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Samsung at IFA 2012: Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Camera, Windows 8 tablets, and more

Samsung's IFA 2012 event didn't disappoint — in addition to the magicians and symphony, the company took the wraps off the Galaxy Note II, its first Galaxy Camera with Android 4.1 on board, a variety of new Ativ Windows 8 tablets, and more. We're getting an up-close look at all of Samsung's new products, so stay tuned here for the latest from IFA 2012.

  • Sep 3, 2012

    Vlad Savov

    Hype-emitting diodes: can anyone ship an OLED TV?

    LG OLED TVs
    LG OLED TVs

    When it comes to OLED TVs, I start to feel like Roy Batty. The things I've seen on trade show floors are almost beyond articulation: TVs so thin that they make the latest superphone look fat, contrast ratios high enough to challenge Pioneer's legendary Kuro, and nearly 180-degree viewing angles. What amazes me to this day is that you can find all of these components of desire coexisting within just one display.

    Whether produced by Samsung, LG, or Sony, OLED televisions have been the perennial darling of technology trade shows, however they have yet to make the leap from the exhibition floor to retail shelf space. Some smaller OLED panels have managed to escape the factory and go on sale in limited quantities, but the promise of a living room TV powered by organic light-emitting diodes remains tantalizingly out of reach.

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  • Sam Byford

    Sep 3, 2012

    Sam Byford

    Samsung's S Cloud service appears on Galaxy Note II

    galaxy note ii s cloud (bestboyz)
    galaxy note ii s cloud (bestboyz)

    There are options for syncing photos and videos, and beyond requiring a Samsung account it also hooks into Dropbox — potentially a good way to use that 50GB of free storage that Galaxy Note II and Galaxy Camera owners will receive. We previously heard that S Cloud might have been delayed while Samsung searched for a commercial cloud storage partner, and it seems that may well have been accurate.

    However, it's unclear what features S Cloud currently offers beyond Dropbox's standard video and photo uploading on Android, or indeed that service's "deep integration" promised for upcoming products like the Galaxy Camera. S Cloud may still be under development since Samsung is yet to make any announcement, but if nothing else this is the strongest indication yet that it exists in some form.

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  • Ross Miller

    Aug 31, 2012

    Ross Miller

    Samsung adds Google TV to its Smart TVs: Chrome, YouTube, and Google Play store (video)

    Samsung 6000 Series Smart TV with Google TV
    Samsung 6000 Series Smart TV with Google TV

    Although, yes, this is technically Samsung's first Google TV device, a more accurate description for what we saw today at IFA would be that the company is adding Google TV-related apps to its already expansive SmartHub suite. But those three apps arguably make up the entire Google TV experience: Chrome (without Adobe Flash support), YouTube (updated from its previous version to be much snappier and support keyboards), and most importantly the Google Play store (with "most but not all of the Google TV apps," according to a Samsung representative we spoke with).

    Using Samsung's own Smart TV Wireless Keyboard is practically a requirement given all the search bars involved. It's definitely a value add for Samsung's lineup, but if you've already got an Android phone or tablet (or anything in between) laying around, the experience is going to feel subpar in comparison. A Google TV-infused Samsung smart TV is due out it this year, and while we tried it out a 6000 Series TV, even then the representative would not confirm what television models would get the apps or when.

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  • Ross Miller

    Aug 31, 2012

    Ross Miller

    Samsung OLED Multi View stacks two separate videos on one gorgeous 55-inch TV (video)

    Multi View OLED TV
    Multi View OLED TV

    The "multi view" concept isn't new, even if it still lacks a quick-and-easy description. In essence, it's two videos signals stacked on one another — using special polarizing glasses not entirely unlike 3D specs to "isolate" a (two-dimensional) signal and thereby allowing two or more people to watch different videos on the same TV. LG has it with Dual Play and Sony with PlayStation 3D Display.

    Samsung's demonstration at its IFA 2012 booth didn't play up the multiplayer gaming aspect like the last aforementioned predecessors, but it did showcase the technology on gorgeous 55-inch OLED TVs. The special, very light headsets let you jump between the two videos with a push of a button — remarkably with no bleeding between the two signals — while built-in headphones jump audio tracks accordingly.

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  • Dante D'Orazio

    Aug 31, 2012

    Dante D'Orazio

    Samsung Galaxy S III running Android Jelly Bean: our first look

    Samsung Galaxy S III Jelly Bean Android 4.1
    Samsung Galaxy S III Jelly Bean Android 4.1

    For those interested in the fine details, the phone was running version 4.1.1 of the operating system. If you noticed that the phone doesn't look quite like Pebble Blue, you'd be right — it looked more like a plum purple. Curiously enough, that color wasn't part of Samsung's recently announced lineup of new colors for the device. We still haven't any official word on when we can expect the update to arrive to phones, but the most recent rumors suggested it'd be out right about now. What does seem clear, however, is that Vodafone's LTE Galaxy S III will launch with Jelly Bean when its released in Germany come mid October.

    Update: Added information on the device model (number GT-i9305).

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  • Ross Miller

    Aug 31, 2012

    Ross Miller

    Samsung's ultra high-resolution 'dual display' laptop and other crazy prototypes

    Samsung Dual Display Prototype at IFA 2012
    Samsung Dual Display Prototype at IFA 2012

    While Samsung's Ativ hardware is relatively tame — especially compared to some other Windows 8 tablets we've seen this week — the company did section off a part of its IFA booth to show off a few experiments in industrial design. Quarantined behind the glass were various Windows 8 laptop / tablet hybrids that range from familiar ("Slide" and "Swivel") to slightly less so ("Binder" with a slide-on keyboard and "Pop Up" with ports only visible on the hinge) and even an asymmetrical "Memo PC" that's specifically conceptualized with future Samsung mascot the S Pen in mind. We would be surprised if a few of these ideas made it to production level, but for now they're just for show.

    More enticing, however, were the functional prototypes on an adjacent table — including a 13-inch Samsung Series 9 laptop with two WQHD (2560 x 1440) displays, one on each side of the lid à la the Asus Taichi. The single-screen WQHD Series 9 was impressive in its own right, especially given how thin and light the frame was while retaining that approximately 220ppi pixel density (about on par with the 15-inch "Retina" MacBook Pro). It's not a consumer-facing product at this point, but it's also clear this is the direction Samsung (and indeed all laptop makers) are going.

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  • Sam Byford

    Aug 31, 2012

    Sam Byford

    Galaxy Camera accessory prototypes shown off by Samsung

    Gallery Photo: Samsung Galaxy Camera accessory prototype photos
    Gallery Photo: Samsung Galaxy Camera accessory prototype photos

    The lineup includes a waterproof housing, a ring light, a large flash, a lens hood, a complex-looking studio-style tripod setup, and a wireless charger. That last accessory won't even work with the current model, we're told, but future Galaxy Cameras may have wireless charging built in. In fact, it's difficult to see how a lot of these products will work as designed, because the Galaxy Camera (at least the one shown at IFA) doesn't have an expansion port. One accessory will definitely make it to market, though, and that's a camera case with a magnetic flap that covers the screen.

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  • Sam Byford

    Aug 31, 2012

    Sam Byford

    Samsung Galaxy Camera and Galaxy Note II getting 50GB free Dropbox space for two years

    Gallery Photo: Samsung Galaxy Camera hands-on photos
    Gallery Photo: Samsung Galaxy Camera hands-on photos

    Android devices getting free Dropbox space is nothing new: we've seen it on the HTC One series and Samsung Galaxy S III already. The news that Samsung's IFA stars, the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy Camera, will come with a 50GB Dropbox storage expansion for two years shouldn't come as a surprise, then. It's also unclear whether US carriers will even allow it. But having said all that, think of the possibilities for the latter device.

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  • Sam Byford

    Aug 30, 2012

    Sam Byford

    Samsung confirms Galaxy Note II for US release 'later in 2012'

    Samsung's Galaxy Note II doesn't have a release date anywhere yet, but the company has let us know that the 5.5-inch behemoth will at least be making its way to American shores this year. That's an improvement on the original Note, which was similarly announced at IFA 2011 but didn't get a US release until well after this year's CES. There aren't any details on carriers yet, but considering the previous device's success we'd expect wider interest than before.

    We've reproduced Samsung's statement in full below.

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  • Dieter Bohn

    Aug 29, 2012

    Dieter Bohn

    Samsung and Sony try again at tablets, but Microsoft may have the last laugh

    Ativ Tab
    Ativ Tab

    At large gadget conventions like IFA, the most-talked about company is often the one who isn’t there: Apple. This year, the elephant in the room is actually Microsoft and its two Surface tablets. The Surface is now the de facto competitor and the standard by which these Windows 8 OEMs will be judged. Sony and Samsung have revealed their latest tablet strategies at IFA 2012 as they prepare to enter the all-important holiday season. Both have shown off new tablets, hybrids, and phones — but as much as the two companies are going head-to-head with each other, they will also be competing with Microsoft’s Surface, and not just on specs.

    Samsung’s strategy to compete is, in a word, "ecosystem." The company appears to be attempting to build an ecosystem on top of Windows 8 in the same way it has been trying to build an "S App" ecosystem on top of Android. With Windows 8, Microsoft is not only providing an operating system but competing against its own vendors with the Surface. Samsung can't simply just release PCs and tablets anymore, it needs a better story.

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  • Dan Seifert

    Aug 29, 2012

    Dan Seifert

    Samsung outs Ativ Smart PC, Smart PC Pro Windows 8 tablets with Intel processors

    Gallery Photo: Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro press images
    Gallery Photo: Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro press images

    Samsung has unveiled the new Ativ Smart PC and Ativ Smart PC Pro Windows 8 tablets, the global versions of its Series 5 and Series 7 tablets also recently announced. In fact, the two new tablets are identical to the Series 5 and Series 7, and feature Intel processors, have 11.6-inch displays, and are available with a keyboard dock.

    The major difference between the two tablets lies in the processors inside: the Smart PC runs an Intel Atom chip, while the Smart PC Pro uses the more powerful Intel Core i5 processor. The Pro also has more storage (256GB SSD vs. 128GB flash memory), more RAM (4GB vs. 2GB), and a USB 3.0 port in place of the Smart PC's lone USB 2.0 port. The Smart PC is slightly thinner than the Pro — 9.9mm vs. 11.9mm — and it gets 13.5 hours of battery life compared to the Pro's eight hours. While both tablets have 11.6-inch displays, the Smart PC has a 1366 x 768 pixel panel, while the Smart PC Pro upgrades to a Full HD 1980 x 1020 pixel LCD. Both tablets come with microHDMI ports and miniSD card slots, and the keyboard docks include two extra USB 2.0 ports. Ironically, the Smart PC has an 8-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front camera, but the Smart PC Pro features a 5 megapixel rear camera and the same 2-megapixel unit on the front.

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  • Louis Goddard

    Aug 29, 2012

    Louis Goddard

    Samsung Ativ Tab official, 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet

    As we predicted earlier, Samsung has announced a 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet at IFA 2012 in Berlin — the product is officially named the Samsung Ativ Tab. In terms of specs, we've learned that the device will be powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 2GB of RAM, with a mid-size 8,200mAh battery keeping everything going. Its 10.1-inch display will offer a resolution of 1366 x 768, and users will have a choice of either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage.

    Alongside the standard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, the Ativ Tab will provide connectivity through a USB 2.0 port and NFC. The unit as a whole weights in at 570g and measures 0.35 inches at its thickest point. Check out our hands-on post for pictures, video, and a more detailed overview.

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  • Aug 29, 2012

    Vlad Savov

    Samsung Galaxy Camera announced: 16 megapixels, 21x optical zoom, and Android 4.1

    galaxy camera
    galaxy camera

    What happens when you combine a pocket camera with an Android smartphone? Samsung's answer is the Galaxy Camera. Running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on a massive 4.8-inch HD LCD display, the Galaxy Camera aims to take the best of Samsung's camera and phone departments and mix them up for something altogether unique. There's a 16-megapixel backside-illuminated sensor within what is otherwise an unmistakably camera-shaped body, equipped with a retractable lens that provides 21x optical zoom.

    On the inside, we can look forward to a 1.4GHz quad-core processor, Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G wireless options, although disappointingly there's no SD card compatibility. If you want removable storage, you'll have to go for microSD cards. The Galaxy Camera will accept Micro SIM cards only. The display is described as using scLCD technology and has a 308ppi pixel density thanks to its 1280 x 720 resolution.

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  • Dieter Bohn

    Aug 29, 2012

    Dieter Bohn

    Samsung Ativ S officially announced: Windows Phone 8 with a 4.8-inch 720p display

    ativ s
    ativ s

    Samsung is the first manufacturer to officially announce a Windows Phone 8 device: the Ativ S. As we revealed just a short time ago, it has a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and an 8-megapixel rear camera paired with a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. Microsoft announced the device on its Windows Phone blog just ahead of Samsung's unpacked event, noting that it's only 8.7mm thick, has 1GB of RAM, and comes in either 16GB or 32GB models, both of which come with a microSD slot for more storage. It's all powered by a 2300mAh battery. The body is made with brushed aluminum, the screen lies behind Gorilla Glass, and Samsung opted for a physical Windows button instead of a capacitive one — a decision that matches its latest Android devices.

    Unfortunately, while we have plenty of details on the device itself, we don't yet have new details on what Windows Phone 8 itself will bring beyond what we already know except, as Microsoft notes, that it "performs great." Samsung waited for quite a while before discussing the Ativ S during its Unpacked event. The company positioned the phone as part of a larger ecosystem, one that Samsung believes it is uniquely able to provide. It measures 137.2mm x 70.5mm x 8.7mm, a form factor Samsung calls a "chic hairline design."

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  • David Pierce

    Aug 29, 2012

    David Pierce

    Samsung Series 5 and 7 Slates: one part tablet, one part laptop, all Windows 8

    Gallery Photo: Samsung Series 5 Slate pictures
    Gallery Photo: Samsung Series 5 Slate pictures

    Samsung says the Slate 7 is geared toward power users, and as you might guess, it outpaces the consumer-facing Slate 5 in a number of areas. First is display resolution, where the Slate 7's 1080p panel trumps that of the 1366x768 Slate 5. It also contains twice the amount of memory and storage you'll find in the Slate 5, offering 4GB RAM and a 128GB solid state drive.

    In a nice bit of Samsung synergy, each device comes with an S Pen, which can be used in Windows 8 to do anything your finger would normally do. There's also some Samsung-specific software, like Media Hub, which means if you buy a movie on your Galaxy S III you can also watch it on your Slate.

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  • Aug 29, 2012

    Vlad Savov

    Samsung Galaxy Note II official with 5.5-inch screen and Android Jelly Bean

    galaxy note ii
    galaxy note ii

    After dominating IFA 2011 with its Galaxy Note introduction, Samsung is hoping to repeat the feat today with the Galaxy Note II. Now thinner and lighter, the new Note device comes with a redesigned S Pen stylus, a bevy of new software features layered atop Android 4.1, and an enlarged 5.5-inch display. Oh, and it now runs on a 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos processor.

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