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Galaxy Note family grows

Samsung is expanding its Galaxy Note family this week with a fresh entry: the Galaxy Note 8.0. As its name implies, this new member features an 8" TFT display (sorry, no AMOLED here) with a screen resolution of 1280x800.
 
Inside, you'll find a 1.6GHz Samsung Exynos 4 quad-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, microSD expansion slot (supports up to 32GB) and a 4600 mAh battery. The tablet/smartphone will run Android 4.1.2 with a dash of TouchWiz.
 
Models being shown at MWC 2013 are equipped with HSPA+, but models destined for the U.S. in Q2 will feature LTE capability.

Source: Samsung


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Imagine...
By ritualm on 2/24/2013 8:17:40 AM , Rating: 2
... Reclaimer77 calling Jason Mick while holding this tablet against the side of his face.




RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/24/2013 8:36:47 AM , Rating: 2
I am sure it's best used with a BT headset, in your car with BT, or just in speakerphone mode. I actually think its a good idea. As little as I use my phone as a phone, its not something I really care about.


RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/24/2013 8:54:02 AM , Rating: 5
meh... IT lost me with the res. 1280x800 was acceptable for a 7 inch tablet last year. Today, its just not up to par. You can get a 5 inch phone with better res. NExus 7 is coming with full HD, as are many others. Pass.


RE: Imagine...
By Reclaimer77 on 2/24/2013 11:47:25 AM , Rating: 2
This isn't a full blown tablet though. Obviously concessions must be made concerning battery life when you throw LTE antennas in the thing.

Sure 1080p looks great on a small screen. But so does 720 to be honest. I think this will be fine on the pixel density front considering what it is.


RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/24/2013 2:50:06 PM , Rating: 2
Not to me. I have a Nexus 7 with the same res and its noticeable. Adding an inch a year later at the same res isn't exactly pushing specs forward. The next Nexus 7 will have high red and gsm/lte as well. Its blood if you want the s pen and don't mind the res but like I said, not an impressive product.


RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/24/2013 2:51:53 PM , Rating: 2
Damn auto correct. Red=res and blood = not bad (wtf)


RE: Imagine...
By Mint on 2/25/2013 11:50:59 AM , Rating: 1
I thought you were using some new badass lingo...

"That's beyond dope. Its BLOOD, motherfu*****!"


RE: Imagine...
By Reclaimer77 on 2/24/2013 7:20:31 PM , Rating: 4
Retro I don't know what to tell you. This clearly isn't a flagship product. It's a bunch of older Note parts, thrown into a slightly bigger form factor, and a non-AMOLED screen.

Samsung doesn't only do high end stuff, they try to cater to everyone. This isn't for you, and that's fine. But obviously they aren't trying to "push the specs forward" with this one.


RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/24/2013 8:02:39 PM , Rating: 2
That will be cool if they price it right. So how low do you think it's going to go? The note 10 is the same resolution and is 500 dollars. Way overpriced. Do you seriously think this one's going to be 199 maybe 250? I would highly doubt it but will have to see.


RE: Imagine...
By Reclaimer77 on 2/24/2013 8:32:35 PM , Rating: 2
Well of course not. You cannot expect a "Phablet" to cost the same as a similar sized tablet. It's far more expensive to manufacture these, unless you're comparing it to an LTE tablet.

But I mean..who even cares? What's your point? When every single mobile device out there has 1080p screens standard, give me a call lol.


RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/24/2013 11:11:24 PM , Rating: 2
I dunno, I guess it all comes down to price. Samsung has said they intend to step it up in the tablet game, and they keep missing IMHO. The tab series suck, every single one of them. The notes are nice but all lagging behind the competition in the res. Hey, if you like it, go for it... When I heard a new 8 inch Note was coming I was exited, really assuming it would have a higher res screen. Just a let down to me.


RE: Imagine...
By Mint on 2/25/2013 11:57:32 AM , Rating: 2
At least AMOLED would have been nice. They've fixed all the issues (gamma, pentile, limited color profiles) of past displays. I guess cost is still a factor, though.

I'm curious what the price will be. If they really wanted to make a splash, they should swap out the Exynos for Clovertrail+ and make a unique, low cost, S-Pen enabled Win8 tablet.


RE: Imagine...
By FITCamaro on 2/24/2013 7:37:26 PM , Rating: 3
1280x800 is just fine in my Nexus 7 to me. Everything is very crisp.


RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/24/2013 8:05:15 PM , Rating: 2
yeah, it's okay for me to but it is last year's product. This 1 is an inch bigger and is the same Res and its a year later. if it's 199 I guess that's okay but it will still need to compete with a full HD Nexus 7 in a few months and I'll bet my left nut the Nexus 7 will be cheaper.


RE: Imagine...
By StevoLincolnite on 2/24/2013 9:29:49 PM , Rating: 3
It will all come down to price.
I believe there isn't any bad/horrible tablets, just wrongly priced ones.


RE: Imagine...
By Reclaimer77 on 2/25/2013 9:08:09 AM , Rating: 2
Yes last years resolution. You speak of resolution as something that must increase every year, like CPU or memory. But obviously that isn't feasible. So in two years any mobile device that doesn't sport-oh lets say 4k resolution- sucks? If 720p+ for small screens isn't "enough" resolution, what is?

Samsung is walking a tightrope now for sure. They somehow have to make the Note line and Nexus line equally viable and attractive, without one completely displacing the other. They aren't always going to get things right.


RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/25/2013 10:31:55 AM , Rating: 2
"you speak of resolution as something that must increase every year"

No, not every year, I suspect it will stay where it is now ("now" being better than 1280x800 for 7-10 inch devices) but products released last year in this size range had it. This years products have better res, (except for Samsungs products) That's all I am saying. I was let down, because I would REALLY love to have an 8 inch phablet with better res. The 7 inch is a bit small, and 10 inch makes me just want a laptop. For ereaders, and browsing, an 8 inch tablet with 1920x1200, or even 1680x1050 if it existed would be absolutely perfect. I would buy it in a second. This one? Not even getting a second look due to the res.


RE: Imagine...
By Reclaimer77 on 2/25/2013 10:43:00 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
I was let down, because I would REALLY love to have an 8 inch phablet with better res.


I hear ya. And I'm sure that's coming, knowing Samsung and how fast they release stuff.

quote:
This years products have better res, (except for Samsungs products)


Someone has an 8 inch 'Phablet with better res than this?


RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/25/2013 10:53:40 AM , Rating: 2
I am not aware of anyone else with an 8 inch anything O= ...

I wouldnt want a phone, I would just be getting a Wifi version. At that, there are 7's, and 8.9's and 10's. Even the Note 10 has 1280x800. The fire and Nook 8.9's have 1920x1200 and are cheap as hell, the Nexus 10 has an amazing 2560x1600 (ironically made by Sammy). Any decent new phones and phablets I have seen announced or released has 5-6 inch screens and 1920x1080.

I like a good cheap product, thus why I bought a Nexus 7 for $199, but I am looking to upgrade. Whatever, obviously this one is not for me.


RE: Imagine...
By Reclaimer77 on 2/25/2013 11:21:15 AM , Rating: 3
Wait I'm confused, I don't believe there WILL be a Wifi version of this device. As far as I know, anything designated as a "Note" will be a phablet only.

I see your point, I just feel we aren't fairly comparing similar devices. This isn't a tablet. And obviously Samsung can't compete with the FireHD, which is sold at a near loss by Amazon, hoping to make it up on the back-end with media sales.


RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/25/2013 12:30:46 PM , Rating: 2
"Wait I'm confused, I don't believe there WILL be a Wifi version of this device"

One Says LTE and Wifi, the other says Wifi only for us, but both do say Wifi

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/23/samsung-galaxy-...

"LTE and WiFi-only models are currently in the works, with that latter variant headed to US shores."

http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/samsung-galaxy-not...

" While in most international markets the Note 8 will include 3G (HSPA+ 21) capability, in the U.S. it'll strictly be a Wi-fi-only tablet"


RE: Imagine...
By NellyFromMA on 2/24/2013 10:08:47 PM , Rating: 2
Some people insist if it isn't cutting edge its no good.

That was ok in the PC era because they were very upgradable but in the "post-PC" era, I have no real appetite for buying expensive devices for marginal improvements.


RE: Imagine...
By Jeffk464 on 2/25/2013 1:18:15 PM , Rating: 2
Yup, it seems to me improve the nexus 7 and have a wifi version and an LTE version. Samsung might just be putting out to many models.


RE: Imagine...
By jimbojimbo on 2/25/2013 11:48:36 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, resolution is everything right? I wont' buy anything unless it has the highest pixel density!!!
I ask you this. How many other 7-8" tablets have a Wacom digitizer?


RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/25/2013 2:08:19 PM , Rating: 2
"Yeah, resolution is everything right? I wont' buy anything unless it has the highest pixel density!!!"

Its alot... You have to give importance to the part of the device you look at and interface with 100% of the time. It's kind of important. It doesn't need "the highest pixel density", but 1280x800 isnt even close. Come on, even the Note 10 has 1280x800. WAY behind. It's cool if you want to trade low res for stylus input, I dont.


RE: Imagine...
By Reclaimer77 on 2/24/2013 9:09:13 AM , Rating: 2
I...I don't get it. What do I have to do with this?


RE: Imagine...
By name99 on 2/24/2013 2:20:28 PM , Rating: 4
Devices like this (and most oversized phones generally) are not targeting the US market, they are targeting populations that are not wealthy enough to be able to afford a separate phone and large-screen computation device, and so have to compromise with a single device that performs both roles adequately, if not great.

That's why things like the screen are cheap --- basically everything that can be cheap is. You get LTE for the same reason that you get four cores --- because once you've designed them, it's cheap to stamp them out, so you might as well throw them in for marketing reasons, even though you don't expect them to be used much. Screen (and probably battery) aren't like that --- there high quality costs, and you're not going to get it.

Basically don't sneer at these. They might not be what you would choose to own, but I think it's awesome that some poor person in Vietnam or Mongolia or Brazil gets a chance to own something like this --- it's a whole lot better than a Nokia candy bar phone which might have been the only real option two years ago say.


RE: Imagine...
By retrospooty on 2/24/2013 2:55:20 PM , Rating: 2
I agree with you in theory, but what do you wanna bet its not going to be priced for the Budget consumer.


RE: Imagine...
By sprockkets on 2/24/2013 11:14:21 AM , Rating: 1
This doesn't make phone calls...


RE: Imagine...
By testerguy on 2/24/2013 11:41:34 AM , Rating: 3
Yes it does.


RE: Imagine...
By sprockkets on 2/24/2013 12:59:38 PM , Rating: 2
oh, it does...weird, kept seeing that it was just another tablet for the past few months at phonearena

Might still go for it but will wait to see what the next nexus 7 is like. I do like the s pen screen stuff.


RE: Imagine...
By GotThumbs on 2/25/2013 8:38:38 AM , Rating: 2
I see this as THE first tablet that has call functionality.

While the specs may not be cutting edge, I see this as the start of the next generation of tablets, that you can make calls from.

Use this with Bluetooth units in your cars (built in or visor mounted) and headsets or speaker phone use.

Please a headset in public locations. Respect is a two-way street.


RE: Imagine...
By theapparition on 2/25/2013 12:48:53 PM , Rating: 2
Says who?

Not in the article at least. HSPA+ and LTE are data standards. There is no approved VoIP solution for these on any carrier yet.


RE: Imagine...
By testerguy on 3/1/2013 4:49:04 AM , Rating: 2
I don't get my information from these articles.

Samsung say it, for a start:

http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxynote...

(go to 'Multiwindow')


tab 8.0?
By BillyBatson on 2/24/2013 5:18:00 PM , Rating: 2
Especially since models with 3g/lte won't make it to the US doesn't it make this a Tab 8.0... But the "Note" branding is hot right now...
I think there are many buisness users or frequent travelers who would love this with the built in cell radio, for those who don't use their phones for internet or media much but who won't want to carry a tablet as well, or for people like me who hardly uses a few minutes of talk time a month and use our phones like mini tablets.




My only wish
By FITCamaro on 2/25/2013 8:01:18 AM , Rating: 2
Is that the Note 3 wasn't rumored to have like a 6.3" screen. I really want the new hardware but 6.3" is too big for a phone. So it's either a GS4 or a Note 2 for me.




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