Less than a day after the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 showed its face on the Mobile World Congress floor, the new tablet has been given a formal introduction. As one could probably guess after learning of the device's name, the Galaxy Note 8.0 features an 8-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1280x800. Also on the Note 8.0's face is a physical Home key with capacitive Menu and Back buttons on either side. Up top there's a 1.3-megapixel camera, and around to back is a 5-megapixel shooter.
Packed inside the Note 8.0 is a 1.6GHz quad-core A9 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB or 32GB storage, a microSD slot, and a 4,600mAh battery powering the whole package. A 3G version of the Note 8.0 will be available with HSPA+ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100 support. Samsung also says that the Note 8.0 can make voice calls, but that that functionality will differ by country.
Since this new slate is a member of the Galaxy Note family, it features an S Pen stylus that slots right into the lower corner of the unit. Removing the S Pen from its slot will cause the Note 8.0 to launch features like Pen Detection, which can suggest menus that are adapted for use with the stylus. Also included us S Pen-related software that we've seen in previous Note products such as Air View, which shows previews of content like emails and photos when the S Pen is hovering over the screen, as well as various apps like S Note and S Planner. The S Pen can control the Menu and Back buttons on the Note 8.0, which Samsung says is a first for the Note family.
There's quite a bit of other Samsung-made software that comes preloaded on the Note 8.0. Samsung's ChatOn 2.0 service has made the cut onto the Note 8.0 along with Dual View for splitting the device's screen to run different apps, Pop Up Note for bringing up the S Note app at any time, Awesome Note for jotting down lists and diary entries, and the magazine-style news aggregation app Flipboard. Samsung also says that its new tablet features a Reading Mode that can adjust its settings to the optimal conditions for eBook reading, and for when it's time to stop reading and consume some video content, the device can use its Smart Remote app to become a universal remote control for TVs and DVD/Blu-Ray players. The Note 8.0 comes preloaded with Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean running beneath Samsung's TouchWiz overlay.
As far as availability goes, the Galaxy Note 8.0 will begin its worldwide rollout in the second quarter of 2013. Samsung says that it'll share U.S.-specific launch and pricing information at a later date.
We've seen Samsung has release Galaxy tablets that are similar in size to the Note 8.0 in the past, like the original Galaxy Tab in 2010 and the Galaxy Tab 7.7 in 2011. The Galaxy Note family has a bit of a gap between the 5.5-inch Galaxy Note II and the 10.1-inch Galaxy Note 10.1, though, but the Galaxy Note 8.0 will fit smack dab in the middle of that hole.
Samsung points out that the Galaxy Note 8.0 can be gripped using one hand, which ought to make jotting down notes with the S Pen and reading eBooks easier. The small tablet category has exploded in popularity lately thanks to the size and one-handability of the devices, and it'll be interesting to see if the Galaxy Note 8.0 and its S Pen stylus can earn the same kind of success as some of its contemporaries. Now that it's officially official, what do you think of the Galaxy Note 8.0? Are you considering opening up your wallet for one once it makes its way stateside?
INTRODUCING THE GALAXY NOTE 8.0, A NEW ERA OF PORTABILITY AND EVERYDAY PRODUCTIVITY
SEOUL, Korea [February 24, 2011] – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the launch of the 8 inch tablet, the GALAXY Note 8.0; a new era of intelligent Note technology set to re-ignite the mid-size tablet category that Samsung established in 2010. Providing unrivalled multimedia performance within a compact one-hand-grip screen, the GALAXY Note 8.0 has the power and advanced technology to evolve the tablet experience and ensure you achieve new levels of efficient multi-tasking while benefitting from superb voice call functionality*. Furthermore, the intelligent S Pen brings together the latest innovation and the ease of using a traditional pen and paper; creating a sophisticated mobile experience that will enhance life on the go.
“Back in 2010 the launch of the first Samsung GALAXY Tab with 7 inch screen opened a new chapter in the mobile industry. Now almost three years later, Samsung continues to evolve the sector that meets the demands of modern life.” said JK Shin, President of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.
“The GALAXY Note 8.0 breaths fresh life into the category as it delivers the perfect fusion of portability and everyday productivity - the result is a pioneering, pocket-sized solution that enhances and enriches our everyday lives, whether at work or play,” added Shin.
At the core of the GALAXY Note 8.0’s innovative solutions are beneficial functions, including multi-window options to split the portable 8inch screen and allow optimal access to a number of live applications; a new generation of Samsung’s intelligent S Pen with advanced usability; access to a suite of S Note templates and tools that allow you to create, edit, manage and share everyday documents; the Samsung “reading mode” technology to enjoy e books with optimized resolution, video and voice calls*. In addition, a suite of exciting new content and services are pre-loaded for users at no additional cost including, for the very first time on Samsung GALAXY tablet, the innovative Flipboard, and Awesome Note.
A smart diary for life on the go
Slim and compact enough to become the perfect on-the-go work and play companion, the GALAXY Note 8.0 brings powerful performance and functionality to support even the most demanding of lifestyles. Designed to store and manage your personal and professional data efficiently, the new era device gives users the perfect pocket-sized hands-on organizational tool. Practical S Note templates and S Planner feature help to manage everyday tasks, including meeting notes, to-do lists and even personal diary entries. All content can be entered and updated with the finest of detail thanks to the evolution of the intelligent Samsung S Pen. Enhanced precision is offered with Handwriting-to-Text conversion and advanced Productivity Tools that support formula and shape recognition are now available at the touch of your S Pen.
New content and services
GALAXY Note 8.0 is packed with pre-loaded content and apps specifically for the value maximizing, mass multimedia consumer. Upgraded Chat-On provides easy instant messaging and group chatting in multiple formats – images, video, voice, contacts – for simple, enjoyable communication. Awesome Note, an integrated application that is introduced in android tablet for the first time with NOTE 8.0, is capable of unlimited note-taking uses including Memo, Diary and Must-remember lists. With Flipboard, your news, social network and other feeds come together in one stylish, flippable format so you can enjoy all your news and life’s great moments in one place. Flipboard developed a customized version of its application exclusively for Samsung that allows users to take the S Pen’s hover feature and preview article headers beneath Flipboard's main screen tiles. Finally, Smart Remote, gives you a universal remote control and electronic programming guide allowing you to manage TV and video watching seamlessly.
A new age of S Pen intelligence
Optimized to aid personalized creativity, the Samsung S Pen has evolved to increase everyday usability and enhance creation expression. Embedded within the tablet, the S Pen is an extension of the GALAXY Note 8.0. Removing the S Pen from the device will automatically launch innovative features such as Pen Detection that will suggest adapted menus that it thinks you’ll need and Page Buddy, a feature that will intuitively activate your most recently adapted S Note home screen.
S Pen technology is now so advanced that it doesn’t even have to touch the screen. With Air View, the S Pen needs only to hover over the screen to see previews of videos, emails, photos and appointments on SPlanner without opening the file or application in full. S Pen Gesture allows images and content to be easily edited and cropped, whilst Paper Artist and Photo Note allow photos to be artistically personalized.
In addition, for the very first time in GALAXY NOTE category, you can use S Pen to control the physical menu/back buttons on the device with WACOM technology.
Maximizing mass multimedia consumption
Creative multi-tasking with the GALAXY Note 8.0 is effortless due to innovative Dual View feature, two multi window options that seamlessly allow you to facilitate multi-screen usage. Dual View’s split screen accommodates optimal operation of different apps, such as launching the S Note on the web browser screen and allowing content to be resized, dragged and dropped as required.
Multi-tasking is extended to phone calls*. Pop Up Note allows you to access S Note at any time to keep track of key actions and Pop Up Video ensures you can keep surfing the web whilst chatting – content windows can be easily resized by pinching to enlarge or reduce.
Perfect info-tainment partner
Packed with features to engage, entertain and excite, the GALAXY Note 8.0 supports your practical everyday needs. Reading Mode transforms the GALAXY Note 8.0 into an e-Book reader, provides the optimal reading conditions to ensure you can curl up and enjoy a good book. You can even turn it into a universal remote control with Smart Remote, to seamlessly manage TVs, set-up boxes, DVD & Blu-ray players.
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