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Is this the Samsung Galaxy Note 2? Image posted on official site looks worryingly familiar (update: just a concept)
Hmmm, this is a strange one. Samsung Pakistan just posted the above pic on its official Facebook page. The caption reads, "Picture perfect view made even more perfect with Samsung Galaxy S3," but the picture clearly isn't of a GS III. So, what is it? It's big, that's for sure, and the bezel is quite the opposite. Dare we hope it's a next-gen Galaxy Note, or is it simply render fodder that has been re-posted by Samsung accidentally? There's one big reason to be skeptical, which is that this exact same pic already did the rounds as a potential GS III image before that flagship was launched. The only difference here is that it's on an official outlet, which implies the jpeg in question could be sitting on a member of staff's hard drive. Oh, and since our brows are already furrowed with doubt, we may as well throw in another rumor that's going about today, which might actually connect with the notion of a thin bezel and no home button. Korea Times is reporting that the Galaxy Note 2 will have a slightly expanded 5.5-inch display that just happens to be flexible -- or at least curved by the time it leaves the factory. We can't vouch for the trustworthiness of their sources, especially since we're still waiting on that 7.85-inch iPad Mini, but then again, Samsung has been exploring flexible AMOLED for ages, not to mention bezel-free panels (see More Coverage). Update: And just like that, the Samsung Pakistan Facebook page has disappeared. For the sake of posterity (not least our own), we've kept a record of it after the break. Roll on, August 29th. Update: The Verge just traced the image back to a page on a Russian site -- VKontakte.ru --- which is inaccessible but is said to have contained concept designs made by Sammy fans. As we initially feared, it's just render fodder mistakenly re-posted by someone at Samsung. [Thanks, Kashif and Leonard]
Refresh Roundup: week of July 30th, 2012
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 Galaxy Note for T-Mobile review
More Info Samsung Galaxy Note review AT&T Galaxy Note review T-Mobile officially confirms Samsung Galaxy Note, more details in coming weeks The Samsung Galaxy Note is among a rare breed of smartphones that need no introduction. It's polarizing, memorable and single-handedly responsible for the popularization of the term "phablet." It's also the indisputable king of that category, having recently defended its throne against LG's Optimus Vu. Aside from the Note's sprawling display, much of its appeal lies in the tight software integration with the S Pen stylus, which endows the phone with notepad-like functionality. The first (and second) time we reviewed the Galaxy Note, it featured Android 2.3. Since then, it's received an update to Android 4.0, along with a new set of productivity apps dubbed the Premium Suite. Now as the phone arrives at T-Mobile (for $250 with a contract and after a $50 rebate), we're taking the opportunity to review not just the new variant, but in this case, the latest OS as well. You already know much of the Galaxy Note's story, but now the question remains: just how much of the text has been re-written? Let's find out.%Gallery-161343%
CM10 preview builds out for Nexus 7 and Galaxy Note: official but experimental
Ready for the latest bout of XDA Recognized goodness? If you own a Nexus 7 or global Galaxy Note (oh yeah) then you'll find official preview builds of CyanogenMod 10 for each device at the source links below. They'll bring some added sparkle, like an almost-buttery version of Jelly Bean on the Note and USB storage on the Nexus 7, but neither build is ready for daily dependence -- so tread carefully or just consider them proof that the CM and Team Hacksung folks are almost there.
Engadget Giveaway: win one of two Samsung Galaxy Notes, courtesy of 1SaleADay!
Is it a phone, a tablet or a fabulous phablet? You can call it whatever you want, but we're going to throw it into a new category for two days: free. Indeed, we have two unlocked Samsung Galaxy Notes (N9000) ready to distribute out to two lucky readers, and we have 1SaleADay to thank for the opportunity. The site offers daily deals on all types of electronics, and chances are you'll happen upon something that really strikes your intrigue. So head below to leave a comment as usual, and best of luck to you!
T-Mobile officially confirms Samsung Galaxy Note, more details in coming weeks
Due to numerous marketing materials, FCC documents and other leaks, T-Mobile hasn't exactly made it a secret that the Samsung Galaxy Note would be coming to its network sometime soon. We've been begging the company to just come clean about it and confirm the inevitable, and a spokesperson has finally pulled the trigger, announcing on Twitter that it indeed is going to be coming to the lineup. This is unfortunately all the carrier is willing to divulge at this time, however, as we were told in a separate email that it will have "more details to share in the coming weeks." We're now strongly considering a pool on whether or not it'll arrive before a rumored sequel is announced. Update: We've now received official PR, it's after the break. It promises an out of the box experience that includes Android 4.0 ICS, HSPA+ 42, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 CPU and the Premium Suite software upgrades -- pretty much what you'd expect, although there's still nothing in the way of a release date or pricing. [Thanks, Ramon]
Refresh Roundup: week of July 9th, 2012
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 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 Galaxy Note documents pop up on T-Mobile's site, prepares for its grand entrance
If there's one thing we can be certain of, it's this: T-Mobile's been anything but cautious about keeping its own Galaxy Note variant under secretive wraps. In a matter of weeks, we've spotted it while paying Mr. Blurrycam a visit, making a short stop at the FCC offices and, most recently, showing its phablet self in some purported T-Mo press shots. And although this time it isn't being as revealing as it has in previous occasions, it's yet another sign that its eventual entrance into T-Mobile's smartphone lineup is right around the corner. As a curious TmoNews reader found out, a quick, simple search for Galaxy Note within the Magenta site brings up a plethora of support documents for the device, including bits like software overview, call functionality, media, customization and specs. In case you were planning on snagging one of these once it launches, this might be a good way to become acquainted with the Samsung's jumbo slab.
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!
Refresh Roundup: week of July 2nd, 2012
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 Galaxy Note for T-Mobile pops up in claimed press shots, we try to feign surprise
There's been demo units, FCC filings and the obligatory blurry photos, so it was only a matter of time before leaked press imagery completed our picture of a Galaxy Note for T-Mobile USA. As long as they're not cosmetic makeovers by wishful T-Mobile fans, the CellPhoneSignal images portray... well, a Galaxy Note. No exotic colors, no obvious clues supporting talk that it ships with a preloaded Android 4.0 upgrade. Most of the hardware changes, then, should be all about adapting the HSPA+ 3G to support T-Mobile's airwaves. Unconfirmed talk has the Galaxy Note reaching Magenta on July 11th; that's nine months after the original version popped up, but we're sure some will be thankful just to have more choices than AT&T for that phablet fix.
Mobile Miscellany: week of June 11th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Cricket found a new retail channel at Kmart and we received news that the HTC One S will soon arrive at Cincinnati Bell. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of June 11th, 2012.
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.
Samsung Galaxy Note with T-Mobile-ready 3G swings by the FCC (update: demo units?)
A T-Mobile-capable version of the Samsung Galaxy Note has been floating around in pictures, but official evidence has been hard to come by. Imagine our surprise when it saunters by the FCC with few disguises: going under a hinted-at SGH-T879 codename, the giant smartphone has passed through the agency with the needed 1,700MHz HSPA band for T-Mobile 3G while also supporting 850MHz and 1,900MHz 3G in the same breath. The wireless support leaves the possibility that the unit we're seeing here is for 1,700MHz Canadian carriers like Mobilicity or Wind Mobile, but earlier photos of T-Mobile branding and a browser user agent profile allude to the American provider having at least toyed with the idea of a Galaxy Note on its network. Fans of supersized phones have reason to cheer, then, although we have doubts revolving mostly around the T879's absence on a leaked roadmap for mid-2012 and the lateness of the arrival. It might be hard for T-Mobile to steer customers to a 2011-era Samsung phone when the Galaxy S III is on the doorstep. Update: Some more fuel for the fire: an inventory sheet reportedly leaked to TmoNews has more explicitly made the link between the T879 name and the Galaxy Note along with suggesting that demo units are in the queue. Although we wouldn't count on the rumored July 11th release being solid, there's enough to suggest T-Mobile is serious about getting its first phablet.
Refresh Roundup: week of May 28th, 2012
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!
Mobile Miscellany: week of May 28th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, we learned of another possible prepaid destination for the iPhone (hint: it's a subsidiary of Sprint), and Samsung announced a combined sales total of 50 million Galaxy S and Galaxy S II smartphones. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of May 28th, 2012.
ABI: Galaxy Note and other phablets will ship at 208 million a year by 2015, blot out the sun
Some of us aren't convinced that phablets will last as more than a short-term success. That hasn't stopped ABI Research from predicting that enough of the size XXL smartphones will sell to block all natural sunlight. The study team sees phones like the Galaxy Note and Optimus Vu as just the start, with help from Huawei, HTC and others leading to a crescendo of 208 million phablets shipped in 2015 alone. Of course, as with many of these predictions, the estimate is based on a little bit of knowledge and a lot of speculation about the market's tastes: the researchers have a hunch that the values of navigation, reading and the web will steer us to big screens, and they're including devices just over 4.6 inches like the One X or the upcoming Galaxy S III. There's a bit of evidence to support the claims -- Samsung sold five million Notes in five months, and HTC has seen some brisk One X sales -- but that's still no guarantee that regular-sized smartphones will have to fight in the shade.
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.
Mobile Miscellany: week of May 14th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Verizon Wireless brought its LTE service to 28 new markets and expanded its reach in 11 additional areas. We also saw Straight Talk introduce the Samsung Galaxy Proclaim, and it appears that Rogers will soon offer the HTC One S. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of May 14th, 2012.