• Home
  • Policies
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Comments
    • Disclosure
  • I make videos
  • I record audio
  • favourite apps
    • favourite baby apps
    • favourite toddler apps
    • favourite pre-school apps
  • About & Contact

geekmummy

Tales of geeky parenting

Fun with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2

October 17, 2012 by geekmummy 11 Comments

I despair of the geekdaddy at times, I really do. Over the last couple of months he’s been gradually turning his back on his lovely Apple products and embracing the Android way. It started when he bought a Nexus 7, and his assimilation was completed a week or so ago when he purchased the brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 2. We’ve done a lot of talking about this on our new podcast, Parental Geekery, so I won’t go on about it too much over here as well, but we have had some funny experiences with the Galaxy Note 2 over the last few days that I wanted to share…

First of all there’s the voice dictation. Rather like Siri on the iPhone, the Galaxy Note 2’s voice dictation is very hit and miss. Oh the fun we had the first evening the geekdaddy got this phone, when we pitched it against Siri on my iPhone 5 to see which of us could set a two-minute timer for the kids to clean their teeth with the quickest. Suffice it to say that the two minutes were already up by the time the iPhone deigned to give me a timer, and he was still struggling with his Android thing at that point!

Undeterred he then decided to show off his phones’ voice dictation features whilst I was at work and he was with his Mum and sister. I think the screen capture below of the messages that I received really speaks for itself…

We’ve been noticing a slightly alarming trend with the geekdaddy’s Android devices – they’re definitely helping Google learn more about him. This is something that started on the Nexus 7 and has carried through onto the Note 2. If he searches for directions on his Mac (using Google’s Chrome browser) and then opens Google Now on his phone it will inevitably give him directions to the place he’s just searched for, along with current traffic conditions. Useful, I grant you, but just a little bit creepy too. And even more alarming than that, it’s starting to learn his movements. This means, for example, that every Tuesday when he switches the phone on it shows him directions to his Mum’s house, because it’s learnt that he always visits his Mum on a Tuesday. The good news is that now he can’t hide anything from me – when I was working at home on Monday this week I noticed that his phone was trying to direct him to Frankie and Benny’s – he had to confess that he usually goes there for breakfast on a Monday!

However his most recent experience with Google on the Note 2 has us both amazed at what Google knows about him, and rolling around with laughter. We went to the BlogCamp blogging conference in Manchester on Saturday, and the geekdaddy took several photos with his phone, including a picture of an iPhone accessory that Tom Arber told us about during his photography workshop. When we got home the geekdaddy went into his Google Goggles app to find out more about the accessory, only to discover that Google had been analysing all his photos without him knowing, and already had an idea of what it was in the photo…

 

We were impressed – it was correct. And then we became slightly alarmed that Google was analysing his pictures without him knowing. On balance though we were more impressed than alarmed. However we didn’t remain impressed for long, when we looked at what it had made of the next picture, the room in which BlogCamp was held…

Yes, it’s identified it as a Ford Capri! No, we don’t have any idea how or why. But we thought it was amusing 🙂

I’ve been surprised at how well the geekdaddy is getting on with Android – I still find it a lot less intuitive than iOS, and I’m not giving up my trusty iPhone or iPad in a hurry. But the geekdaddy is definitely proving it is posisble to move from iPhone to Android if you really want to, even if we are having a bit of a giggle along the way.

 

Posts you might also enjoy:

  • There’s a new tab on the blockThere’s a new tab on the block
  • Which tablet should I buy my kids for Christmas?Which tablet should I buy my kids for Christmas?
  • Why I’ve suddenly lost my nook HD+Why I’ve suddenly lost my nook HD+
  • geekmummy.tv – app of the week – Meningitis Signs and Symptomsgeekmummy.tv – app of the week – Meningitis Signs and Symptoms
  • Hands on with the Acer Iconia B1 (review)Hands on with the Acer Iconia B1 (review)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Email
  • Reddit

Filed Under: Android Tagged With: android, blogcamp. tom arber, dictation, galaxy note 2, google goggles, nexus 7, samsung, siri, voice

Comments

  1. Nikki Thomas says

    October 17, 2012 at 7:09 am

    Crikey that is amazing but yes quite weird too! I’m not sure I want a phone that is that clever! I do love my iPhone and the kids love messing around with Siri! Having read this, I won’t be changing brand any time soon!

    Reply
  2. Alex says

    October 17, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    You do know Apple’s data harvesting is at least as intrusive? I have to say, the Nexus 7 suits me much more than an iPad. I think generally iPads tend to stay at home and are used around the house- they’re heavy and very expensive, unlike a 7 inch tablet that’s under half the price.

    And that comes from an (ex) iPhone user with access to an iPad 😀

    Reply
  3. Sharon says

    October 17, 2012 at 8:28 pm

    That is scarey what all these phones know about you now, if you ever get in trouble with the police I’m sure your phone can vouch for you now!

    Reply
  4. Alex says

    October 18, 2012 at 10:25 am

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/17/itrack/ specifically on the ios6 tracking 🙂

    Reply
  5. Lindy says

    October 20, 2012 at 11:32 am

    too big too big too big!

    Reply
  6. snafflesmummmy says

    October 22, 2012 at 2:14 pm

    I am sick to death of my pants android phone. Roll on next July when I can ditch it in favour of an i phone!

    Reply
  7. liveotherwise says

    December 21, 2012 at 9:54 am

    I love this phone. I’m very sad to have to give it back. The Google cards with directions and time to target spooked me out a little, but mine have only drawn from my calendar not analysed my movements.

    Reply
  8. Richard says

    December 30, 2012 at 8:22 am

    I love the Galaxy Note 2 big screen.Excellent for playing videos and games.

    Reply
  9. Paula says

    January 3, 2013 at 6:03 pm

    I got my Note II for Christmas and am really pleased with its performance. You can have issues with dictation if you don’t speak clearly, don’t have the microphone horizontal/parallel to your mouth, and speak faster than the program can process. It’s really like using Dragon Speak, except you don’t need to train it to recognize your voice. I’ve learned how to keep talking at a regular pace so the mic doesn’t shut off automatically. I’m looking for a microphone at the moment that help out with these very minor idiosyncrasies of the phone. Otherwise, I’m able to dictate and upload to drop box so I can organize my writing.

    Reply
  10. Biz Diva says

    January 14, 2013 at 12:50 pm

    My Android light bulb moment came inside a movie theater. When I got inside the theater, I reached for my phone to mute it and found that it was *already* muted because it knew where I was! When I left, it un-muted itself and returned to normal usage state. Amazing and yes…a bit creepy!

    Since this is such new technology, there are no safety nets. I anticipate that there will be a privacy outcry very soon. The issue isn’t so much that it can do these things based upon analysis of our movements and whereabouts. But the bigger question is, what will they do with this data and where will it end up and at what price???

    Reply
    • geekmummy says

      January 14, 2013 at 10:03 pm

      Now that’s cool! And yes, a little creepy, and I agree, I’m sure there will be an outcry about this stuff.

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Nikki Thomas Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Me

Ruth is a tech-loving, geeky mother of two trying to juggle work and life! Read More...

looking for something?

ways to subscribe

  • RSS Feed
  • Subscribe via Email
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Facebook
Follow on Bloglovin

Advertisements

recent & popular posts

  • Latest
  • Popular
  • Comments
  • Timeline – Blogger Board Game Club Review Timeline – Blogger Board Game Club Review
  • Ticket to Ride: First Journey – Blogger Board Game Club Review Ticket to Ride: First Journey – Blogger Board Game Club Review
  • Codenames – Blogger Board Game Club Review Codenames – Blogger Board Game Club Review
  • What I listened to in September #PodcastDay What I listened to in September #PodcastDay
  • On Flexible Working and Working Flexibly On Flexible Working and Working Flexibly
  • Today Week Month All
  • How to add a “Pin It” button to your iPhone or iPad How to add a "Pin It" button to your iPhone or iPad
  • How to set up your emergency contact information (ICE) on your iPhone (iOS8) How to set up your emergency contact information (ICE) on your iPhone (iOS8)
  • 10 tips for making the most of a weekend stay at Center Parcs 10 tips for making the most of a weekend stay at Center Parcs
  • Living with the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Living with the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer
  • 5:2 Diet Update and Meal Planning Monday 20/08/2012 5:2 Diet Update and Meal Planning Monday 20/08/2012
  • Today Week Month All
  • Sorry. No data yet.
Ajax spinner

geekmummy archives

brands i work with

Part of the next blogger network

This blog is hosted on…


(affiliate link) Use voucher code geekmummy on checkout for 10% off your first year's web hosting

You can also find me at

my ranking

TOTS100 - UK Parent Blogs
TOTS100

Copyright © 2019 · geekmummy on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Cookie Policy

Necessary Always Enabled

Non-necessary

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.