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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 gets split screen multitasking update

by Mark Tyson on 8 October 2012, 14:30

Tags: Samsung (005935.KS), PC

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Samsung have released a firmware update to their new (big) baby. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (or Galaxy Note II, for our Roman readers) firmware update XXALIJ1 enables a feature Samsung call “Multi Window”; a split-screen multitasking view. This new view is compatible with a lot of the standard Google and Samsung apps and will help users make the most of that lovely big screen.

The Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update XXALIJ1 gives the Galaxy Note 2 a new baseband and an update to Google Chrome as well as this headlining Multi Window feature. Google and Samsung apps support the split screen feature but as yet we know of no other apps supporting it. With such a big screen in your palm, being able to “work” with two apps at once could be very convenient to Samsung’s newest phablet users. In the Galaxy Note 2 commercial video below you can fast forward to about 2-minutes to see the Multi Window view in action.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is barely out of the stable door; unveiled at IFA Berlin at the end of August, it has only been available in the UK for a week, so owners are fortunate to get updated so soon. The new Galaxy Note 2, followed up last year’s surprise Samsung success packing many refinements to the hardware, software and design. The specifications are as follows;

CPU

Exynos 4 Quad-Core 1.6GHz (ARM Cortex-A9)

GPU

ARM Mali-400MP4 (overclocked)

RAM

2GB

Display

5.5in 1,280 x 768 Super AMOLED HD

Storage

16/32/64GB internal, microSD (up to 64GB)

Camera

8-megapixel BSI + AF & LED Flash rear, 1.9-megapixel VT BSI front

Connectivity

A-GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 Apt-X, USB 2.0 Host,

Wi-Fi a/b/g/n 2.4 and 5GHz with channel bonding, Wi-Fi Direct,

mHL and NFC

Sensors

Accelerometer, RGB Light, Digital Compass, Proximity, Gyro and Barometer

Dimensions

80.5 x 151.1 x 9.4mm

Weight

180g

Battery

3,100mAh fast-charge

OS

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (now updateable to 4.1.1)

 

If you are a lucky Samsung Galaxy Note 2 owner you can install the update via Kies or OTA. The usual provisos about your network provider and the update being available apply.

In other Samsung Galaxy Note news American Airlines are purchasing 17,000 first generation Galaxy Note smartphones for cabin crew use during flights. The smartphones will be used to help look after passengers better and will hold information about airport connections, seating, passenger preferences, menus and beverages and so on.



HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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Would be nice to see these updates come to the original note. Although the split screen would probably work better on the note 2 due to the difference in screen ratios between the phones.
Would like to see this ported to the galaxy s3. This is real multitasking and tbh looks very impressive to me and I can imagine using it a fair bit.
Whilst personally I would not carry this as a phone, I can see how the extra screen estate and having multiple applications at the same time are going to have compelling productivity benefits in a form factor that is more portable than a tablet. Like having a dual screen desktop setup. Of course this is all dependant on having the user interaction process refined to no-brainer usage.

Need to schedule a suitable film at the cinema later after the meeting, but before dinner at 9?
Or the client wants you to cross reference some data whilst you're on the train somewhere?
No need to abuse that Home/Back button!
I want this on my Transformer!
i want this on my nexus!