Swapping the internal and external SD cards has always been a popular option. This type of modification is usually on older devices with limited internal storage, but some newer devices have received similar mods as well. With games getting as large as they are, some users can still use those larger storage devices to capacity just as quickly.

There is now an internal to external SD swap method for the international Samsung Galaxy Note II and the US variants as well. XDA Senior Member mattiadj released the mod for the Galaxy Note II. It is the same mod for all the variants, but you can find threads in the forums confirming that it works for the US variants.

It’s a fairly easy install method. Users have to reformat the target SD card into exFat or Fat32. Once that’s done, users download the required zip, based on how they formatted the SD card. Then it’s a simple flash in recovery and reboot, yielding swapped mounts. Many users are reporting that the mod works, but some are having issues. The problems seen are generally nothing serious, but it has been reported that music, video, and picture files show up twice in various applications. They aren’t actually there twice, though.

For more information, check out the original thread.

The most defining characteristic of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is its expansive screen. More space means you should be able to do or access more things. However, it sports the same four by four launcher as smaller devices, and many find the fonts too large overall. With the default DPI setting, the amount of information displayed on the larger screen isn’t what everyone would want. Furthermore, what works in one app isn’t always ideal in another. There is now an application that allows users to change that on a per-app basis.

XDA Forum Member Nop Ph473 posted an application that allows for on-the-fly DPI switching on a per-app basis. This is useful for users who want more information displayed in the same amount of space. Since the popular ParanoidAndroid ROM, which allows per-app DPI (as well as layout) adjustment isn’t available for everyone yet, this is the next best thing.

The application itself can be a little tricky to use. A few people have had problems getting it to work, but most haven’t had too many problems with it. Of course, you’ll need root and BusyBox at least before you get started. It requires the use of Xposed Framework by XDA Recognized Developer rovo89. It should be noted that DPI changes don’t work well for every app. In some cases, users might get off-center UIs or apps that force close after modifying the DPI. If that should occur, restoring the standard DPI should alleviate the issues.

For more info, check out the original thread.

A while back, we brought you news that users and developers were taking a more serious look at the CSC file on the Galaxy Note 2. In case you’ve forgotten, the CSC file is a lot like a build.prop. It contains a number of values and lines that can be altered with varying results. Before, it was experimenting to see what could be done with it. Now, some practical tweaks have been found.

XDA Senior Member kkoolpatz released a list of settings you can change in the CSC file to uncover hidden features for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. This is meant for the International version, but many of these could work on the US variants as well, given the nearly identical hardware. Here is a brief list of some features that have been uncovered:

Enter Key = New Line in stock sms // Only if not supported already
Enable sub Symbols on Stock Samsung keyboard
Dialer search matches numbers in contacts and call logs along with contacts
No Limits on joining contacts together.
Add exit menu to stock web browser
Add shutter sound on/off menu to stock camera app
Stock browser requests Desktop site by default

None of these are game changers, but a few of them could be pretty useful. The desktop site always requested is especially nice for the Galaxy Note 2, as the screen is big enough to surf most full sites comfortably. There is still a lot of work going on with the CSC file, and kkoolpatz has invited anyone to contribute what they find as well.

For all the details, check out the original thread.

Some time ago, XDA members put in the effort and figured out the applications that are compatible with the new multi-window feature found on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. It turns out that list may not be necessary anymore, as a mod was recently released that makes any app compatible.

XDA Senior Member goddamnit has released a mod that allows users to add any application to the multi user interface. It also allows users to add as many apps as they want. This is one of those mods that everyone knew was coming, but that doesn’t make it any less awesome than it’s actually here.

Using it is pretty simple. You flash the mod in recovery and then you should be able to add whatever apps you want to the multi window. Of course, this is an early release, so there are some bugs. First and foremost, you’ll have to flash the mod made specifically for your ROM’s version. Currently, LJ1, LJ3, and LJ7 are supported. There could also be some problems depending on whether your ROM is odexed or deodexed. As per the norm, your mileage may vary.

To check out the mod, go to the original thread.

If you haven’t heard, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has a pretty nifty feature that only recently started to get press. It is called multi-window, and it allows users to use two Android applications at once. How it works is you open up a compatible application and use your recent apps to select another compatible app. Click and drag the icon into the upper or lower slot and you’ll have two apps open simultaneously. Of course, the problem is knowing which apps actually allow for this.

This is a problem that XDA Recognized Developer Lennyuk is looking to answer. Lennyuk has started a thread where users an report which applications work and which do not with this new feature. In the beginning it was only Samsung apps that could use multi window. Now, however, this list is a little bit longer. So far, the tested apps that can use the feature include:

Samsung Apps
- ChatON
- Email
- Gallery
- Internet
- Messaging
- S-Note
- Video Player

Google Apps
- Chrome
- Gmail
- Maps
- Talk
- Youtube

Third Party Apps
- Facebook
- Official Twitter app
- Polaris (Viewer)

Yes, it is a short list. It is expected to grow, however, as app developers update their apps to work with the feature. There may also be more applications, and that’s what Lennyuk is trying to find out with everyone’s help. Something interesting to note (see what we did there), you have to use the Samsung keyboard in multi-window mode. Using any other keyboard will block the entire bottom app.

If you see an app not on the list that’s compatible, or you just want to know more, go to the original thread.

If you’ve been a Samsung phone user over the last year or so, you’ve likely heard of XDA Senior Moderator and Recognized Developer mskip and his tool kits. We’ve brought you news of his tool kits, as they’re available for all variants of the Samsung Galaxy S III and all variants of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, among others. Now, mskip is at it again with a release for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

As per the norm, there is quite a large features list that includes:

Install drivers automatically
Backup/Restore a single package or all apps, user data and Internal Storage
Backup your /data/media (virtual SD Card) to your PC for a Full Safe backup of data
Perform a FULL NANDROID Backup of your system via adb and save in Custom Recovery format on your PC
Pull /data and /system folders, compress to a .tar file and save to your PC
Auto Update ToolKit to latest push version on startup (donator feature)
Backup/Restore your /efs partition
Dump selected Phone Partitions, compress to a .zip file with md5 and save to your PC
Install BusyBox binary on phone
Root any public build (different options available)
[B]Root with Superuser (ChainsDD) or SuperSU (Chainfire) via CWM (works on ANY build)
Flash Stock Recovery
Flash CWM Recovery (thanks to Chenglu)
Rename Recovery Restore files if present
Flash Insecure Boot Image for adb mode
Flash Stock Boot Image back to your phone
Create tar file to flash via Odin (from upto 10 image files) with 1-click process
Download, Extract and Flash Stock Rom (full DETAILED steps) ESSENTIAL FOR WARRANTY RETURNS
Rip cache.img to zip file in CWM format for editing and flashing (thanks to Adam Lange)
Install a single apk or multiple apk’s to your phone (being worked on)
Push Files from your PC to your phone
Pull Files from your phone to your PC
Set Files Permissions on your phone
Dump selected LogCat buffers to your PC
Dump BugReport to your PC (if installed)
Help, Information Screen for various tasks
Mods Section to Modify your phone (being worked on)
Reboot Phone options in adb mode
Change background, text colour in ToolKit
Activate Donator features from within the ToolKit

The only thing this toolkit doesn’t do is prepare your breakfast and do your job. You can use it to add root, recovery, and busybox to any public build, as well as create backups, flash various things, pull logcats, and pretty much anything else you could ever possibly need in a toolkit. For download links and details, check out the original thread.

With the release of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 looming closer and closer, it’s really hard not to get excited. It’s gigantic, it’s powerful, and it’s beautiful. And as with the Galaxy S III, Samsung is bringing the device to all of the US carriers. So Sprint and Verizon customers won’t have to look at AT&T and T-Mobile customers with envy this time around. Recently, we brought you news of the AT&T Note 2 system dump being leaked. Now, the Sprint version has a leak as well.

Posted to our forums by XDA Recognized Contributor sextape, the leak not only allows developers to get started early with the development, but also some specs on the device in case you have problems finding them elsewhere. An RDF found at the Sprint site suggests that the Sprint version will carry the quad-core Exynos4412 that powers the international version.

Additionally, sextape has shared links for a CWM recovery along with the stock recovery. This should help jump start development on the Note 2. It could also lead to more Note 2 applications being ported to other devices. For more details, check out the original thread.