Samsung launches Galaxy Note and Galaxy Nexus

By Elisabeth Edvardsen

As you may remember we gave you a sneak peek of Samsung’s new Galaxy Note at IFA earlier this year – don’t worry if you don’t, we’ve included the video we shot back then below. Last night we were invited to the official global launch of the new handset at the impressive Battersea Power Station, before the company departs on a World Tour to present their new flagship handset.

Samsung Galaxy Note

JK Shin, head of mobile communications at Samsung, kicked off last night’s launch by telling us that the handset “creates its own new product category” in the way it’s much more like a smart phone / tablet hybrid than anything we’ve ever seen before. According to the Samsung team, the handset has been designed to let people do much more while they’re on the go, be it note taking, watching media, communicating with people or drawing. So whether you are a business professional who needs to make changes to documents on the go, you love to watch videos and take snapshots of your life and share then with your social networks, or simply want a secure place to jot down your thoughts and sketches, Samsung believe the Galaxy Note is the solution.

Apart from the massive screen, the main thing that really differentiates the device from anything else on the market is its fancy new stylus, the S Pen. We know, we know, we thought the stylus was dead too, but with the Galaxy Note’s new S Pen (a whole new take on the classic stylus), you’ll be using it for pretty much everything, from navigating menus, drawing, taking notes, editing videos and much more. Interestingly, Samsung plans to release the S Pen SDK allowing app developers to create fundamentally new applications and services incorporating the pen functionality.

The Galaxy Note also has everything you’d expect from a new smartphone, with a large 5.3in, 1280 x 800 Super AMOLED display running from a dual-core 1.4GHz processor. You’ll also be able to snap 8MP photos and record 1080p video footage too. And at only 9.65mm and 178grams it is both slim-line and super light. You’ll have a choice of a 16GB or a 32GB, and it comes in white or dark blue.

With its large screen we think this could become a popular handset for both business professionals and creatives alike who don’t want to carry around both a phone and a tablet device to work on, as you can edit PowerPoint presentations and scribble down ideas with great ease using the S Pen. Another feature worth noting is the Chat ON instant messaging with is Samsung’s response to Blackberry’s BBM and Apple’s iMessage.

The Galaxy Note will be available in the UK from 2 November 2011 and so far Carphone Warehouse, O2 and Phones 4 U are on board.

Here’s a hands-on video from IFA earlier this year:

Galaxy Nexus

Last night wasn’t just about the Galaxy Note, but it was also a chance for the guys at Samsung to showcase the Galaxy Nexus, the first phone to run the latest Android offering, Ice Cream Sandwich.

The first thing you notice about the Galaxy Nexus is how it looks, it’s got a curved and contoured design, rounded edges and it’s completely buttonless too.

Like the Note, the Nexus is a very capable smart phone which will be faster than ever with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, a 1280 X 720 resolution display and fairly large 4.65 super HD AMOLED display.

However, there are plenty of features that really make the Nexus stand out, including face unlock, which allows you to unlock your phone with a smile, Android beam, which allows you to transfer data using NFC technology and voice typing, which allows you to input any kind of text with your voice.

For those who love to take photos, the Nexus comes with a 5MP camera with zero shutter lag, a panoramic single motion feature and a new gallery.

The Galaxy Nexus will be rolled out across Europe from 17 November 2011 and will be available through Vodafone, O2 and 3.