Earlier this year, the web was buzzing with the news that Samsung Electronics America, Inc. would release a new tablet to combat the iPad mini. The company made the Galaxy Note 8.0 official in February, and now they're ready to actually start selling it.
Samsung just announced that the Galaxy Note 8.0 Tablet would be available to all starting April 11, 2013.
Designed as a mid-sized option for the company's Galaxy Note line, the Galaxy Note 8.0 features a compact form factor, Multi Window for multitasking, and super-cool S Pen functionality.
Some of the specs include a 1.6GHz Quad Core processor, built-in WiFi, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal memory that can be pumped up to 80GB via a microSD card. For photos, video and web calls, the unit has a 5-megapixel rear camera that can shoot 1080p video and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera with a 720p resolution.
Samsung says that the Galaxy Note 8.0 will be the very first product to feature Samsung WatchON, a new search and recommendation service for finding TV shows and other on-demand content. It works across several content sources, including live TV and streaming video-on-demand sources from Samsung's Media Hub. From there, it will recommend movies and TV shows, as well as offer up actor bios, reviews, and other cool content.
As with the Galaxy Note 10.1 (which we reviewed last year), the Galaxy Note 8.0 is the perfect addition to any existing AV system, thanks to the tablet's built-in IR blaster. That way, you can ditch your remote clutter and use this slick unit to browse for content, change channels, and control anything else in your setup.
For on-the-go viewing, the Galaxy Note 8.0 has an 8-inch WXGA screen with 1280-by-800 pixels. There are also a few e-Reader features, including a Reading Mode for adjusting the screen to optimal reading level, and Smart Stay for keeping the screen awake during that marathon reading session.
If you're trying to justify this one for work purposes, know that it has a ton of productivity perks. Multi Window works with 20 different apps for side-by-side viewing, Air View allows users to preview content, and Awesome Note makes it easy to take notes and save them to specific folders. That S Pen is also perfect for checking out pictures, surfing the web, or working through email.
Other features including sharing via Group Play and AllShare Pass for streaming content to the TV or accessing files on a desktop computer.
"The Galaxy Note defined an entirely new smartphone category and the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet redefined the tablet experience for consumers," said Travis Merrill, vice president of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. "With the Galaxy Note 8.0, we fully expect to ignite the mid-size tablet market Samsung pioneered with the first Galaxy Tab. The Galaxy Note 8.0 is small enough to fit in your pocket or purse and packs the power needed for full mobile entertainment and productivity."
Samsung is packing the Galaxy Note 8.0 with pre-loaded content, including 50GB of free Dropbox storage for two years, one month free of unlimited music streaming in Samsung's Music Hub, and more. For a limited time, a $25 Google Play credit will also be up for grabs for new purchases.
Available in white, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is listed with an MSRP of $399.99. Expect to see all sorts of accessories as well, including USB and HDMI adapters, a travel charger, and covers in white, grey, pink or green.
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