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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 10.1 arrives at the Carphone Warehouse
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 is now available at the Carphone Warehouse for the stylus-toting multi-tasker in your life. The independent UK retailer is selling the 16GB, WiFi version for £400, while the edition equipped with a 3G modem retails for £500. While the latter can make calls, you won't be holding the tablet to your ear to make 'em. Instead, the company thoughtfully included a Bluetooth-enabled S-Pen with a microphone and speaker, making you look a bit more like Maxwell Smart than Dom Joly.
Kno textbooks arrive on Android with the Galaxy Note 10.1, take on a social side
Kno's post-hardware textbook platform has called the iPad its only tablet home for more than a year; it's about to spread its wings. Starting with a bundled presence on the Galaxy Note 10.1, Kno is an option for K-12 and college students who'd rather go the Android route. While all the 3D, note-taking and navigation features remain the same, there's an obvious selling point in supporting the S Pen (and hopefully other pens) to more directly put thoughts to virtual paper -- or, let's admit it, doodle in the margins. All of us, Android and otherwise, get a new Social Sharing component that lets us crib each other's notes before the big exam. We're still waiting on Kno for other Android devices as well as the already-promised Windows 7 support, but it's hard not to appreciate at least a little more variety in our digital learning.
Samsung HM5100 Bluetooth S Pen makes a surprise debut in our Note 10.1 'press kit,' we pencil in a chat (hands-on)
Hidden among the higher-profile items at Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 launch today was a device that at first seemed familiar, but turned out to be far more than your everyday S Pen. That's right, Samsung's already capable stylus just got a major boost -- meet the BT S Pen. The device, which received no formal introduction during its host device's launch event, first appeared in the "press kit" bag that attendees received on the way out the door. It's similar in size and shape to the company's Galaxy S Pen Holder Kit, which serves as a sleeve for the standard-issue Note S Pen, but Bluetooth functionality, along with a microphone and tiny speaker, enable the lightweight plastic contraption to double as a wireless headset -- sure to come in handy with the SIM slot-equipped international Note 10.1 flavor. We caught our first hint of the pen's functionality upon discovering a bundled AC adapter -- that seemed mighty odd. The box also included an unusually beefy user manual and no fewer than five replacement "nibs" (read: stylus tips). Pairing took but a few seconds, and then we were on our way answering calls with a single tap of the talk button. There's also a built-in vibration mechanism, which serves to alert you to incoming calls. Sound quality was solid, but speaking into a pen admittedly felt a bit odd -- you may not draw as many stares as you would if speaking directly into a 10.1, but the seemingly unusual action may still turn a few heads. Otherwise, the S pen functioned as expected. The packaging is all we have to go off of at this point -- Samsung reps we spoke to didn't know to expect the device today, so there's no pricing or availability info to share. We do know that it's rated for three hours of talk time and 130 hours of standby, it weighs 21 grams, offers Bluetooth 3.0 compatibility and will work with Galaxy Note devices -- you could use it as a headset with other gadgets, though there wouldn't be much appeal. It also includes a micro-USB charging cable, with the port accessible just above the shirt clip. That's all she wrote for now -- apparently this accessory was available exclusively at today's event, and may not make its way to the US, if it's released at all. You can see it in action now though, in our hands-on video after the break. %Gallery-162550%
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review
More Info Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 preview (video) Samsung rumored to tweak Galaxy Note 10.1 inside and out Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 coming worldwide this month, UI shown off on YouTube Consider it the fallout from a decade-plus of reality TV, but our made-by-the-masses approach has expanded into new territory: technology R&D. Or so Samsung's very public handling of the Galaxy Note 10.1 would have us believe. Thrust into an American Idol-like spotlight at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, the still-unfinished slate, a follow-up to the pen-enabled Galaxy Note phone, was forced to perform for hordes of skeptical insiders. Sure, there was raw talent on display and we could see the promise of this 10-inch contender (we said as much in our exhaustive preview), but it was also clear the company was testing consumer waters, fishing for a vote of confidence before continuing down the development track. Does this make Samsung's latest flagship the Kelly Clarkson of the tablet category? It's an apt analogy, if you think about it: Kelly wants to be country, the Note 10.1 wants to be a pro-designer tool, but neither are allowed. Why? Well, simply put, products sell better when they're made more palatable for a wider range of tastes. Which is why the company used MWC to gauge popular opinion before molding its untested product into something wth a broader appeal. Ultimately, that meant a drastic makeover: since MWC, the Note 10.1 has received a slot for that S-Pen, streamlined software, a quad-core Exynos 4 chip and two storage configurations: 16GB / 32GB, priced at $499 and $549, respectively. So it now has more horsepower under the hood, that much is assured, but is that chip enough to boost the Note 10.1's mass appeal? Will savvy shoppers be able to forgive that relatively low-res 1,280 x 800 display? Will its Wacom digitizer elevate this slate past its more generic Android and iOS rivals? Or will that feature hamper its widespread appeal, attracting mainly creative professionals? Meet us after the break to see if the Note 10.1 can succeed as the multitasking everyman's go-to tablet.%Gallery-162350%
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 launches stateside August 16th starting at $499
If you didn't see this one coming from a mile away, then it's clear you haven't been paying much attention. After countless leaks and even an early August availability from online retailers, Samsung's ready to make its S-Pen slate, the Galaxy Note 10.1, official for the U.S. market. The TouchWiz-skinned Android tablet is set to hit retail shelves tomorrow, August 16th, and will be offered up in 16GB and 32GB WiFi-only configurations priced at $499 and $549, respectively. For the money, you're getting an ICS tab outfitted with a 10-inch 1,280 x 800 TFT LCD display, quad-core Exynos 4 CPU clocked at 1.4GHz, 2GB RAM, microSD storage expandable to 64GB, 1.9-megapixel front-facing / 5-megapixel rear cameras and a 7,000mAh battery. The device, first introduced this past February at Mobile World Congress, stands apart from its capacitive rivals thanks primarily to the addition of a Wacom-like digitizer panel optimized for the company's handwriting recognition software and a slew of stylus-specific, pre-loaded apps, like Adobe's Photoshop Touch and Samsung's own S Note. Prospective owners will be able to choose from two neutral launch colors, grey and white, when it goes on sale this Thursday.
Live from Samsung's 'Meet the new way' event in New York City!
It's just about time to "meet the new way." Samsung's sketch-heavy invitation clearly points to some type of pen-input device, and given the timing of the event and the fact that plenty of tablets have already been sold across the pond, we're expecting the Galaxy Note 10.1 to be outed properly... again. Judging from reports earlier this month, there will be plenty of new features (and color options) to be demoed since our last in-depth look at the evolving device, so expect a fairly packed show, complete with the typical Samsung fanfare. The event kicks off at 11AM ET, so stay tuned right here for the play-by-play from NYC.
Potential Samsung Galaxy Note 2 bezel gets snapped, measured at 5.5 inches
Here's an image purporting to be of the Galaxy Note 2's bezel, and if it's a fake, it's a very good one. Taken by a (sharper-than-usual) blurrycam snapper wearing factory-style dust booties, the hardware suggests a chunky, squared-off design for the second-generation phablet that rejects the Galaxy S III's more curvaceous body. The ruler draped from corner-to-corner jibes with earlier rumors that it would have a slightly expanded 5.5-inch canvas for your S-Pen fun. We just have one question: does that photo make it look curved along the horizontal axis, or is the loose component just bendy?
Quad-core Galaxy Note 10.1 source code wastes no time, available now
Appearing almost simultaneously alongside the Galaxy Note 10.1's launch itinerary, Samsung has offered up source code for both Korean iterations of the stylus-friendly slab. Ensuring custom ROM devs have very early access to the source should mean we're likely to see other software iterations (minus TouchWiz, perhaps) sooner rather than later. Developers can delve into the coding goodness below.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 coming worldwide this month, UI shown off on YouTube
We've got a good few updates rolling in on the Galaxy Note 10.1 front today. For starters, Samsung has announced that the S Pen equipped slate will available globally from August in WiFi and 3G varieties, with an LTE version coming later in the year. The press release and spec sheet after the break also confirm that the Note 10.1 will indeed possess a quad-core Exynos processor (alongside a 2GB dose of RAM), rather than the dual-core engine seen in our initial hands-on -- although we'd already gleaned that much from retailer listings. Finally, there's now an official video on YouTube showing off the tablet's interface, including a multi-screen function to make use of that stylus. Samsung's definitely pushing the productivity angle here, with the S Note / S Pen combo looking more like a publishing program than a doodle board. A sizeable and movable keyboard is also detailed, which should address the problem of landscape keys devouring screen space. Whether the UI runs on the new processor as swiftly and smoothly as the video suggests is unknown, but we'll sort the spin from the truth in our review coming very soon.%Gallery-161835%
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 available for pre-order from Negri Electronics, ship date set for tomorrow
Negri Electronics, the apparent one stop shop for hard-to-find tablets, is now offering pre-orders for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note 10.1. The listing -- which carries a heavy $750 price tag -- outfits Sammy's new slate with a familiar 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos processor, 16 GB of internal storage, and a requisite 10.1-inch 1,280 x 800 resolution touchscreen. Negri also states the slab will rock a quadband 21Mbps HSPA 1900/1800/900/850 radio, which would come as a nice surprise if true. Saltier still, is the firm's proposed ship date -- August 3rd, which is tomorrow. If you don't mind shelling out for the privilege of being an early adopter, feel free to empty your wallet at the source link below.
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]
Samsung files a patent for a capacitive stylus with NFC and headset, your next C-Pen may get talkative
Samsung is clearly big on pens. It's no shock, then, that we now know the company applied for a patent on a new stylus while the original Galaxy Note was still fresh out of the box. The capacitive pen of Samsung's dreams includes its own wireless headset in the clip to make voice calls without having to buy a separate earpiece -- something that we've only seen recently in the real world. It would even find room for NFC to pair the pen up with a host device using a minimum of fuss. The most appealing part of the patent may be its pragmatism. Unlike some of the flight-of-fancy patents we've noticed lately, the technology in the new stylus is well within reach. No patent is ever a surefire sign of action, but it's no great leap in logic to see a follow-up to the C-Pen or S Pen letting us call for pizza in between drawing sessions.
Galaxy Note 10.1 up for pre-order on Amazon US: $549 with quad-core CPU in tow (update: pulled)
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 was recently caught on camera, which indicates that it's well along the production pipeline. Further evidence: the ICS tablet is up for pre-order on Amazon US. The asking price is $549, and the retailer says it will be available "within 3 to 5 weeks." In line with earlier rumors, it looks like Samsung swapped the Note 10.1's original dual-core processor for a quad-core CPU, though as Unwired View points out, Amazon probably meant a Samsung Exynos processor rather than the Intel Xeon currently listed. Ready to shell out for this S Pen-equipped slate? Click on through to the source link to see the product page. Update: We've received word from Samsung that Amazon published the page in error, and has since taken it down. The Galaxy Note 10.1 is in fact not available for pre-order at this time.
Samsung teases Series 5 Hybrid PC, a Windows 8 tablet with magnetic keyboard dock and pen support
You wanted Windows 8 tablet / laptop mash-ups, you got 'em! On the heels of some rather inventive product launches from Acer and ASUS here at Computex, Samsung is teasing a Win8 device of its own, the Series 5 Hybrid PC. For now, Samsung's not sharing many technical details -- we don't even know the screen size! -- but the concept, at least, is self-explanatory: this is a Transformer-like tablet that slots into an accompanying keyboard dock. In an interesting twist, though, this device doesn't make use of your run-of-the-mill latch mechanism; instead, the slate attaches magnetically. The Hybrid is rated for 10 hours of battery life and has a pair of 2- and 8-megapixel cameras. It also supports pen input, and will come bundled with the same S-Pen and S-Memo software used on the Galaxy Note 10.1 (but modified for Windows, of course). This might be a good time to clarify that unlike the 10.1 (or any other Galaxy Tab, for that matter), this is not an ARM-based slate, but rather, an X86 PC. This means, of course, that it runs full Windows 8, and not just the RT version. As it happens, Engadget had the chance to check out a prototype in advance of the launch, and it was running a two-watt Intel Clover Trail CPU. At the time, a Samsung rep told us the company was considering an ultra low voltage notebook-grade processor. Other possible specs: a 1080p display option, with some lower, unspecified resolution offered as well. Lastly, the early model we saw had a USIM slot, a microSD reader and a Superspeed USB port. Keep in mind, though, that all these details are subject to change. Back when we got a sneak peek at the Hybrid, we handled a non-powered unit, and members of the press were not permitted to take photos or video that day. We can't speak to the software experience, then, but we did find the build quality to be solid. If the idea of a magnetic hinge gives you the willies, this one seemed quite sturdy -- we don't see the slate slipping out of its cradle without any effort on the part of the user. At 747 grams (1.65 pounds) and 9mm (0.35 inches) thick, it feels denser than similar-looking products like the ASUS Transformer Prime, but then again, this is a fully functioning PC. Though Samsung won't confirm the screen size, a quick once-over told us it measures between 10 and 11 inches diagonally, matching other Win8 tablets announced this week. For now, this blend of facts and educated guesses will have to suffice, but we'll naturally hit you back with more particulars as we hear them. Update: Samsung reps staffing the company's Computex booth confirmed that the screen measures 11 inches. Zach Honig contributed to this report.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 caught on camera with S-pen slot, quad-core CPU (video)
Last time the winds of hearsay rustled our tech feathers, word was Samsung had pegged its Tab 2 10.1 for a quad-core CPU transplant. While the company went on the record to shoot down that pesky rumor, it remained suspiciously mum where the Galaxy Note 10.1 was concerned. Now, thanks to a brief video demo over on German site All About Samsung, it appears the formerly dual-core slate refresh we had a chance to preview back in March could, indeed, be set for a processor swap. Though it's still far from official, the new Note 10.1 shown above looks to be sharing not only some of the Galaxy S III's specs -- quad-core Exynos processor with Mali 400 MP GPU and a TouchWizzed Android 4.0.4-- but also that formerly problematic Pebble Blue finish. And much to our delight, it also appears as if the company's revised the tablet's design slightly, adding in a convenient slot on the lower left hand side for S-Pen stowage. Not convinced by mere words alone? The head past the break for video evidence of this purported hardware upgrade.
Samsung rumored to tweak Galaxy Note 10.1 inside and out
It certainly looks like Samsung has redesigned the 10.1-inch version of its Galaxy Note, which it promised back at MWC. At a German event this week, a slimmer version of the tablet was snapped sporting a built in S-Pen slot that had also been sweating off some extra pounds. So much so, that the company will retail a dedicated pen holder to make your electronic doodling more comfortable. We've also heard unconfirmed rumors that the biggest change to the tablet was internal -- with the Galaxy S III's quad-core Exynos chip replacing the original dual-core innards we'd seen previously. We reached out to the company on that point to see if it could shed any light, but its people weren't able to make any comment ahead of its official debut. [Image Credit: Eraser112]
O2 UK offers Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy Y in Olympics versions, S Javelin sadly missing
Are you so enthused with the 2012 Olympics that special tablets and non-stop TV coverage won't fully scratch the itch? O2 UK is letting you flaunt your British competitive pride every time you check Twitter by selling Olympic editions of Samsung's Galaxy Note and Galaxy Y. Either comes with a choice to drape your Android gear in a Union Jack or the Team Great Britain logo. If cosmetic patriotism isn't enough, O2 is making it meaningful by contributing £1 from every sale to future athlete training along with giving a chance to win two tickets to attend the London games, a special event and even the training camp. The bundles are ready to go now, although we're slightly bummed that there isn't an extra-long S Pen to commemorate the javelin toss or pole vault.
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]
Screen Grabs: Vampire Diaries uses Galaxy Note to scratch out sinister signals
Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com. The residents of Mystic Falls, Virginia are the most tech-savvy bunch of supernatural creatures we've ever seen. If Edward Cullen and Bella Swan bothered to email each other, then we'd have been spared the horrors of New Moon. Quite the opposite here, as The Vampire Diaries folks have their fingers close to the undead pulse of gadgets, with one character in last night's episode refusing to type a text message so they could write out their response with an S-Pen. Fans of the show that keep score should know that it currently stands two to Microsoft, two to Google and the fate of humanity all to play for.[Thanks, Mark]
