Originally published: Sept. 4, 2013; updated Sept. 7: Samsung gave us a first look at their Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition tablet today, a nice refresh of the original Note 10.1 from 2012. The unveiling in Berlin was simulcast in New York, and the Galaxy Note 3 “phablet” and new Galaxy Gear smartwatch were also revealed at the same time. During the presentation for the updated tablet, its traits of productivity, content creation and information/entertainment were highlighted. The 10-inch screen provides 4x the pixel density of the original Note 10.1, giving users a high-end content viewing experience with WQXGA Super clear LCD (2560×1600) resolution. It boasts 3GB of RAM, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean in a lightweight, slim frame. Multi Window allows users to run separate instances of the same application and use the updated S Pen to drag and drop content from one window to another. Pen Window enables users to simply draw a window of any size on the screen, and instantly access unique in-application features such as YouTube or the calculator. The S Pen included with the Galaxy Note 10.1, 2014 Edition improves responsiveness, and you can access helpful features like Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write and S Finder.
With the new Scrapbook function, you can organize any interesting content you find by using the S Pen and stashing it neatly into versatile scrapbooks. You can conceivably have a log of discussion points for an upcoming meeting at work, a wish list for new clothes, a task list for a major kitchen reno, or a simple personal favorites list. A step closer to a magic wand? Could be!
JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics says “The GALAXY Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) unites a range of features that will consistently surprise consumers as they realize how much easier and more enjoyable it makes their everyday lives.” Speaking of enjoyable, it was a nice touch for Samsung to bring in music duo Icona Pop to perform live for us. One of the songs they sang was a ‘Galaxy mix’ of “In the Stars.” If you look closely in this performance, they’re wearing the Galaxy Gear smartwatch. You can also download the studio version at playgalaxymusic.com
The S Note feature has been upgraded with a more intuitive UI. With Easy Chart, hand-drawn visualizations of data can be instantly transformed into more formal charts and graphs. You might remember with the original Note 10.1, Samsung partnered with Adobe to give buyers a touch-optimized Photoshop UX baked into that tablet. For the new Galaxy Note 10.1, Samsung again made wise partner choices with well-known third parties such as Evernote. These premium partner applications, freebie memberships and services means the new Note 10.1 provides a lot a user might find useful in one place, whether it be for productivity, creativity or entertainment. Notable goodies include Businessweek, the New York Times, Autodesk Sketchbook, and a custom version of Twitter. The Samsung Apps widget includes a “Special Offer for GALAXY” section that will highlight unique, country-based content for users.
The 2014 Edition of the Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with enhanced privacy and security protections provided by Samsung KNOX. Users, especially business users using “SAFE™” (Samsung for Enterprise), can activate Samsung KNOX with ease which allows them to run and store security-sensitive applications and data inside a protected execution environment called “container.” The security inside the container is strengthened by system-level protection of Samsung KNOX against malware and phishing attacks as well as hacking attempts on physical devices when devices are stolen or lost. For instance, important personal pictures or video can be stored in the container with no worries on data leakage due to hacking. In addition, users may choose to store enterprise applications and data such as corporate email, contacts and calendar and allow the IT department to manage the container through EAS (Exchange ActiveSync). These features make the 2014 Edition of the Galaxy Note 10.1 an ideal device for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device to Work).
The Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition will come in the following connectivity options: WiFi Only, WiFi and 3G, WiFi and LTE. It will be available globally starting in Q3 2013. The new Note 10.1 will be on display at the Samsung booth, #20 at IFA 2013, September 6 through September 11, 2013.
