Two months after first being launched at a showcase event in Berlin for the IFA consumer electronics and appliances trade show, Samsung has announced Australian availability and pricing for its newest raft of products, including the Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Camera and Smart PC series.
The successor to the original Note, the Galaxy Note II smartphone-tablet hybrid was unveiled, boasting a slimmer bezel and larger screen (5.5 inches), a faster processor (1.6 GHz quad-core) a thicker S Pen stylus with more touch functionality and the option of 4G connectivity (on the Optus and Telstra networks).
Speaking about the flagship device at the launch was Samsung Australia’s vice president of telecommunications, Tyler McGee.
“With the Galaxy Note, Samsung created a new category for consumers to be able to enjoy a great smartphone experience,” said McGee. “The Note II is the most powerful smartphone in the marketplace and the one that’s going to let us create, collaborate and connect even more than before.”
The Galaxy Note II will be available in Marble White and Titanium Grey from next week, for RRP $899 for the 16GB model. It will be sold at the Samsung Experience store in Sydney (which is offering device pre-orders), and through telco carriers Optus, Telstra and Vodafone, which are yet to release plans and pricing details.
Part smartphone, part tablet – the Galaxy Note II.
Also shown off last night was the Galaxy Camera, Samsung’s Android-powered digital camera (4.1 Jelly Bean) which features a 16.3-megapixel sensor, 21x optical zoom, Wi-Fi connectivity and built-in apps. It also features a 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 4.8-inch HD touchscreen and Photo Wizard interface that optimises shooting for different scenarios.
The Galaxy Camera will be rolled out in Australia in “late November” and will be available for RRP $599.
Part Android, part imaging device – the Galaxy Camera.
Finally, Samsung announced pricing and availability for its new Windows 8 ATIV range of tablet PCs, known as the Smart PC and Smart PC pro. Both devices feature a traditional clamshell notebook design with a removable screen that can be used as a tablet, offering an 11.6-inch display with 10-finger multi-touch cability. Both devices also borrow from the Galaxy Note in that they offer an S Pen with 1024-point pressure sensitivity for stylus input.
The Smart PC features a Next Generation Intel Atom processor, a 64GB hard disk drive and up to 9.4 hours of DVD play time. The more premium Smart PC pro features an Intel Core i5 processor, a solid state drive (up to 256GB) and 5 hours of DVD play time.
Both devices are being released this month, with Smart PC prices starting at RRP $899 and the Smart PC Pro starting at RRP $1,349.
Part notebook, part tablet computer – the Samsung Smart PC.
Here is a video of Sam Sparro and Rikki-Lee performing a song at the launch event in Sydney: