactly what you want, but it's close.
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