galaxy note

For holidays, T-Mobile goes big on Android and Windows Phone 8

Hurricane Sandy forced T-Mobile to cancel a Holiday Showcase event planned for New York City today, but the storm didn't prevent the carrier from announcing its 2012 product lineup for the holiday season. The iPhone is absent, of course, but T-Mobile will deliver a strong lineup of Android and Windows Phone 8 tablets and smartphones. As you'd expect from the carrier, some devices, like the LG Optimus L9 and Nokia Lumia 810, are decidedly midrange. Yet, other handsets, like the HTC Windows Phone 8X and new LG Nexus 5 are top of the line.

Here's the skinny … Read more

Samsung feels the power as Galaxy Note 2 lifts off

Even Apple's iPhone 5 couldn't slow Samsung Electronics down.

The Korean conglomerate's flagship Galaxy S III had four of its five best-selling weeks in the U.S. after the iPhone 5 was unveiled, Samsung told CNET.

The spike after the iPhone 5 launch suggests that consumers hung around to see what Apple had to show off, weren't impressed, and went with a Galaxy S III instead.

"I was shocked by the numbers," Kevin Packingham, chief product officer of Samsung's U.S. mobile arm, said in an interview. "I thought: 'What the heck … Read more

Screens test, Part 2: Galaxy Note 2 vs. Apple iPhone 5

The mondo Samsung Galaxy Note 2 now provides another reason for Android geeks and image quality purists to let their phablet phanboy phreak phlags phly.

The Note 2 is capable of color accuracy that, when combined with the superior contrast of the OLED screen technology, puts it on the same picture quality plane as the Apple iPhone 5.

In the first test I praised the screen of the iPhone 5 as superior to that of the Note 2's too-red-headed stepchild, the Galaxy S3. The iPhone's biggest advantage over the S3 was in color accuracy, but according to my measurements its lead in that area over the Note 2 has been nearly erased.

Unfortunately, the Note 2's accurate color isn't available by default. You have to go into the Settings menu and find "Screen mode," select "Movie," save, back out, deselect "Auto adjust screen tone," and prepare to overcome your initial impression that colors look worse. My recommendation: check out a photo of a loved one in Movie and then again in the default Standard mode, and notice how much more realistic his or her face looks.

As I said the first time around, accurate color isn't for everyone. But unlike on the U.S. version of the Galaxy S3, at least it's an option on the Note 2.

Verizon's Galaxy Note 2 preorders open for November delivery

Verizon has finally come forward with a release date for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, but for customers fervently waiting for the 5.5-inch "phablet," delivery is still several long weeks off.

Preorders begin today for $299 with a new two-year service agreement, but the huge handset won't ship until November 27, more than a month from today.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 features Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a quad-core processor, LTE and NFC support, Bluetooth 4.0, and an 8-megapixel camera. See photos, watch video, and read the full Samsung Galaxy Note 2 review here.… Read more

U.S. Cellular to offer Samsung Galaxy Note 2 starting Friday

Beginning Friday U.S. Cellular will offer the 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Note 2 for $299.99.

The Android 4.1 Jelly Bean device is available for preorder until tomorrow on the carrier's Web site.

Galaxy Note 2s that have already been preordered prior to that will begin shipping out tomorrow.

The handset is equipped with a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED screen, which has a 1,280x720-pixel resolution and 267 pixels per inch.

Included within the device is an S Pen stylus that enables you to take full advantage of the large display.

It is also powered by … Read more

Digging deep into Microsoft's Surface

Wednesday's CNET Update covers the Surface:

Microsoft's Surface RT tablet hits stores Friday, but CNET has the full review here. Today's tech news roundup also goes over the differences in Windows RT and Windows 8.

If phablets are more your style, CNET also has the review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, now available at T-Mobile for $370 after a rebate and two-year contract. AT&T will sell it for less, at $300, when preorders begin Thursday.

Ready for shopping on Instagram? A new service called Chirpify gives users on Twitter and Instagram the ability to … Read more

T-Mobile is first carrier to sell the Galaxy Note 2

T-Mobile is the first carrier out of the gate to bring its customers the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 2. As of today, any T-Mobile user can snap up the device.

Rumors floated this week that the carrier was already receiving shipments of the "phablet" in its retail stores. Samsung had planned a Galaxy Note 2 launch event today, but until T-Mobile's announcement it was unclear when exactly users would be able to get their hands on the device.

T-Mobile will sell the phone for $369.99 with a new, two-year service agreement. That makes it the priciest … Read more

Galaxy Note 2 arrives on AT&T on Nov. 9

AT&T will sell Samsung Electronic's Galaxy Note 2 on Nov. 9 for $299 with a two-year contract.

Today's announcement follows T-Mobile confirming that it will sell the extra-large device for the same price starting tomorrow.

While the original Galaxy Note was ridiculed for its large 5.3-inch display, Samsung has pushed the device aggressively, now adding even more carrier support for the second, larger 5.5-inch version. The device sparked a new mini category dubbed "phablet," or a cross between a smartphone and tablet.

The Galaxy Note 2 will be available for preorder on … Read more

T-Mobile said to launch Galaxy Note 2 'phablet' on October 24

People may be able to get their hands on Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 "phablet" within a couple of days. According to Phandroid, sources say that T-Mobile will launch the much-anticipated device on Wednesday and that Note 2 shipments have already started arriving in stores.

Samsung has planned a launch event on Wednesday, but it has been unclear what exact date users will be able to pick up the device.

Five carriers will get the Galaxy Note 2, including U.S. Cellular, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It is expected to sell for about $299.99. … Read more

iPad Mini steals Surface presale thunder

Tuesday's CNET Update scratches beyond the Surface:

Microsoft is now taking preorders for the Surface tablet, which starts at $499. Today's tech news roundup looks at the prices and keyboard accessories for Microsoft's competitor to the iPad.

But just one hour after Surface details are released, Apple sends out a notice that it will have a media announcement on October 23, which is likely the iPad Mini. So the speculation continues for another week.

Facebook has added some quirky emoticon options to use in comments, chat and private messages. When a <3 isn't enough, there'… Read more