Following the success of Apple and Google’s smaller tablets, Samsung lifted the lid on the Galaxy Note 8.0 yesterday, a new slate which runs Android version 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) on an 8-inch WXGA TFT touchscreen.
Inside is a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, helped out by 2GB of RAM and a very healthy 4,600 mAh battery.
Samsung has slapped a 5 megapixel camera on the back for those who like to shoot photos on a tablet, as well as a 1.3 megapixel version on the front for video calls and games.
The device also comes with an “intellgent” stylus called the S Pen, which doubles up with a number of Samsung’s S Note templates for document creation, editing and sharing. Removing it automatically launches a number of tools including Pen Detection, which can suggest menus you need, as well as Page Buddy, which automatically activates your most recent S Note home screen.
The 8-inch tablet is being demoed at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, so we took some time out to go hands-on with it:
The Galaxy Note 8.0 comes pre-installed with Flipboard and – for the first time – Awesome Note. Samsung says the former has developed a custom version of its app to support the S Pen’s hover feature, as well as the ability to preview article headers underneath Flipboard’s main screen tiles.
The device will launch in the UK during the second quarter of 2013. Details of a wider release have not yet been disclosed.
Sumo Lounge updates its geek-essential beanbags with new cover choices
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the variety of bean bags from Sumo Lounge . Since my first introduction to the company with The Gigantor , then through the Sway 2.0 and a few others in between I’ve been consistently impressed by the quality of the company’s products and the price at which they manage to sell them. Today, with the addition of a cover that Sumo is calling Ultimate Fur , it was time to take another look.
The Ultimate Fur is a cover, just like the standard Microsuede or Corduroy choices that the company has had in the past. But, as you might guess from the name, it’s quite like snuggling up with your favorite fuzzy animal. Of course, there’s still the same high build quality, it just happens to be a bit more playful than the other options.
Let’s talk for a moment about that build quality. When I got my Gigantor I was amazed by how well the stitching held up. With a rough and active family of four, we’ve never had so much as a moment’s concern about the seams, the resilience of the outer cover or how well the inner bag would hold up. We’ve fallen asleep countless nights while watching movies, playing games or just hanging out, and the cover still looks like brand new.
I’ve had the Ultimate Fur cover for a few weeks now, and I’m finding the exact same story to be true. Whatever process that the company uses, and the material that it chooses, somehow manage to hold up through abuse that has killed many-a-bag in my household. Though you can’t get them for every Sumo bag (yet?), they’re available for four of the most popular choices.
My initial opinion still stands — If you’re looking for the absolute best in geek furniture, Sumo Lounge has it. The addition of the Ultimate Fur cover is just a lovely bit of icing on an already-tasty cake.
➤ Sumo Lounge
BlackBerry 9720 launched running BB7 OS, 2.8 touchscreen, 5MP camera and dedicated BBM shortcut key
BlackBerry might be looking for a potential buyer , but that isn’t stopping the firm from releasing new smartphones in an attempt to regain some of its rapidly shrinking market share.
The BlackBerry 9720 announced today is a departure from its new touch-oriented BlackBerry 10 operating system, running on the older Blackberry 7.1 platform that used to be so popular in emerging markets.
It’s a safe bet across the board, retaining the sleek, corporate look of many older handsets such as the BlackBerry Curve 8520, the fully QWERTY keypad and centralized trackpad. Available in a variety of colors, including pink and blank, it offers a 2.8-inch touchscreen at a 480×360 resolution (214 pixels per inch), a dedicated BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) button and simultaneous sharing to Facebook, Twitter and BBM.
It’s also equipped with 512 MB of internal storage and a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera – no front-facing compatriot here I’m afraid.
The handset will be launched in the coming weeks in select markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Pricing is not yet known, although BlackBerry will need to ensure that it doesn’t cannibalize the low-end BlackBerry Q5 , which runs BlackBerry 10.
➤ BlackBerry 9720 (Press Release)