Samsung pushes Galaxy Note ICS update to Q2, tosses in S-Pen “Premium Suite”

Well Galaxy Note owners, it looks like you’re going to have a slightly longer wait than you’d hoped to get Ice Cream Sandwich running on your phabulous phablets. Samsung’s Korean division announced that they’re delaying the release of the official Android 4.0 release for the Galaxy Note to sometime in the second quarter, putting it somewhere between a few weeks and three months away from now. This sort of thing isn’t really surprising given Samsung’s track record, though the relatively timely update of the Galaxy S II had us hoping that ICS would be coming to the Note sooner rather than later.

To help soften the blow, Sammy also announced that it would be throwing in a “Premium Suite” of new applications designed for use with the S-Pen stylus. These include My Story, a sort of digital postcard app, Shape Match, an engine that can recognize geometric shapes drawn on the screen, and formula match, a heuristic app that will recognize and solve standard mathematics equations written with the S-Pen. Oh, and Samsung was quick to remind its users that they’ll have access to 30 exclusive levels of Angry Birds Space when it launches  today.
All that’s fine and dandy, but I’m sure that most advanced Galaxy Note users would much prefer to have an up-to-date OS rather than a few new included apps, especially considering how many are already on the device. Even waiting until the end of the second quarter wouldn’t put the Note too far behind the rest of the pack, at least by the lackadaisical standards of manufacturer Android updates, but it’s still disappointing to see a flagship premium device go without a much-needed update for so long. US readers, note that this announcement is directed at owners of the international Galaxy Note – AT&T’s LTE version will likely be at lest a month or two behind its GSM brother.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Galaxy Note

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : September 01, 2011

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 5.30 Inch
• Resolution : 800x1280
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.78 Inch
• Width : 3.27 Inch
• Depth : 0.38 Inch
• Weight : 178 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : 390 hours

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AMR
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)
• WMV

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU :

CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 32.768 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 becomes US Cellular’s first LTE device

Verizon and AT&T get the most ink for their super-fast LTE networks in the US, but they aren’t alone. Regional carrier US Cellular has been working on gaining a foothold for LTE in various markets, and the tried-and-tested Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be the first device to take advantage of it. The Android Honeycomb tablet is launching on the network’s website and in retail stores today. The price is $499 with the 5GB data plan or $599 with the 200MB plan, both after a $100 mail-in rebate, but there’s a special introductory price of $399 at the moment.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is getting a little long in the tooth, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less of an excellent device. The 10.1-inch LCD screen uses a resolution of 1280×800 to display Samsung’s TouchWiz-skinned version of Android 3.2, with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and a full gigabyte of RAM powering it. The US Cellular version is getting the larger 32GB storage capacity, a blessing since there’s no MicroSD card slot. The rear camera is just 3.2 megapixels, but still manages 720p recording.
US Cellular’s LTE network is only in a handful of markets in Texas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina and Iowa at the moment, but of course the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will work on the carrier’s 3G network as well. The Samsung Galaxy S Aviator (AKA a re-branded version of the DROID Charge) should follow on the network in a few weeks at most, for those who want their speed in a smaller package. Head on over to US Cellar’s website if you’re interested.

Galaxy Tab 8.9 on sale at Best Buy for $349 – Free keyboard dock too

The popular Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is on sale over at Best Buy today, but that isn’t the only thing special about this deal. Not only do you get an awesome Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet, surely to be updated to 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich soon, but they are tossing in the $79 dollar Samsung keyboard dock absolutely free.


The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 features an impressive 1280 x 800 resolution IPS display, dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and comes with front and rear facing cameras. Powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 processor you’ll be speeding through THD games and enjoying HD video. The free keyboard dock has quick shortcuts for apps, games, browser and more and is a great addition to your tablet — especially for free.

The tablet currently runs on Android 3.2 Honeycomb but just a few weeks ago Samsung confirmed that the 8.9 tablet would be seeing Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich “soon” along with the other tablets and the Galaxy Note. The Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi model usually runs $399 but can be yours for only $349 from Best Buy along with the free keyboard dock and even free shipping. This deal appears to be online only but I’d run down to my nearest Best Buy and give it a try too.
Best Buy link

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : GALAXY Tab 8.9

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : March 22, 2011

Release Date : October 02, 2011

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 8.9 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x800
• Screen Type : TFT

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 9.09 Inch
• Width : 6.21 Inch
• Depth : 0.34 Inch
• Weight : 470 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Polymer

• Battery Capacity : 6100 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 3.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : T250S

CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 65.536 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Galaxy Tab 11.6 hiding on Samsung’s own website

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 11.6-inch model is nothing more than a rumor for now. Previous rumors suggested this tablet would be coming with a retina or better quality display, and be Samsung’s next flagship tablet with an impressive and high resolution Super AMOLED HD screen and more. While these are only still rumors at this point a new picture over on Samsung.com has us wondering again.


I was skeptical at first after seeing this picture, but after taking a few things into consideration I’ve changed my mind. At first glance for those familiar with Samsung’s legal battles with Apple, you’d see this and say it is the Galaxy Tab 10.1 N from the German markets. The redesigned original Galaxy Tab 10.1, but there are a few things that lead me to think otherwise. According to AndroidandMe the picture was spotted on Samsung.com on the Samsung Exynos 5 dual-core processors product page. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 and N are dual-core Tegra 2 powered tablets. Not Samsung’s new and upcoming Cortex-A15 dual-core 5250.

The image above clearly shows it being promoted with the new 5250 and not the older Tegra 2 processor. While the design is similar to the 10.1N this appears to be something different. The speaker grills are slightly larger, and it looks pretty long — possibly an 11.6″ tablet.
Samsung recently announced the Galaxy Tab 2 in a 10″ model and the Galaxy Note 10.1 also. Both of those as we saw at MWC (and linked to below) come with a darker color aluminum and a much larger speaker grill, leading us to believe the image above isn’t those either. The chances that is indeed a new 11.6″ model is possible, running on the still unreleased Samsung Exynos dual-core 5250 or possibly even their quad-core processor that we are expecting to see in the Galaxy S III.
For now this is all just speculation and could quite possibly be a mockup or placeholder image, or that could be the next Galaxy Tab, in an 11.6-inch size that has been hiding under plain sight. If Samsung does release a brand new quad-core or fast dual-core 11.6 tablet with a 2560 x 1600 resolution and 16:10 screen ratio, running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich I’ll be getting my wallet out really fast.

Galaxy Note ICS update and 'premium suite' teased in official video

As you may have heard, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is coming to the international Samsung Galaxy Note. But that's not all -- ICS will arrive as part of a "premium suite" for the Note, which includes a host of new S Pen enhancements. Today Sammy's released an official promo video showing off what's new in this upcoming software update.
As we see in the video, this pack includes a re-vamped S Note application, capable of including rich content like video and multiple font styles and sizes. There's also a new shape match and formula match feature, which matches shapes and symbols you draw, allowing more complex types of notes to be taken. Similar enhancements have been made to the S Memo and mail apps.
We should also mention that the version of ICS shown off in the video is skinned with Samsung's TouchWiz UI, rather than the bizarre half-stock, half-TouchWiz launcher that emerged a day or so ago. No surprises there, as far as we're concerned.
Finally, international Note owners will get Angry Birds Space pre-loaded, along with 30 special Galaxy Note themed levels. The ICS update and premium suite for the international Note are due to land sometime during the second quarter of the year. Roll-out plans for the AT&T Galaxy Note have yet to be revealed.
Join us after the break for Samsung's preview video.

YouTube link for mobile viewing

Samsung previews S-Pen “Premium Suite” apps and Android 4.0 on Galaxy Note

Yesterday Samsung announced the upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the Galaxy Note was going to be a little. Along with the announcement was information about a new “Premium Suite” of apps specifically for the note and its impressive S-Pen stylus. We now have a video from Samsung showing us all what we can expect when the update arrives.


In the video spotted on Samsung’s YouTube channel we get a preview of multiple awesome new S-Pen applications, and how Android 4.0 ICS will look on the Note. Android 4.0 builds have leaked in the past so it isn’t anything extremely new but the S-Pen suite of apps sure are. The digital postcard and My Story apps look quite impressive and we can’t wait to try them out.
The Galaxy Note was already one of our favorite devices — especially if you can get over the sheer size of the device. Adding in even more awesome applications to compliment one of its better features in the stylus is a good move. While some still don’t see its usefulness for those that use it daily, this will be an awesome update. Once the 4.0 ICS update starts rolling out we’ll be sure to check out the new features and let you know what we think.
Here’s to hoping the update comes sometime soon and doesn’t suffer any further delays or issues. The Note is shaping up to be a pretty great device.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : GALAXY Note LTE

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : January 09, 2012

Release Date : February 19, 2012

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 5.3 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x800
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.78 Inch
• Width : 3.27 Inch
• Depth : 0.38 Inch
• Weight : 183 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : 250 hours

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : MSM8660

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Samsung Exynos 5 dual-core to support USB 3.0 and more

Samsung and their Galaxy S III have both been a hot topic lately. With little details on the phone, or the rumored quad-core processor that will be under the hood. While we are still hopeful for any quad-core the new Samsung Exnyos 5 dual-core looks quite impressive too. New details are confirming support for high-res displays and even USB 3.0 and more.


First off I wanted to mention USB 3.0 as that isn’t talked about much in the mobile space. Obviously this is still relatively new and not very widely adopted on PC’s even though it was released in 2008. USB 3.0 would greatly increase charging speeds as it offers over twice the rating that 2.0 offers. Getting all that into a micro-USB connector might not be too easy, but I’d love to fully charge my phone twice as fast. Who wouldn’t? Maybe we will see this on some tablets in the future?
Most of the new details on Samsung’s Exynos 5 dual-core SoC aren’t all that new over the quad-core chip, and is pretty technical that won’t make sense for most users. What it comes down to us Samsung’s next-gen processors will be fast, blazing fast. Using two, or four Cortex A15 chips rather than the older, more power hungry A9′s like the Tegra 3 we could see some impressive results from Samsung. Qualcomm has taken the same route with their S4 processors but Tegra 3 and its 4 cores is still leading the pack for now. Not to mention already here and widely available.
For all the dirty details and numbers hit the via link below. What it comes down to is the Exynos 5 dual-core supports USB and SATA 3.0 standards, offers support for huge resolutions like 2560×1600, reaches speeds around 2.0 GHz, and could potentially have performance that beats both the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core, and Qualcomm’s new and unreleased similar dual-core processor. I can’t wait to see the Exynos 5 and the Galaxy S III.

Android Central on the judging panel for the Galaxy Note S Pen App Challenge

Samsung recently announced their Galaxy Note S Pen App Challenge -- say that 10 times fast -- encouraging development for their 5.3-behemoth and its stylus S Pen. They're still in the submission period for interested developers, but the details on just who will be on the judging panel have emerged. 

We've got a representative from Samsung, someone from Gameloft, BlueRun Ventures and even the AT&T VP of Consumer Marketing. Not bad, but sitting top of that list -- and no, we're sure it isn't because everything is in alphabetical order on who they work for -- is our very own Mr. Phil Nickinson.

That's right, folks, AC is on the panel, and will be involved in making one lucky developer very happy. About $100,000 happy to be precise. There is of course a judging criteria, and apps will be judged upon the quality of the idea, the implementation of the idea and overall user experience. Cash bribes sent to Phil will have absolutely no influence whatsoever.

Orange UK targeting April for Galaxy S II ICS update

Earlier this week, Orange UK wasn't too sure when it's be rolling out the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for Samsung Galaxy S II phones on its network, but now it appears the carrier has a release window in mind. Crave​ reports that Orange now intends to release the update sometime in April, putting it on par with O2, which is planning a similar timeframe for its own ICS roll-out.
Some unbranded UK Galaxy S II's started being updated from this Monday, March 19. While Three UK customers are currently being updated through Kies, T-Mobile and Vodafone have yet to commit to any timeframe for their own releases.

Samsung Mobile's VP of Design responds to accusations of copying Apple

In a recent interview with news outlet Reuters, Samsung Mobile's vice president of design, Lee Minhyouk, shed some light on the Korean manufacturer's recent rise to the top of the smartphone heap. Tracing the ascent back to the (dark) days of the Omnia, Lee detailed the origins of the company's first major splash in the swimming pool, the OG Galaxy, which he says grew out of the lessons learned from the failed Omnia.
More interesting than the history of the Galaxy line, however, is Lee's defense against accusations that it blatantly ripped off Apple's design model. Having sold over 44 million Galaxys since its launch, Lee says that the product is steeped in Samsung's "technology, color, and design language."

I've made thousands of sketches and hundreds of prototype products (for the Galaxy). Does that mean I was putting on a mock show for so long, pretending to be designing?

While Lee admits that he isn't at the level of expertise as the big-wigs over in Cupertino, he is confident that Samsung will eventually create a product to "define our time," and he hopes that he's at the helm when it happens.

It's not just effort that makes it possible for a new product to be a massive hit. It also has to be timely, and technology should be ready to make a certain design a reality.

Anonymous User Shows Samsung GT-i9300 Strutting Its Stuff, Perhaps A Real Build Of The Upcoming Galaxy S III Smartphone?

Ladies and gents, we’ve got yet another piece of news regarding the ever-growing Samsung GT-i9300 pandemonium. Here, an anonymous user came out and shared a photo of what he or she claims to be an official rendering of the GT-i9300. When we last saw this mysterious GT-i9300 device, it appeared in a GLBenchmark test showing the device featured a 720p display and Android 4.0.3. As you can see here, this leaked photo of the GT-i9300 device has a solid build and design similar to the previous Galaxy S models, while also featuring what looks to be an Ice Cream Sandwich build topped off with a sexier version of the TouchWiz UI (including an some Sammy-specific productivity apps). Also— if you look carefully folks, we see the same on-screen virtual buttons found on the GT-i9250 model— aka the Galaxy Nexus. This may explain what seems to be the phone’s massive screen size, perhaps a 4.7-inch screen as we previously reported?
One final item of note is the placement of the Samsung logo. The manufacturer has decided to move the logo to the bottom of the smartphone, which aside from a handful of U.S. carriers placing the logo on the bottom of a Samsung device— had not been done previously. Talk about Sammy making a radical decision.
This latest leak sure is a doozy and whatever Samsung device this is, it sure is mouthwatering. Let’s hope this supposed GT-i9300 phone is in fact the actual Galaxy S III smartphone. What do you all think? Thumbs up or thumbs down? Let us know in the Comments section.

Angry Birds Space Now Available, Exclusive Content for Samsung Galaxy Devices

Well folks the wait is over as Angry Birds Space has finally landed in the Google Play store and Amazon App Store. As you probably already know by now, this is the latest release from the Rovio team and brings completely new bird mechanics with the addition of gravitational force. The game is available as a free ad-supported version in the Google Play store and a $0.99 add-free version is currently limited to the Amazon App Store. For those with a Kindle Fire you can get an HD version through Amazon for $2.99. Don’t forget, those with a Samsung Galaxy devices get access to 30 exclusive levels.
Even if you don’t have a Samsung device you really need to check this game out. I had a lot of fun playing it and it’s a fresh new take on the game we all fell in love with long ago. Jump past the break for download links.

Samsung Announces ICS Update Arriving In Q2, Will Include “Premium Suite” Of Software Goodies

If you’re a Samsung Galaxy Note owner, you may have been looking forward to this news for a long time. Sammy has announced it will offer a “Premium Suite software upgrade” in Q2 for owners of that device. The upgrade will not only bring extra multimedia features and a range of S Pen-optimized applications, it will bring Ice Cream Sandwich to the device as well.
Of course most of you will care solely about the addition of Android 4.0. That means users will be treated to not only a redesigned UI, but they’ll be treated to an assortment of features including Facial Unlock, Snapshot and of course the full use of Android Beam. Android Beam will be especially welcome since you can you know, share music and stuff with your Galaxy Nexus bretheren.
The Galaxy Note-exclusive apps are intriguing ones too. For starters, there’s the S Note application which “lets you combine your notes or sketches with other digital content, giving you a new way to create your own stories.” Then there’s My Story which “allows you to create personalized digital cards for friends or family using any type of content including notes, video content, photos, text or voice.” And finally, of course– there’s Angry Birds Space which you’ve been salivating over for some time now. That means soon enough, you won’t be teased anymore and you’ll finally be able to play the exciting game using the S Pen and of course, play the Galaxy Note-exclusive level.
Hit the break for the full presser from Sammy.

 

Samsung offers Premium Suite software upgrade for GALAXY Note users

March 22, 2012
Software package offers exclusive S Pen applications, enhanced multimedia features, and an Android 4.0 upgrade
SEOUL, Korea – March 22, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today announced it will be offering a Premium Suite upgrade for GALAXY Note users worldwide from Q2. It includes extra multimedia features and a range of new S Pen optimized applications in addition to an OS upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
The Premium Suite offers new features and applications exclusive to GALAXY Note and its innovative S Pen, which includes S Note, a unique tool that lets you combine your notes or sketches with other digital content, giving you a new way to create your own stories. S Note comes in various ready-to-use templates for a range of tasks including meeting minutes, diary and others.
S Note also includes the innovative Shape Match and Formula Match applications that help correct and digitize geometric shapes and even solve numeric formulas hand-drawn with S Pen, increasing your on-the-go efficiency and productivity. You can draw tables and grids which are instantly digitized, saving time and effort. Moreover, by using the S Note’s integrated knowledge search engines, users can quickly search, and obtain information.
For a touch of self-expression, the Premium Suite also includes My Story, another S Pen optimized application that allows you to create personalized digital cards for friends or family using any type of content including notes, video content, photos, text or voice.
In celebration of the Premium Suite upgrade announcement, Samsung will provide special offers to all GALAXY users as an official launch partner of Angry Birds Space, the newest Angry Birds game from Rovio Entertainment. For all Samsung GALAXY users, an exclusive GALAXY Note level will be provided for extra fun. Moreover, a special package of 30 challenging levels – ‘Danger Zone’ – will be available for free if unpacked within the three-month period. Visit http://samsung.angrybirds.com/galaxynote  for more information.
“GALAXY Note continues to delight customers all over the world with its incredible versatility and unique user experience. With the Premium Suite upgrade, we wanted to add features that enrich users’ Note experience even more, including the great advantages of Android 4.0 and innovative applications for S Pen,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “We are committed to providing extraordinary experiences for consumers, and we will continue to provide new features and upgrades to enrich our offering.”
The Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade brings an entirely new look and feel to Android on GALAXY Note, with a more intuitive user interface that includes a redesigned App menu for easier multi-tasking. The upgrade also introduces innovations such as Face Unlock, Snapshot, Android Beam and others.
The availability and scheduling of the software upgrade will vary by market and wireless carriers’ requirements.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 222,000 people in 205 offices across 71 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit  www.samsung.com.

[Deal] 16GB, unlocked, Docomo branded Galaxy Nexus (i9250) for $459.50 at Negri Electronics

Here’s your chance to save $290 on an unlocked, 16GB Galaxy Nexus. Negri Electronics is selling the unlocked Galaxy Nexus for $459.50. This is a sweet deal, and you can feel better if you missed out on the temporary Daily Steal yesterday.
There are a couple of details to take note of: there will be a small NTT Docomo logo on the back cover. Also, this is the Yakju build, and will have Android 4.0.2. Hit up the link below to order your own Galaxy Nexus.

[Deal] Galaxy Tab 8.9 down to only $349, free keyboard dock thrown in

Have you been waiting to get your hands on the ultra popular Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9? Well there’s never been a better time to pick up Samsung‘s sexy slate as Best Buy has just slashed the price of the 16GB model to only $349. Futhermore, for a limited time, they will also be throwing in the official keyboard dock absolutely free. Now that’s a bargain if ever we heard one.
Before you grab your car keys and make a dash for the door we should point out that the deal is on-line only. Check out the full details below and hit the link to get you order in.

Samsung Teases Galaxy Note ICS Update and Premium Suite

Hot off the heels of Samsung’s announcement of the Premium Suite and Android 4.0 update for the international Galaxy Note comes this detailed teaser video showcasing the forthcoming software update. The Premium Suite will include many new S Pen enhancements, an update to the S Note app that includes the ability to add video and change font styles and sizes, and shape match and formula match, which automatically matches shapes and symbols you draw. Updates to S Memo and email have also been included.
The update includes the full-on TouchWiz launcher and skin, unlike the TouchWiz-free mockup Samsung used in a contest graphic yesterday. Also, Angry Birds Space will come pre-installed and will include 30 exclusive levels for Galaxy Note users.
So when is it coming? The best we get is Q2 of this year for the international update. No update plans have yet been released for the AT&T version. Hopefully it won’t take too long to come to the States.

Orange UK Confirms Samsung Galaxy S II Will Get In April

 

Well we know that ICS for the UK versions of Samsung Galaxy S II devices are on the way, but aside from Three UK pushing the update out officially— we hadn’t heard too much detail from mobile carriers highlighting when owners of the device would get the update. Mobile carrier Orange UK has finally come out and confirmed the update will arrive on devices in April, though it stopped short of indicating when exactly it will arrive. That means owners of the smartphone won’t know if they’ll get new features such as Facial Unlock until next week at the earliest, though it could be as late as the end of next month.
It could be worse for you Orange UK subscribers— other carriers such as T-Mobile UK and Vodafone hasn’t even specified to its customers when the updates will arrive on their devices. Here’s hoping you all on Orange UK will get the update (much) sooner than later.

Will Samsung Unveil the Galaxy S III at March 30th Phones 4U Event? Probably Not

Well what have we here? It looks like Samsung has a some sort of event planned next week at the flagship Phones 4U store in London. Pictures taken by a passerby show that something is going to happen on the 30th of March but other than that it’s a complete mystery. Could this be a sign that the Galaxy S III is merely only a week away? Or is it something else? The store in which this display is located is actually the flagship shop in which Samsung chose to exclusively sell the Galaxy Nexus at launch… Coincidence? It seems rather unlikely for the retailer to make such a big fuss and include a date if it was only going to be an announcement of some kind but it surely isn’t the GSIII is it? Thankfully it’s only a wait of seven days before we know exactly what the heck is going on.
What are your thoughts? Do you think it’s time for the GSIII to see the light of day, or is it too soon? Let us know in the comments below and as always, we will fill you in if we learn anything new.

Verizon Wireless Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE review

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 was announced last September and has been available overseas for quite a few months. It finally made it’s way to the U.S. as the latest 4G LTE tablet on Verizon Wireless. There’s certainly no shortage of tablets available, but if your next tablet purchase has to have LTE connectivity, your choices are more limited. If you’re looking for a mid-sized tablet with solid LTE coverage, you really only have two choices; this one or the DROID XYBOARD 8.2. This is my full review, but you can also check out my initial hands on as well.
Design
The first thing you notice when you pick up the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is it’s thin. It’s one of the thinnest tablets in the world as it comes in at 7.9mm thick. That’s 1mm thinner than the DROID XYBOARD 8.2. It’s also very light as it weights 340 grams, which is 46 grams less than the XYBOARD. My biggest complaints with most devices is the shiny finishes, of which Samsung has been the most guilty of. Although it’s glossy and somewhat slippery, I do have to admit it’s an improvement from past devices. The backing is a brushed metal, which is a nice change for Samsung. For tablets, I prefer a rubberized backing like what the Toshiba Thrive 7′ offers, but I can live with this one.

Samsung chose to put the speakers at the bottom (in portrait mode) so unfortunately when watching a movie, its impossible to get proper stereo sound. The bottom also includes the charging port, which forces the tab to be in portrait mode when utilizing the keyboard dock. More on that later. One other quirky placement is the IR port which is on the right side (again in portrait mode). To me this would be more suitable at the top just like the DROID XYBOARD 8.2. Other than these things, the rest of the design is basic. You will find the LTE SIM card slot and the microSD slot on the left side with protective covers and the power is at the top right with the volume rocker just below that. At the top, you will find the microphone jack. All in all the Galaxy Tab 7.7 looks gorgeous and feels solid.
Hardware
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE features a 7.7-inch (1280 x 800) Super AMOLED Plus display (196 ppi), a 1.4 GHz dual-core Exynos processor, 1GB of RAM, 3.2MP rear camera (with 720p recording), 2MP front camera, 16GB of internal storage, microSD for up to 32GB of extra storage, an IR port, HDMI through an optional dock or adapter, Enterprise SAFE, Bluetooth 3.0, and WiFi.
Battery
One of the high points of the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is the battery. Being a 4G LTE device I didn’t expect much from the 5100 mAh battery, but I was pleasantly surprised. While connected to LTE, you will easily get a few days with light use, but where it really impressed me was the video rundown test. I ran continuous video while connected to LTE, and I was able to get 10 hours. It should also be noted that I had the display brightness set to about 2/3′s, which means you could easily get closer to 12 hours with a setting more closer to 50%. That’s incredible for a tablet that is connected to LTE and only 7.9mm thick.
Performance
The 1.4 dual-core Exynos screams. This isn’t a quad-core, but the power of the Exynos will satisfy the majority of people. Unless you’re a serious gamer, there’s no reason to believe the Galaxy Tab 7.7 won’t be able to handle whatever you throw at it. I’ve never been a big benchmark fan as I always lean on “real world” experience, but I did run the AnTuTu Benchmark, which came in at 4948. This is surprisingly just above the Amazon Kindle Fire, but to me it performs way better. This is the reason why I’m not a fan of benchmarks. Trust me, you won’t have any complaints.
As to the display, you can’t give it enough praise. The 1280 x 800 Super AMOLED Plus display is stunning. You won’t find a better display in any other mid-sized tablet period. The colors are spot on with deep blacks. It would’ve been nice if the PPI was closer to the new iPad’s 264 PPI, but this is a 7.7-inch screen so that’s just me attempting to find something wrong.
Accessories
I had a chance to try out the keyboard dock, which I highly recommend if you plan on doing a lot of typing. It works very well with the shortcuts that Samsung implemented. Here is a quick video showing how it works.
Software
Disappointingly, Android 3.2 Honeycomb is on board. At this point in the game Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich should be the OS of choice, but it seems to be a widespread problem as way too many devices are still stuck at Gingerbread, or in the case of tablets, Honeycomb. When the ICS update will land is anyone’s guess, but I’m positive that this device will get it at some point. On top of Honeycomb is Samsung’s UI called TouchWiz. There’s nothing unique about this version of TouchWiz as opposed to the other Galaxy Tab’s. It’s one of the more subtle UI skins and has some really nice enhancements like the notification panel and the ability to take a screen shot with the added softkey
Since this a Verizon branded device, you will get your share of bloatware. You will find apps such as AllShare, Amazon Kindle, Backup Assistant, Blockbuster, Dead Space (EA), Netflix, QuickOffice, Samsung Apps, Peel Smart Remote, Social Hub, The Daily, UNO, VideoSurf, and VZ Navigator. Samsung also included Pen Memo for taking quick memo’s, but you will have to type or use your finger for writing. They also included a photo editor app that will let you resize, crop, and add color effects.
Camera
If you’ve read any of my previous tablet reviews, you know the camera isn’t worth mentioning, but since it’s there, I will. I would rather see manufacturers concentrate on the front facers for tablets since it’s more likely that they will be used. Samsung chose to put in a 2MP lens up front which was very nice, but they totally skimped out with the 3.2MP rear facer. I know I shouldn’t care, but in my opinion, if you’re going to put one in, you might as well make it at least 5MP. Either way, it’s not a big deal and certainly not a reason to stay away from this tab. Here are some example photos if you’re at all concerned with it.

Closing
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE is a solid tablet, but it’s not cheap. It’s priced at $499, but that’s with a 2-year contract. You really have to look at the off contract price to really understand how expensive this is. If you walked into Verizon and didn’t sign a contract, it would cost you $699. That’s really steep considering this is a 7.7-inch tablet. If you really need a tablet that has data connectivity beyond WiFi, I guess it’s not a bad deal. However, I would probably lean towards the DROID XYBOARD 8.2, which has a little bit bigger screen and better IR integration for less money. It goes for $429 on contract or $599 off contact.
For me personally, I don’t require anything more than WiFi so I would either wait for a WiFi version to become available or grab the Motorola WiFi-only XYBOARD 8.2 for as low as $399, and right now Motorola is throwing in an HD Dock and portfolio case for free. If you don’t mind going a little larger, there is an amazing deal right now on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9. Best Buy is offering it for $349 with the keyboard dock for free.

Galaxy Tab 11.6 Outed On Samsung’s Own Site?

We already know Samsung announced Angry Birds Space and not the Galaxy Tab 11.6 at SXSW. So where is this mystery tablet? Apparently, it’s hiding right on Samsung’s own site. Or at least something that looks like it could be an 11.6-inch Galaxy Tab. The image appears inside a PDF document on a page about the Exynos 5250 processor, which is the same 2 GHz Exynos 5250 that is rumored to be powering an upcoming Galaxy Tab.

This tablet looks similar to the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, with some minor tweaks. Of course, this image could simply be a generic prototype or mockup used for the Exynos brochure. You be the judge. Full high resolution image after the break.