Note 3 Touchwiz general discussion - Galaxy Note 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

A thread to chat about TW (Launcher, Nature UX, Premium Suite etc)
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What do you expect to see bundled in the TW 4.4.x update?
Since with 4.0 ICS they updated TW to the N-UX, with 4.1 JB they updated to the premium suite [and a nice incremental but useful update for the N3), it makes sense that they will overhaul/make a nice update for 4.4...
I'm not so worried about new features (I actually want more devs to update apps to work in multiwindow and pen window) as optimising TW - It was built for 2.x builds and still retains a lot of old redundant code necessary to keep it running, because everything is built up on top of it, so I hope they find a way to rebuild the core of the skin or rebundle all the features into a rewritten skin, I mean, i would assume that they have been working on addressing this, but as we don't have any official word we have to just wait... I mean, we are fortunate that this is the first/only phone to be able to run current TW without a hitch, and with pure KK being reduced in RAM footprint anyways, it should feel lighter and snappier (and with ART, zoom!) but if they could make the entire skin nice and fast, even on slower devices, and use less memory on the internal storage, it would be great.
Is the version we have now even called Nature UX still or was that only the 4.0 version for Note 2 / S3?

Related

S2 Ics - Tw Discussion

I've read on other topics people talking about ics on our gs2, so i decided to create a thread to express opinions
instead of spamming other topics hehehe
So if you want to say twiz is fugly or i like it, this is the wright place for you hehehe
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1396647
For the ones that seek aosp feeling in sgs2 folow the link and post there hehehe
If you ask me the ics in the s2 looks like a car wreck hehehe its the ugliest thing i've ever seen XD
(bla bla if you hate so much why did u bought a s2? Because it was the best smartphone on the market, and still is one of the best)
Personally I like touchwiz way more than the LG, Motorolla, and HTC overlays. The launcher is the only thing I don't like about it, and that's easily fixed with launcher pro. I personally think the TW stuff adds some nice functionality without causing speed problems. The only thing I wish touchwiz had is the inline spelling correction... other than that it's fine for me.
Thats true, tw introduced a lot of things that were missing on gb, but for the best sammy phone it would be expected something better in aspect, not a expensive android copy of bada os
Business and Marketin Wise:
You can't sell a phone and later with an update, force people to change their entire experience with their phone.
So yes, ICS will have TW similiar to Gingerbread TW, there is no escape from that.
Luckily, unlike Apple users, we have options to "choose" from any launcher, even allowed to install different types of Android distros...
However, what I would like is similiar experience to AOSP launcher especially in App Drawer like Widgets, slides etc.
Touchwiz is by far the smoothest launcher for the s2.. The modified 4.5 version is even better..
So ill stick to tw.. Other launchers tends to be battery hungry..
Sent from my GT-9100 using SMS
Better if samsung provides an option in settings to switch between touchwiz and ics launchers. Default being tw will not change the end user experience drastically.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Unfortunately thats not gonna happen, but we have the option to install a custom ics launcher like nova launcher or trebuchet, and enjoy ics but the framework of samsung will be there =(
Gorjess said:
Touchwiz is by far the smoothest launcher for the s2.. The modified 4.5 version is even better..
So ill stick to tw.. Other launchers tends to be battery hungry..
Sent from my GT-9100 using SMS
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+1 10chars
You see the problem is that any other UI on top of vanilla android is just a wrapper. At an expense. Sense, Motoblur, Tw all consume extra resources. I hear you say, "but our phones have monster resources". True, although unless the interface is offering extra functionality compared to stock, why use a wrapper?
After all the current iteration of android; ICS has proven that as an OS, android has matured in functionality, UX and eye candy. The only reason I use Tw on my phone is cause it enables video calling via the phone, which I hardly every use. Why should I be strongly coupled to Tw just cause I can not get that functionality form stock? I don't know. Here's hoping video calling get implemented in the stock Phone.apk soon...
A lot of people say Launcher pro and other 3rd part launchers are a smooth as TW but its a false smooth. In order to be smooth they must use a high CPU clock speed which chews up the battery. TW uses the GPU to make it fast and smooth. Underclock your CPU to 500mHz and try LP etc. and compare them to TW. TW will still run smooth but 3rd party launchers will stutter.
Initially I didn't like TouchWiz because of its rather iPhone-ish icons which in my opinion looked pretty bad on the original SGS which had an older version of TouchWiz.
After trying it out myself, though, I've gotten used to it and am starting to like it more than LP because of the ability to resize widgets and so on.
Its inevitable that Sammy would include TW into the update of one of their flagship devices. While I do like the original interface of stock ICS I wouldn't mind having TouchWiz in ICS since it was rather pleasant to use in Gingerbread.
If anyone really hates TouchWiz that badly, an AOSP version would be released by CyanogenMod anyways.
I love touch wiz its so cool ..!!
BUt when it comes to ICS
robt772000 said:
A lot of people say Launcher pro and other 3rd part launchers are a smooth as TW but its a false smooth. In order to be smooth they must use a high CPU clock speed which chews up the battery. TW uses the GPU to make it fast and smooth. Underclock your CPU to 500mHz and try LP etc. and compare them to TW. TW will still run smooth but 3rd party launchers will stutter.
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Indeed, but with ics the ui is hardware accelerated so the advantage of tw is lost
unless they make a real improvement from the leaked alpha to final, its almost certain that ill stick with cm9 when the time comes....
crobat said:
Initially I didn't like TouchWiz because of its rather iPhone-ish icons which in my opinion looked pretty bad on the original SGS which had an older version of TouchWiz.
After trying it out myself, though, I've gotten used to it and am starting to like it more than LP because of the ability to resize widgets and so on.
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Click to collapse
i personally use adw ex and its pretty good no lags, lacks some tw options but have plenty of room for customization, and goes great with ics 1.6 theme by the great vert XD
i like TouchWiz when its gingerbread........
but i like ics framework and launcher than TW4.....
so i want to install ics launcher and frameworks very badly.......
Tyrany said:
Unfortunately thats not gonna happen, but we have the option to install a custom ics launcher like nova launcher or trebuchet, and enjoy ics but the framework of samsung will be there =(
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Click to collapse
CM9 anyone?
Sent from my E10i using XDA App
AOSP all the way for me. I'm looking forward to the necessary code being ripped from the Samsung "release" and being applied to the Nexus build. I've always much preferred to start with the basic AOSP experience and then build from there up.
As for the comments about GPU acceleration, this is not something new that is being brought about by ICS. GPU acceleration is an option that developers can enable in their apps when they build them. It needs nothing more than a value being set to true in a manifest file. The only difference between GB and ICS is that it is on by default in ICS.
You can't say that existing launchers don't use GPU unless you've decompiled the apk and checked. My guess is that any developer worth their salt would know this, and would be using GPU acceleration already.
Trebuchet launcher:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4s2EVdvKeY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1396647
For the AOSP lovers like me hehehe folow the link and lets help supercurio lets make the diference xD
Sent from my GT-I9100 using the force
TW is the only launcher i've tried so far that maintains iOS-like smoothness on full widget/shortcut load over 5 pages. Everything else either skip frames or just plain stutters in this task.
and dont even get me started on the yet unmatched spectrum of hardware video codec support that the TW framework provides.

[Idea] When will I use a Samsung Based ROM ? Well...

I currently use AOKP, before was on CM9. I really dislike Samsung's ROMS. I even took it away 1 hour apart from my purchase to the note.
Then thinking? When would I ever use Samsungs? Well only if a Dev was able to port the :
1) Stock AOSP ICS Phone, Messaging & Contacts app Maybe Camera App too. Include all ICS Gapps and remove Samsung's old ****.
2) Total and clear theming for Samsung's TW look, turn it perfectly to an ICS look ( Pretty possible by theming ) ( AOSP ICS Lockscreen ) ( Editable Power Widgets, ICS look )
3) On top of all, optimize the TW Rom as most devs in the Development thread do for Samsung's Roms, of course.
By then we won't lose the functionality of the S-Pen or the S-Apps, get the Stock AOSP look with its Apps. Would pretty much feel like you're on a mock-up CM9 or so heh ! Just an idea
Any Dev willing to work on a such project?

[Q] [q] cm10.1 galaxy s4 i9500?

Does anybody know if CM10.1 is coming to the GS4 i9500 (the octa core version)?
So far no one wants to deal with the Exynos 5 version isn't been lacking resources for ages now and samsung drove them off by keeping documents in private.
lets see perhaps another developer gets an intrest in the I9500 model and tries building a CM rom based on it....
some devs are doing great stuff with the stock ROM and they keep the device alive, so we will keep being petiance.
REVERSiN said:
So far no one wants to deal with the Exynos 5 version isn't been lacking resources for ages now and samsung drove them off by keeping documents in private.
lets see perhaps another developer gets an intrest in the I9500 model and tries building a CM rom based on it....
some devs are doing great stuff with the stock ROM and they keep the device alive, so we will keep being petiance.
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Click to collapse
CM will be pretty useless on the S4 though. Even If it were made available, the drivers for the S4#s sensors are closed-source, so you would be cutting functionality by 40%. No IR blaster is a no go. Also, CM interface is outdated. Im all honesty TouchWizz has caught up with CM (Notification bar toggles, quickly scalable auto-brightness), so a slim TouchWizz will just be more functional. Just change the launcher and theme and you have a CM experience.
CM nostalgia is fine but not at the expense of functionality (at least for me).
puremind said:
CM will be pretty useless on the S4 though. Even If it were made available, the drivers for the S4#s sensors are closed-source, so you would be cutting functionality by 40%. No IR blaster is a no go. Also, CM interface is outdated. Im all honesty TouchWizz has caught up with CM (Notification bar toggles, quickly scalable auto-brightness), so a slim TouchWizz will just be more functional. Just change the launcher and theme and you have a CM experience.
CM nostalgia is fine but not at the expense of functionality (at least for me).
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Click to collapse
I totally agree with you, for all i know we all bought this device not for its 8 core proccessor, but its fantastic features such as: MultiWindow, IR Blaster, Air Gestures, Unique sensors... and a pretty good CAM. if someone wanted this just to install CM will bad news he should have got a nexus.
who cares TW is fantastic some guys are *****ing about it will we have the gret Themers around they did some nice things lately though i think stock look is awesome lovely colors and eye relaxing its the reason they choose them and even if the brightness is a little down you are still able to see the button... after all GS4 had a great awaitting some were disappointed cause they wished and expected too much and others are flying around with it and loving each moment. iam on the second group after comming for the Note 1 i can say its the perfect replacment for me, good battery, a real great screen (not only HD but the size is like the best you can wish for a device this size), and features will you name it anything that samsung had in the past or thought for the future is installed a handy device and i believe lacks nothing we used to say Samsung releases devices with outdated Android version will 4.2.2 is the latest and smooooooth i can say for sure
REVERSiN said:
I totally agree with you, for all i know we all bought this device not for its 8 core proccessor, but its fantastic features such as: MultiWindow, IR Blaster, Air Gestures, Unique sensors... and a pretty good CAM. if someone wanted this just to install CM will bad news he should have got a nexus.
who cares TW is fantastic some guys are *****ing about it will we have the gret Themers around they did some nice things lately though i think stock look is awesome lovely colors and eye relaxing its the reason they choose them and even if the brightness is a little down you are still able to see the button... after all GS4 had a great awaitting some were disappointed cause they wished and expected too much and others are flying around with it and loving each moment. iam on the second group after comming for the Note 1 i can say its the perfect replacment for me, good battery, a real great screen (not only HD but the size is like the best you can wish for a device this size), and features will you name it anything that samsung had in the past or thought for the future is installed a handy device and i believe lacks nothing we used to say Samsung releases devices with outdated Android version will 4.2.2 is the latest and smooooooth i can say for sure
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Click to collapse
I just changed to Trebuchet Launcher (because I love the zoom transition and it has more space for apps) and Chronus Clock (as a replacement for TW weather+clock) and I am really happy about it now.
I even put the AOSP browser, which is a bit faster (and brighter) than the Stock Browser (AOSP Browser installer from Google Play).
I also put EX Dialer for Phone and Contacts. And that's the best experience currently available.
The main case for CM10.1 is to have a pure Android experience that is "compatible", but in all honesty, I have no compatibility issues with TW. I use the slim version of it, so it is not bloated anymore. The only compelling reason would be extreme performance boost and fluidity, but I won't sacrifice the remote control and other functionality for it!
If Samsung does not release open source drivers with the Google edition, then we won't see CM10.1 evolve toward decent functionality I am afraid.
galaxy s4 I9500
When the future android kitkat
pcmy said:
When the future android kitkat
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Click to collapse
According to known sources...it'll come with the s5...at march...

Discussion: TouchWiz 4.1.2 vs. Android 4.3

Hello.
I'm in the mood for some discussion. Currently waging which rom to install on my note 2, TouchWiz or latest android (4.3). How would you people rate a 4.1.2 rom built on correct sources against the latest version of Android? Performance, battery and user friendly wise.
Bring it on!
/pemell
I think I know where your going with this but it might turn into something bad. Like comparing roms I think is against the rules.
Comparing Touchwhiz to AOSP usually depends on the needs of user.
I prefer TW than AOSP for the note because if the note 2 pen and camera but hey to each their own!
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
Which ROM even has 4.3 on the Note 2? CM? I've looked around a little bit but haven't really seen much information in regards to that.
edit: Got my own question answered, disregard this post, I suck at searching.
@jetbruceli it's not about comparison of roms, I would like to discuss platforms in regards of performance, battery and user friendly factors.
@Clyzm there is some, for exempel the unofficial builds of cm 10.2 and paranoid android.
I'm thinking that TouchWiz will serve me good battery wise. For you who currently runs this what is your battery % drain per hour?
pemell said:
@jetbruceli it's not about comparison of roms, I would like to discuss platforms in regards of performance, battery and user friendly factors.
@Clyzm there is some, for exempel the unofficial builds of cm 10.2 and paranoid android.
I'm thinking that TouchWiz will serve me good battery wise. For you who currently runs this what is your battery % drain per hour?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's comparing ROms.
stock vs aosp. Then you will ask which one.
It's better to try on your own.
For Me stock odexed rooted with a lot of bloatware removed works the best
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
pemell said:
It's not about comparison of roms, I would like to discuss platforms in regards of performance, battery and user friendly factors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's not really a lot to discuss because the differences from 4.1>4.2>4.3 really aren't that earth shattering. Especially when you factor in Samsung's s/w modifications. Of the three, 4.1 is considered the most stable with 4.2 having a bunch of issues; some being corrected with 4.2.2 and others not (BT). 4.3 corrects the BT issue which Samsung had already fixed by using their own BT s/w in their 4.2.X ROMs.
Here's a summary of a great 4.1<>4.2 comparison done by Android Authority. A lot of what they are describing doesn't really affect TW-based devices and is more aimed at Nexi users.
So many of the goodies that you love from Android 4.1 Jelly Bean have been carried over to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Most of the stock apps and widgets are similar in both Android versions. To the eyes, there’s no big change in Android 4.2 at all. But, some new significant features and some minor alterations make Android 4.2 sweeter and fun. Here is a brief list of new features from Android 4.2 Jelly Bean:
Support for multiple users (for Android tablets)
Multiple lockscreen pages with widgets Wireless display
Revamped Camera app Photo Sphere HDR Mode (for supported devices)
New Clock app Quick Settings pull-down menu Daydream Gesture typing
Additional options in Developer Options
Magnification Gestures and Explore by Touch accessibility features
Security enhancements
UI design changes
Placed side by side, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean shows a slightly modified and slightly upgraded version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
http://www.androidauthority.com/android-4-1-vs-android-4-2-jelly-bean-149740/​
As for 4.2>4.3 the changes are even fewer.
http://www.android.com/about/jelly-bean/
4.1 is as solid as a rock on the N2 and the new features in 4.2/4.3 are either not that significant or wouldn't apply to a TW-enabled device. I'm looking forward to 4.2/4.3 (supposedly Samsung's skipping 4.2) coming to the N2 primarily to get some of Samsung's "S" additions that were introduced on the SGS4. But I’ll probably get a N3 which will most likely be on 4.3 before the N2 gets upgraded. Of the native Google features the one I'm most interested in is the more flexible lock screen with widget capabilities. Now that Android is mature the days of radically new versions coming out multiple times a year are pretty much over. 4.1 was introduced in June 2012 and here it is August 2013 and the evolution across 4.1/4.2/4.3 is pretty minor.
Some like the Touchwiz functionalities and it supports multi window and s- features. AOSP has other stuffs. basically depends on what u want and what you like
coolkratos said:
Some like the Touchwiz functionalities and it supports multi window and s- features. AOSP has other stuffs. basically depends on what u want and what you like
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I just flashed cm10.1 nightlies and found it super smooth and very well bare for the most part.
Like it felt stripped to the core but super fast and there was no real complaint on my part. You end up with more memory to use and of course it's almost pure stock android with some tweaks. I especially like the blue halo theme!
Now back to Touchwhiz I found myself loving it more than AOSP mainly for this device.
Having s pen related apps and gestures makes it an easy choice. We have pop note and other goodies from the pen.
Air gesture and even without the pen we have built in features like multiwindow and a much better camera experience.
Over all I think when we get 4.3 Touchwhiz, most of the other than users of aosp will switch!
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
I like the ProBam ROM, the s-pen features work and it has lots of free RAM. with all apps running the ram usage is around 1.2gb used
jetbruceli said:
Well I just flashed cm10.1 nightlies and found it super smooth and very well bare for the most part.
Like it felt stripped to the core but super fast and there was no real complaint on my part. You end up with more memory to use and of course it's almost pure stock android with some tweaks. I especially like the blue halo theme!
Now back to Touchwhiz I found myself loving it more than AOSP mainly for this device.
Having s pen related apps and gestures makes it an easy choice. We have pop note and other goodies from the pen.
Air gesture and even without the pen we have built in features like multiwindow and a much better camera experience.
Over all I think when we get 4.3 Touchwhiz, most of the other than users of aosp will switch!
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
coolkratos said:
I like the ProBam ROM, the s-pen features work and it has lots of free RAM. with all apps running the ram usage is around 1.2gb used
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Click to collapse
Plus with Odexed TW, I believe in my OPINION, that's its the smoothest experience!
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
jetbruceli said:
Plus with Odexed TW, I believe in my OPINION, that's its the smoothest experience!
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Can't say I tried ROMs for Samsung, but while I had HTC I did flash a lot - since DHD wasn't getting JB and I experimented a lot with JB ROMS. IMHO, all the "smoothest experience" stuff and how this ROM is better than the other is ONLY due to the fact that when you flash it - your phone is EMPTY. This is also the fact when we buy our phones and we go ooooohh and aaaahhh, how smooth it is. Then, after few months, we fill 'em up with al sorts of widgets and background running processes and they're not so smooth anymore. IMHO, no matter what ROM you use, the performance will always be the same, no matter what. OK, it might be slightly better or worse, but so little that you won't be able to tell. That's why I use stock ROM, since it has most functionality. I just know ANY ROM will be slow after x months of use....
dalanik said:
Can't say I tried ROMs for Samsung, but while I had HTC I did flash a lot - since DHD wasn't getting JB and I experimented a lot with JB ROMS. IMHO, all the "smoothest experience" stuff and how this ROM is better than the other is ONLY due to the fact that when you flash it - your phone is EMPTY. This is also the fact when we buy our phones and we go ooooohh and aaaahhh, how smooth it is. Then, after few months, we fill 'em up with al sorts of widgets and background running processes and they're not so smooth anymore. IMHO, no matter what ROM you use, the performance will always be the same, no matter what. OK, it might be slightly better or worse, but so little that you won't be able to tell. That's why I use stock ROM, since it has most functionality. I just know ANY ROM will be slow after x months of use....
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Click to collapse
Well that's why when I flash a new ROM. I wait a day after to determine the speed and stability.
Anyone can say this or that about a ROM or system but in the end its about the user. And I use my device like no other. So performance and stability are the main factors for me!!
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
I'm also a big fan of stock, rooted. Custom roms are fun and all yet there are times where you will hit issues because the Dev made a mistake or a change inadvertently affected something else. In my experience the improvements in battery life are negligible at best and at the end of the day I need my phone to be reliable. My latest experience with a custom rom has me with a phone which won't wake from deep sleep if I put it in airplane mode. I'm just waiting to get back home from a business trip and then the first thing I'll be doing is reverting my phone to stock. The last thing I need is a phone which randomly dies in my when I'm away from my laptop and regular access to a high speed Internet connection. These days I'm able to travel light. Besides clothes a note 2 and a note 8 are all I need to get things done but they must be reliable above all else.
Sent from my GT-N7100
If you have been on 4.2.2 on an S4 u would not expect to see much other differences on the android front except added security. Whatever goodies samsung adds to the note 3 I would expect to see on the note two update. Therefore we will know nothing until September October.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium
I'm running unofficial Cyanogenmod 4.3 on my N7105 and must say it's suprisingly stable. Of course there is a long way to go before it can serve as a daily driver, but it's amazing these guys can do so much in such a short time.
Apart some issues with camera , the cm 10.2 is really smooth and battery life is very ok for me.

What people like about cyanogenmod?

hello,
i am just a system administrator at the xUSSR and have experience with building linux/*nix machines/environments/fixing software/sources/debugging it and etc.
i'v got my exynos note3 last weekend and was thinking about custom firmware. there is no real alternative for users except modification of samsung firmwares right now. easy alternative.
we actually can get (partially port/adapt) everything we want from cyanogenmod and make it feel like real cyanogenmod while sitting on firmware that based on samsung one. why noone done/tryed to do that before?
what exactly you want from cyanogenmod on note3?
i liked cyanogenmod for keeping it clean and giving user vanilla experience, ota updates and keeping awesome features that android drop like app permission manager that was dropped in 4.4 in favor of google-play policy.
Only reason i'm not using cm is becouse of no TW camera :/
Everything else is better on cm: simple, stock apps, themes, no bloat, etc..
Everyone want cm but nobody doing a port for n900
Sent from my SM-N900 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Everyone is waiting for vanilla version or CM 11 for exynos device. nobody has succeeded yet. But something is happening now. We like all the features in CM. So we are waiting for one.
Sent from my SM-N900 using XDA Free mobile app
CM can never be alternative of stock galaxy note 3 rom. I need pen function to work with but CM does not support. Also camera application of cm is not user friendly,
I love Cyanogenmod, have used it for 2 years on my previous phone.
But like @dhruva7 said. I want a perfectly working camare and pen thingy.
Everything just has to work. I don't think anyone bought this phone just for it's browser.
So if theres S-pen functionality and a descent camera application that does 13mp photo's and still can film in 4k and slomo, I'm in! :victory:
from the OP: "i liked cyanogenmod for keeping it clean and giving user vanilla experience, ota updates and keeping awesome features that android drop"
Also: fast as hell, less memory clutter, the phone is snappier, everything feels better plus you get all the Google uniform interface design instead of T/W's crap where every program looks like it was designed from a different class of kindergarden children.
Cyanogenmod is an amazing rom, full of features, clean & fast, and with the constant updates it gets better and better
The folks above said it all.
Pros of CM:
- with the monster of a processor with 4 cores running @ 2.3 gHz (in your Exynos case, 4 @ 1,9 gHz and 4 @ 1,3 gHz), s**tload of RAM and so on, the CM is "fast as hell", which is an understatement. On any TouchWiz based ROM the usable limit is 2740 MB, and on boot around 1-1,2 GB are already busy with Samsung's bloat. On CM the max is 2840, and on boot the already busy memory is not a lot, I've managed to cut it down to around 600 MB, which leaves... 2.2 GB free.
- with CM, you're always with the latest possible base of Android.
- with CM, you get circa 26 GB of free storage, TW ROMs give you 22 max.
Long story short, if you intend to use the Note for some awfully heavy duty processing and you want to eke out every shred of resources it has, CM (or for that matter, any AOSP based ROM) is the way to go.
Cons of CM:
- it takes many nightly updates before you get a good really stable version, you have no idea what bugs might be within a nightly.
- the Note is named that way for a reason. xD That thing has a Wacom digitizer which allows the use of that nifty S-Pen and it's abilities, also, I shamefully must admit, it's fun as hell to use. However, Samsung are being businessmen in this regard, some might go as far as calling them d**ks, because the SDK for that pen is not open source, therefore, devs are not able to put software for it into any AOSP ROM.
- yes, the Camera. Samsung's camera app also is not open source, and you take noticeably better photos with it than with the AOSP camera.
Summary: being a sysadmin, you're able to control your server with an Android device, I'm not sure if that is loading the phone a lot or not, but if it does, and you use that Note for processing more than casual use (photos, doodling and drawing, etc.), CM is what you probably need.
Otherwise, TW based ROM would be better.
P.S. The best phone for heavy duty processing right now would be the OnePlus One, it has the Note's 3 gigs of ram, 4 cores running at 2,5 gHz, and CM is it's STOCK firmware.

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