premiumsuite
Latest
Refresh Roundup: week of July 29th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Samsung posts Jelly Bean update for Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 in the US
Americans who picked up a Samsung tablet in 2012 may have a surprise this weekend: the company has confirmed that it's rolling out its promised Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update to US, Wi-Fi only versions of the Galaxy Note 10.1 and both Galaxy Tab 2 sizes. As we know by now, Note 10.1 owners squeeze the most out of the software revamp with S Pen features borrowed from the Galaxy Note II, such as Air View's hover-to-peek functionality, Quick Command shortcuts and the ability to clip content. There's also a tablet-specific Cascade View to see more than two apps at once. Galaxy Tab 2 users don't get much as much in the bargain, although we wouldn't knock the promised speed improvements inherent to Google's OS refresh. Either upgrade should be available both through Kies and over the air, with more details at the source link. We haven't yet heard when cellular tablets get a matching upgrade, although those who spring for the Galaxy Note 10.1 on Verizon will already have Jelly Bean from the outset.
Samsung confirms multi-window feature and Jelly Bean update for original Galaxy Note
That previously-spotted Premium Suite upgrade for the Galaxy Note is on its way, with Samsung revealing all the details on its site. With a refreshed UI appears very similar to its successor, the respectable Android slab will also lay claim to Air View, Multi-window apps and the addictive easy clip function that allows you to crop and share images and text with the stylus. Thanks to that Jelly Bean update, owners of Samsung's original phablet can also start dabbling with Google Now, which will continue to pluck information from your search history, location and timezone. There's no word yet on when the refreshed Premium suite will find its way onto devices anywhere, but with Samsung already singing the update's praises, it shouldn't be far away. [Thanks Kenneth]
Samsung Galaxy S III 'Premium Suite' upgrade arrives in the UK today
Pining for the multi-window app skills of the Galaxy S III's bigger brother? Well it looks like the UK iteration is belatedly getting its own premium suite. Already heavily trailed by Samsung itself, you'll get 'best face', low light mode camera feature, stereo sound balancing, alongside a now customizable notification panel, smart rotation and several more software improvements. Better still, Samsung tells us that the upgrade is rolling out across devices in the British Isles now.
Galaxy S III 'Premium Suite' features detailed: Multi-Window, Page Buddy and more (video)
Samsung started pushing a new Jelly Bean update to its Galaxy S III phones yesterday, and it's posted a video breaking down some of the features. Many of the "Premium Suite" upgrades are cribbed from the Galaxy Note II, but we're sure users will still enjoy multi-window, a customizable notification panel, smart rotation and more. The video shows off the new multitasking, NFC and reader features, plus contextual awareness tweaks that adjust the phone around your actions. Some of the other new features are apparently being saved for part two of the video, but if you need something to keep busy until 4.2 eventually arrives you can check it out after the break. Update: Samsung has posted part two, breaking down new camera features, accessibility options and even stereo sound balancing.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 to receive Android 4.1 with Premium Suite (video)
Samsung has already begun delivery of Android 4.1 for the Galaxy Note 10.1 in some parts of the world, but in a move that'll no doubt add to the anticipation, the company has now revealed Premium Suite as an accompaniment to the OS upgrade. Along with Jelly Bean, users can expect greater Multi Window functionality, which brings the ability to open up to 16 apps at a time, each which can be moved, resized and pinned to remain on top. Samsung's Air View is also incorporated within Premium Suite, which allows users to preview appointments, emails, video and the like by hovering the S Pen above the screen. Not to stop there, Samsung is also upping the ante with new additions such as Easy Clip, Quick Command, Photo Note, Paper Artist and an enhanced S Note app. No definitive timeline is known for Samsung's rollout of Premium Suite and Android 4.1, although it's now clear that "soon" can't come quickly enough. In the meantime, be sure to hop the break to preview all the new features that are on deck.
Samsung adds more S-Pen friendly apps for British Galaxy Note 10.1 users
Samsung's gifting British Galaxy Note 10.1 users with some new, free, S-Pen apps for when playing "Eat up Martha" in S-Note stops being fun. Drop the Beat lets you produce your own banging dance tracks, while kiddy-titles Spot the Difference and Where Is It will keep your younglings quiet for five minutes. You'll also get Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, although we're not sure how you'll replicate that Fast and Furious action with a four-point-five-inch plastic pencil. Head on down to the source link to start swelling your collection.
Samsung Galaxy Note for AT&T devours Ice Cream Sandwich and Premium Suite apps
Here it is, just as you'd expected: Android 4.0 and Samsung's Premium Suite of apps is now available for the Galaxy Note on AT&T. While the update won't be made available over-the-air, both PC and Mac users may download and install the latest OS from within Samsung Kies. As for the S Pen-enhanced apps within the Premium Suite, you'll find a new version of S-Note that sports integration with Wolphram Alpha, along with an S-Memo widget that syncs to both Evernote and Google Drive. Finally, the My Story app is available as an add-on download within Samsung Apps, which allows users to write letters, create cards and multimedia albums. For full installation instructions, just hit up the source link below. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note ICS update coming tomorrow, offers Premium Suite
How much better will that Samsung Galaxy Note be when you have Ice Cream Sandwich on it? AT&T users are about to find out, as Samsung confirmed to us that the long-awaited upgrade will be knocking on their doors beginning tomorrow (with a few lucky testers getting it later today). As for the new features, the Galaxy Note's latest refresh won't offer anything we weren't already expecting: in addition to the standard suite of ICS features, it'll also come with the same Premium Suite we saw show up on the international Note a couple months ago. The new Suite offers some huge improvements in S-Memo and S-Note, as the latter is now integrated with Wolphram Alpha. Sadly, the software features we've seen highlighted in the Galaxy S III series (S-Beam, S-Voice, Smart Stay and so on) are nowhere to be found, but at least you'll have plenty of other new items to keep you occupied for a while. Update: Samsung's press release is out, so check it out below!
Samsung Galaxy Note Ice Cream Sandwich update begins rolling out now!
Samsung has begun quietly rolling out the long-desired Android 4.0 update for the Galaxy Note. When it arrives, it'll add the latest edition of Google's OS and the "Premium Suite" full of stylus S-pen friendly apps like S Note, Shape Match and My Story to your 5.3-inch phablet. The company is yet to confirm the launch, but several European users are already on the ICS bandwagon, with others expected to join soon -- but let's be honest, it's gonna feel like decades until that blessed notification pops up. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Galaxy Note ICS upgrade pushed back to Q2, adds exclusive set of stylus-ready apps (video)
Unfortunately, Samsung's Galaxy Note won't join the Galaxy S II with its own upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich in Q1 as originally announced, since the company has now scheduled its arrival for Q2. It will however, arrive worldwide as part of a "Premium Suite" software upgrade packed with exclusive apps meant to highlight its S-Pen stylus. One of them is S Note, which combines notes and sketches with other apps like Shape Match and Formula Match which are also included to assist recognition of geometric shapes and hand drawn formulas. The final app packed in is My Story, designed to create personalized cards. We're not sure how much use you'll get out of those unless you're a math professor, project manager or just love sending e-cards, but there's one more treat in the form of an exclusive Angry Birds Space level and free access to 30 "Danger Zone" levels for a limited time. Press play on the video above for a peek at the apps -- and the Note's TouchWiz-styled flavor of Android 4.0 -- or check out the press release after the break.Update (4/12): Samsung has swapped out the video for a slightly longer one with "more features and detailed information". Your guess is as good as ours as to what's different, or exactly when the upgrade will arrive, but the new vid is now embedded above.
