When Samsung came swinging with allegations of OLED patent infringements and corporate theft, LG promptly counter-sued. Samsung then escalated by broadening its list of patent complaints, forcing LG to do what any dignified electronics brawler would have to do: file for a retaliatory injunction against the "sale, manufacture and importation" of one of Sammy's products. The device at stake today is the unsuspecting Galaxy Note 10.1, which has no direct rival among LG's current product range but which is claimed to have breached three LG display patents concerning the improvement of viewing angles. For its part, Samsung is dismissing the attack as "unjustified" and doesn't seem overly concerned by LG's demand for damages -- nothing less than a billion won ($1 million) for each day the Note 10.1 continues to be made and sold.

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Via: FOSS Patents

Source: Dow Jones

South Koreans were given preferential treatment again last month, as Samsung released the LTE variant of the Galaxy Note 10.1 in its native land. It looks like this period of exclusive access will soon end, however, as the 4G-equipped version of the slate has dropped by the FCC to pick up a round of approvals. Codenamed SHV-E230S and showing a global (read: non-US) LTE logo on the back panel, the US regulator cleared WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM and WCDMA (3G) connectivity options. Given the absence of US LTE radios and the non-US model number, it's quite likely that this is just another variant of the Korean version. Unfortunately, this means there isn't much time for it to launch stateside if it wants a spot under indoor evergreens, so don't get those hopes up.

Filed under: Tablets, Samsung

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Via: Wireless Goodness

Source: FCC

The Queen always keeps up with the latest technology, and today she'll try to squeeze a Galaxy Note 10.1 into her handbag. The tablet represents a "digital time-capsule," and will be loaded with multimedia clippings -- submitted by people from all over the world -- detailing history during her reign. A total of 60 video, audio and text entries were selected from 80,000 (150GB-worth), but all of that data will eventually be added to an online archive called the "Diamond (re)Collection." The project was orchestrated by The Royal Commonwealth Society, which briefly considered using an iPad, but ultimately decided Samsung's slate was the more regal (even if it is less cool). It leaves us wondering -- will the next Royal Decree be signed with an S-Pen?

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Source: BBC

Live in Germany, own a Galaxy Note 10.1 and need a Jelly Bean-based sugar fix? You're in luck, as the Android 4.1.1 update Samsung promised back in September has touched-down in Deutschland. The 300MB OTA update brings with it several improvements, including greater multitasking and S-Pen functionality, new Quick Commands and the Paper Artist app from the Galaxy Note II. It might be an isolated release, but for all those still waiting, take it as a good indication your update isn't far off.

Filed under: Tablets, Software, Samsung

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Via: SamMobile

Source: All About Samsung (German)

Hidden among the higher-profile items at Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 launch today was a device that at first seemed familiar, but turned out to be far more than your everyday S Pen. That's right, Samsung's already capable stylus just got a major boost -- meet the BT S Pen. The device, which received no formal introduction during its host device's launch event, first appeared in the "press kit" bag that attendees received on the way out the door. It's similar in size and shape to the company's Galaxy S Pen Holder Kit, which serves as a sleeve for the standard-issue Note S Pen, but Bluetooth functionality, along with a microphone and tiny speaker, enable the lightweight plastic contraption to double as a wireless headset -- sure to come in handy with the SIM slot-equipped international Note 10.1 flavor.

We caught our first hint of the pen's functionality upon discovering a bundled AC adapter -- that seemed mighty odd. The box also included an unusually beefy user manual and no fewer than five replacement "nibs" (read: stylus tips). Pairing took but a few seconds, and then we were on our way answering calls with a single tap of the talk button. There's also a built-in vibration mechanism, which serves to alert you to incoming calls. Sound quality was solid, but speaking into a pen admittedly felt a bit odd -- you may not draw as many stares as you would if speaking directly into a 10.1, but the seemingly unusual action may still turn a few heads. Otherwise, the S pen functioned as expected.

The packaging is all we have to go off of at this point -- Samsung reps we spoke to didn't know to expect the device today, so there's no pricing or availability info to share. We do know that it's rated for three hours of talk time and 130 hours of standby, it weighs 21 grams, offers Bluetooth 3.0 compatibility and will work with Galaxy Note devices -- you could use it as a headset with other gadgets, though there wouldn't be much appeal. It also includes a micro-USB charging cable, with the port accessible just above the shirt clip. That's all she wrote for now -- apparently this accessory was available exclusively at today's event, and may not make its way to the US, if it's released at all. You can see it in action now though, in our hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Note BT S Pen hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Tablets

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The Galaxy Note 10.1 is now good and official stateside, and you know that means Samsung has some new accessories to shill. On hand at Lincoln Center were leather cases in a variety of colors (including white, orange and brown) along with versions that mimic the flip covers for the original Galaxy Note and the Galaxy S III -- the difference being that they don't replace the Note 10.1's backing, as that's not removable. Samsung also had a keyboard case on display, though so far we've yet to see more details. For now, you'll have to settle for our eyes-on photos below.

Update: Samsung told us many of the cases we saw today are not yet available, but it confirmed $50 a Book Cover case for the Note 10.1 in white and grey.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 cases and keyboard dock hands-on

Zach Honig contributed to this report.

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Consider it the fallout from a decade-plus of reality TV, but our made-by-the-masses approach has expanded into new territory: technology R&D. Or so Samsung's very public handling of the Galaxy Note 10.1 would have us believe. Thrust into an American Idol-like spotlight at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, the still-unfinished slate, a follow-up to the pen-enabled Galaxy Note phone, was forced to perform for hordes of skeptical insiders. Sure, there was raw talent on display and we could see the promise of this 10-inch contender (we said as much in our exhaustive preview), but it was also clear the company was testing consumer waters, fishing for a vote of confidence before continuing down the development track.

Does this make Samsung's latest flagship the Kelly Clarkson of the tablet category? It's an apt analogy, if you think about it: Kelly wants to be country, the Note 10.1 wants to be a pro-designer tool, but neither are allowed. Why? Well, simply put, products sell better when they're made more palatable for a wider range of tastes. Which is why the company used MWC to gauge popular opinion before molding its untested product into something wth a broader appeal. Ultimately, that meant a drastic makeover: since MWC, the Note 10.1 has received a slot for that S-Pen, streamlined software, a quad-core Exynos 4 chip and two storage configurations: 16GB / 32GB, priced at $499 and $549, respectively.

So it now has more horsepower under the hood, that much is assured, but is that chip enough to boost the Note 10.1's mass appeal? Will savvy shoppers be able to forgive that relatively low-res 1,280 x 800 display? Will its Wacom digitizer elevate this slate past its more generic Android and iOS rivals? Or will that feature hamper its widespread appeal, attracting mainly creative professionals? Meet us after the break to see if the Note 10.1 can succeed as the multitasking everyman's go-to tablet.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review

Filed under: Tablets, Mobile

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It's just about time to "meet the new way." Samsung's sketch-heavy invitation clearly points to some type of pen-input device, and given the timing of the event and the fact that plenty of tablets have already been sold across the pond, we're expecting the Galaxy Note 10.1 to be outed properly... again. Judging from reports earlier this month, there will be plenty of new features (and color options) to be demoed since our last in-depth look at the evolving device, so expect a fairly packed show, complete with the typical Samsung fanfare. The event kicks off at 11AM ET, so stay tuned right here for the play-by-play from NYC.

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We got our not-so-mysterious invite earlier this month, and now Samsung's "Meet the new way" event is just a day away. Will we see the much-anticipated Galaxy Note 10.1? Given that Sammy already pulled the curtain on the global model, all signs point to yes. As always, we'll be on hand to serve up the details as they unfold tomorrow from Jazz at Lincoln Center (might we expect a full-blown orchestra a la the Galaxy S III launch, we wonder?).

Our liveblog goes down at 11 AM tomorrow, and you'll want to park your browser here for the full play-by-play.

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Only two days after Samsung announced the availability of the Galaxy Note 10.1 (and its source code), it appears to already have been rooted. An XDA user named Zedomax claims to have pulled off the feat by injecting root into the stock European firmware, then installing the superuser'd version in conventional ODIN fashion. With the usual bricking caveats, that'll let you start installing unsanctioned apps to the pen-enabled beast, while apparently still getting OTA updates from the mother company. We'd love to verify it ourselves with our own GT-N8000, but we don't have one yet -- and neither does hardly anyone else, so you may want to wait for some other brave soul to confirm it before going ahead.

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Appearing almost simultaneously alongside the Galaxy Note 10.1's launch itinerary, Samsung has offered up source code for both Korean iterations of the stylus-friendly slab. Ensuring custom ROM devs have very early access to the source should mean we're likely to see other software iterations (minus TouchWiz, perhaps) sooner rather than later. Developers can delve into the coding goodness below.

Filed under: Tablets, Software

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We've got a good few updates rolling in on the Galaxy Note 10.1 front today. For starters, Samsung has announced that the S Pen equipped slate will available globally from August in WiFi and 3G varieties, with an LTE version coming later in the year. The press release and spec sheet after the break also confirm that the Note 10.1 will indeed possess a quad-core Exynos processor (alongside a 2GB dose of RAM), rather than the dual-core engine seen in our initial hands-on -- although we'd already gleaned that much from retailer listings. Finally, there's now an official video on YouTube showing off the tablet's interface, including a multi-screen function to make use of that stylus. Samsung's definitely pushing the productivity angle here, with the S Note / S Pen combo looking more like a publishing program than a doodle board. A sizeable and movable keyboard is also detailed, which should address the problem of landscape keys devouring screen space. Whether the UI runs on the new processor as swiftly and smoothly as the video suggests is unknown, but we'll sort the spin from the truth in our review coming very soon.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 press shots

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Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 preview

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Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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