Hasta La Gadget!

This week Samsung will begin rolling out the Premium Suite Android 4.1 Jelly Bean software update to their Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 tablet devices. This set of feature updates includes enhancements for both devices such as Multi-window, Air View, and Quick Command, while the Galaxy Note 10.1 will be getting a set of features working with its S-Pen specifically. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, of course, also offers a set of its own features from Google, but brings with it here items such as S Voice, Smart Alert, and an enhanced user interface from Samsung as well.

This upgrade will be hitting the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1 and 7.0), the wi-fi versions of each, with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean’s core experience as well as an overall faster bit of performance across the board. This experience is enhanced in the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note lines uniquely with an upgraded bit of Multi Window functionality, including Cascade Vies, Air View, and Quick Command. While the Galaxy Note 10.1 worked with Multi View from the start, these three new views update this universe once more.

NOTE: a total of 14 apps are currently supported officially by Samsung for Multi Window use, these including their own Alarm, Calculator, Contacts, Email, Gallery, Internet browser, S Planner, Video Player, World Clock, Task Manager, S Note, My Files, Music Player, and Polaris Office.

With Cascade View you’ll be able to see a second application open and able to be freely resized, moved, and pinned. Air View brings on your ability to preview content without having to open it, and Quick Command allow you to open or otherwise activate apps and services with customized S Pen strokes. The S Pen itself has also been upgraded with the ability to select writing or color modes or launch a unique home-screen when you remove the unit from its dock – not unlike the Galaxy Note II.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 has a set of enhanced “Personalization” features in this upgrade starting with Easy Clip – circle a bit of content and it’ll be snapped and captured for you in your image gallery for later use. Photo Note allows you to write notes on the “backs” of your photos for later reference. You’ll get enhanced handwriting abilities like the ability to knock out personalized handwritten notes via email as well as a newly template-carrying S Note with the ability to insert video.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean brings on several features you’ll be familiar with if you’re already also working with a Samsung Galaxy Note II. One of these is a gigantically impressive version of the Samsung Gallery for your images, including Grid View, Timeline View, and Spiral View. Also coming in for the Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 (both sizes) are a couple of Samsung Galaxy S III features: S Voice (for voice commands) and Smart Alert: a collection of notes about missed calls (where applicable) and messages with vibrations to boot.

This update will be appearing on your device wirelessly (and automatically) starting this week. You’ll find the update appearing in your notifications drawer as you’d see any email, note, or update as normal. Let us know how you like it!

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and Tab 2 Jelly Bean upgrades bring “Premium” delight is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Samsung has already sent out Jelly Bean updates to Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and 7 owners, but today, it’s the Galaxy Note 10.1′s turn. Samsung has started sending out Galaxy Note 10.1 Jelly Bean updates in the US, and with this updates, Galaxy Note 10.1 users are getting a step up on their Galaxy Tab 2 counterparts. We’re talking Android 4.1.2 specifically, which is something Galaxy Tab 2 owners are missing out on for the time being – their update was only to Android 4.1.1.

In any case, Samsung is making the update available over-the-air and through Kies. With the Kies software, you’ll need to connect your tablet to your computer, but for Wi-Fi models, you’ll also be able to snag the OTA update by going into Settings, selecting “About Device,” and then selecting “Software Update.” If the update is available, the download should begin automatically, leaving you to sit back and wait with anxious anticipation for Jelly Bean to arrive.

Samsung has been doing a pretty good job of pushing Jelly Bean updates out to its major devices. The Verizon Galaxy S III received the latest version of Google’s Android OS back in December, and even the relatively new Galaxy Camera received the Jelly Bean treatment. Now it’s time for Samsung’s tablets to get some Jelly Bean love, which we’re sure is something that will make many users happy.

Keep in mind that the update may not pop up right away, so if you’re not seeing it right now, sit tight. It could be that Samsung is sending out OTA updates in waves, so some users might get it before others. If you’re stuck waiting for the OTA update to appear, you could always connect your Note 10.1 to Kies and see if that proves to be a faster process. Are any of you Galaxy Note 10.1 owners rocking Jelly Bean this afternoon?

Galaxy Note 10.1 Android 4.1.2 updates heading out in US is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It seems that every other day a mysterious Samsung device passes through GLBenchmark, and today is no different. Today a listing for the Samsung SCH-I425 popped up in GLBenchmark’s database, leaving many to speculate what this new handset is. While there isn’t too much the benchmark results tell us, there is a little bit of information we can take away from them.

Here’s what we can glean from the listing: this handset has been codenamed “Godiva,” will be running Android 4.1.2, and is destined for Verizon. It’ll have a screen displaying at 1280×720, but we don’t know how big the screen will actually be. There’ll be a Qualcomm MSM8960 clocked at 1.4GHz under the hood, and that will be working alongside an Adreno 305 GPU. As far as specs go, that’s all we know, so a fair amount of this handset is still a mystery.

However, we might know what product line this device belongs to thanks to its model number. The original Stratosphere had a model number of SCH-I405 while the Stratosphere II was designated the SCH-I415, so it stands to reason that the I425 could be the Stratosphere III. If it is, then it seems that the latest in the Stratosphere line is headed to Verizon, and it may not be very long before it arrives given the fact that Smasung is testing things out in GLBenchmark.

Of course, we won’t know for sure until Samsung makes an official announcement. That could come at any time, but don’t expect a lot of fanfare for the SCH-I425, since it seems to be a mid-range phone. Still, we’ll update you if we hear anything new, so keep it tuned here to SlashGear for more.

[via Android Community]

Samsung SCH-I425 shows up in benchmarks, could be Stratosphere III is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Nexus 4 from LG and Google was officially upgraded to Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean back in November, but it looks like another incremental update to Google’s latest mobile operating system is making its way into the wild. Android 4.2.2 was caught running on a Nexus 4 earlier today, and it’s said to be rolling out in Brazil and Malaysia right now.

Google hasn’t yet officially announced the incremental update, but some users in Brazil and Malaysia are reporting that Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean is showing up on their devices. The first reports mention a 1,000-unit batch of Nexus 4s shipping out in Brazil, and are said to be making their way to Brazilian mobile carriers this month.

Lowyat.net even received a review unit that had 4.2.2 running on it, so it seems the update is definitely out there, and more countries should be seeing it soon. However, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of changes in the update. While it’s clearly running Android 4.2.2, it looks like most of the new features are mostly just bugfixes and other behind-the-scene tweaks, as Lowyat reports.

In any case, we wouldn’t be surprised if we heard confirmation soon from Google about the update. In the meantime, though, these few sightings of Android 4.2.2 means that Google is at least testing the new build as we speak, and hopefully we see it arrive stateside sooner rather than later.

[via Android Community]

Nexus 4 getting Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update in select countries is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The folks from Archos revealed their new 97 Titanium tablet back in December with a Retina-like display and Jelly Bean for a low price, and today they’ve added three new tablets to the lineup. Here at CES the Archos crew just unveiled three new tablets will join their Titanium offering.

While the 97 Titanium is the most expensive of the pack and features a 2048×1536 resolution display, the rest are rather affordable and should make for some good budget tablets. Today Archos took the wraps off the entire family. The models will include the 70 Titanium, 80 Titanium, 101 Titanium and the previously mentioned 97 Titanium HD.

Just like all tablets from Archos the models represent their respective sizes. So we have a 7-inch mode, 8, 9.7, and 10.1-inch to rock out all with dual-core processors and Android Jelly Bean — starting at $119. The full specs haven’t been released but Archos confirms they’ll all have IPS HD displays, and 1.6 GHz dual-core processors to keep things smooth. Obviously we have sleek aluminum or “titanium” designs, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Archos specifically mentions the 7-inch will also include an HD display, yet will still start at just $119 so we’re guessing this will be a pretty impressive price/performance tablet. Then you’ll be paying $169 for the 8-inch, $199 for the Titanium 101, and $249 for the Retina packing 97 that was announced last year. Archos states their 7-inch is similar to Amazon’s offering at a better price, the 80 competes with the iPad mini, and their 9.7 Titanium is half the price of the new iPad. Obviously build quality won’t be on par, but what are your thoughts on these new tablets?

[via Android Community]

Archos announces Titanium tablet lineup with Jelly Bean starting at $119 is written by Cory Gunther & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.