Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE Tablet Comes to U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular has announced that it is launching the LTE version of the Galaxy Note 10.1 on its network in addition to the Wi-Fi version that was already available.

The LTE version of the Galaxy Note 10.1 is now available from U.S. Cellular via both its website and in its retail store locations. The popular tablet will sell for $499.99 for the 16GB version when paired with a 2GB or more data plan.

Portable, lightweight tablet is available online and in stores, delivering premium productivity and creative capabilities

CHICAGO (February 27, 2013) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States,announced the 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Note™ 10.1 is now available in U.S. Cellular stores and at uscellular.com. The 16GB Galaxy Note 10.1 is $499.99 when paired with a plan with 2GB or more of data.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 joins U.S. Cellular’s innovative line-up of 4G LTE devices that includes the Samsung Galaxy S® III, Samsung Galaxy Note® II and the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1. Customers who purchase the Galaxy Note 10.1 from U.S. Cellular receive benefits no other carrier offers, including a valuable rewards program that recognizes customer loyalty.

“The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 makes it easier to get more work done and stay connected while you’re away from the office, and enhances the moments you share with your family too,” said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. “Its speed and performance are even better when backed by the 4G LTE network, which delivers data up to 10 times faster than 3G.”

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1’s integrated S Pen offers users with the precision of a pen and the control of a mouse.  With S Pen, users can take meeting notes, personalize emails, edit documents and more. The S Pen can also be used as a tool for PC-like shortcuts and to preview content simply by hovering.  There’s also a multi-window capability to browse the web, check emails, watch videos and work on office documents at the same time. The Galaxy Note 10.1 includes a free preloaded version of Adobe® Photoshop Touch and 2GB of free file storage in Adobe’s Creative Cloud. Consumers and artists alike can use Adobe Photoshop Touch to create presentation graphics, works of art, or simply modify photos. With the S Pen, it’s a breeze to cut away layers or paint new backgrounds.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 also includes Samsung’s Smart Remote, leveraging a universal remote control application and integrated infrared (IR) blaster to optimize TV watching experiences.  Control any TV from your Galaxy Note 10.1 and get a personal guide that makes it easier to find something everyone wants to watch. 

With the powerful Android™ 4.1 operating system, users can browse swiftly and smoothly through apps and all of the functions and features of the Galaxy Note 10.1. Google Now sends automatic and real-time notifications such as traffic alerts, sports scores and weather bulletins customized to the user’s location and interests.  Google Voice Search allows you to get search results on-the-go by simply speaking the question directly you’re your phone.

Highlights:

Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)Quad-Core, 1.4 GHz Exynos processor,  2 GB RAM16GB internal storage5 megapixel autofocus rear-facing camera1.9 megapixel front-facing camera

U.S. Cellular, in partnership with King Street Wireless, currently offers 4G LTE service covering 61 percent of its customers in select cities in Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. By the end of this year, 87 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will have access to 4G LTE speeds. For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G.

Samsung, Galaxy, and Note are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.  Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. 

Purchase of a data plan is required, and a new two-year agreement and activation fee may apply for new customers. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply.

4G LTE not available in all areas. See uscellular.com/4G for detailed coverage info. 4G LTE service is provided in partnership with King Street Wireless. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.

Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q4 2012.

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HTC One vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 2, conflicting goals

It wasn’t exactly a surprise when the HTC One was announced last week, although we had first assumed that the handset would be named the M7. Having already told a friend of the new name, he had assumed I was talking about an older model because these are a range of HTC handsets.

Now you may wonder why some people would be going to YouTube and comparing the HTC One against the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 because they have conflicting goals, and this is very true. However, some people will be in the market for a new handset, and they need to decide if they should stick with a sub 5-inch device or go with the 5.5-inch phablet instead.

Having already offered comparison reviews of the HTC One with other top selling handsets, such as the Galaxy S3, iPhone 5 and also the Sony Xperia Z and Blackberry Z10, the next logical step was the Note 2.

The One and Note 2 have different designs so make them difficult to compare, but from what we hear many consumers are saying that the HTC One is the better phone because of its improved specs. However, you have to remember that the release of the Galaxy Note 3 will change all that.

The video review above allows you to see how these two handsets compare side-by-side and while we agree that the HTC One looks better by design and also has that faster processor, we can’t help think that the Note 2 still has the edge. If HTC wants to sell their latest smartphone in huge numbers, then they will need to make it cheaper than the Note 2.

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Galaxy Note 2 LTE N7105 Receives Official Android 4.1.2 XXDMB2 Jelly Bean [Manually Install and Root]

The Android 4.1.2 XXDMB2 Jelly Bean official firmware has been released for the LTE version of Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with model number N7105 for users in Hungary (T-Mobile subscribers). 

Android 4.1.2 XXDMB2 Jelly Bean firmware is available for LTE galaxy Note 2 N7105.

Firmware details

PDA: N7105XXDMB2

CSC: N7105TMHDLK8

Version: Android 4.1.2

Built date: February, 2013

Region supported: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, UK 

The Jelly Bean update can be downloaded from Samsung Kies in supported regions. Galaxy Note 2 users who missed out updating their devices using the official method may follow our step-by-step guide below to install the update manually.  

IBTimes UK reminds its readers that it will not be held responsible for any damage to the device. Users are advised to verify the model number of their handsets, since the Android 4.1.2 XXDMB2 Jelly Bean firmware works only with Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE N7105 and not with any other variant.  

Pre-requisites

1) Install USB Drivers for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on the computer.

2) Enable USB Debugging Mode. [Press Menu>> Settings>> Applications. From there navigate and click on Development option and ensure the USB Debugging Mode is turned on.]   

3) Back up all data of phone.

4) The battery of the Note 2 should have more than 80 per cent charge before proceeding.

5) The device will lose custom ROM with the installation of official firmware. Moreover, it will lose custom recovery such as ClockworkMod or TWRP recovery.

6) The phone will longer belong to a rooted version with the installation of official firmware. 

Steps to install Android 4.1.2 XXDMB2 Jelly Bean on Galaxy Note 2 LTE

1) Download Android 4.1.2 XXDMB2 Jelly Bean firmware for Galaxy Note 2 to the computer. Extract the firmware zip to get a .tar file along with some other files

2) Download Odin 3.07 and extract the zip to get Odin3 v3.07.exe along with a few other files

3) Power off the Galaxy Note. Now enter Download Mode by pressing and holding Volume Down, Home and Power buttons together. A warning screen will appear, then press the Volume Up button to enter Download Mode

4) Run Odin on the computer

5) Connect the phone to the computer using your USB cable while it is in the Download Mode. A message saying 'Added' will appear under Odin's message box. If the device is successfully connected to the computer, the COM port with a number in Yellow will be seen 

[Note: In case the Added message does not come then try another USB port, try the port located at the back side of the computer.    

6) Select these files, which are extracted from N7105XXDMB2 folder, in Odin to install on the phone

a) Click the PDA button and select the .tar file Code in its name

b) Click the Phone button and select file with Modem in its name

c) Click the CSC button and select file with CSC in its name

d) Click the PIT button and select the .pit file

7) Ensure the Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time checkboxes are selected in Odin. Also select the Re-partition option in case a .pit file is being used

8) Double check everything and click 'Start' button in Odin to begin the installation

9) Once the installation process is completed, the phone will restart automatically. Soon a 'PASS' message with green background will appear in the extreme left box at the top of Odin.  Users may now safely unplug the USB cable from the phone

The Android 4.1.2 XXDMB2 Jelly Bean official firmware should be now installed and running on Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE N7105. Navigate to Settings>> About Phone to verify the software version of the device.  

Those who have already updated their devices to the Android 4.1.2 XXDMB2 Jelly Bean, may follow out step-by-step guide below to root the same. 

Root Galaxy Note 2 LTE N7105 on Android 4.1.2 XXDMB2 Jelly Bean

1) Download CF-Auto-Root file for Galaxy Note 2 LTE to the computer. Extract the downloaded zip to get a .tar.md5 file within it

2) Download Odin3.07 and extract the zip to get Odin3 v3.07.exe along with a few others

3) Switch off the phone. Now place the device into Download Mode by pressing and holding Volume Down, Home and Power buttons together. A warning message will come, press rge Volume Up button to enter Download Mode

4) Run Odin3 v3.07.exe

5) Connect the Galaxy Note 2 to the computer using USB cable while the device is in Download Mode      

6) In Odin, click the PDA button and select CF-Auto-Root-tolte-tolte-gtn7105.tar.md5

7) Ensure the Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time options are selected in Odin

8) Now click the Start button in Odin to begin the flashing 

9) Once the installation process is completed, the phone will automatically reboot and soon a PASS message with green background will appear in the extreme left box at the top of Odin. Now, safely unplug the USB cable from the phone to disconnect it from the computer

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE N7105 running on Android 4.1.2 XXDMB2 Jelly Bean is now successfully rooted. To ensure the root method is installed and working properly, install Root Checker app from Google Play Store.    

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Nexus 7

The popular Nexus 7 introduced mobile consumers to a smaller form-factor tablet with a premium spec and an affordable price. It features a quad-core processor, a 216ppi IPS display and a stock build of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

The Galaxy Note 8.0 is a halfway point between Samsung's existing Galaxy Note 2 smartphone and larger Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. It features the same S-Pen stylus input, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Samsung's UI and a quad-core processor.

The Nexus 7, powered by Nvidia’s Tegra 3 quad-core processor, is still a competitively quick offering, particularly when running the well-optimised Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The CPU is clocked at 1.2GHz and is backed up by 1GB of RAM along with a ULP GeForce graphics processor. 

With Android 4.2 you’ve all the advantages of Google’s Butter UI, ensuring excellent navigation performance, screen transitions and menu animations that are all as smooth as the namesake implies. There’s also Google Now, an invaluable tool for feeding you up-to-date information on transport, weather and points-of-interest.

The form factor of the Nexus 7 is fairly standard for a 7-inch tablet, but the quality of the build is typical Asus with everything feeling really solid. The device has a textured rubber coating that ensures excellent grip. The bezel along the vertical edges of the screen is narrow, giving a sleek, phone-like appearance, and its aluminium surround lends a bit more to its solidity and looks good.

The display is a standout feature, it’s 7-inches of IPS LCD covered in Corning reinforced Gorilla Glass. This has a 1280x800 pixel resolution delivering a handsome 216 pixels-per-inch pixel density for a robustly sharp picture quality. Brightness, whites and colour depth are all strong points here, and the display is one which we’d happily watch films on for hours.

The Nexus 7 comes in 16GB and 32GB storage variants and both Wi-Fi only and 3G-enabled models. There’s no microSD support on any version.

The Galaxy Note 8 is no less a competitive product with its quad-core Exynos 4412 chip clocked at 1.6GHz, Mali-400MP quad-core GPU and 2GB of RAM. While the Note 8 does run Android it’s version 4.1 Jelly Bean instead of 4.2, and rather than being stock it has Samsung’s TouchWiz UI overlay on top. 

Fundamentally the core features and interaction are still there but it does have its own flavour – though you can add a launcher to bring it closer to Google’s vision if you wish. Part of the TouchWiz UI is the inclusion of Multiscreen functionality so that a select group of apps can share the screen in dual mode. There are also various stylus-orientated apps and functions to work with the S-Pen stylus.

The 8-inch display is an LCD rather than Samsung’s usual AMOLED and sports the same 1280x800 pixel resolution as its opponent, though on this larger scale it results in a lower pixel density of 189ppi. It’s still bright and reasonably punchy, however, and should be adequate for web browsing and watching video.

The most glaring difference here is one of build quality. Admittedly, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 might have a more attractive shape, but the usual shiny plastic has made a return and it remains a poor choice of materials for end-user satisfaction. You really wonder where the premium price tag comes from when you handle a Samsung Galaxy product. The build quality is solid in terms of device longevity, we’ve no concerns it will crack and there’s no flex in the chassis, but the feel in the hand leaves us wanting.

Conversely, the Nexus 7 has a far more premium fit and finish, and at a lower cost to boot. The display clarity is also a factor and you get a better result from the Nexus 7’s higher pixel density. On performance and software these devices are more or less equal – both will give high speed performance and have access to a wealth of app content.  

Deciding factors here, therefore, are whether you feel you absolutely need stock Android or are really after stylus input. With storage, both have the same amount but the Galaxy Note 8.0 does support microSD. 

Each tablet is also available as Wi-Fi only or 3G-enabled, although the Note 8.0 is the only one with a phone interface and able to make calls and texts – if that’s something you’re after.

We don’t have a clear favourite here. We’ll admit we do really enjoy stylus support, particularly for certain tasks and in these cases the Note 8.0 quickly becomes the device of choice. But for more general tablet duties and, importantly, when it comes to the satisfaction of the stock Android interface as well as the fit, finish and display quality, the Nexus 7 wins hands down.

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US Cellular launches 4G-enabled Galaxy Note 10.1

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is no spring chicken by now, but some who have been waiting for 4G-equipped versions of the Wacom-enabled tablet to hit their favorite carriers might still be looking out for it. US Cellular is the latest to add the 10.1-inch tablet to its ranks as it has just announced availability.

Starting from today, you can grab the 16GB tablet for $500 when paired with a data plan that offers at least 2GB of bandwidth. Available both in-store and online, the Galaxy Note 10.1 brings you Samsung’s S Pen experience to the bigger screen, with unique features such as multi-view, AirView, S Note, the Learning Hub and more.

For specs, you can look forward to a 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 5 megapixel camera on the rear, a 1.9 megapixel camera on the front, and more. It’ll come with Android 4.1 out of the box. Grab your wallet and head to US Cellular if this is something you’ve been waiting for. Read on for full press details.

U.S. CELLULAR LAUNCHES THE 4G LTE-ENABLED

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE™ 10.1

Portable, lightweight tablet is available online and in stores, delivering premium productivity and creative capabilities

CHICAGO (February 27, 2013) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States,announced the 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Note™ 10.1 is now available in U.S. Cellular stores and at uscellular.com. The 16GB Galaxy Note 10.1 is $499.99 when paired with a plan with 2GB or more of data.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 joins U.S. Cellular’s innovative line-up of 4G LTE devices that includes the Samsung Galaxy S® III, Samsung Galaxy Note® II and the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1. Customers who purchase the Galaxy Note 10.1 from U.S. Cellular receive benefits no other carrier offers, including a valuable rewards program that recognizes customer loyalty.

“The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 makes it easier to get more work done and stay connected while you’re away from the office, and enhances the moments you share with your family too,” said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. “Its speed and performance are even better when backed by the 4G LTE network, which delivers data up to 10 times faster than 3G.”

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1’s integrated S Pen offers users with the precision of a pen and the control of a mouse.  With S Pen, users can take meeting notes, personalize emails, edit documents and more. The S Pen can also be used as a tool for PC-like shortcuts and to preview content simply by hovering.  There’s also a multi-window capability to browse the web, check emails, watch videos and work on office documents at the same time. The Galaxy Note 10.1 includes a free preloaded version of Adobe® Photoshop Touch and 2GB of free file storage in Adobe’s Creative Cloud. Consumers and artists alike can use Adobe Photoshop Touch to create presentation graphics, works of art, or simply modify photos. With the S Pen, it’s a breeze to cut away layers or paint new backgrounds.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 also includes Samsung’s Smart Remote, leveraging a universal remote control application and integrated infrared (IR) blaster to optimize TV watching experiences.  Control any TV from your Galaxy Note 10.1 and get a personal guide that makes it easier to find something everyone wants to watch. 

With the powerful Android™ 4.1 operating system, users can browse swiftly and smoothly through apps and all of the functions and features of the Galaxy Note 10.1. Google Now sends automatic and real-time notifications such as traffic alerts, sports scores and weather bulletins customized to the user’s location and interests.  Google Voice Search allows you to get search results on-the-go by simply speaking the question directly you’re your phone.

Highlights:

Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)Quad-Core, 1.4 GHz Exynos processor,  2 GB RAM16GB internal storage5 megapixel autofocus rear-facing camera1.9 megapixel front-facing camera

U.S. Cellular, in partnership with King Street Wireless, currently offers 4G LTE service covering 61 percent of its customers in select cities in Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. By the end of this year, 87 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will have access to 4G LTE speeds. For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G.

Samsung, Galaxy, and Note are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.  Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. 

Purchase of a data plan is required, and a new two-year agreement and activation fee may apply for new customers. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply.

4G LTE not available in all areas. See uscellular.com/4G for detailed coverage info. 4G LTE service is provided in partnership with King Street Wireless. LTE is a trademark of ETSI.

Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q4 2012.

About King Street Wireless, L.P. 
King Street Wireless, L.P. currently holds 700 MHz wireless spectrum in 27 states and is partnering with Chicago-based U.S. Cellular to deliver high-speed 4G LTE service to U.S. Cellular’s customers in several of the carrier’s markets.  King Street Wireless is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia where it is recognized for its involvement in its community both through its economic development and philanthropic efforts. To learn more about King Street Wireless, visit www.kingstreetwireless.com.

About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visitwww.samsungwireless.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 236,000 people across 79 countries with annual sales exceeding KRW 201 trillion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. Currently, 61 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds and 87 percent will have access by the end of 2013. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Champion in 2012 for the second year in a row. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs iPad Mini vs Nexus 7, Compact Tablets Showdown

The 7-inch tablet segment is currently dominated by two products that come from different worlds: Apple’s iPad Mini and Google’s Nexus 7.

But the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 announcement at MWC 2013 comes to give a boost to this market segment with a product with high-end technical specifications and an 8-inch display, specifically aiming at Apple’s iPad Mini.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 basically comes to join the Galaxy Note family that debuted in 2011, after the N7000, the 5.3-inch smartphone, was officially introduced. Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the second tablet of the Note tribe, following it’s bigger brother, the Note 10.1, which was officially announced in August 2012.

But are these changes enough for Samsung to be capable of competing on par with the likes of iPad Mini and Nexus 7.

Let’s have a look at the technical specifications of the tablets that go head to head in the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs iPad Mini vs Nexus 7 battle.

The new-guy, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 packs an 8-inch 1,280 x 800 pixels display, Exynos 4 Quad chipset based on four Cortex A9 cores clocked at 1.6 GHz, Mali 400MP GPU, and 2 GB of RAM. Galaxy Note 8 also comes with 16 or 32 GB of internal storage, WiFi, 3G and 4G (market dependant), plus a 4,600 mAh battery.

The new Samsung 8-inch tablet runs android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean out of the box, is only 7.95 mm thick, and weighs in 338 grams.

Apple’s iPad Mini comes with a 7.9-inch display with a resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels, dual-core 1 GHz A5 processor, 512 MB of RAM, and 16/32/64 GB of internal storage. The connectivity features include WiFi, 3G, and 4G, and the iPad Mini measures 200×134.7×7.2 mm and has a weight of 312 grams.

The Apple tablet runs iOS 6 out of the box, but it’s upgradable to iOS 6.1.

Nexus 7 is the first tablet of the Mountain View-based giant, being co-developed by Google and LG. Nexus 7 is based on Nvidia’s quad-core Tegra 3 platform at 1.2 GHz, has 1 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB of internal storage, WiFi, 3G, and a 4,325 mAh battery. Nexus 7 is 10.45 mm thick, weighs in 340 grams, and comes pre-loaded with Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, upgradable to Android 4.2.2.

The new-comer of the segment, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, keeps the classic design of the Note line-up with round edges, also keeping the plastic back lid that received a lot of negative reviews. On the other hand the Nexus 7 is superior to the Notoe 8, bringing an elegant design and a textured back for the best grip, while Apple’s iPad Mini excels with its premium-looking body and its solid construction.

It’s probably harder to keep the Apple tablet in one hand because of the 4:3 aspect ration (compared to Note 8's 16:9), but the iPad Mini is thinner, lighter and more compact, which might compensate the disadvantages. Surprisingly enough, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is about 2.5 mm thinner than Nexus 7, and some customers might take this into consideration.

Galaxy Note 8 is the tablet with the biggest display in the comparison, betting on an 8-inch screen, slightly bigger than iPad Mini’s 7.9-inch display. Even though it has the same 1,280 x 800 pixels resolution as the Nexus 7, the South Korean tablet losses the pixel density battle 189 to 216 ppi, as the Google tablet manufactured by ASUS has a diagonal of only 7 inches.

iPad Mini is the less impressive of the three: it has a display resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels, which results into a pixel density of 162 ppi.

Still, the big problem of the Galaxy Note 2 when it comes to displays is that iPad Mini and Nexsus 7 come with IPS displays which provide more natural colors and significantly better viewing angles than the TFT panel of the 8-inch tablet. Therefore, those who want a quality display should be careful about this aspect.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8, the Apple iPad Mini, and the Google Nexus 7 are pretty close when it comes to displays.

Being the latest tablet in the comparison Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has the most powerful hardware platform of the three. All three tablets are based on ARM Cortex A9 processors, but each solution is wrapped in different shapes on different chipsets.

Galaxy Note 8 bets on Samsung’s proprietary Exynos 4 Quad chipset based on four Cortex A9 cores at 1.6 GHz and 2 GB of RAM, while Nexus 7 comes with a quad-core 1.2 GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset, plus 1 GB of RAM.

Meanwhile the iPad Mini comes with a lazy dual-core 1 GHz A5 processor and only 512 MB of RAM.

Even though, on paper the iPad Mini is losing the specs battle, we shouldn’t forget that the iOS runs pretty smooth on less impressive hardware platforms, especially because it doesn’t come with true multitasking and because it lacks many of Android’s features.

The Galaxy Note 8, iPad Mini, and Nexus 7 come in a variety of variants, from WiFi-only to 3G and 4G connectivity. The Nexus 7 is the only tablet that doesn’t come with 4G support, but on certain markets where the LTE networks are not available this aspect would matter less.

Probably the biggest difference between the three tablets is the software platform. iPad Mini comes with Apple’s proprietary iOS 6.1, it’s main advantage being the app ecosistem optimized for tablets.

Meanwhile Nexus 7 comes with the clean, stock Android, dubbed Vanilla, and it’s one of the few gadgets in the world that is upgradable to Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

Even though it won’t hit the stores until April, Galaxy Note 8 will run Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, despite the fact that Android 4.2 was officially announced last fall.

But the Samsung tablets has its aces up the sleeve in the software battle against Nexus 7 and iPad Mini: the optimized apps for the S Pen stylus, which allow you to easily draw or edit photos in Photoshop Touch, and which come with handwriting support.

Morover, Samsung TouchWiz UI integrates a lot of features that made terminals like Samsung Galaxy S3 or Note 2 so popular: Pop up Play, Smart Stay, or a one year subscription for Awesome Note. As well, the Galaxy Note 8 can be used as a remotecontrol via the Smart Remote app and there’s a setting for the display that allows you to read e-books with ease.

The three tablets should come pretty close together when it comes to battery life. Nexus 7 and iPad Mini provide an autonomy of 9-10 hours for watching videos, and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 should not be an exception.

Yes, Galaxy Note 8 has a 4,600 mAh battery, a bit bigger than the 4,325 mAh unit underpinning the Nexus 7, but we should also consider that it also comes with a bigger display that will drain a bit more battery.

Availability and Price

The Nexus 7 is undoubtedly the most affordable tablet in our comparison: the 16 GB WiFi-only model has a price of only $199, while the WiFi+3G and 32 GB of storage variant costs only $299.

The cheapest iPad Mini, the WiFi-only 16 GB model has a price of $329, while the WiFi+cellular variant, packing 32 GB of storage has a price of $559.

Unfortunately, Samsung didn’t announce the price of the Galaxy Note 8, but we’re expecting it to hit the stores to a price closer to iPad Mini’s than of Nexus 7's.

The reasons why a customer would choose the Galaxy Note 8 over the iPad Mini would probably be less related to the price, design or specs, but more about the display and the S Pen-optimized apps.

With the help of Galaxy Note 8, Samsung will definitely get stronger on the compact tablet segment, with a product capable of competing against Apple’s iPad Mini, with better display resolution and technical specs.

Still, it’s worth mentioning that in 2013 Google and Apple will reportedly upgrade their compact tablets, and the rumor mill speculated about a full HD display for the next-gen Nexus 7 and a Retina Display for iPad Mini 2.

Therefore, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 might lose it’s shine starting this fall, but until then it remains an important competitor in the compact tablet segment.

But what about you? Which of the three tablets is more attractive to you? Please let us know in the comments section below.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Now Getting Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean Update In Canada

Earlier in February, Samsung officially released the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean software upgrade for Galaxy Note 2 users in Canada. The update was initially rolled out by a few carriers and now Mobilicity, Wind Mobile, and Videotron have followed suit as well.

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The Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update was pushed out on Feb. 6 by carriers Rogers, Bell, SaskTel, TELUS, and Virgin Mobile in Canada. Now per reports, other carriers have finally started rolling out the much-awaited update as well.

"If you have the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on either Wind Mobile, Mobilicity or Videotron you might have received a notification today that an upgrade it available to you. Android OS 4.1.2 Jelly Bean is finally arrived (226.93MB in size)," noted a Mobilesyrup report.

The Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update brings the much-touted Multi-Window View feature, which enables multi-tasking.  Users can open and operate two apps simultaneously thanks to this feature enhancement. The software upgrade will also bring support for both simplified and traditional Chinese language.

To check if your handset has received the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update, go to Menu > Settings > About Device > Update.

Have you installed the Android 4.1.2 on your Galaxy Note 2 yet?

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