Notes

Verizon Wireless customers now have three options should they be in the market for a 5-inch Android experience.

The latest handset to join the phablet family is the HTC Droid DNA, which the carrier announced yesterday. Like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and LG Intuition it boasts a massive display and a full roster of high-end features.

But as compelling as each smartphone is, only one can come out on top. So let's take a deeper dive to determine which device will be crowned Verizon's king of gargantuan handsets?

LG Intuition A variant of the Optimus Vu, the … Read more

The Royal Collection is getting its first tablet.

Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 was chosen as the Royal Collection's tablet by the Royal Commonwealth Society charity, the BBC is reporting today. The organization considered going with the iPad, but instead chose Samsung's device. It's not clear why the Galaxy Note 10.1 was picked over the iPad, which, like it or not, essentially defined the tablet era we're entering.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 is the device that will house Queen Elizabeth II's "digital time capsule." According to the BBC, people from … Read more

Just because your music is from the really old school doesn't mean the way you read it has to be. That's the message behind the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra's decision to abandon its room full of paper sheet music in favor of the Galaxy Note 10.1.

Orchestra manager Gunther Broucke explained that the orchestra is always looking for ways to not only improve its performance, but also to be innovative. Organizing and distributing sheet music to the entire ensemble, it turns out, is quite a time-consuming process. Seeing an opportunity for a clear marketing win, Samsung donated to the cause 100 of its new Galaxy Note 10.1 tablets with special orchestra software installed. … Read more

Just two weeks after it introduced the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Sprint has begun issuing a software update for the king-size smartphone. A posting on the carrier's forum indicates that the update features a number of minor changes affecting various aspects of the user experience.

Most notable among the changes is Multi Window View, a feature that lets the user run and view two applications at the same time. Considering how much real estate the Galaxy Note II provides, this will likely be an oft-used and welcome addition for many.

Other details found in the change log include GPS … Read more

Apple appears ready to fire its legal salvo directly at Google.

In a move that could draw Google into the fray, Apple attempted to add Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note 10.1 and Google's Android 4.1, also known as Jelly Bean, to an existing complaint against Samsung in California.

Apple made the argument to U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal today in San Jose, Calif., Bloomberg reported.

The move followed Samsung's own action to add the iPhone 5 to its own counter-claim that Apple infringed on its patents.

The ongoing complaints show that the massively complex legal … Read more

As much as I'm a fan of Evernote (who isn't?), I've never really liked its companion apps. On my iPhone, for example, I've always found the interface confusing and not especially pretty.

That's about to change. According to the company's blog, Evernote 5 is coming soon for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. And it's looking mighty sharp.

The new Home screen, for example, resembles the top edge of a file drawer, with stacked tabs for things like places, tags, notes, and notebooks. One tap takes you directly to the corresponding screen.

It's … Read more

The unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note could get its Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update in late December says the oft-reliable SamMobile. In addition to the requisite bug fixes, the update will include Samsung's Nature UX as well as Air View and Multi View on the gargantuan smartphone.

Samsung has yet to confirm both the update and its expected arrival, but the firmware in the video below looks fairly complete. Hopefully, we'll get an official announcement from Sammy soon, be it via press release or a social network status update.

It's worth noting that not all versions of … Read more

Apple's tablet market share took a hit as consumers "sat out" the third quarter in anticipation of the iPad Mini, analyst firm IDC said. Android tablets made gains as a result.

After a strong second quarter, Apple's unit shipment growth slowed in both consumer and commercial (including education) markets, according to an IDC report published Monday.

"We believe a sizeable percentage of consumers interested in buying an Apple tablet sat out the third quarter in anticipation of an announcement about the new iPad Mini," said IDC analyst Tom Mainelli in a statement.

Apple's … Read more

Samsung Electronics said today that it had sold 3 million units of the Galaxy Note 2 after just 30 days, or three times faster than its predecessor.

The figure represents an impressive rate of adoption for Samsung, which has essentially created a new category of oversized mobile phones that many have taken to calling "phablets." The original Galaxy Note was deemed a success, but took 90 days to hit the same 3 million mark.

In addition, Samsung said it has sold more than 30 million Galaxy S III smartphones, another impressive milestone for its flagship device.

The Galaxy … Read more