South Korean group Samsung launched today at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, an 8-inch tablet with quad-core processor clocked at 1.6 GHz, Android 4.1.2 (Jellybean), a 5 Megapixel main camera and a secondary camera of 1.3 MP. The tablet will be available globally in the second quarter 2013 with 3 options: Wi-Fi, 3G and LTE (4G network) and 2 models: one with 16GB internal memory and one with 32GB memory. The price has not yet been revealed.
Through Galaxy Note 8.0, Samsung reposition itself as a player on the mid-sized tablet market, becoming a major competitor for iPad Mini and Nexus 7. Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is not the first mid-sized tablet of the company. In 2010, Samsung was among the first players on the market that launched a 7-inch tablet, the Galaxy Tab. However, the Galaxy Tab has never enjoyed the popularity of Samsung Galaxy Note.
Samsung now has tablets with 7″, 8″, 8.9″ and 10.1″ screen and different models: Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Tab Plus and Galaxy Note.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 specs:
- CPU: 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos
- Display: 8-inch WXGA (1280×800 at 189 ppi)
- OS: Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
- Network: HSPA+ 21Mbps (850/900/1900/2100)
- Camera: main – 5 MP, front – 1.3 MP
- Video: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, DivX (1080p full HD video @ 30 fps)
- Audio: MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, AC3, FLAC; 3.5mm headphone jack
- GPS: aGPS + GLONASS (3G version)
- Connectivity: 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4 and 5 GHz; WiFi Direct; AllShareCast; Bluetooth 4.0; USB 2.0
- Sensors: Accelerometer; Digital compass; Proximity sensor
- Memory: 2GB RAM
- Storage: 2/64GB; microSD card (up to 64 GB)
- Dimensions: 210.8 x 135.9 x 7.95 mm
- Weight: 338 grams
- Battery: 4,600 mAh
In order for Galaxy Note 8.0 to differentiate itself from competitors, Samsung has introduced innovative features such as multi-window for the 8-inch screen, sharing access to a number of live applications, and a new generation of the S Pen.
Reading Mode technology is a nice addition: when a reading application is launched, the screen contrast will automatically adjust to reduce eye effort and provide a reading experience similar to that of a device with e-ink screen.
Galaxy Note 8.0 comes with pre-installed content like the Chat-On service that provides instant messaging and group chat in multiple formats – image, video, voice, contacts.
The Awesome Note is one of integrated applications, first introduced on Android tablets with the launch of Galaxy Note 8.0. It offers multiple ways to take notes, including Memo, Diary and Must-remember list. Another new application on Galaxy Note 8.0 is Smart Remote – the tablet can be turned into a universal remote control.
Also, compared to other Samsung tablets, Flipboard has developed a customized version of its application that allows users to use the hover function (instantaneous translation when the mouse is positioned over a word on the web page) of the S Pen.
Samsung announced that it plans for tablets to become an important part of the U.S. market in 2013. The new products that it will launch will be about different topics. The company aims to develop devices with a creative and efficient interface.
The largest producer of mobile phones, televisions and memory chips had sales of $52.2 billion in the last three months of last year, up 18% compared to the corresponding period of 2011, according to the financial reports presented on January 25, 2013.
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