Verizon Announces Ice Cream Sandwich Update For Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

 

Today’s a joyous day for owners of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 operating on Verizon’s blazing 4G LTE network— Verizon has officially announced the Ice Cream Sandwich update is ready to roll out to the masses. The update will bring the Android version to 4.0.4 and the software version to i815.LP10, while also bringing items like facial unlock, an updated Music app, revamped Calculator app and a desktop view in the stock browser. For now— only the change log is available for view, but Verizon should begin rolling out the 289MB update within the next week or too, so there’s no need to fret too much.

So there you have it: the Galaxy Tab 7.7 will be getting a new lease on life after all.

source: Verizon Wireless

Android amasses 48 percent of US adult tablet market, iPad slips to 52 percent

A new research study has determined that Android tablets have made a strong impact among adult tablet owners in the US. In 2011, Android tablets occupied just 15 percent of the market share. Here we are in 2012, and the number has grown to an astronomical 48 percent. Of the 48 percent, 21 percent of users own the Kindle Fire and 8 percent own some form of the Galaxy Tab. Unfortunately, this study was conducted before the Kindle Fire HD or Nexus 7 were introduced, leaving us without accurate numbers for either devices. The Pew Internet & American Life Project provided us with the following breakdown.

“Over the last year, tablet ownership has steadily increased from 11% of U.S. adults in July of 2011 to 18% in January of 2012, according to PEJ data. Currently, 22% own a tablet and another 3% regularly use a tablet owned by someone else in the home. This number is very close to new data, released here for the first time, conducted in a separate survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project on July 16 through August 7 2012 that found 25% of all U.S. adults have a tablet computer.

The growth in tablet adoption is likely related to the advent of the lower-priced tablets in late 2011. Overall, about two-thirds of tablet-owning adults, 68%, got their tablet in the last year, including 32% in 2012 alone. That has lessened Apple’s dominance in the market. Now, just over half, 52%, of tablet owners report owning an iPad, compared with 81% in the survey a year ago.”

Source: 9to5Google

 

Judge Lucy Koh To Be Reunited With Her Favorite Friends Again, Court Orders Her To Review Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Injunction

 

It looks as if Judge Lucy Koh isn’t quite finished yet in regards to the Apple vs. Samsung saga. If you recall, we mentioned that Samsung confirmed its intentions to appeal notable items such as the injunctions of its tablets— and it now appears that it has gotten its wish thanks to the U.S. courts. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently granted Samsung’s request to have the injunction of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 remanded in order for the trial court to re-consider Samsung’s motion to terminate the injunction. So what does all this mean? Well— while nothing is for sure, but this decision will allow Samsung to have additional time and present an effective argument highlighting why the injunction should be lifted since the jury did not find any type of tablet design patent infringement.

In essence, the Appeals Court is forcing Judge Koh to sit down for yet another day and hear why Samsung is right and Apple is wrong. Of course there’s a slim (or major) chance that Judge Koh probably won’t lift the injunction, but hey— anything can happen in this wacky world.

source: FOSS Patents

AT&T Android portfolio to grow with new Samsung devices including Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and other devices

In a joint announcement issued by AT&T and Samsung, the two shared information on some devices slated to be available “in the coming months” for AT&T’s 4G LTE network. The devices include three smartphones powered by Android and one tablet device.

Headlining the list of forthcoming devices is the Samsung Galaxy Note II, the eagerly awaited for successor to the Samsung Galaxy Note. Unveiled earlier this month, the “phablet” device will sport a 5.5-inch screen and a quad-core Exynos processor to power Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Samsung’s S-Pen apps.

Two other smartphones will be released as well, each targeting different markets. The Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro, designed for those with an active lifestyle, is built to military specifications. The waterproof, shock resistant, dust-proof device will probably appeal to outdoor workers as well. The device will have a 4-inch screen and access to advance push-to-talk services. The other phone is a Samsung Galaxy Express geared toward first time smartphone buyers. The Galaxy Express will have a 4.5-inch screen backed by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and a 2000 mAh battery powering Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Rounding out the joint press release is the impending release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 tablet for the AT&T 4G LTE network.

The specifications for the mid-range devices sound pretty decent and should offer some good choices for buyers not interested in top end devices.

AT&T continues to build 4g lte android portfolio with the addition of three smartphones and one tablet from Samsung

DALLAS, SEPT. 28, 2012 – AT&T*  and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile)1 announced three new 4G LTE Android™ smartphones– Galaxy Express™, Galaxy Rugby Pro™ and the Galaxy Note® II – and one new 4G LTE Android tablet, Galaxy Tab® 2 (10.1), available in the coming months.

Samsung Galaxy Express
First-time smartphone users will find their perfect match with the Samsung Galaxy Express, a 4G LTE smartphone that combines high performance features at a great price.  Galaxy Express runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and sports a clear and bright 4.5-inch Super AMOLED™ Plus screen.  The 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 2000 mAh battery helps users stay productive throughout the day; while the 5-megapixel rear facing camera lets you capture and share images easily through text messages, email and social networks.

Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro
An ideal mix of brains and brawn, the Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro gives customers with active lifestyles access to a 4G LTE smartphone that can handle whatever life throws at it.  The Rugby Pro is built to military specifications (810g specifications) and is waterproof**, shock resistant and dust proof.  It features a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display and a 5-megapixel rear facing camera that lets you record HD video in 720p.  Business customers can rest assured that in addition to being protected from every day wear and tear, Rugby Pro also comes with full device encryption and EAS corporate email support.  The device will have access to Enhanced Push-to-Talk functionality upon launch of the service.

Samsung Galaxy Note II
Announced earlier this month, Samsung Galaxy Note II continues to expand the popular category created by the Galaxy Note with improved battery life, a thinner and narrower design and enhancements to the S Pen™.  Arriving later this year running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), Galaxy Note II with 4G LTE combines the productivity of a tablet with the convenience of a smartphone and the S Pen features you need to unleash your creativity in a single device.  With a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display and 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos™ processor with integrated graphics processing unit (GPU), the Galaxy Note II provides PC-like processing power and advanced features like Popup Video, new Gallery views and great gaming performance in a truly pocketable device.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1”
This 4G LTE Android 4.0 tablet delivers entertainment and productivity to fit your whole life.  Galaxy Tab 2 10.1” offers a 10.1-inch display and premium entertainment options including Media Hub, Smart Remote and AllShare® Play.  Features like on-device encryption and VPN access ensure your tablet is secure for business use.  The 7000 mAh battery allows you to stay connected throughout the day.

AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network***, covering 275 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you may be on a much slower 3G network.

All of these devices will be available from AT&T in the coming months.

Samsung, Express, Note, Rugby Pro, Super AMOLED, Exynos, S Pen, and AllShare are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

1 Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q2 2012. Samsung Electronics Company is the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: Q2 2012.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
**Waterproof against incidental exposure to water when all ports (incl. USB and earphone ports) are tightly closed. NOT designed or intended for in water use. Submersible up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Waterproof based on IP57 rating.
***4G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

AT&T Android portfolio to grow with new Samsung devices including Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and other devices

In a joint announcement issued by AT&T and Samsung, the two shared information on some devices slated to be available “in the coming months” for AT&T’s 4G LTE network. The devices include three smartphones powered by Android and one tablet device.

Headlining the list of forthcoming devices is the Samsung Galaxy Note II, the eagerly awaited for successor to the Samsung Galaxy Note. Unveiled earlier this month, the “phablet” device will sport a 5.5-inch screen and a quad-core Exynos processor to power Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Samsung’s S-Pen apps.

Two other smartphones will be released as well, each targeting different markets. The Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro, designed for those with an active lifestyle, is built to military specifications. The waterproof, shock resistant, dust-proof device will probably appeal to outdoor workers as well. The device will have a 4-inch screen and access to advance push-to-talk services. The other phone is a Samsung Galaxy Express geared toward first time smartphone buyers. The Galaxy Express will have a 4.5-inch screen backed by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and a 2000 mAh battery powering Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Rounding out the joint press release is the impending release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 tablet for the AT&T 4G LTE network.

The specifications for the mid-range devices sound pretty decent and should offer some good choices for buyers not interested in top end devices.

AT&T continues to build 4g lte android portfolio with the addition of three smartphones and one tablet from Samsung

DALLAS, SEPT. 28, 2012 – AT&T*  and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile)1 announced three new 4G LTE Android™ smartphones– Galaxy Express™, Galaxy Rugby Pro™ and the Galaxy Note® II – and one new 4G LTE Android tablet, Galaxy Tab® 2 (10.1), available in the coming months.

Samsung Galaxy Express
First-time smartphone users will find their perfect match with the Samsung Galaxy Express, a 4G LTE smartphone that combines high performance features at a great price.  Galaxy Express runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and sports a clear and bright 4.5-inch Super AMOLED™ Plus screen.  The 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 2000 mAh battery helps users stay productive throughout the day; while the 5-megapixel rear facing camera lets you capture and share images easily through text messages, email and social networks.

Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro
An ideal mix of brains and brawn, the Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro gives customers with active lifestyles access to a 4G LTE smartphone that can handle whatever life throws at it.  The Rugby Pro is built to military specifications (810g specifications) and is waterproof**, shock resistant and dust proof.  It features a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display and a 5-megapixel rear facing camera that lets you record HD video in 720p.  Business customers can rest assured that in addition to being protected from every day wear and tear, Rugby Pro also comes with full device encryption and EAS corporate email support.  The device will have access to Enhanced Push-to-Talk functionality upon launch of the service.

Samsung Galaxy Note II
Announced earlier this month, Samsung Galaxy Note II continues to expand the popular category created by the Galaxy Note with improved battery life, a thinner and narrower design and enhancements to the S Pen™.  Arriving later this year running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), Galaxy Note II with 4G LTE combines the productivity of a tablet with the convenience of a smartphone and the S Pen features you need to unleash your creativity in a single device.  With a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display and 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos™ processor with integrated graphics processing unit (GPU), the Galaxy Note II provides PC-like processing power and advanced features like Popup Video, new Gallery views and great gaming performance in a truly pocketable device.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1”
This 4G LTE Android 4.0 tablet delivers entertainment and productivity to fit your whole life.  Galaxy Tab 2 10.1” offers a 10.1-inch display and premium entertainment options including Media Hub, Smart Remote and AllShare® Play.  Features like on-device encryption and VPN access ensure your tablet is secure for business use.  The 7000 mAh battery allows you to stay connected throughout the day.

AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network***, covering 275 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you may be on a much slower 3G network.

All of these devices will be available from AT&T in the coming months.

Samsung, Express, Note, Rugby Pro, Super AMOLED, Exynos, S Pen, and AllShare are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

1 Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q2 2012. Samsung Electronics Company is the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: Q2 2012.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
**Waterproof against incidental exposure to water when all ports (incl. USB and earphone ports) are tightly closed. NOT designed or intended for in water use. Submersible up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Waterproof based on IP57 rating.
***4G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

AT&T Android portfolio to grow with new Samsung devices including Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and other devices

In a joint announcement issued by AT&T and Samsung, the two shared information on some devices slated to be available “in the coming months” for AT&T’s 4G LTE network. The devices include three smartphones powered by Android and one tablet device.

Headlining the list of forthcoming devices is the Samsung Galaxy Note II, the eagerly awaited for successor to the Samsung Galaxy Note. Unveiled earlier this month, the “phablet” device will sport a 5.5-inch screen and a quad-core Exynos processor to power Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Samsung’s S-Pen apps.

Two other smartphones will be released as well, each targeting different markets. The Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro, designed for those with an active lifestyle, is built to military specifications. The waterproof, shock resistant, dust-proof device will probably appeal to outdoor workers as well. The device will have a 4-inch screen and access to advance push-to-talk services. The other phone is a Samsung Galaxy Express geared toward first time smartphone buyers. The Galaxy Express will have a 4.5-inch screen backed by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and a 2000 mAh battery powering Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Rounding out the joint press release is the impending release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 tablet for the AT&T 4G LTE network.

The specifications for the mid-range devices sound pretty decent and should offer some good choices for buyers not interested in top end devices.

AT&T continues to build 4g lte android portfolio with the addition of three smartphones and one tablet from Samsung

DALLAS, SEPT. 28, 2012 – AT&T*  and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile)1 announced three new 4G LTE Android™ smartphones– Galaxy Express™, Galaxy Rugby Pro™ and the Galaxy Note® II – and one new 4G LTE Android tablet, Galaxy Tab® 2 (10.1), available in the coming months.

Samsung Galaxy Express
First-time smartphone users will find their perfect match with the Samsung Galaxy Express, a 4G LTE smartphone that combines high performance features at a great price.  Galaxy Express runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and sports a clear and bright 4.5-inch Super AMOLED™ Plus screen.  The 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 2000 mAh battery helps users stay productive throughout the day; while the 5-megapixel rear facing camera lets you capture and share images easily through text messages, email and social networks.

Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro
An ideal mix of brains and brawn, the Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro gives customers with active lifestyles access to a 4G LTE smartphone that can handle whatever life throws at it.  The Rugby Pro is built to military specifications (810g specifications) and is waterproof**, shock resistant and dust proof.  It features a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display and a 5-megapixel rear facing camera that lets you record HD video in 720p.  Business customers can rest assured that in addition to being protected from every day wear and tear, Rugby Pro also comes with full device encryption and EAS corporate email support.  The device will have access to Enhanced Push-to-Talk functionality upon launch of the service.

Samsung Galaxy Note II
Announced earlier this month, Samsung Galaxy Note II continues to expand the popular category created by the Galaxy Note with improved battery life, a thinner and narrower design and enhancements to the S Pen™.  Arriving later this year running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), Galaxy Note II with 4G LTE combines the productivity of a tablet with the convenience of a smartphone and the S Pen features you need to unleash your creativity in a single device.  With a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display and 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos™ processor with integrated graphics processing unit (GPU), the Galaxy Note II provides PC-like processing power and advanced features like Popup Video, new Gallery views and great gaming performance in a truly pocketable device.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1”
This 4G LTE Android 4.0 tablet delivers entertainment and productivity to fit your whole life.  Galaxy Tab 2 10.1” offers a 10.1-inch display and premium entertainment options including Media Hub, Smart Remote and AllShare® Play.  Features like on-device encryption and VPN access ensure your tablet is secure for business use.  The 7000 mAh battery allows you to stay connected throughout the day.

AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network***, covering 275 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you may be on a much slower 3G network.

All of these devices will be available from AT&T in the coming months.

Samsung, Express, Note, Rugby Pro, Super AMOLED, Exynos, S Pen, and AllShare are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

1 Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q2 2012. Samsung Electronics Company is the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: Q2 2012.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
**Waterproof against incidental exposure to water when all ports (incl. USB and earphone ports) are tightly closed. NOT designed or intended for in water use. Submersible up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Waterproof based on IP57 rating.
***4G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

Ice Cream Sandwich Coming to Verizon’s Galaxy Tab 10.1

It’s been a long time coming, but the wait is over for owners of Verizon’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 to get their taste of Ice Cream Sandwich. An over-the-air update is rolling out now that will bring Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich to Verizon’s Galaxy Tab 10.1. The update brings long-awaited features such as Android 4.0 Zero Shutter Lag, Pinch to Zoom, face detection, and an improved picture gallery just to name a few. The only thing left for owners of Verizon’s Tab 10.1 to do is patiently wait for their upgrade prompt, or if you want to see if you can manually pull it, just go to Settings/About Tablet/System Update. Hit the break for the full list of updates that the upgrade will include.

 

• Applied Android Ice Cream (ICS) OS upgrade to 4.0.4.
• Pinch to Zoom functionality has been added in homescreen and main menu screen.
• Google Plus has been integrated.
• Google Text-To-Speech Engine has been integrated in the upgrade.
• In Email search menu, search criteria by date, sender & title.
• In Email Composer, ‘undo’ and ‘redo’ options have been added.
• A quick response message may be quickly inserted into the body while composing a message.
• Initiate a ‘New Meeting Invitation’ for Exchange accounts.
• Redesigned Gallery app with photo editor includes:
• More ways to sort albums by time, location, people and tags.
• Photo studio that allows users to crop and rotate pictures, set levels and remove red eyes.
• Improved Picture Gallery widget lets users look at pictures directly on their home screen.
• Rich and versatile camera capabilities including:
• Android 4.0 Zero shutter lag exposure.
• Continuous focus
• Built-in face detection to locate faces in the frame and automatically set focus
• Stabilized image zoom.
• Single-motion panorama.
• Apps can now set custom metering regions in a camera preview.
• Wi-Fi Direct support by Android platform.
• Android 4.0 introduces built-in support for connecting to Bluetooth Health Device Profile (HDP) devices. With support from third-party apps, users can connect to wireless medical devices and sensors in hospitals, fitness centers, homes and elsewhere.

source:  Verizon Wireless

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review: This time it’s a tablet

The Galaxy Note was a huge success despite many critics saying it was too big. Many wondered if it was a phone or a tablet. Some even called it a phablet, but it didn’t matter because sales were much stronger than anticipated. It’s no surprise that Samsung would try to capitalize on that success by coming out with a full-fledged tablet. Samsung is promising the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet is a multitasking powerhouse with features you won’t find on any other device. Is it original enough, do these features actually work, and do you need them? Hit the break to find out, but you can also check out our hands on from the launch event here.

Design

There’s no mistaking the Galaxy Note 10.1 is a Samsung product because it’s plastic and it’s shiny. It also resembles the design of the Galaxy Note 2 10.1, but with more shine based on my memory. I personally don’t like the shiny plastic so it’s not the most aesthetically appealing tablet. In fact, it was so shiny that it was nearly impossible to take photos of it because of the constant glare. If this were a cheaper tablet, I wouldn’t mind at all, but since it’s priced at $499, I’m having a hard time with it.

Most of the ports and buttons are at the top, which include (from left to right) the power button, volume up/down, microSD slot (with cover), IR port, and microphone jack. The bottom has the proprietary charging port and on the back, you will find the camera lens, while the front has the front-facing camera. The highlight of the design is the speakers. Just like the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, you will find the speakers on the front face with the left one to the left of the display and the right one to the right of the display. This creates the best separation and sound experience possible.

The S Pen fits neatly in it’s holder at the bottom right. In fact, if I gave you the Note 10.1, and you didn’t know it had an S Pen, you might not even realize it was there for weeks.

The Note 10.1 comes in at 8.9mm thick and weighs 597 grams, which is inline with high-end tablets.

 

Hardware

The Galaxy Note 10.1 features a 10.1-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) LCD display, a 1.4GHz Exynos quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 5MP rear camera, 1.9MP front camera, choice of 16GB or 32GB of storage, microSD slot for up to an additional 32GB of storage, 7,000mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi, WiFi Direct, USB 2.0 Host, mHL, and iR LED.

Performance

The Galaxy Note 10.1 performs very well as it should with a quad-core Exynos processor and 2GB of RAM. You will have a hard time finding any hesitation when swiping through home screens, playing games, or running any other apps. The real question is how it performs when running two apps side-by-side on the screen (more on this later)? It actually does a pretty good job. Initially Samsung’s plan was for this tab was to sport a dual-core processor, and I think it was smart to delay the launch in favor of a quad-core.

You will find a lot of complaints in other reviews about the display, but I’m not sure why. WXGA has been a standard for 10-inch displays for a while now so this is no different. Will it blow you away? Absolutely not, but unless you’re a major connoisseur of displays, you won’t have an issue.

The accompanied S Pen is what makes the Galaxy Note 10.1 different from other tablets. Many consumers will call this a stylus, but it’s far from that. A stylus can’t tell the difference between how hard or light you’re pressing on the display, but the S Pen can thanks to Wacom technology. You can see what I mean in our hands on video. Of course this might not be all that important for simple notes, but if you want to do any serious drawing or anything artistic, it’s very important. This year’s S Pen has a better design and is definitely an upgrade. Things have come a long way since the Palm Pilot days.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 speakers performed very well. The fact that they are placed at opposite sides of the display is what makes it so pleasing. Not only is the sound directed towards the user, but it also gives you the best possible separation.

Battery

I ran my usual video rundown test in which I run continuous video while the display is turned up to about 2/3′s. I was able to get just about 9 hours and 30 minutes. This is a little lower than I would have liked, but I can’t complain. It certainly isn’t a deal breaker as most people should be able to live with that amount of time.

Software

The Galaxy Note 10.1 features TouchWiz on top of Ice Cream Sandwich, but that’s only part of the story. Samsung has a unique UI in that the Note 10.1 allows you to truly multitask. Android in itself does allow you to multitask by simply switching between apps, but the Note 10.1 allows you to display two apps at the same time (only compatible ones). For example, you can have the S Note application open on the left part of the screen, while the the Browser is open on the right. This allows you to look up things at the same time. You could also have the Gallery open on the right side so that you can crop part of a picture and drag it into your S Note. You can see how this works in our hands on video. Compatible apps that you can do this with are S Note, the Browser, the stock Email app, Gallery, Polaris Office, and the stock Video Player. It’s pretty slick, but I do have to ask myself how many times you will really need this?

Samsung also included PhotoShop Touch (a $9.99 value) and it’s S Pen optimized. There are so many things you can do with the PS Touch app that it’s overwhelming. Thankfully they included a bunch of tutorials that walk you through the process. I would say the tutorials are pretty good, but not great. Maybe I was just dense, but I had a hard time following a couple of them.

I mentioned the S Note app above, and that’s what you will use for most of your notes and journals. It works similar to the original Note’s S Note app, but they added a few things like auto shapes. If you draw a circle, it will automatically clean it up so it looks more uniform. It will also find answers to formulas that you jot down. If you don’t want your handwriting to show up on the page, you can easily convert it to cleaner text as well. Again this is all cool, but it’s not always easy to make things look good. For example, lining up text correctly on each line isn’t an easy task and editing is also a challenge at times.

Samsung also included the Kno Textbook App, which makes this ideal for students because they can purchase their textbooks. Each book has interactive 3D models and videos. You can easily highlight words or even look up the meanings of words quickly. There’s no question that eventually every child will go to school with a tablet as opposed to carrying textbooks, but the question is if the Kno app carries enough books? At this time, there are about 200,000 books, which seems like a lot, but then again it might not be. I also wonder how teachers will feel if you walk into their classroom with a tablet instead of the book. For some schools that have adopted tablets, that won’t be a problem, but for others, I suspect teachers might have an issue. As far as Android goes, the Kno app is only compatible with the Note 10.1, so if it’s something you desire, than this is the tablet for you.

Samsung continues the tradition of including the Peel Smart Remote app. It’s a really nice app that lets you control your home theater system as well as browse what’s on TV. I did a quick hands on with the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus so you can check it out below. It starts at about 4:20 in.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The full list of S Pen optimized apps installed on the device include: Crayon Physics, Kno Textbooks, Polaris Office, Adobe PhotoShop Touch, S Note, and S Planner. There are a lot more S Pen optimized apps available on Google Play or by going through the Samsung Apps Store / S Suggest.

The Note 10.1 also features many of the newer Samsung-only apps that were introduced in the Galaxy S III such as Popup Video, AllShare, and Share Shot.

Camera

Samsung threw in a 5MP shooter in the rear and a 1.9MP lens in the front. If you’ve read any of my previous tablet reviews, you know I don’t generally review the camera unless it’s an extraordinary offering. The camera in a tablet will most likely only be used in emergency situations, and if you find yourself in that situation, the Note 10.1 will get the job done. The front facing 1.9MP lens is definitely adequate for any of your video chatting needs.

Closing

You will have a hard time finding a positive review or a recommendation to buy the Galaxy Note 10.1. This is a tablet that is priced at $499, which isn’t cheap, but it really isn’t for the mainstream. To me it’s for the people that really like to create. If I were one of those people, I would probably buy it, but I’m not. Samsung pre-installed a lot of cool features that you won’t find on any other tablet, but I just don’t think that it will be useful to most people. There is a big difference between cool and useful.

We all know the Galaxy Note was very successful and the Galaxy Note II will probably be as well, but those are different devices. The Galaxy Note (and Galaxy Note II) is a phone that isn’t priced much higher than other high-end phones. I think most of the success of the Galaxy Note was because of the display size, and not the S Pen. Yes, the S Pen is cool, but I just don’t think that most people bother with it. I’m not basing that on anything other than my own feeling. Assuming that’s the case, why buy a tablet version of the same product? Unless you really are certain you will utilize the S Pen, there is no need to spend $500 on it just because. If you are a creative and think you will really utilize what the S Pen offers, than I have no problem recommending the Galaxy Note 10.1 to you. Is it perfect? Absolutely not, but it’s the only product of this kind, and it will continue to evolve. I just think this tablet is geared to a very small niche market, even though Samsung probably feels its more of a mainstream device. If you really want a 10-inch tablet and you know that the S Pen will probably stay in the slot more often than not, I would recommend the ASUS Transformer Pad TF300. All the specs are equal or better, it has already been upgraded to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and you will save $100.

Buzz Terms:

• note 10 1 xda
• polaris office for note 10 1

Judge Koh sets December 6th date for hearing on Apple’s injunction on 8 US Samsung devices

Judge Lucy Koh has set the date for the Samsung vs. Apple hearing in which Apple wants 8 Samsung smartphones to be banned in the US. On December 6th both Samsung and Apple will be at it again in court, and as usual, Samsung will be defending themselves as Apple seeks to block sales of several of the Korean maker’s top selling US handsets. Samsung will also be busy on September 20th as they’re working on lifting the ban that’s currently on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Considering the jurors found that the Tab 10.1 was not infringing upon Apple’s patents, I would imagine that the ban should be lifted. Then again, I’m no lawyer so we’ll see how that turns out.

This has been such a long and tiring road. I can only imagine the stress this has put on Samsung. I’m sure we’ll all be tuning into our Twitter feeds come December 6th.

source: MSNBC

Samsung plans to fight injunctions using ‘all necessary measures’

After receiving a guilty verdict last week, Samsung faces the possibility of having several of its device banned in the United States. Today, the company has promised to fight Apple’s attempt to ban these devices, saying “we will take all necessary measures to ensure the availability of our products in the U.S. market.”

A spokesman for the company told reporters that Samsung’s options included filing to stop the injunction, appealing if the judge grants it, and modifying its infringing products. It’s also been reported that Samsung officials have already begun discussing with wireless carriers about the potential need to remove or modify existing features that violate Apple’s IP in order to keep the products on the market. This would be the case with smartphones like the Galaxy S II, which is still being sold by several major US carriers.

The general consensus is that Judge Koh is likely to grant Apple’s request for injunction, considering she already granted a preliminary injunction against Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1. Despite this, Samsung has confirmed that it would file post-trial motions asking for a stay on the preliminary injunction, potentially overturning the decision.

At this point, Samsung is talking a lot, but isn’t providing any evidence to back up its strategy. With substantial funding and quality R&D, there’s always the possibility that the company can tweak aspects of its software to avoid infringement. However, a majority of the products violate Apple’s design patents and trade dress which puts Samsung at a crossroads. The initial hearing is set for September 20th, so it won’t be much longer until we find out which path the company chooses.

Source: Wall Street Journal