News Byte

Samsung Ships Five Million Galaxy Notes, a.k.a “Phablets”

Samsung says it has shipped five million units of its Galaxy Note, a $300 smartphone-tablet hybrid with a 5.3-inch screen that hit the market last October. It’s unclear exactly how many units of the device have been sold; in February, Samsung said it had sold more than two million units worldwide. In his review of the Galaxy Note, AllThingsD’s Walt Mossberg said that some users might find it appealing as a stylus-driven small tablet, but he couldn’t recommend it as the main mobile phone for most people.

Sketching Out a Future for the Stylus

The stylus is making a comeback as people shift more toward using the iPad and other tablets as productivity devices.
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Another Ginormous Android Phone, This Time From LG

Samsung is apparently not alone in seeing a market for phones with a 5-inch screen. LG’s Optimus Vu is slated to start shipping in Korea next month,
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Mobile Device That’s Better for a Jotter Than a Talker

Walt tests the Samsung Galaxy Note, a phone-tablet hybrid with a large screen that uses a stylus as well as your fingers.
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Samsung Shows Off 7.7-Inch LTE Tablet and More of That “Phablet”

At Samsung’s CES press event, the electronics giant again showed off its “phablet” device, plus a 7.7-inch Galaxy tablet that will run on Verizon’s LTE 4G wireless network.
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Note is Creating “Phablet” Market, Says Samsung

One million Galaxy Notes shipped in two months.
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Cher Wang: Highlights From AsiaD (Video)

Cher Wang, co-founder and chairwoman of HTC, got her start in tech selling motherboards many years ago, so that she could create smaller devices to power “easier communication.”
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A Tablet Children Can Grow Into

LeapPad Explorer from LeapFrog Enterprises, a company known for its educational children’s toys, is a tablet aimed at ages 4 through 9.
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Viral Video: Czech President Pen Caper (and Inevitable Facebook Campaign)

A video of Czech President Vaclav Klaus sneakily pocketing a fancy pen at a signing ceremony has, of course, continued to rack the views on YouTube. And–also, of course–there is now a Facebook campaign to send him more pens.

HTC Shows Off First Tablet, Android Phone With Facebook Button and More

HTC became the latest company to “friend” Facebook, showing off a pair of Android phones that have a button for connecting directly to the social network. It also used Mobile World Congress to show off its first tablet and other Android devices.

USB Group Says iTunes Can Block Pre

Announcing the Microsoft Newton