Samsung Premium Suite for Galaxy Note includes S Pen apps for ICS

After a couple of leaks here and there, and some custom ROMs, Samsung finally explained how the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note will get updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and what the mysterious Premium Suite coming along is. When you first hear the words, you might think Samsung is again referring to a collection of features instead of a full ICS update, but in actuality the Premium Suite is a collection of apps specific for the S Pen. Those include the S Note, an update of S Memo, and My Story.

Pink Samsung Galaxy Note makes a debut in Korea

The gigantic Samsung Galaxy Note with its 5.3-inch display might sound like a monster truck among smartphones that will only scare the ladies, but its sales have been huge. While we don’t know the demographics that buy it, now there’s one reason why women and pink-loving men can get the handset - yes, the Galaxy Note arrives in pink today in Korea.

The huge phone is pink right down to the bone, aka the S Pen stylus, and of course the back cover and the whole body is painted in the same color.

Now, it’s an open question whether pink really would help differentiate the handset to sell it to women. What would concern us more is how the ladies would fit this into their pockets. The pink color also doesn’t change the fact that the Note comes with an HD screen and a dual-core processor. What’s your take on pink phones? Do we really need them?

source: Samsung Tomorrow via TheVerge

[ROM] imilka's CyanogenMod 9 v01

Note:

This is an UNOFFICIAL CM9 build compiled using galaxys2 branch

This build IS NOT SUPPORTED by CyanogenMod team

Basically, it works better than AOSP does right now.

Video:

Samsung's version of Face Unlock requires you to blink before it grants access to the phone

Just when we started wondering whether the company can pull off the eye-tracking tech supposedly in store for the rumored Samsung i9300 M Olympics phone, and it clarified how they do it.

Today Samsung Tomorrow, the company's official blog, issued a post aiming to introduce us to the kitchen of software updates. Buried inside the Galaxy S quasi-ICS update section was hidden this little gem: "Included in the firmware upgrade is the ‘Face Unlock’ feature found in the ICS upgrade. In response to security issues raised regarding Face Unlock, Samsung incorporated blinking for added security."

[ROM] ICS STUNNER Beta 4.1 by Team Passion

Features:

Latest PLAY apps. Working without any issues.

AOKP Features. Look below for the Euphoria Control in screenshots.

Device Settings. Tweaking data connection, screen color tuning, touch keys, and more.

DSP Manager. Far better than stock MusicFX.

TabletUI and PhoneUI can be switched with one reboot.

MultiTasking Mode and Gaming Mode available for RAM Tweaking

Increased HEAP Size. Enjoy your large apps.

Ad-free browsing and applications you install.

Video:

Screenshots:

Homescreen

[ROM] AOKP BUILD 28 03/24/12 Beta 1 "NoName" 4.0.3This is theWidely Popular AOKP Rom been built by Roman and TeamKang who are Recognized Developers here on XDA and RootzWiki, the Original Thread is Here Without Their Hard work Developing this Rom we would not have it to port for your enjoyment many thanks to TeamKang.

This is theWidely Popular AOKP Rom been built by Roman and TeamKang who are Recognized Developers here on XDA and RootzWiki, the Original Thread is Here Without Their Hard work Developing this Rom we would not have it to port for your enjoyment many thanks to TeamKang.  

CHANGELOG

AOKP Build 28:

Added lockscreen color changer

Added 'traditional' toggle layout [where the toggles are on the very top] (Stevepear426) -- find in RC > Statusbar General > Layout

Added AOSP lockscreen style (Whitehawkx)

Added extra volume slider options (Stevepear426, tmoskowite on gummy)

Added lockscreen calendar options (!!!) (sethyx)

Removed any trackball support the ROM had, was only throwing errors, not properly implemented

Improved brightness slider under toggles, doesn't jump anymore

Improved brightness slider (when sliding your finger across the statusbar if enabled). MUCH more responsive now

Added ability to set custom lockscreen image for targets. Click picture in RC to set.

Also increased size of custom lockscreen images to more match the normal icons

Improved

battery bar should no longer disappear when in the navigation bar

**Beyond build 28 changelog**:

-Based on AOSP V06 + AOKP Build 28

-Photoshop capable now!

-USB Mass Storage works*use USB Mass Storage app from the app drawer, or play is on desktop/folder for quicker use* *DO NOT USE STANDARD ANDROID MOUNT!* *view HERE for bugs related to this app and to thank Neobuddy89

-replaced phasebeam lwp with rootbeam lwp

-added AppWidgetPicker2*helps organize widget menu*

-160dpi calling working.

-external sd is mounted where aosp has it /mnt/external_sd

-no launcher fc

BUGS

Anything from AOSP

call answering slide may get cut off  

SCREENSHOTS


For downloads, visit the XDA Thread here.
Do thank the dev for his awesome work!

Samsung Galaxy Note ICS update coming in Q2 with Premium Suite in tow

Earlier this year, Samsung had promised a Q1, 2012 time period for the roll out of the Android 4.0 update for the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy Note. But while its younger brother has started receiving the update, the Galaxy Note users are still munching on Gingerbread that is well past its expiry date. 

Samsung recently announced that the Android 4.0 update for the Galaxy Note has been pushed to Q2, 2012. This means it could be coming as soon as April or as late as June.

But to make sure that the wait is worth the while, Samsung has announced that the update will come with some extra goodies exclusive to the Galaxy Note. This includes a Premium Suite of applications and extra multimedia features.

The Premium Suite includes the S-Pen application, which allows you to scribble with the provided capacitive stylus, as well as draw tables and grids that are automatically digitized, along with solving hand-drawn numeric formulas. The Premium Suite also includes My Story app, which lets you create personalized digital cards for friends and family.

Along with this, you will also get a special version of Angry Birds Space. This version will include 30 extra Danger Zone levels, not found on any other platform.

And then of course, it's Android 4.0 itself, which will bring new features like Face Unlock, redesigned multitasking view, GPU accelerated UI, etc.

Samsung Galaxy Note ICS update pushed back to Q2

We are afraid we have some bad news for the Galaxy Note users out there. The Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for the phoneblet has been pushed back from its initially announced Q1 launch to Q2.

It's only been confirmed by Samsung Norway through its Facebook account, so it's not certain if the delay will be a global thing, but that seems likely. The global rollout of the Ice Cream Sandwich update only took a few days, so we assume the Galaxy Note units, which are much fewer in number will be updated in a very short interval.

The reason for the delay is unknown just yet and so is the exact launch date. With Q2 starting in a couple of weeks and ending in June the delay might be a pretty minor thing or it could mean another three months without the latest and greatest from the Google OS for the Note users. Here's hoping it will be a case of the former rather than the latter!

Google Play replaces Android Market, new source for apps, books, movies and music

The Android Market has morphed significantly since its inception, which now allows users to purchase books, music and rent movies, all from within a hub that was originally designed for just apps. To recognize this fundamental shift -- and emphasize the availability of content for sale -- Google is launching a new platform known as Google Play. The move hints at a strategy shift from just Android to the cloud as a whole, and establishes an umbrella brand for the diverse content sold by Google. For example, its Books, Music and Videos apps will now become Play Books, Play Music and Play Movies, while the Android Market itself will take on the moniker of Play Store. Users of Android 2.2 (and above) should notice the software update within the next few days, although other than the new name, initial changes should be minimal. We're also to be on the lookout for a new "Play" tab within the top toolbar of Google's website. To mark the occasion, the company has announced a promotional "Seven Days to Play" sale, which will tease would-be shoppers with discounted apps, books, movies and music throughout the week. For an additional peek at what's in store, you'll find the gallery below and a video after the break.