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Samsung hints that its next Galaxy Note phone will have a quad HD display
It's no surprise that Samsung would make a new Galaxy Note smartphone given the series' very healthy sales, but just how is the company going to improve on the design of the Note 3? By giving it a quad HD screen, apparently. The company has posted a web profile for an unannounced SM-N910A (the Note 3 for AT&T is the SM-N900A) that includes a 2,560 x 1,440 display, hinting that the future Galaxy Note will pack visuals roughly as sharp as LG's G3. It also backs what we've heard about Oculus VR getting greater-than-1080p OLED screens from the Korean tech firm. There aren't any other big clues in the profile, but they come on the heels of import data that suggests the next Note will maintain the same 5.7-inch screen size as its predecessor -- Samsung may be resisting the urge to produce a truly gigantic phone like the G Pro 2 or Lumia 1520.
Samsung details KitKat update plans for US Galaxy phones and tabs
Some of Samsung's Galaxy devices are already getting Android 4.4.2, but today we found out exactly which ones in the US will get a taste of KitKat. The full list is a mouthful. The Galaxy S III, Galaxy S III mini, Galaxy S 4, Galaxy S 4 mini, Galaxy S 4 Active, Galaxy S 4 zoom, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Mega, Galaxy Light, Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition, and Galaxy Tab 3 are all on the waiting list. Sadly, even though part of Google's goal with KitKat was to bring a refined Android experience to "the next billion people," slightly older hardware like the Galaxy S II are conspicuously absent from the list. Samsung says the updates have already started trickling out, though it didn't mention which device (or devices) were at the head of the line. How quickly you get the update depends on what you have and how quickly your carrier can get it certified. So, just take a deep breath and keep an eye on Samsung's MWC announcements in the meantime.
Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 hits the FCC with Verizon's LTE bands in tow
We've yet to hear more details about the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2's launch this quarter, but a recent FCC filing at least reveals that it might head to Verizon. According to the documents, a particular variant that goes by model number SM-P905V supports Big Red's LTE (4 and 13) bands. Since the 2014 refresh of the 10.1 Note Pro has also passed through the agency with Verizon LTE, the carrier might offer both sizes when the tablets hit the market. Based on the info we got from the gigantic tablet's CES debut, it'll have a WiFi version for those who have no need for mobile internet. Folks set on buying one with long-term evolution speeds, however, may want to cross their fingers for the behemoth to hit their preferred carriers.
Samsung's budget Galaxy Note 3 Neo reportedly caught on camera
Remember that talk of a lower-cost Galaxy Note 3? You may be looking at the phone right now. SamMobile claims to have photos of the rumored Galaxy Note 3 Neo (aka Lite), and they show what you'd expect -- a slightly smaller, less advanced version of Samsung's pen-toting flagship. The leak also includes benchmarks that back up rumors of an 8-megapixel camera, a 720p screen and a hexa-core processor with performance between that of the Galaxy S 4 and the full-size Note 3. There's no guarantee that the photos or the specs reflect a shipping product, but there are murmurs of a possible Neo launch at Mobile World Congress in late February; we may not have to wait long to learn more.
A chip off the 3D-printing block: Samsung partners with 3D Systems for custom Note 3 cases (video)
It figures that Samsung would want to take its "Create" tagline for the Note series and press on into 3D printing because: You. Customization. The endless possibilities. And all that other jargon-y industry buzz buzz buzz. Well, now that the Korean electronics giant's taking a stab at the make-it-yourself wheel, it's partnered with 3D Systems to show off an app that makes custom inserts for specially designed Galaxy Note 3 cases. The catch here being that it's not a soon-to-be released commercial product. This is all just concept for now and you have to be at CES 2014 in Las Vegas to test it out. Instead of whipping up entire cases, the 3D Systems app allows users visiting Samsung's booth to create custom-designed coins (small plastic inserts that slot into the base of a Note 3 case) using its new entry-level Cube 3 3D printer. Coin creation is fairly straightforward with options to add a range of pre-set icons, text or freehand drawing. There are also three templates users can choose from: a plain-faced Simple Coin, an Olive Wreath or Poker Chip. But 3D Systems told us that it intends to swap out these three templates throughout the week, so what you'll see will depend on the day you visit. Once you've settled on a final design, the coin-printing process takes about 20 minutes to complete, but not everyone who passes through the booth will see their designs come to life. 3D Systems plans to sort through all submitted designs and populate a wall in Samsung's booth with the best of the bunch -- a money shot we'll have for you later this week. So, there's your taste of the future folks: Big-ass phones, styluses, 3D printers and your unbridled creativity (actual sense of taste optional).
Major benchmarking service delists Samsung and HTC phones it suspects of cheating
Oh yes, things are really starting to kick off in the arcane world of smartphone benchmarking. First, there came clear evidence of phone makers manipulating scores in apps like AnTuTu and GFXBench, and now a more mainstream benchmarking company, Futuremark, has publicly delisted specific Samsung and HTC phones that it suspects of cheating. Futuremark says that the devices in question -- including the Galaxy Note 3, HTC One and HTC One Mini -- fail to adhere to the fairness policy, which requires that a device treats its 3DMark app just as it would treat any other app, with no tailor-made bursts of performance designed to achieve artificially high scores. Clearly, this bad behavior is just as endemic as we originally feared, so benchmark apps either need to toughen up, as Futuremark appears to be doing, or they need to find entirely new ways of measuring performance.
Samsung SM-P905 tablet appears at the FCC, may be an extra-large Galaxy Note
The Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 edition) may not lead Samsung's tablet line for very long. Corroborating rumors of a very big SM-P900 tablet, the SM-P905 has just passed through the FCC sporting appropriately large dimensions -- it measures 14.1 inches diagonally, which suggests a screen in the 12-inch range. It's likely to be a high-end Galaxy Note given the presences of a pen slot, 802.11ac WiFi and Korea-focused LTE. Other specs aren't forthcoming, but Samsung has already hinted at a 2,560 x 1,600 screen resolution through its web profile for the device. We won't be holding our breath waiting for a launch, though. When there hasn't been any kind of formal launch so far, this giant tablet may not reach our hands for a long while.
Twitter's tablet-optimized Android app is official, but limited to Samsung devices for now (updated)
Do you remember that that previously leaked Twitter app for Android tablets? Yep, it's now official. As expected, the app provides a landscape view that shows both the Twitter timeline and content from expanded tweets; tap on a post and you'll see article previews or media without losing your place in the social stream. There's also a new home screen widget, multi-app viewing support and an illustrator tool for hand-drawn artwork. As good as all that sounds, there's one major catch -- you'll have to buy a Samsung tablet to use Twitter's app in any official capacity. The tablet-optimized Android software is available only for the Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) right now, and it's coming to other Samsung slates at an unspecified point in the future. There's no word as to whether or not those using other manufacturers' devices will get their turn. Update: Twitter has clarified that other Android tablets will get the app by the end of the year.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review (2014 edition)
If you want your product to sound like it belongs in the future, why not name it after the future itself? Taking a page from the auto industry, Samsung named its new Galaxy Note 10.1 for the coming year, dubbing it the 2014 edition. And, judging from what we've seen of the new Note so far, it's clear Samsung has greatly improved upon many of the original's shortcomings; it even added more storage space! Unfortunately, though, Samsung also boosted the base price by $50 as a result. So how does it hold up? Does the new Note 10.1 trick us into believing it came from the future, or is it too easy to look through Sammy's "futuristic" marketing campaign? Gaze into the Magic 8 Ball with us to find out.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition makes its US debut October 10th, pre-orders begin tomorrow
If you're ready to party like it's 2014 but you can't wait a couple months to celebrate the new year, Samsung is ready to push out its latest version of the Galaxy Note 10.1 -- aptly named the 2014 edition -- to buyers in the US. We haven't heard if any carriers will officially take the tablet under their wings, but the WiFi-only model will at least be making its way to a full litany of online and brick-and-mortar electronics retailers starting October 10th, with a few outlets offering pre-orders starting tomorrow at midnight. You'll be able to pick one up in your choice of jet black and classic white, with the 16GB unit retailing for $550 and 32GB going for $600. If it's any consolation, you'll also get a few perks along with the tablet, such as three months of Hulu Plus, a year subscription to Boingo hotspots, as well as 50GB extra Dropbox storage, a 12-week subscription to the New York Times and a full year of Bloomberg Businessweek. If you like what 2014 has to offer so far, you know what to do.
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.
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.
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!
Samsung Galaxy Note 3: What's changed?
Another IFA, another Galaxy Note -- that's how it goes, ever since Samsung launched its first version of the phablet two years ago in Berlin. The company's latest S-Pen-wielding handset is upon us, with a bevy of hardware and software updates as expected. Does this year's device bring some game-changing tweaks, or is the Note 3 more of an incremental refresh of its predecessor? Jump past the break for a full spec-by-spec comparison of the two super-phones. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Samsung 'Unpacked Episode 2' scheduled for September 4th in Berlin
The second installment of Samsung's 2013 "Unpacked" event series is scheduled for the first Wednesday in September, just before the annual IFA consumer electronics show kicks off in Berlin. As the sketched invite above confirms, the Galaxy Note III will undoubtedly be the star of this show, which is set to begin at 7PM local time (1PM ET) on September 4th. We'll of course be there to cover the festivities live from the German capital, and Samsung's promised to provide a YouTube livestream feed that you can follow along with as well.
Samsung SM-N900 model numbers surface, hint at future Galaxy Note
Samsung is reportedly working on its third Galaxy Note smartphone in as many years, but there's been little in the way of official details. Thanks to some digging round the web, though, a few model numbers have come to light. Samsung's own user agent profiles mention two new Note family members, the SM-N900A and SM-N900T, both of which carry 1080p screens. Some extra sleuthing at an Indian importer has also revealed references to a root SM-N900 device as well as P, S, V and R4 variants. Unfortunately, there isn't much more to know -- while the naming schemes likely reflect different carriers and regions, there's no tangible clues as to where each model belongs. If some of these numbers resurface in the near future, however, we won't be surprised.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 saunters past FCC with AT&T-friendly LTE
Sure, the only flavor of the Galaxy Note 8.0 currently lining US shelves is the version just packing Wi-Fi, but it appears that the LTE variety is getting ready for a trip stateside. The FCC just inspected a version of the tablet carrying a 850 / 1900 GSM radio along with support for LTE Bands 2, 4, 5 and 17, which are all tell-tale signs of hardware that plays nice with AT&T's network. For those in need of a refresher, Samsung's tablet runs Jelly Bean and boasts a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, A-GPS, GLONASS, a hefty 4,600 mAh battery, WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. With one of the final hurdles for availability on American shores cleared, you're that much closer to laying your paws on a slate that can moonlight as an unwieldy cellphone.
Samsung official reportedly confirms Note III in the works, muses on potential camera upgrades
Given the success of the original Galaxy Note and its sequel, there's little doubt a third installment of the super-sized handset line is on Samsung's to-launch list. Korean site ETNews claims to have heard the first legitimate confirmation of the Note III's existence, however, citing a Samsung official as its source. The insider apparently had much to say on plans for the camera, too. It's expected to be a 13-megapixel affair and could see other upgrades over its predecessor, including optical image stabilization and 3x optical zoom. According to the official, no final decisions on the camera have been made yet, but with less than four months to go until IFA (where the previous Notes have debuted), it's probably time to start nailing those specs down.
Refresh Roundup: week of May 6th, 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!
