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Daily Roundup: Galaxy Note 3 review, Kindle Paperwhite review, McAfee's NSA-proofing Decentral device and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review (global edition)
More Info Samsung Galaxy Note 3 preview Samsung Galaxy Gear hands-on Samsung details new S Pen Three is the magic number. Three is lucky. Three's a crowd. Okay, ignore that last one, but the number 3 does also apply to the latest Galaxy Note, and we're curious to know which of those maxims might apply. What are the marquee features this time around? Well, there's the usual bevy of specification improvements (a 5.7-inch display, quad-core Snapdragon 800 and 3GB of RAM), Android 4.3, some new S Pen features and the small matter of the Gear, that optional, polarizing companion watch. Samsung makes a great many products, even if you just consider the mobile ones. However, since it burst into existence in 2011, the Note has been up there with the Galaxy S series on the flagship pedestal. So, it'd be fair to say that we're expecting big things from this big phone, but with a SIM-free price in the UK of £620, it requires even deeper pockets than its predecessor did at launch (that one cost around £530). That said, if you want one, you'll need big pockets anyway. While you check their size, we've scribbled, doodled and gestured the Note 3 with abandon to see if it's worth the bounty. Read on to find out if it is.
Mobile Miscellany: week of September 23rd, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a new LTE phone to Boost Mobile, hints of consolidation between Sprint and T-Mobile, and lastly, hints of what we might see at Nokia's upcoming 'innovation reinvented' event. These stories and more await. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of September 23rd, 2013.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear now on sale in the UK
If you've been looking to get your hands on Samsung's new Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear, boom, they're here. The company has kicked off another of its world tours to announce availability of its 5.7-inch smartphone and new smartwatch in 58 countries. In the UK, an unlocked Galaxy Note 3 will set you back £649 but it's also available on nearly all of the major carriers (we're still waiting to hear from Three) -- starting at around £30 on a traditional contract, or free if you decide to sign up to a new early-upgrader tariff. The Galaxy Gear retails at £299, but Samsung thinks you could use a £100 discount if you bundle it with an unlocked Galaxy Note 3, for a total cost of £848. Customers in the US, Canada and Japan, however, will have to wait 'til October -- though pre-orders are already open.
Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear smartwatch for Sprint: ships October 4th with 'unlimited data for life'
As has become the norm, Sprint's primary differentiator is its "unlimited data for life" policy affixed to new flagships. Granted, the carrier isn't promising that the amount it charges for said data will remain the same for life, but at least you'll have the option to pony up for it. Following the footsteps of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, Sprint has announced that its version of the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear watch will arrive on shelves October 4th. The former will cost $349.99 on a two-year contract (a full $50 more than most of its rivals), while the latter will go for $299.99 outright. Outside of being compatible with Sprint's LTE airwaves and including a bit of carrier-branded bloatware, the handset itself will be the same one that we've previewed extensively.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 goes up for pre-order September 18th on T-Mobile
Get your giant hands ready, T-Mobile subscribers. The Un-Carrier announced this morning that the latest version of Samsung's phamed phablet will be going up for pre-order September 18th. Pick it up through the Simple Choice Plan, and the 5.7-inch handset'll run you $199 down plus $21 a month for 24 months. As noted earlier, the Note 3 will be hitting T-Mob's stores and site on October 2nd, along with the $299 Galaxy Gear Smartwatch.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 reaches the FCC with AT&T- and Sprint-compatible bands (update: other US carriers)
We've seen a few international Galaxy Note 3 models pass through the FCC for approval; now, it's time for two American versions. The first variant, the SM-N900A, has just cleared the US agency with support for AT&T's GSM, HSPA and LTE frequencies -- most likely, it's a peek at what we'll see on October 1st. A second model, the SM-N900R4, appears destined for LTE-capable CDMA carriers such as Sprint, US Cellular and numerous regional US providers. While there are no surprises in the FCC filings, it's evident that Samsung's giant Android smartphone will soon be ubiquitous in the States. Update: Since noticing these filings, we've found a few more approvals for US-ready Note 3 models. The SM-N900T and SM-N900W8 are compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile bands; the SM-N900P appears more specifically tailored to Sprint, while the SM-N900V is Verizon's model.
Samsung's 38 million Galaxy Note sales show that large phones are here to stay
Remember when Samsung's big-screened Galaxy Note line was considered niche? Those days are long gone. JK Shin now says that the company has sold more than 38 million Note smartphones since the original launched in late 2011. That's 28 million more than Samsung reported a year ago; for context, Nokia has sold a total of 27.3 million Lumia smartphones as of its latest earnings report. Not surprisingly, Shin sees a bright future ahead for the Galaxy Note 3. He expects Samsung to sell over 10 million units of the third-generation handset, and history suggests that the tech giant could easily reach that goal despite an abundance of competition.
Telus to bring Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear to Canada on October 4th
Canadians won't have to wait much longer than their American counterparts to get their hands on the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear. Telus sends word that it will carry both Samsung devices on October 4th, just a few days after AT&T gets its turn at the Note 3. The carrier doesn't yet have pricing. As for additional Canadian networks? We've reached out to Bell and Rogers for their launch details, and we'll let you know when they have something to share. If history is any indication, though, other providers will quickly follow in Telus' footsteps.
Leaked Verizon doc prices Galaxy Note 3 at $699 retail, $299 with contract, $599 if you bundle the watch
AT&T and T-Mobile customers already know what they will have to cough up if they want to squeeze Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 into their pockets. Verizon customers, however, are currently in the dark -- despite big red encouraging you commit in advance all the same. A reportedly leaked document received by AndroidSPIN pegs the phone at $699 sans-contract, or $299 if you sign on the dotted line for a two-year fling. Verizon seems keen to bundle in the Galaxy Gear, too, offering a joint package for $599 should you want to go all in. The pricing-curtain officially lifts at 9am ET, but here's a head start if you need to count those beans. Take a squint at the image yourself past the break.
T-Mobile to launch Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Gear on October 2nd
If your carrier preference is tinged magenta, you'll be able to get Samsung's latest hardware combo October 2nd. The Galaxy Note 3 will cost $199 down plus $21 a month for 24 months on T-Mobile's Simple Choice plan, while the Galaxy Gear smartwatch carries its standard price of $299. Pre-orders aren't open yet, but you can sign up for an alert right here -- those who get on the list before the 15th will be registered to win a Note 3 / Galaxy Gear set for free.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 now available for pre-order on AT&T, expected to ship 'around' October 1st for $299.99
Later this morning, Verizon will open its virtual doors to early Samsung Galaxy Note 3 adopters wanting to pre-order the new flagship device announced two days ago. AT&T wants to do one better, however, by flipping the switch right now. Starting at 12:01am ET, the GSM network will give you the opportunity to commit $300 of your hard-earned money and two years of your life -- or $35 per month if you plan to use AT&T Next, which effectively translates into an off-contract cost of $700, by our calculations -- to have the large smartphone shipped to your doorstep "around October 1st." So yes, this means the final date is more of a flexible guideline than a rule at this point, though we're holding out hope that this estimate is conservative and will actually arrive sooner rather than later, in the same manner in which the pizza place quotes you when you call for delivery. The network also confirms that the Galaxy Gear is on its way as well, though it only gets as specific as "the coming weeks."
Mobeam's new app digitizes loyalty cards, exclusive to Note 3 and GS4
Last time we've heard of Mobeam, it formed a partnership with Samsung to bring its barcode-scanning tech to the Galaxy S 4. Now, the company has launched a new app on Google Play called Beep'nGo, which digitizes membership, gift and loyalty cards and allows them to be read by ordinary laser scanners. While potentially useful -- who wouldn't want to leave some of those plastic rectangles at home? -- it only works on phones sporting Mobeam's proprietary technology. For now, that means the Galaxy S 4 and the Note 3 only, although the San Francisco startup is looking to expand to more devices. Samsung faithfuls who see themselves using the Beep'nGo app frequently can head past the jump for the press release and a video of how Mobeam's tech works.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 S View covers hands-on
The S View cover made its debut as a protective-flip-case-with-a-window for the Samsung Galaxy S 4, and the accessory made enough of an impression that the Korean manufacturer decided to give it an even bigger presence on the Galaxy Note 3, as you'll be able to grab one in a rather wide variety of different colors designed by. Just like the GS4 version, this cover integrates a removable back as a clever way of trimming down unnecessary thickness and making the whole combo look much more elegant. So what makes this particular case stand out from the vast ocean of third-party models that will likely start floating around in the not-too-distant future? The "window" on the front takes advantage of a special film capable of recognizing S Pen touches. When the window lights up, you have the option to look at caller ID, time, date and temperature, and the notification bar -- it looks a lot like an evolved quick glance screen from previous Galaxy flagships. It doesn't actually show any of those notifications, but it will allow you to answer phone calls; you can also slide the S Pen to unlock the device (fingers work, though we had a hard time getting the screen to recognize our touch), which then allows you to slide over to an adjacent screen that offers large buttons for camera, music player and action memo access for jotting down notes without opening the cover. There's no word of how much these will be priced, but if the GS4 version is any indication, we'd wager that functionality is apparently worth a few bucks. Have a look at our gallery showing off some of the different cover colors and functions below, as well as a brief video after the break. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub! Alexis Santos contributed to this post.
This is the pink Samsung Galaxy Note 3
We've already given full hands-on treatment to the white and black Samsung Galaxy Note 3, but there's one other color that didn't get its fair share of attention: pink. Thankfully, we had the chance to see this particular hue after Samsung's Unpacked event, and while we didn't feel a need to add thousands of words to simply describe one color, it's worth at least giving a small bit of attention to it for the interested parties out there. Take a quick peek below at our gallery of images and comparison shots. Alexis Santos contributed to this post. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Verizon announces first US pre-order date for Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear: September 6th at 9AM ET
The Big Four (that'd be Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T) have all confirmed that they'll be stocking Samsung's newly-introduced Galaxy Gear and Galaxy Note 3, but none of 'em have been bold enough as to give us two precious details: pricing and availability. We're still waiting for the damage, but VZW has come forward and alerted its customers that pre-orders will open up on September 6th. Given that the Note 3 just sailed through the FCC (and that the Gear is due to land in October), we're guessing that you'll have to wait anywhere from one to eight weeks for shipment. We'll keep you posted if we hear anything more concrete. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Daily Roundup: hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Gear and Galaxy Note 3, the Sony Xperia Z1, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Samsung details new S Pen with Air Command feature for Galaxy Note 3
Samsung's just officially announced the Galaxy Note 3 at its big IFA event, and its not so surprisingly spent a lot of time talking about the phone's brand new S Pen. In addition to bringing with it slightly new design, the pen also enables a number of new features on the phone. The biggest of those is the new Air Command functionality, which is a small pop-up window that's brought up automatically by the S Pen and offers quick access to features like Action Memo (which can link memos to actions), a scrapbook, the S Finder search option, and the updated S Note, which can sync content with your PC and tablet through Evernote. Fans of the Note's flip covers will also be glad to know that they can now also use the S Pen with the cover closed. Check out our full Galaxy Note 3 preview for a closer look at the S Pen's new features and, of course, the phone itself. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Galaxy Note 3's new S View Cover lets you use the S Pen with the cover on
Samsung is launching a new S View Cover to go with its equally new Galaxy Note 3. The protector includes an extra-large window for controlling the smartphone while the cover is closed; you can even use the S Pen in this mode. The accessory will ship in a wide variety of colors, including seasonal collections, metallic hues and special variants designed by Moschino and Nicholas Kirkwood. Samsung hasn't provided launch details for the covers, although we'd expect them to ship at the same time as the Note 3 itself. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 preview
Two years ago, at a consumer electronics show in Berlin, Samsung took to the stage and unveiled the introduction to what is now a booming smartphone genre. The 5.3-inch monstrosity, called the Galaxy Note, has blossomed into one of the Korean manufacturer's biggest brands. Today the same company is unveiling the Galaxy Note 3, the second sequel in a series of supersized stylus-smitten smartphones, which is even taller, narrower and thinner than the first two of its kind. As expected, the new 5.7-inch Note not only utilizes a S-Pen but enhances its functionality and adds better hardware and components to ensure it's able to handle anything you can throw at it. We had an opportunity to play with the black and white versions of the Note 3 here at IFA 2013 and while it was largely the same user experience we've grown accustomed to with previous Notes, Samsung still found a few clever ways to tweak both hardware and software to make it more appealing to consumers. Let's take a much closer look at the whole package after the break, but first enjoy a full gallery of images and a lengthy preview video that shows off many of the device's new offerings. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
