The Samsung Galaxy Note has a capacative touchscreen with an active-digitizer component for smooth and accurate digital inking. It seems Samsung learned a thing or two from HTC, whose Flyer tablet had a stylus which could only be used for drawing in specific places; all interface navigation had to be done with the finger. This created some annoyance because you’d have to switch back and forth between finger and stylus. And let’s not forget that the stylus was an optional accessory!
Not only does the stylus for the Samsung Galaxy Note come included, but you can also navigate around the UI with it. Thanks to some good forethought on Samsung’s part, they even added gestures for the Menu and Back buttons (which are below the main screen and thus cannot be activated with the stylus). This means you can cruise through the entirety of the UI without ever having to switch to your finger — a problem that that HTC Flyer also shared with the beautiful but flawed Nokia N810. There’s a modifier button on the stylus which is used to activate the aforementioned gestures, and you can also use it to pull up a quick note space by double-tapping; this seems like it would come in very handy!
The massive (5.3″) high resolution screen (1280×800) is obviously front and center on the device, and it’s Super AMOLED nature means its got rich colors and deep blacks. This is the same Super AMOLED technology that Samsung used on the Nexus S [review] and the black levels (and thus contrast ratio) absolutely blew me away. I took a photo with a 3.6 second exposure of the Nexus S next to the iPhone 4 with both phones at max brightness and displaying a completely black photo. The results (left) speak for themselves.
I’m sure the massive screen looks gorgeous and crisp, but the size is definitely going to be a point of contention for many. Honing says right off the bat that “Holding something this large up to your ear can be rather unpleasant — and unsightly” but I suppose this won’t be an issue if you don’t tend to use your phone as… well, a phone.
Engadget has plenty more info in their Samsung Galaxy Note review, go check it out!
Did you take a look at the Samsung 900X1B and think hmm, 1.3Ghz with no Turbo = Not good enough? Take another look because there’s a 1.6Ghz Core i5 (2467M) version on its way. You’ll get turbo goodness to 2.3Ghz with the Samsung NP-900X1B-A03
The Series 9, available in 11″ and 13″ matt screen sizes, is not strictly an Ultrabook due to lack of Intel Anti Theft core but apart from that, it’s a close match to the Asus UX21
On the minus side you have only 2GB of RAM and 64GB in the base version (we’re seeing a 4GB, 128GB version too) and if the SSD is the same as I tested in the 13″ version, it’s not as fast as the ASUS UX21 but it’s not a slow-coach either. On the plus-side you get a MicroSD slot (it’s a real shame this isn’t a full-size slot but it could be useful for storage expansion if it supports SDXC), an illuminated keyboard, the same weight as the UX21 and a matt screen. USB3.0 and USB2.0 slots are included along with a mini HDMI port. An adaptor is included for 10/100/1000 ethernet. The Bluetooth variant is 3.0+HS.
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Tab 7.7 was announced at IFA 2011 at the very beginning of this month. Many were excited to hear about the high density Super AMOLED Plus display and the 1.4GHz dual-core CPU. Given the excitement, and the popularity of the original Galaxy Tab 7 in the US, it’s surprising that we saw reports that the Galaxy Tab 7.7 might not become available in the US. Fortunately, we can now say with confidence that the Galaxy Tab 7.7 will be reaching US shores, thanks to the FCC.
Engadget dug up the FCC filing, and while not much detail is revealed, we can see some simple diagrams (click through to Engadget to see), along with the the logo that will be printed on the back of the device, which indicates that the particular model going through the FCC is WiFi-only. Separate testing will need to be done on a model that features WLAN connectivity.
The original report of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 (and the Galaxy Note) not coming to the US came from GottaBeMobile. The information came from a Samsung representative who said that there were “no plans” for launching the Tab 7.7 (and the Galaxy Note) in the US. It’s understandable how this could have been interpreted as Samsung effectively saying that these devices wouldn’t be coming to the US, but it seems clear in hindsight that the rep was referring to the fact that US plans were not yet made, finalized, or otherwise ready to be commented on. Saying that there a “no plans” is a pretty silly way to say that if you ask me!
Miscommunication is never fun, but I’m happy that it was merely that, rather than Samsung actually deciding not to launch both the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and the Galaxy Note in the states.
Though the Galaxy Note hasn’t yet cropped up in the FCC, we’ve been expecting to see it in the US at some point, and the Galaxy Tab 7.7 filing gives us confidence that it will eventually become available in the region..
According to a ‘paper’ [What is this, a Post-It on the Digitimes coffee machine?] Samsung is having an Ultrabook manufactured by Quanta. Not only that but they will produce a second Ultrabook in-house.
Given that Samsung already have two devices that could be re-purposed as true Ultrabooks with a small hardware update (the anti-theft module) and perhaps a little price drop, this is strange news.
It could be as simple as a re-organisation of the production lines for the existing models and a small specification change; A move to a Quanta production line could be a cost-saving measure. It could also be a Quanta original design. Again, probably a cost saving measure. Either way, Taiwan will be happy to get the trade from South Korea!
Update. We’ve just heard that Intel gave out 5000 Samsung Series 7 Tablets at BUILD. We were right!
Many are predicting that an ARM-based Windows 8 tablet will be shown to developers at the Microsoft BUILD event next week. I’m sure it will. CNET is telling us, however, that there will be an Intel tablet running Windows 8. This could be huge opportunity for Intel but it comes with a huge risk. If either Windows 8 fails to impress or the device is built on hardware that doesn’t seriously outperform an ARM based equivalent, Intel could be left with egg on its face.
In thinking about the existing hardware platforms I’m left a little worried about performance.
Current netbook platforms are too hot and heavy as are the ultra low voltage Core platforms. Oaktrail, Medfield and Moorestown are in the same league as Cortex A9 in terms of processing power so it leaves just one option if Intel really want to make a splash – a tablet-optimized version of Cedar Trail. With low tdp, small die size and the possibility of a dual-core 1.8Ghz version it could be just right for driving an uber-tablet, semi-productive consumer experience.
There is one alternative though – go big!
We’ve seen the Samsung Slate PC over the last week and have been very impressed at its size, weight, amazing speed and processing power. Funnily enough CNET believe the tablet at BUILD will be made by Samsung.
There are two problems with this theory though. Firstly, Intel don’t believe Core processors are best positioned for tablets. Secondly, it’s an expensive device and too expensive to give away to developers as CNET suggest will happen.
If it really does have the Samsung badge on it then perhaps the Samsung TX100 slider is an option. Oaktrail-based with a 1.8Ghz version of the CPU and with all Samsungs best engineering and components along with a dose of Windows 8 optimization for Oaktrail and yes, it might just cut it. The form factor is perfect as a differentiator too. We may even see the first always-on Intel tablet!
Watch reports on the Samsung Series 7 Slate PC very carefully if you’re interested in Ultrabook performance because as mentioned before, it’s a Ultrabook without the keyboard. OK, it might not have a few of the Ultrabook features like Anti-Theft and WiDi but the processing platform is the same.
I had some hands-on with the Samsung Series 7 Slate PC at IFA last week and was impressed to see it blow through 100K in a CrystalMark test. That puts it at about 5X the score that a netbook would get and about 50% of the speed of the quad-core Intel Core 2 Q6600 2.4Ghz desktop I’m using right now. In summary, a very usable amount of processing, disk and memory speed that is unlikely to keep you waiting….and all in a platform that runs between about 6 and 25W of power usage. Amazing!
In 5.5 years of testing, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a sub-1kg device break 100,000 in the CrystalMark test. The Series 7 Tablet is a serious bit of kit and really showcase just what Windows 7 tablet features can do.
It boots in under 20 seconds, plays 720p without pushing the CPU above 5% and due to the very very fast ssd, starts programs in the blink of an eye
To put these figures into perspective, just remember that the average netbook turns in a score of about 20k. A high end netbook, just 30k. The CPU alone in this Sandy-Bridge-based device is about 5x as powerful as a netbook CPU and these CrystalMark scores don’t even test advanced graphics features and the Intel Quick Sync video hardware.
As for battery life, I’m estimating a 36-40Wh battery in this. Due to the heat and the software and testing that has been done on the device here I can’t get it to idle properly but I an tell you that Samsungs Series 9 ultralight which uses the same platform, can idle down to under 5w. That would allow this slate to run for 9 hours. I’m estimating basic WiFi usage scenarios to be around 4hrs with video editing pushing it down to under 3. Its a high-dynamic range device, that’s for sure.
One USB 3, BT3+HS, a Trusted Platform module, 6-axis accelerometer micro SD, micro hdmi and headphones output are included. Screen viewing angles are good on the 1366×768 display. The fan is on in this 25+ degree room but its not too noisy. I have to get within 10cm to hear it above the ambient noise (relatively quiet demo area.)
If you’re looking for a serious tablet, don’t buy until you’ve tested the Series 7.
Sascha of NetbookNews joins Chippy to discuss something odd; Samsung is removing the Galaxy Tab 7.7 from the show floor.
As you know, Chippy is our man on the ground at IFA 2011, and he’s been keeping us up to date with everything that’s been going on at the show. He and Sascha got together briefly to theorize about what’s going on with the Tab 7.7, listen below:
Samsung’s upcoming 
