Samsung Galaxy Note fans have spent the last week watching ICS rollout overseas. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait for the OS update and Samsung’s new ‘Premium Suite’ of S-pen apps like S Note, Shape Match and Formula Match (see video). I asked Samsung, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone for updates, and here’s what they had to say.
Rooting the Galaxy Note is super easy with the Odin one-click rooting app. Here’s what you need to know.
The Samsung Galaxy Note seems to be one of those genuinely polarising smartphones; some love it for its immense size, while others aren’t as keen. Then again, it seems to play well with pachyderms. When it launched in Australia, you could purchase it on Optus or Vodafone contracts, with Telstra said to be “coming soon”. Telstra’s just confirmed the exact details of its plans with me.
One of the criticisms that could be levelled at the Galaxy Note is that it’s rather large, which may not suit all hands. It turns out that it’s ideal for if you’re an elephant, however. No, really. The Galaxy Note is the perfect size for elephants to use, as these videos show.
The Samsung Galaxy Note is of particular interest for three reasons: it has a ginormous screen, it’s designed to be used with a stylus, and it sits in a category of devices that has seen more than its fair share of failures. It may sound like a niche product on paper, but Samsung designed the Galaxy Note for the masses, and it’s already moved a ton of them. It turns out there’s a lot to like about the Galaxy Note, and it all starts with the shamelessly large screen.
Super-keen on the Galaxy Note and want it (for whatever reason) through Vodafone? A blog posting has made it clear that if you want it before next week, you’re going to have to head to Vodafone’s new Melbourne store.
At yesterday’s Galaxy Note launch, I queried Samsung’s telecommunications VP Tyler McGee about the differences between the Note launched yesterday and the models you’ve been able to buy for months from direct importers. His answer wasn’t terribly satisfactory, relying largely on stating that web-based phone sales might not be accurate. Over at Lifehacker, Gus looks into whether or not you can trust direct market phones, and what Aussie law has to say on the matter. [Lifehacker]
Samsung is apparently resting its hopes on the Galaxy Note lines, because apparently everything else they’ve thrown at the tablet world isn’t working out.
More Mobile World Congress news from Samsung, hot on the heels of the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 2. The also 10.1-inch Galaxy Note blends features from Galaxy tablets and the 5-inch Galaxy Note (coming soon to Vodafone and Telstra).
