Firm becomes world’s first to roll out Windows 8 handset



Samsung Electronics on Thursday featured the new 5.5-inch Galaxy Note 2 as well as a new device called Galaxy Camera at its mobile unpack event ahead of the IFA electronics trade show in Berlin.

The world’s top smartphone maker also wowed the crowd of about 1,500 people by introducing its new “ATIV” lineup of smart PC, tablets and smartphones running on Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 platform.

“Samsung is creating a new category and a new boundary,” Shin said during the event held in Germany. “We unveiled the Galaxy Note a year ago at this location and we also stressed then that we will build a brand new category. And today, we’re showing the new Galaxy Note 2 that goes a step further in creativity.”

The Galaxy Note 2 has a bigger display screen than the previous model’s 5.3-inch screen, and is equipped with the latest High Definition Super AMOLED display, according to Samsung officials.

Operating on the latest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean mobile operating system, the gadget, which weighs 180 grams, also has a 1.6 gigahertz quad-core application processor, 8-megapixel camera on the back and an extended-life 3,100 mAh battery, its officials said.

The device will be launching in Europe in October.

Galaxy Camera, a half-mobile, half-camera device, is also powered by Google’s Android 4.1 mobile platform.

Being able to connect online through the wireless Internet networks, along with the third-generation and fourth-generation communications networks, people could take photos and share them immediately with their friends and family through social networking sites or emails, said Samsung officials.

“It’s like a smartphone, with users being able to access mobile apps through the Android market, except that it does not come with the calling function,” a company official said.

Samsung was also the first of all handset manufacturers to unveil a 4.8-inch display smartphone called “ATIV S,” running on the Windows 8 platform.

ATIV S, which is equipped with the firm’s Super AMOLED display screen, is the first handset being jointly produced with Microsoft since the launch of Samsung’s Omnia 2 in 2009, which was rather a disappointment to its users.

Other ATIV devices also unveiled at the event are the 11.6-inch convertible PC called “ATIV Smart PC Pro,” the “ATIV Smart PC” and the 10.1-inch tablet dubbed “ATIV Tab.”

“We plan to present new values to our customers by continuously launching Samsung’s unique smart gadgets that could easily be shared and enjoyed,” said Shin.



By Cho Ji-hyun
(sharon@heraldcorp.com)