If this turns out to be true, we wouldn’t be too surprised, as flexible displays certainly aren’t ready for the mass market quite yet, and we’re pretty sure that if Samsung wanted to give one of their devices an aluminum shell, it would’ve been the Galaxy S 4. Instead, the company is said to be sticking with its usual slimy-esque plastic.

In fact, the Galaxy Note III is said to have a very similar design to that of the Galaxy S 4, including the new silver band that wraps around the edge of the smartphone. As for other design changes to the new Galaxy Note, it’s said to sport a thinner bezel in order to pack in a larger screen size without making the device bigger, as it’s already quite gargantuan.

As for specs of the Galaxy Note III, we’re possibly looking at an ARM Cortex-A15 octa-core processor clocked at 1.9GHz, as well as version with a Cortex-A7 quad-core chip clocked at 1.9GHz, or an in-house Exynos chip. There’s also said to be a 13MP camera on the back (just like with the Galaxy S 4) with a 2MP front-facer. There’s also expected to be an enormous 6-inch display to make it even larger than the previous Galaxy Note, but we’ll see if that actually happens.

So, it looks like all you have to do to envision what the Galaxy Note III will look like, is to take a look a look at the Galaxy S 4 and imagine it with a screen size that’s roughly an inch larger. Of course, the Galaxy S 4 most likely will cater to most people, but for those that want a larger screen for better productivity, it seems the Galaxy Note III will be your best bet at this point. Check out our full review of the Galaxy S 4 to learn more.

VIA: Unwired View

SOURCE: SamMobile

The update should be available now, although AT&T didn’t mention how fast the roll out would be happening. Although, all users can download the update on their PC and install on their Galaxy Note device through Samsung Kies. AT&T didn’t mention anything about being able to receive the update over-the-air, so you’re best bet seems to be to go the manual route.

On a different but still slightly-related note, the Verizon Galaxy Note II also received an update today, receiving a bump up to Android 4.1.2, as well as a handful of updates to apps that now support Samsung’s Multi Window mode, which allows you to split-screen certain apps. The update also includes support for Isis Mobile Wallet, as well as fixes alarm clock issues.

The AT&T Galaxy Note sports a 5.3-inch with a 1280 x 800 resolution, while its successor rocks a larger 5.5-inch display with a 720p resolution display. The Galaxy Note rocks a dual-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz, while the Galaxy Note II packs in a faster quad-core chip clocked at a quick 1.6GHz.

Of the three alleged prototypes, the source says there is one with a design inspired by the GALAXY S 4 flagship handset, another with a completely new design (breath of fresh air and all that), and a third that features a flexible display, which is the one that sounds most intriguing. The prototype that draws its design from the S 4 is featured in the concept above.

Different rumors have been popping up lately regarding the Galaxy Note 3, such as one that hit the Web a few weeks ago claiming the device will sport a new design, which is what one of the three prototypes at Samsung are rumored to have. Specifically, word has it the design will utilize metal in the place of plastic. Such a claim automatically brings one around to thoughts of the HTC One.

The rumored new design and GALAXY S 4-inspired design aside, the third concerning a flexible display design is the most interesting of the three. This seems to match up with a rumor we heard earlier this month that the Note 3 will feature a super-durable plastic display that is harder to crack than current offerings. For now, all remain the stuff of rumors, but if one of them proves to be true, we’ll know in September when it is believed Samsung will launch the device.

[via Gotta Be Mobile]

According to SamMobile, the Galaxy Note III will sport the first-ever plastic-lined OLED display, and it’s said to be revealed at IFA 2013 later this August, with a release date sometime in Q4 2013. As for screen size, we’ve heard that Samsung will go for the 6.3-inch variety, although other sources have pointed to a more manageable 5.99-inch display.

The supposed OLED plastic display will be extremely lightweight and thinner than traditional screens, which would make way for a bigger battery or an overall thinner device. And since it’s plastic, it’s said that the screen will hold up a lot better to drops than glass would. Despite the advancements of Gorilla Glass, it still shatters pretty easily when dropped at the right angle.

This would make the Galaxy Note III Samsung’s first all-plastic device — that is, if Samsung decides to continue with its tradition of plastic-laden shells for its devices. We’re not sure how much of an impact this will have on the user experience, but glass has always been a premium option compared to plastic when it comes to touch devices.

[via Android Community]

Here with the Galaxy Note 8.0 you’ve got an 8-inch display that’s both bright and relatively sharp, 1280 x 800 pixel resolution working with TFT LCD technology and a connection to the newest in new S-Pen technology. The entire tablet measures in at 210.8 x 135.9 x 7.95 mm regardless of which version you’ve got while the weight will be ringing in at 340g for the wifi version (that being the one we’ve got here) and just 5g more for the 3G or LTE iteration (coming soon!)

This machine continues the tradition begun with the original Samsung Galaxy Note, employing a built-in “S-Pen” device that connects wirelessly to your tablet. You’ll be able to hover over bits and pieces of your everyday Android experience to see previews or zoom-in, you can draw pictures galore in a lovely assortment of ways, and you can write all the notes you like. This device has all the features of the previous Galaxy Note devices and more – the closest you’ll get to this experience outside this experience is in the Samsung Galaxy Note II.

Below you’ll see a set of three basic benchmark tests, each of them run without this device’s “power save” mode activated. You’ll find that with this display size and processor, the Galaxy Note 8.0 should be more than powerful enough to handle your everyday activities, be they gaming, productivity, or simple web browsing.

This device works with a 5 megapixel camera on its back, a 1.3 megapixel camera on its front, and is just large enough to feel a tiny bit awkward using while capturing photographs. We’ll have photo examples for you later this week when we’ve posted the full review – the same goes for more detail on the software included here, and battery tests as well. Here we’ve got an additional gallery of up-close-and-personal photographs of the device for you to enjoy.

Let us know if you’d like any more information than you expect us to provide in the review and we’ll do our best to make a fabulous review appear for you! Meanwhile hang tight and get ready for another look!

This device is the same as the one we saw earlier this year in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress 2013, this time coming to the USA without its rather strange phonecall feature. Here in the USA you’ll find a smart tablet from start to finish, bringing the power of the Galaxy Note II and the Galaxy Note 10.1 to an 8-inch tablet form factor. Inside you’ve got 2GB of RAM and an Exynos 1.6GHz Quad Core processor so you’ll be rolling right with some of the most powerful apps on the market.

Included in your purchase you’ll be getting 50GB of Dropbox cloud storage for 2 years (if you’re a new member), 1 month of free unlimited streaming music from Samsung’s Music Hub, and a $25 Google Play credit when you register your device. That’s $25 USD worth of whatever you like from Google’s own digital content store – you can buy apps with it, too, mind you!

This device will be available for $399.99 USD (MSRP) starting in mid-April wherever fine Samsung devices are sold. You’ll be able to purchase a host of accessories that include Book Covers in white, pink, grey, or green, travel chargers, USB and HDMI adapters, and more! Have a peek at our timeline of Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 features and hands-on posts below and let us know if you plan on picking this device up soon!

We first spotted the Verizon tablet at CES back in January and even got our hands on the thing. While it’s mostly no different than other carrier versions that have been out and about, Verizon’s 4G LTE will certainly be a huge selling point for this slate, and the gorgeous 10-inch display will allow to stream content at glorious speeds.

If you haven’t been keeping up with the new tablet, the Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with a quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.4GHz with 2GB RAM, and a 7,000mAh battery to power the tablet. The slate runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with Samsung’s Multi-view multi window mode, which allows for complete resizing and dragging of windows, similar to a desktop.

Of course, we reviewed the tablet back in August, so if you’re thinking about taking the plunge and getting the Galaxy Note 10.1 on Verizon’s network, have a look at our full review to help you decided if it’s your kind of tablet. The only difference is that you’ll be granted Big Red’s LTE, as well as the big Verizon logo on the back.

What we’re seeing here is tablet device that’s ever-so-slightly larger than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, this time sporting much of the same look and the S-Pen that the most recent Galaxy Tab lineup works with. This device appears to be very much working along the lines of the Samsung Galaxy Note II and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, complete with a similar-sized bezel, silvery rim, and 2nd-gen S-Pen. We also know now that it comes in white – surprise!

Other than that it’s a relative mystery as to what we’re going to work with. One of the stranger bits we’re seeing here is the inclusion of the earpiece speaker that we’d otherwise only see on a Galaxy Note II or smaller handset. Generally this kind of speaker is made for holding up to your ear – could this be the largest smartphone yet?

You’ll want to have a peek at our full collection of Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 tips and leaks in the timeline below. Until such a time as we’ve got confirmation of specifications, you know as much as we do – stay tuned to our Samsung tag portal as well as our Mobile World Congress 2013 tag portal all week long for what’s certainly going to be an exciting week!

Italian website DDay.it ended up getting a hold of some photos of the new device, where the tablet is actually being used by a patron out in the public without so much as a, “How do you do?” It’s said that this is the Galaxy Note 8.0 that Samsung may reveal at Mobile World Congress, and while we’re definitely excited for an 8-inch variant of the Note, the tablet looks pretty much like an enlarged Galaxy S III.

However, what’s perhaps particularly striking is the button layout. Samsung’s Galaxy tablets in the past have traditionally used on-screen buttons when Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich rolled around, but it looks like the new Galaxy Note 8.0 is a different story. Instead, it looks to have a physical home button, with two capacitive touch buttons.

The photos also suggest that the Galaxy Note 8.0 will have two cameras, one on the back and one on the front. Plus, there looks to be a speaker above its display, which we’ve seen before on the Galaxy Tab 7. Other than that, it’s rumored that the new tablet will have a 1280×800 resolution, a 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and up to 32GB of internal storage with a microSD card for expandable opportunities.

[via SamMobile]

Speaking of quarterly results, AMD posted its report for Q4 2012 as well today, but the company’s earnings ultimately left something to be desired. Microsoft might help Dell become a private company with an investment in the billions, while Surface RT is getting a new 64GB variant and a bunch of different accessories. ZeniMax Online Studios opened up beta registration for The Elder Scrolls Online today, and the 2014 Corvette has been spotted in the wild.

ASUS quietly introduced the VivoBook S330 notebook today, and we learned that Mozilla is working on a version of Firefox for the upcoming OUYA Android console. Synaptics has given its ClearPad touch technology to the all new Razer Edge Pro, and JVC has announced its new MirrorLink receiver, which plays nice with your smartphone. We heard that Zombieland is destined to become a web series after plans for a TV have been left behind, and Orchestra has opened up a reservation system for the soon-to-be-released Mailbox email client for iOS.

We saw a pair of new prototype glasses that protect you from facial recognition today, while Tasker for Android was given an all new user interface. Twitter was seen rolling out an update for embedded tweets, and Nintendo announced that it will be revealing new Wii U games during tomorrow’s Nintendo Direct livestream. Google said that Motorola had “12 to 18 months” of products in the pipeline when it was purchased by the search giant, AT&T seems to be experiencing some U-Verse outages, and we heard that a 5-inch iPhone may not launch until 2014. Finally tonight, Chris Burns delivers his review of the Wicked Audio Solus headphones and tells us why the Galaxy Note 8 is challenging the iPad Mini before its even announced. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, we hope you enjoy the rest of the night folks!

Shin also took things a step further by saying the Note that’s on display at MWC 2013 will have an 8-inch screen, which has been a rumored feature of the device for quite some time. If you’re looking for more details on specifications from the Samsung executive, however, you’re out of luck. Shin only confirmed the 8-inch screen, so we’ll have to wait at least a bit longer for additional information to arrive.

According to some of the latest rumors, this 8-inch addition to the Galaxy Note tablet line will be displaying at 1200 x 800 resolution, feature a 5MP snapper around the back, and use 2GB of RAM. Reports on the CPU peg the tablet with either a quad-core Exynos 4 processor or an Exynos 5 Octa, the latest and greatest from Samsung that was revealed just a few weeks back during CES 2013. All in all it sounds like a decent tablet, but keep in mind that none of those internals have been confirmed by the company yet.

We’ve also been hearing rumors about a 6.5-inch Galaxy Note III, which would further blur the line between tablet and phone. That reported 6.5-inch display would dwarf the screens of the first two Galaxy Note phones, so if that rumor is accurate, then Samsung will be taking a pretty big risk with the Galaxy Note III. Group these rumors with the whispers of the Galaxy S IV, and we’ve got plenty of reasons to be excited for Samsung’s 2013. Stay tuned.

[via Engadget]

Samsung announced last month that they sold over five million Galaxy Note II units worldwide, and it’s very likely that number has grown since then, and will continue to grow for some time now. Sales of the Galaxy Note II were three times higher than its predecessor as far as early sales numbers are concerned.

The Galaxy Note reached 10 million-unit sales in 10 months after launch, but the Galaxy Note II is expected to reach that milestone in half the time given the current momentum that it has. Samsung says that a variety of new applications along with S-Pen functionality mostly contributed to the continued popularity of the device.

The Galaxy Note II features a gigantic 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1280×720 resolution. On the inside, there’s Samsung’s own Exynos 4412 quad-core chip clocked at 1.6GHz paired with 2GB of RAM and up to 64GB of internal storage. It also comes packing with a huge 3,100mAh battery for all day productivity.

[via MK News]

It’s not said why the Royal Commonwealth Society charity chose the Galaxy Note 10.1 over Apple’s iPad, considering the latter is a defining product in the tablet era, but in any case, the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet will house videos, photographs, and text submitted by participants who have recounted memories from Queen Elizabeth II’s reign during the past 60 years.

In total, 150GB of data was collected, which is obviously a lot more than what the Galaxy Note 10.1′s max storage space of 64GB can hold. Because of that, the project has been limited to 60 selected entries that were picked by a panel of judges, including the director general of The Royal Photographic Society as well as the Royal Librarian.

More than 37,000 people from 66 countries took part in the project, including Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, and even Prince Harry. The most popular submission was the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, which was submitted by more than 200 people. The tablet will be stored at Windsor Castle as part of the Royal Collection, and will be used by Queen Elizabeth II as a fun way to look back on her 60 years of reign.

[via BBC]

If you want to secure your own Galaxy Note II ahead of the official launch, you’ll be able to pre-order it starting this Thursday, October 25. Simply just head to AT&T’s landing page for the Galaxy Note II and off you go. The page isn’t live yet, but it will once they open up pre-orders for customers.

The Galaxy Note II features a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a 1280×720 resolution. It runs off of Samsung’s own Exynos quad-core processor clocked at 1.6GHz and comes packing with 2GB of RAM. You’ll also have your choices of either a 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB model, but a microSDHC slot will be available in case you want to save some cash.

Samsung won’t officially have their launch event for the Galaxy Note II until tomorrow, but that hasn’t stopped the device from being announced, and US Cellular even put the new device up for pre-order last month with an official launch date of sometime in late October. Hopefully we’ll hear more details about the Galaxy Note II at Samsung’s launch event tomorrow.

Possibly even bigger news is the fact that the Samsung’s own Exynos quad-core processor will be included. Samsung won’t be switching to the dual-core Qualcomm S4 like the Galaxy S III, and all Note II’s will launch in the US with the quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 4G LTE/HSPA+ speeds. We had a feeling Samsung would be taking this route, and now that they’ve confirmed it I’m sure there’s plenty of happy customers.

We’ve seen the Note II leak for Verizon, and some recent screenshots seemingly confirmed it was headed to T-Mobile too. Many that wanted the original Note couldn’t simply because it launched exclusively to AT&T here in the US, but this time around almost everyone will get a chance to own this massive 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED packing phablet.

Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy Note II will be arriving for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, The Now Network, and US Cellular all by mid November. They say the devices will launch by mid November, so that means we very well could see it arrive in October for some if the carriers get them ready to rock in time. Just like the original Galaxy Note II announced last month at IFA 2012, the US models will come with the exact same specs. Those include that vibrant 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display (1280x720p), Samsung’s 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear and 1.9 MP front cameras, 16GB storage, the awesome S-Pen stylus and a massive 3,100 mAh battery.

The Galaxy Note II will be Samsung’s first smartphone to ship with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the gate, and they stated carriers will be announcing exact dates and pricing details soon, so stay tuned! Oh and since they’ll be the same hardware wise, take a peek at our international model hands-on video below.

With this new Galaxy Note II you’ll be working with a display that’s 5.5-inches rather than 5.3-inches but the amount of pixels has gone down (from 1,280 x 800 pixels (285ppi) down to 1,280 x 720 pixels (267ppi)). That’s perfectly OK though since the display technology has changed as well – you’ll be working with HD Super AMOLED rather than Super AMOLED Plus. The chassis have obviously changed also, now 5.95 x 3.16 x 0.37 inches (151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4mm) rather than the slightly fatter and shorter 5.78 x 3.27 x 0.38 inches (146.9 x 83 x 9.7 mm) of the Note 1.

This new iteration of the Galaxy Note has a microSD card slot that can carry up to a 64GB card while the original only had the ability to work with 32GB. The new version also has three device iterations based on internal memory: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. The rear-facing camera stays the same quality as far as numbers go with 8 megapixels and the ability to capture 1080p video, but the front-facing camera has been changed from 2 megapixels down to 1.9 megapixels.

For a bit more explanation on why some of these odd changes were made, have a peek at our Samsung Galaxy Note 2 hands-on post.

Above: Galaxy S III vs Galaxy Note vs Galaxy Note II

The new Galaxy Note II has NFC in all variations from start to finish, and you’ll be working with Bluetooth 4.0 rather than 3.0 which the old model came packed with. The Galaxy Note II comes with 2GB of RAM rather than 1, and its Exynos processor is a 1.6GHz quad-core SoC rather than dual-core. Finally you’ll be working with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box while the original Note was just updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich several weeks ago.

Have a peek at our Galaxy Note II timeline below to learn more and, again, check out our hands-on with the device via the link above. Also be sure to check out the rest of our IFA 2012 coverage to stay up to date on all things pushed in Berlin!

The message of the video seems to be on target with the company’s general mantra, highlighting creativity and art while teasing a few shots of the S-Pen for the successor to the Galaxy Note. Samsung has even roped in filmmaker Wim Wenders to look pensively into the sky, spread his arms, and declare how so much can be achieved using a “small and light thing” in “the blink of an eye.”

The very brief tease of the device itself doesn’t yield any shocking revelations. There will be a slot for the S-Pen on the device, just like the current Note, and it looks like Samsung is once again planning to offer the device primarily in white, just like the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note 10.1. The silver trim around the edge of the device looks to have made a return, and the chassis might even be a tad curvier, but it’s not entirely clear from the video.

Reports have suggested that the Galaxy Note II will feature a quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.6Ghz to go along with the 5.5-inch Super AMOLED HD screen. Leaked benchmarks have suggested that the device will have a 1280×720 resolution, marking a shift to 16:9 and away from the 16:10 used on the current Note. The Note II is also expected to have 2GB of RAM, an eight megapixel camera, and a refined design that will fall in line with the Galaxy S III.

[via Android and Me]

The image largely matches up with the front panel that we saw a few days ago, with the physical home button bearing the same shape and size. The bezel, however, looks to be thinner on the assembled device – maybe a little too thin when compared to the leaked front panel. The sensors are also located in different places: in the front panel picture, they’re positioned slightly above the earpiece, whereas in this finalized product they’re placed further down down and to the right of the grill.

That matches up with previous Samsung products, however. Compare the sensor placement to what’s found on the Galaxy S III, and you’ll see the similarities. The front panel could possibly be an early part for the Note II, with Samsung having shifting sensors around and slimming down the bezel in the meantime. The overall design mimics the Galaxy S III as well, adding some subtle curves along with a white and silver trim. This could be what we officially see at the end of the month, or a very well done fake.

Previous reports have indicated that the Note II will feature a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED 1280×720 display, marking a shift away from the 16:10 ratio and 1280×800 resolution used on the original Note. Specs for the handset are said to include a quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.6Ghz along with 2GB of RAM, plus an eight megapixel camera. The phone will reportedly run Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, but rumors have suggested that that Samsung has been testing Jelly Bean on the device for a possible retail launch. Samsung is expected to announce the Note II on August 29th at a pre-IFA event in Berlin.

[via PocketNow]

Samsung took somewhat of a gamble when it launched the 5.5-inch behemoth, with reviewers not taking kindly to it, complaining that the device was too big to be used practically as a smartphone yet too small to be used effectively as a tablet. Still, it looks like there’s a big market out there for such a device if Samsung has managed to sell 10 million units in nine months. The device seems to be particularly popular in Europe and Asia.

The South Korean company isn’t the only OEM trying their hand at larger than average smartphones either. LG debuted its Optimus Vu back in March, a 5-inch device with a 4:3 form factor aimed at the same market as the Note. LG hasn’t done quite so well, however, recently revealing that the company has sold 500,000 units in South Korea since launch. The Vu is set to be released on Verizon’s network by the end of the third quarter.

Rumors suggest that HTC is working on its own 5-inch device with a 1080p screen, with the display possibly manufactured by LG. Little is known at this point about the device, but it may feature one of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Pro processors. Samsung isn’t standing still either, with the company expected to announce the Galaxy Note II at an event just before IFA 2012 on August 29th. Current reports suggest the device will feature a slightly larger screen at 5.5-inches, with a shift in aspect ratio to 16:9 and slight drop in resolution to 1280×720. The handset will also reportedly include a quad-core Exynos processor and eight megapixel camera.

[via CNET]

The bezel also looks to be relatively thin compared to the current Galaxy Note, and the top and bottom portions of the casing have also been reduced. The earpiece, front-facing camera, and sensors are present and accounted for at the top, and it looks like the device will still feature a large physical button below the screen.

Previous reports indicated that the design of the Galaxy Note II would be tweaked to fall inline with the aesthetics of the Galaxy S III, although this front panel shows a squared off design rather than the rounded corners and curves found on Samsung’s flagship smartphone. Previous information has also suggested that the Galaxy Note II will feature unbreakable plane display technology, allowing Samsung to substitute fragile glass with a toughened plastic substrate while reducing device thickness.

Specs for the device are said to include a quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.6Ghz, along with a 5.5-inch 720p Super AMOLED display. The Note II will reportedly eschew the 16:10 aspect ratio used on the current Note in favor of 16:9, allowing for a slightly larger screen without taking up additional physical space. The device is expected to be announced at Samsung’s IFA 2012 event on August 29th, so whatever the company has in store, there’s not long to go until the big reveal.

[via Engadget]

That won’t mean that the phone will be flexible, however, just that the use of plastic substrate will allow the display to be curved while being stronger and more resilient than the typical glass that is used for smartphones. UBP tech will make the screen 0.4mm thinner overall: that doesn’t sound like much, but space is at a premium in a smartphone, so every little bit counts. It could also help to increase battery capacity for the Note II, or make room for additional components within the handset.

It’s not the first time the Note II has been rumored to use an unbreakable plane display. MK Business News first reported in June that the technology would make the jump to Samsung’s Note successor, although DDaily later contradicted those reports, saying that the technology wouldn’t be used this time around.

Other reports suggest the Note II will feature a 5.5-inch AMOLED screen with a 1280×720 resolution, a change in resolution and aspect ratio from the original Note. The design of the device is reportedly tweaked to fall in line with the Galaxy S III aesthetic, with the handset also featuring a quad-core Exynos processor and an improved camera with a megapixel count somewhere between 8 and 12. The Note II is expected to be announced at a Samsung event on August 29th, and we’ll be there to cover the event.

[via GSMArena]

According to Sam Mobile, test Jelly Bean firmwares for the Galaxy S III have passed the necessary tests, with Samsung currently working on a public version of the update. At this point Samsung is simply trying to finish the Jelly Bean update before getting the final approval from Google to release it out into the wild.

The Galaxy S II, meanwhile, is still being tested for compatibility with Jelly Bean. The initial tests are apparently “looking fine,” and Samsung is more than likely moving ahead with the update thanks to the strong sales of the Galaxy S II and large installed customer base. Sam Mobile adds that if Samsung decides not to update the device to Jelly Bean, owners will receive a “Value Pack”, not unlike what happened with the Galaxy S and Ice Cream Sandwich. The situation is said to be the same with the Galaxy Note.

As for when you can expect the updates to roll out, the Galaxy S III should see the Jelly Bean upgrade at the end of the third quarter or the beginning of the fourth. The Galaxy S II and the Galaxy Note will see updates during the fourth quarter, assuming Samsung gives the devices the go ahead. And what about the rumored Galaxy Note II? Sam Mobile has heard from a source that the device is still being tested on Ice Cream Sandwich, and that it’s unclear if the device will launch with ICS or Jelly Bean. If it does land with just Android 4.0, then a 4.1 update will be available a few months later in Q4.

[via Phone Arena]

According to sources speaking to DigiTimes, HTC plans on releasing the device sometime in September or October, putting it up against the likes of the Galaxy Note II and the next iPhone, if current release date rumors are to be believed. The resolution of the device is listed as 1794×1080: the panel will most likely be 1920×1080, while 126 pixels are used for the onscreen Android keys found on Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean.

Little is known about the device, although DigiTimes does go on to say that the surprisingly large sales of the Galaxy Note has prompted other companies to take a second look at the form factor. Back in June, Samsung claimed it had sold more than 7 million Galaxy Notes worldwide, impressive for a device that was at first dismissed. LG’s Optimus Vu has been been available in South Korea for several months now, featuring a 5-inch 1024×768 screen, but the company hasn’t released any sales numbers for the device.

Specs for HTC’s mystery 5-inch device aren’t known, although benchmarks leaked in July indicate that the company is working on a device with a 1080p screen matched with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chip. The device certainly didn’t lack in horsepower either, doubling the score of the HTC One X while also beating the Samsung Galaxy S III by a healthy margin. BGR also reported back in April that an HTC device with a 5-inch 1080p display would land on Verizon sometime in the Fall.

That would mark a year since Samsung revealed the first Galaxy Note, the wraps for which were taken off back at IFA 2011. Opinions at the time were divided, with the handset’s oversized 5.3-inch touchscreen and digital stylus – with various customizations to the Android OS to accommodate the pen – leading some to dismiss the Note as neither as useful as a tablet nor as pocket-friendly as a smartphone.

However, consumer response to the Note was surprisingly warm, thus prompting Samsung’s attentions for a second version. The new Note 2 is believed to feature a 5.5-inch display, with a narrower bezel that means the phone itself can be no larger than the existing model.

According to leaked benchmarks, meanwhile, the Note 2 is also tipped to have an Exynos quadcore processor – like the Galaxy S III - clocked at 1.6GHz. There’s also evidence of a 1280 x 720 screen resolution and Ice Cream Sandwich as the OS; other tattle has indicated the camera will be polished as well.

SlashGear will be at IFA 2012 to bring back all the details.

The dual-core processor found in the Galaxy S II was clocked at 1.2Ghz, while the Galaxy Note launched with a 1.4Ghz clock speed. The benchmarks (which have since been pulled) show the results of the slightly higher clock speed on the Galaxy Note II, with the device coming out slightly ahead of the Galaxy S III. GLBenchmark also indicates that the screen resolution will be 1280×720, marking a shift away from a 16:10 aspect ratio to 16:9. That would also account for rumors indicating the screen would be slightly larger at 5.5-inches without increasing the dimensions of the Note.

The Note II looks to be running Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. Reports have suggested that the Note II will also feature an improved 8-megapixel camera, and a slightly change in design to bring it closer to the Galaxy S III. Samsung is hoping to unveil the device on August 30th in order to launch it ahead of the next iPhone. That should lead to a quicker release in the United States too, with the original Note featuring a large gap between the release of the international model and the American variants.

[via Phone Arena]

DDaily believes that Samsung will hold an event on August 30th at 7pm in Berlin that will show off the Galaxy Note II. That’s quite a specific time and date, and it lines up with previous reports that Samsung were planning an IFA 2012 reveal. Past rumors have suggested that the device would come with a 5.5-inch screen, quad-core Exynos processor, and improved camera that would fall between 8- and 12-megapixels.

The device will not, however, feature an unbreakable plane display as was alluded to in previous reports. The software is said to be the latest version of Android, Jelly Bean, and the handset will reportedly be launched in time for September to get a head start on the next iPhone. The original Galaxy Note was released in Europe in November 2011 before making its way to AT&T in February.

[via Sammy Hub]

The report goes on to say that the Note II will come with a quad-core processor and an upgraded camera, most likely in the 12- to 13-megapixel range. The screen may be seeing an increase to 5.5-inches, but the site notes that the actual size won’t be much bigger than the current Galaxy Note. That matches what GSMArena heard from a source not too long ago.

While the device will be shown off at IFA 2012, it isn’t expected to launch into retail until October. Previous reports have pointed towards an October launch, although more recently it was said that Samsung would be aiming for a September release ahead of the next iPhone. Previous rumors have also said the screen would use unbreakable plane technology, although it will supposedly be saved for another product down the road.

[via The Verge]

That’s a considerable gap between the launch of international handset back in November, and even the AT&T version of the Note, launched on February 19th. Rumors have indicated that the sequel will be with us either in September or October, so if T-Mobile goes ahead with an August launch customers probably won’t be too happy if the Note II does launch in that time frame. The AT&T version of the Galaxy Note features a Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 processor clocked at 1.5Ghz, 1GB of RAM, and LTE connectivity. It’s unclear if the T-Mobile Galaxy Note will see different specs.

The Note II, meanwhile, is said to feature a slightly larger 5.5-inch screen with a Super AMOLED HD display plus a quad-core Exynos processor. The device will reportedly undergo a new design bringing it closer to the aesthetics of the Galaxy S III, and the width of the phone will be reduced compared to the current Note.

[via Unwired View]

That doesn’t sound like a drastic increase in size, and GSMArena says that the width of the phone will be reduced compared to the original Note. That could mean that Samsung is planning to a move to a 16:9 screen instead of the 16:10 ratio currently featured on the Note. GSMArena’s source also detailed how the Note II will feature a design reminiscent of the Galaxy S III, so we might be seeing an even curvier exterior.

Finally, Samsung will reportedly move the Note II’s launch up to September in order to get a head start on the next iPhone, which is expected to be released sometime in October. The original Galaxy Note was released in November, so it makes sense that Samsung would want some room to breathe and accumulate as many sales as possible before the next iPhone hits.

MK Business News previously reported that the Note II will feature a quad-core Exynos processor and an unbreakable plane display that would allow the device to be thinner. Other specs are said to include a 12-megapixel camera and improved build quality.

[via Phone Arena]

The publication reports that the sequel will land in October, and feature a quad-core Exynos processor as well as an unbreakable plane display that will allow the device to be even thinner. Other specs are said to include a 12 megapixel camera, better battery life, and an improved build quality.

Sources also say that the screen on the Note II could possibly be larger than 5.3-inches, although one has to wonder where Samsung would draw the line before the device crosses over into full-blown tablet territory. Although we’re referring to the sequel as the Galaxy Note II, MK Business News notes that the device wouldn’t necessarily carry that name.

[via The Verge]

The Premium Suite includes updated versions of the S Memo app that shipped with the Galaxy Note, as well as the S Note and My Story. The S Note lets you create notebooks for various needs, such as travel notes, a recipe collection, or a diary. It lets you quickly jot down notes and automatically replaces your roughly drawn shapes with vector art for clean-looking diagrams.

The My Story app lets you use various templates to create custom greeting e-cards that you can send and share with family and friends. For all the details on what you can do with the S-Pen-optimized Premium Suite apps on the Galaxy Note, make sure to watch the video below.