Samsung Galaxy Note Unveiled, 5.3″ High-Res HD Display, 1.4 Ghz Dual-Core

Live in Berlin, Germany, here at IFA 2011 Samsung has just unveiled their next product line and the evolution of mobile devices. They are calling this the Samsung Galaxy Note. With the Note you can do more, and see more all on the go with one device. Bringing together a perfect blend of Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets with a touch of pen and paper all rolled into one we have the Samsung Galaxy Note. Anyone see a stylus?

Samsung has just announced this amazing new platform and we have all the dirt for you right here. The Samsung Galaxy Note will be the ultimate device. No longer will users carry a phone, tablet, camera, notepad, pen, paper and more — instead you’ll have the Galaxy Note. What Samsung has designed is a device with a 5.3″ Super AMOLED display with HD WXGA 1280×800 resolution, powered by a 1.4 Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM and more. All this running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Details are still trickling in on this awesome device so we are still gathering our thoughts but I do know one thing, I want one ASAP. The Galaxy Note will feature many of the same specs we have grown to love from the Samsung Galaxy S II. The Galaxy Note will also have an 8 MP camera with LED flash, a 2 MP front camera for video chat. Being ultra-portable even though we have a large display it will only be 9.65mm (0.37″) thin and weigh 178 grams while boosting the battery to a whopping 2500 mAh. At first it appears to be a Galaxy S II but you quickly realize it’s something much more.

With Samsung’s own unique S-Pen technology note taking and input for drawing or anything else you’d ever need will be as simple as can be. Included with the device will be a stylus that neatly is concealed in the device as seen in the photos. On the side is a small button that, when you hold it down and tap, activates some of the pen-specific features. As soon as we get more details and hear all about this new mobile device we will be sure to update you all, oh and expect some hands-on coming very shortly.

The Samsung Galaxy Note will come in both LTE and HSPA+ flavors and will see a global release but no other details have been released at this time. Feel free to follow along and watch the official Samsung Unpacked IFA Keynote right here at our sister site at live.slashgear.com

Apple iPhone 5 Rumour Overview

The Apple iPhone 5 release is approaching, and the rumour mill is getting busier.  While Apple may have failed to release any info at the 2011 Worldwide Developers Conference, that certainly hasn’t stopped the speculation.

As is normally the case, these iPhone 5 rumours are all over the place, with some coming from respected sources and others that seem like guesses from unknown blogs.  Some of the more common rumours include suggestions of a bigger screen, an A5 processor, and a much improved 8MP camera.

DigiTimes has suggested that the iPhone 5 will have a curved glass screen, similar to the “Contour” design on the Samsung Nexus S.  This rumour seems to have some basis in reality, with DigiTimes claiming knowledge of Apple buying between 200 and 300 glass cutting machines.

Many of the other believable rumours are based around the display, with China Times claiming the iPhone 5 will have a slightly larger screen, iDealsChina posting photos of an iPhone 5 front bezel with a larger display, and continued speculation of an “edge-to-edge” display.  The reason why so many of these rumours come from China is simple – that is where Apple make their devices.

Other than the display, most of the other rumours are based around the likelihood of an A5 processor.  DigiTimes has reported that Apple are outsourcing the production of a processor based on the ARM Cortex A9 design, and both the China Times and the New York Times say they have confirmed that future iPhones will have an NFC (near filed communication) chip.

Two of the less likely rumours include a slide-out keyboard and multiple iPhone designs.  After some clever detective work, CNET UK think they have figured out the release schedule, after finding a job posting repeated throughout the United Kingdom asking for “Apple iPhone Sales Specialists” to work from mid-August through the end of October for “an exciting project.”

Apple Unveil the iPhone 4S

The brand new Apple iPhone 4S has just been unveiled, pleasing many but disappointing many as well.  While the iPhone 4S looks solid and features a number of improved components, some people are far from excited, even suggesting that Apple has lost its magic touch.

The iPhone 4S looks identical to the iPhone 4, although it features an improved camera, processor, and memory.  The pricing structure hasn’t changed, although a new 64GB model has been released for $399 with a two year contract.  The 8GB iPhone 4 will now cost $99 with a two year contract, and the 3GS is free.

The Apple iPhone 4S will be available in the US on October 14, with pre-orders available from Friday.  International customers will have to wait a little longer however, with Apple saying it will be ready by December.  The iPhone 4S features a dual-core A5 processor and an 8MP camera that shoots 1080p HD video.  The processor is capable of running graphics up to seven times faster, which will be great for mobile gaming.

The iPhone 4S also has a new feature called Siri, which combines cognitive software and voice activated search.  This was the feature that got the most attention at the launch, due to the voice activated search and the ability of the software to learn user preferences over time.

The iPhone 4S also has a redesigned antenna system, with the ability to switch between two antennas for transmit and receive and a higher connection speed.  In terms of hardware, the phone is a global phone with the ability to work on both the CDMA and GSM networks.

The launch of the Apple iPhone 4S was also notable for being the first iPhone presentation without Steve Jobs, with the short term success of Apple depending greatly on how the market responds to this phone.

The Cheapest Tablet in the World

Students in India are about to get access to the cheapest tablets in the world.  While they may not be iPads, these $35 tablets could prove very useful in rural areas and with millions of students across the country.

The Indian government have reached a deal with DataWind, who will manufacture these tablets at around $50 each.  According to Minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal, the government will subsidise the project to bring the price down even further to $35.

The Ubislate tablet will be called “Aakash”, which means “sky”.  The specifications include a 366MHz processor, a graphics accelerator, a HD video processor, 256MB or RAM, a single USB port, and a 7 inch resistive touchscreen display with 800 x 480 pixels of resolution.

While this project seems like a great way to get technology to the masses, and will be especially useful for poorer students across India, there are still questions to be answered about the quality of materials and the delivery system.

According Bob O’Donnell from IDC in an interview with TechNewsWorld, “The quality of the materials will be low because of the price, and you have to wonder how long will the device last in that case.”

O’Donnell also has concerns about the fee structures that would need to be put into place, saying “For a low income student, an additional $10 or $15 a month in access fees would be enough to discourage its adoption.”  However, despite the possible difficulties of manufacture and delivery, programs like this should be applauded for their vision.

W. “R.P.” Raghupathi, professor of information systems and adjunct professor of law at Fordham University, sums up this sentiment, saying “Tablets, when priced reasonably, help in several ways in developing countries. For one, they have the leapfrog effect of not having to invest in large expensive systems and applications.”