Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Yes, I am waiting for my next device to be available on T-Mobile October 2, luckily I work graveyard so I’ll be at the store with cash in hand saying “open, open, open”!

With the specs released on the Note 3 there’s no doubt this is going to be a powerhouse of a device. Currently I’m using a Samsung Galaxy S4 and love it but something is missing…the S-Pen.

Coming from a Note 2 and jumping on the S4 was not much of a transition however I do miss the ability and functions of the S-Pen.

With the new functions of the S-Pen on the Note 3 will allow anyone to be more productive without have to switch to the main menu or even having to resort to multi-view to get tasks done. According to Samsung Action Memo can initiate a call, add to contacts, look up an address on a map, search the Web, and save a task to a to-do list.

Scrapbook: this feature is meant to allow users to organize or track down content and information from various sources including the web YouTube and gallery in one place.

Screen Write: this allows one to capture the full screen image of the current page on the device one can then write comments or additional information on to the captured image.

S Note: this feature allows users to write, organize, edit and browse notes. The S Note can also be sync with Evernote or a Samsung Account and be enabled for accessing and viewing from different devices.

Micro USB 3.0

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 introduces a new charging standard with Micro USB 3.0. Equipped with the updated USB 3.0 micro B port, the Note 3 should see faster file transfer speeds than those seen with smartphones on the current Micro USB 2.0 standard. USB 3.0 notably provides up to 900mA current in comparison to the 500mA current provided by USB 2.0 ports. USB 3.0 essentially brings laptop charging to the same level as wall charging.

With Micro USB 3.0 we see an updated connector, which is much different than the Micro USB 2.0 connector. Luckily, it remains backwards-compatible and is able to plug in to the USB side of the port, which plugs into computers, wall chargers and other power sources. Due to the strange design, many expect Micro USB 3.0 will not be used across the market and may be reserved for new high-end handsets, which require more power for charging and file transfer.

While I didn’t like the feel of the plastic backing of the Note 2 of the Galaxy S4 I’m sure I wouldn’t have liked it on the Note 3. While it gave a nice shiny slippery feeling I’m sure I’m going to love the faux-leather that this device is coming with.

Samsung Knox

Samsung Knox to be Available for High-end Samsung Android Phones

Samsung KNOX is a solution that hardens the security of the hardware through the application layer, and this end-to-end solution was earlier available only to the Enterprises, but Samsung announced at the Unpacked event yesterday at IFA 2013, that the Knox would now be commercially available to the consumers with the high-end Android devices, and that would initially include the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition and the support would be extended later on, to the devices such as Galaxy S3, S4 and Note II later on. According to its makers, Samsung KNOX implements a concept called “container” that is a separate secure execution environment for a set of pre-screened applications to run and store data.

The Applications that are running outside the container will not be getting a full access and it would be a limited one, because the security in it would be enforced by the system-level protection of the Samsung Knox. The main help is provided when the device is lost or stolen, and when the user data is tried to be accessed by the various hacking attempts, and the protection from the malware phishing attacks is also done.

Samsung has recently extended this support from just the enterprise level to the consumer level, where the users can now take an advantage of it, and store content like personal pictures in that container which is at such a level of security where one cannot breach and steal the content even through hacking as the data from there doesn’t get leaked. In addition, users may choose to store enterprise applications and data such as corporate email, contacts and calendar allowing the IT department to manage the container through EAS (Exchange ActiveSync Server). These features make Samsung KNOX an ideal platform for BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device to work). The main issue for most of the employees to bring their devices to work is the security and the data breach, and the Knox does the right job in protecting that. The level of security in the Knox is such that it is approved by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), to be used in the DoD networks, and the company is pushing the Knox in the devices with no extra cost, but right now the availability is limited, with the Note 3 and Note 10.1 2014 edition to be getting it all around the world, and the three other high-end devices Note II, S3 and S4 would be getting it very soon after this.

More to come once the device is in my hands!