News - Samsung Galaxy Note 2 geared for September release

[HEXUS]

At least that's what sources over at GSMArena are telling us.

Read more.

[Lord Midas]

Why would rumours suggest a dual-core processor. For this device to make any sense it would need to be a quad-core. I do, however, likethe suggested 2GB memory.

I think the best upgrade to this, or any Android device, should be the ability to move ALL installed apps to SDCard (or USB memory). I really hate apps that hog my system RAM, they get uninstalled before anything else.

[Biscuit]

na, android doesn't even use quad core effectively at the moment and in most cases the samsung dual cores beat the quads in equivalent priced handsets.

My HTC One X is pushing the boundaries of what I would say is too big, although the slimness of it does definitely help. I have seen a lot of people using notes as tablets (two hands at all times), but not lot of people using them as phones (single handed operation whilst walking or handing a bag etc).

[crossy]

Why would rumours suggest a dual-core processor. For this device to make any sense it would need to be a quad-core. I do, however, likethe suggested 2GB memory.

I think the best upgrade to this, or any Android device, should be the ability to move ALL installed apps to SDCard (or USB memory). I really hate apps that hog my system RAM, they get uninstalled before anything else.

If the dual-core processor is "good enough" then - apart from bragging rights - why would you need a quad core? After all, the new dual-core might be clocked (a lot?) higher than the dual core in the current Note? And I've not seen many - actually make that "any" - Note owners complaining about their gizmo being too slow. I also remember some discussion - started by Intel - that current versions of Android don't really push dual core processors - never mind quads!

Apps I'm a bit more chilled about. Some apps - like little widgets or system utilities - I'm content to have locked to system memory, because it makes sense that they're still available if the uSD card gets pulled. On the other hand folks who try and lock bigger apps - especially games - need slapped around the head with an iPad!

But then again, I've got a Galaxy SIII (which is currently docked and playing Ozzy Osbourne at this moment).

[mark22]

Never had issues with space on my s2 or s3, I had dozens of games and hundreds of apps on the s2 at one point. I don't see why it's even remotely an issue. As for dual core, it could be to keep the s3 as the flagship device, even though that dual core could be blazing fast.

After a bit of digging it looks like that Exynos 5250 will probably run at 1.7GHz and feature the new Mali-T604 GPU core which is supposedly four times the performance of the T400. This should be a gaming monster to rival whatever the iphone 5 brings. These smae processors clocked at 2GHz may well be in the new Galaxy Tab series.

[cheesemp]

I love my note. Soon got use to the size - went back to my 4" X10 the other day and it felt tiny. So does my other halfs S2. Looking forward to the note 3 myself as that'll be out by the time upgrade time comes along.

Just hoping this doesn't mean any delay in getting Jelly bean and even more importantly a fix to the eMMC bricking bug!

[Scribe]

Why would rumours suggest a dual-core processor. For this device to make any sense it would need to be a quad-core. I do, however, likethe suggested 2GB memory.

I think the best upgrade to this, or any Android device, should be the ability to move ALL installed apps to SDCard (or USB memory). I really hate apps that hog my system RAM, they get uninstalled before anything else.

An ARM Cortex-A15 even as a dual core should generally perform better than the current quad-core in the S III, and would likely use less power. The 5xxx series also has improved GPGPU graphics.

[crossy]

An ARM Cortex-A15 even as a dual core should generally perform better than the current quad-core in the S III, and would likely use less power. The 5xxx series also has improved GPGPU graphics.

Gee - thanks for that. So I've gone and spent a lot of my hard-earned on a phone that'll be "second best" in less than four months.

Ah well, just have to "make do" with my dumb ole SIII, seeing as the Note's too big for my dainty mitts to use as a phone.

[Hicks12]

I like the idea of the note but it will never be for me, unfortunately its to large for my hands i found 4.3" on my HD2 to be the sweet spot but anymore i feel would limit my uses with one hand which is sometimes needed! Im hoping when i get a new phone in may that 4.5" is still the norm as i dont want androids to get bigger! Its the only thing that cant get better... my hands arent growing so its hard to adapt again and again .

I do wish they put a wacom digitiser in the HTC/Samsung/LG models though, be nice to get it in other than the note!.
Oh btw i believe the S3 has 2gb ram so its the same, they gave a quick upgrade before release or shortly after release, atleast thats what i was told.

[CampGareth]

Gee - thanks for that. So I've gone and spent a lot of my hard-earned on a phone that'll be "second best" in less than four months.

This happens with every smartphone and is made worse by the yearly release cycles, there's always something interesting around the corner. I've just entered a contract that included a galaxy note not 2 weeks ago, how do you think I feel?

At the end of the day waiting just didn't seem worthwhile, I needed a big reliable phone that'll last a few years and I needed it right then not in 2 month's time

[crossy]

Oh btw i believe the S3 has 2gb ram so its the same, they gave a quick upgrade before release or shortly after release, at least thats what i was told.

Sorry to disappoint you but "international" SIII's are all 1GB RAM (or 779MB according to Android System Info). LTE models (for the US market naturally) got downgraded to dual core, but got that RAM doubling boost. However, there's talk that one carrier - SK Telecom in Korea - is getting a hybrid model, so that's quad core (like the international models) but with the 2GB allocation (like the LTE models). Some are also claiming that despite being quad core, the reason the SKT models have 2GB RAM is that they're also LTE-equipped.

If true, then you've got to wonder what the heck Samsung is playing at. Although my SIII seems to run fine on a "mere" 1GB of RAM - ASI claims I've currently got 126MB free.

[Brewster0101]

Looking forward to the note 3 myself as that'll be out by the time upgrade time comes along.

Well if they release a new note every 6 months then you will be in line for the Note 5 by the time a 24 month contract ends..!

[kingpotnoodle]

Why would rumours suggest a dual-core processor. For this device to make any sense it would need to be a quad-core. I do, however, likethe suggested 2GB memory.

I think the best upgrade to this, or any Android device, should be the ability to move ALL installed apps to SDCard (or USB memory). I really hate apps that hog my system RAM, they get uninstalled before anything else.

RAM and storage - different things. Moving an App to SD moves it's install and files to the SD card - rather like installing to D: rather than C:. Start that App and it still uses system RAM. What is freed up is some of the phones internal storage, it's flash memory. If you have a fast SD Card it might be quicker than the built-in flash memory - best to benchmark and see.

2GB of RAM is what I'm waiting for before I bother to upgrade my Sensation (768MB) - I don't feel like 1GB is enough in a £500 superphone anymore and it's the sole reason I've not gone and bought a Galaxy S3.

[Scribe]

Gee - thanks for that. So I've gone and spent a lot of my hard-earned on a phone that'll be "second best" in less than four months.

Ah well, just have to "make do" with my dumb ole SIII, seeing as the Note's too big for my dainty mitts to use as a phone.

I feel the same way, thankfully I'm on a one year contract, but that's still 11 months to go.

[mark22]

I wonder what I can sell my S3 for in three months, bought it for £460, probably could still get £400 I reckon but this note2 might be a bit big for my liking.

[kingpotnoodle]

I wonder what I can sell my S3 for in three months, bought it for £460, probably could still get £400 I reckon but this note2 might be a bit big for my liking.

Amazon price minus 15% if it's in near spotless condition is what I'd go for, less if you've dented/scratched it. Then of course you'd lose another 10-15% in fees if selling on eBay...

The loss of value on phones is shocking, that's why I hold out for something really worth an upgrade, it's got to be superior in every way to make it worthwhile.