Galaxy Note 2 & Android 4 4: What's New, Pt.1

This is Part 1 of a multi-part video series on What's New in Android 4.4 for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

Updated Multi-Window

There is a new cascading function, just like on the Note 3 when you use multi-window.  If you stack apps on top of each other on one side, there is a new function when you select the blue dot.  You will be able to flip through apps that you've opened previously.

Multiple-Instance Support

Another update that applies to the updated multi-window is that it now supports multiple instance for the apps that support it.  One of those apps is Chrome.  You can open chrome for the top and bottom and have them work independently.  When you have multiple instances open, you can select it in the multi-window bar and select or close a specific instance.

No More Dragging to Maximize

An update that you’ll see is that when you try to expand the window fully by dragging all the way up or all the way down is that it won’t maximize the window anymore.  If you drag the blue dot all the way to one side, you’ll see it only goes to about 80%.  Try to drag it all the way again, and it goes a little bit more to 90%.  After that, it won’t go any further.  If you want to maximize it fully, you can only do it by selecting the maximize function on the blue dot.

Save App Pairs

Another big update in my opinion is the ability to save pairing of apps, again, just like the Note 3.  For example if you like catching up on TV shows and surfing the web, well, you can just pair it by having the video app and a web browser open.  Then select the create button.  And next time you want to open those apps side by side, it will open them.

Stock Gallery, S Note, E-Mail, Messages Now Supports Drag & Drop

The official gallery app now supports images being dragged out from it, just like the Note 3.  The e-mail, messaging, and S Note can now have images, and possibly more object dragged into it.  Drag and drop is not limited to stock apps.  The app Evernote and Photo Desk also support drag and drop.  The apps are limited so if you know of others, please let us know in the comments.

An additional tip, although it’s not a new feature, even if the app doesn’t support special drag and drop functionality, most apps that let you select text should let you drag and drop the text to any input field in most apps.

New S Note Animation

Crumple an S Note by pinching the note with with 3 fingers.  The crumpling animation is not new, but an animation of it rolling away is new.  The paper will fall to the direction that your galaxy note 2 is tilted towards.  Maybe Samsung does have a sense of humor after all.

There is More!

This is just part 1 of What's New in Android 4.4 for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.  Please check out part 2 as it becomes available.