An updated version of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet will launch worldwide in August, says the company, which published a YouTube video demonstration of the device. Like the company’s Galaxy Note, the new Android 4.0 tablet will include Samsung’s S-Pen to help differentiate it from other products. The digital pen launches specific “pen-friendly” apps when removed from its slot in the tablet and the slate offers a unique multitasking solution that shows two apps at the same time.
Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 10.1 also boasts some hardware upgrades over the prior model. The company’s own 1.4 GHz quad-core processor and 1280 x 800 resolution display are paired with 2 GB of memory; double that of most Android phones and tablets. Android 4.0, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich, will ship on the tablet, although I’d expect that the hardware can easily support an Android 4.1 upgrade. Samsung hasn’t made any statements regarding the Jelly Bean software on its new tablet.
Betting on the digital stylus may sound risky, but that strategy may be helping with the Galaxy Note smartphone, which also uses Samsung’s S-Pen. That 5.3-inch phone offers more space to actually write on the display. In its first five months of availability, the Galaxy Note passed 5 million sales and the number continues to grow. Samsung has also said it will be launching a successor to the Note later this month and I’d expect it too to take advantage of the digital pen hardware and optimized inking software.
Samsung hasn’t announced price details for its new Galaxy Note 10.1, which will be available in three models: Wi-Fi-only, Wi-Fi plus HSPA+ and, sometime after the initial launch, Wi-Fi plus LTE.
