Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (GSM)
T-Mobile Debuts VoLTE in Seattle
T-Mobile today announced that it has launched VoLTE service in its home market of Seattle. T-Mobile claims that VoLTE service offers both voice and data in the same radio layer and offers call set-up times that are twice as quick. T-Mobile's VoLTE service includes HD Voice, though T-Mobile has offered HD Voice separately since last year. In order for HD Voice to work, both handsets need to be HD Voice-capable. According to T-Mobile, its VoLTE service uses Enhanced Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (eSRVCC) to make sure calls don't drop when leaving LTE coverage regions. This is an LTE Advanced feature that assures seamless voice service no matter the technology used to connect the call. VoLTE will first be available to the LG G Flex, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and Galaxy Light handsets. Owners of these devices will need to update the software of their phone in order to make use of VoLTE. T-Mobile said its VoLTE service will expand to new regions and devices over the months ahead. AT&T is launching VoLTE this week, and Verizon plans to launch VoLTE later this year.
Samsung Debuts GamePad for Android Phones
Samsung today announced the GamePad, a gaming accessory for its Android smartphones. The GamePad resembles a gaming control unit from today's living room gaming consoles. It supports a number of Samsung smartphones, cradling devices with screens ranging from 4 inches to 6.3 inches. It connects to smartphones via Bluetooth and an associated application. The GamePad provides physical controls for games, and connects to TVs through an HDMI cable or AllShare Screen Mirroring. The GamePad requires Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and Samsung recommends it be used with devices such as the Galaxy S III and S4, and the Note II and Note 3. The GamePad includes support for NFC for easy device pairing. The Mobile Console app for the GamePad is available for download through the Samsung App store. The Samsung GamePad is launching first in European markets with others to follow in the coming weeks. Samsung has not shared specific plans to offer the GamePad in the U.S. yet.
T-Mobile Offering Note 3, Other Phones for $0 Down
T-Mobile today announced a promotion that will allow customers to purchase the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 for $0 down. T-Mobile typically asks for about $100 down on most flagship devices. The Note 3 carries a retail price of about $700. With no downpayment, however, T-Mobile customers who buy the Note 3 will need to make 24 monthly payments of $29.50, which totals $708 over the course of two years. T-Mobile is offering the same $0 option for the LG G2, Samsung Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note II. The monthly costs for these phones are $25, $25, and $24, respectively. T-Mobile didn't say how long the promotion would run.
AT&T to Sell Galaxy Note 3 October 4 for $299
AT&T today announced that it will begin selling the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 online and in stores on October 4. The device will cost $299.99 with a new two-year contract, or $35 per month with AT&T Next. AT&T will also offer the Galaxy Gear smartwatch on October 4. It costs $299 and does not require a separate contract. The Gear is compatible only with the Note 3 at launch, but will eventually be compatible with other Galaxy-branded smartphones from Samsung.
T-Mobile Accepting Note 3 Preorders Beginning Sept. 18
T-Mobile today announced that it will start accepting preorders for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on September 18. T-Mobile is asking for a down payment of $199.99 followed by 24 monthly payments of $21. T-Mobile said the Note 3 will be available online and in stores on October 2. T-Mobile will also sell the Galaxy Gear smartwatch from Samsung on October 2, but it will be available separately from the Note 3.
Verizon Shipping Note 3 on October 10
Verizon has started accepting pre-orders for Samsung's Galaxy Note 3. The high-end device will cost $300 with 2-year contract.
AT&T, T-Mobile Announce Note 3 Release Details
AT&T and T-Mobile USA today announced release details for Samsung's recently-announced Galaxy Note 3. AT&T will start accepting pre-orders today, with orders shipping "around Oct. 1." AT&T will charge $300 for the Note 3, with two-year contract. T-Mobile will start selling the Note 3 on October 2nd, for $200 plus $21/month for 24 months.
Hands-On: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Gear
Samsung's third-generation phablet is an impressive improvement and the Gear adds a unique twist to how we interact with smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch Is a Companion for Note 3
Samsung today announced the Galaxy Gear, a smartwatch that serves as an accessory to smartphones such as the Galaxy Note 3. The Gear has a 1.63-inch touch screen, 800MHz processor with 512MB of RAM, and uses Bluetooth 4.0LE to communicate with the Note 3. The Gear includes a 1.9-megapixel camera and a speakerphone, both of which are embedded in the wristband. The camera can record 720p HD video, and images and video are synced to the Note 3 for safekeeping. The Gear runs Android from Google, but uses a unique user interface from Samsung that permits users to swipe from screen to screen and from app to app. The Gear runs several native apps, such as pedometer and clock, and also interacts with the Note 3. When paired with a smartphone, it can be used to place phones, view rich notifications, and interact with Samsung's S Voice app. The Gear runs third-party apps as well, and will ship with several from the likes of eBay, Evernote, RunKeeper, TripIt, and others. The Galaxy Gear will go on sale after September 25, but pricing was not announced.
Samsung Note 3 Offers Bigger Screen, Smaller Footprint, Updated S Pen
Samsung today announced the Galaxy Note 3, its third-generation phablet with S Pen stylus. The Note 3 increases the screen from last year's 5.5-inch display to 5.7 inches. It also improves the resolution from 1280 x 800 to 1920 x 1080 full HD. Despite the larger screen, the Note 3 is 1mm narrower and 1mm thinner than the Note 2, and also weighs significantly less thanks to the use of polycarbonate in the frame. Samsung also refreshed the design language, giving the Note 3 a faux leather texture to the back cover rather than the glossy plastics of the Note and Note 2. The Note 3 will come in two variants, an LTE version with a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, and an HSPA+ version with 1.9GHz eight-core Samsung Exynos 5 Octa processor. Both will include 3GB of RAM. The Note 3's camera has been improved to 13 megapixels, and the user-facing camera rates 2 megapixels. Both can record 1080p HD video and carry over all the camera features Samsung first debuted with the Galaxy S4 earlier this year. Other specs include a removable 3,200mAh battery; 32/64GB of storage with support for microSD cards up to 64GB; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0LE, GPS, and GLONASS radios; and infrared for controlling TVs, MHL for connecting to TVs, and USB 3.0. The Note runs Android 4.3 as well as Samsung's TouchWiz user interface. Most of the software is carried over from the Galaxy S4, but Samsung made a number of improvements to the S Pen stylus and its accompanying software. A new Air Command tool brings the S Pen functions front and center, and they let users take instant screen shots, create actionable memos, search through handwritten notes, create searchable scrapbooks, and of course scribble simple notes. Last the Note 3 includes improved multitasking with Pen apps. The Pen apps resemble LG's QSlide apps, and place a small app such as a calculator, web browser, or YouTube window on top of any other app. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3.0 will by sold in the U.S. by AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon Wireless. Pricing and availability was not announced.
