As the Samsung GALAXY Note reaches
its lofty orbit, we take another shuttle to the stars to meet up with Mr. Lee
Jui Siang, Head of Mobile Phone Division for Samsung Electronics Malaysia, to
talk about their very interesting smartphone-tablet hybrid.
Two months now since its Southeast Asia
debut, the Samsung GALAXY Note has been the talk of the industry, what with its
unique melding of tablet functionality into smartphone form factor. This issue,
we approached Lee Jui Siang, Samsung Electronic Malaysia’s Head of Mobile Phone
Division, to tell us more about this noteworthy device.
Mr. Lee Jui Siang, Head of Mobile Phone
Division, Samsung Electronic Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
How has the Samsung GALAXY Note been
doing, in terms of sales?
The Samsung GALAXY Note
We cannot disclose actual figures –
however, the GALAXY Note has seen tremendous support not only in Malaysia but
also in the region and we foresee this update will continue well into 2012.
The GALAXY Note’s form factor and
design stands at a unique place. What is the public reaction towards it?
GALAXY Note is loved by users in general,
and preference amongst Asia users has been especially high as the GALAXY Note
minimizes the need to switch between different devices. It combines the
portability of a smartphone with an expansive viewing experience, enables
multi-tasking and has the content creation capabilities of a diverse set of
mobile devices.
What’s the rationale behind the
GALAXY Note’s unique form factor/design choice?
The GALAXY Note is a smartphone born of our
insight and innovation. It is a new kind of ‘do-in-one’ device that combines
the portability of a smartphone with the capabilities of a diverse set of
mobile devices. It represents an evolved smartphone – a unique category
developed by Samsung.
Would you consider the GALAXY Note as
more of a business tool, or a multimedia/entertainment one?
It is a combination of both. Development of
the product followed a rigorous analysis of mobile consumer behavior.
Particularly for certain tasks around content creation, rendering and sharing,
we found that there was a demand for consolidating device functions into a
single device, so users could perform more tasks on-the-go while switching less
– in other words, do more, with less interruptions. The Note’s category was
born out of these insights. It is targeted at smart device users who want to do
more on-the-go, and those who seek performance and creativity beyond limits.
The S-Pen on the Samsung GALAXY Note
is an interesting, vital piece of technology. Can you elaborate more on the
technology and how it integrates with the Note’s user experience?
The S-Pen is the most advanced pen input
solution available on the market, with functionality that is deeply integrated
into GALAXY Note’s original applications to provide a richer interactive
experience, uncommon with other styluses. It provides pressure sensitivity,
superior accuracy and control when editing or personalizing captured content or
when drawing or sending handwritten images or notes. The S-Pen was designed to
provide a analog pen writing experience on a digital device.
What can you tell us about the
S-Pen’s Optimized Apps? (And when can we expect the new ones to arrive?)
The S-Pen’s Optimized Apps were created
specifically to enhance users’ experience with the S-Pen features which include
games, sketching, drawing or editing. Samsung will continuously enhance and
improve this application, and customers can expect new and exciting apps in the
upcoming year. However, there are no actual dates on the release of these apps.
With the S-Pen’s SDK announced, how
do you see developers working with it?
We are actively encouraging developers to
develop content/apps for the GALAXY Note, and since its launch in September
we’ve already seen a number of applications made available. We are confident
that a application ecosystem will grow organically as the device is made
commercially available and shows consumer pick-up. The S-Pen API has only just
been made available, and there will now be a special category called ‘S Choice’
under Samsung Apps, which will provide special applications and content that
take advantage of the S Pen function.
What can you tell us more about the
‘first HD Super AMOLED display’ on the Note?
GALAXY Note sports a 5.3-inch WXGA
(1280x800, 285ppi) HD Super AMOLED display, the largest screen possible while
still ensuring smartphone portability. At 5.3-inches, the HD Super AMOLED
high-definition display is large but still allows the Note to be a pocket-sized
device which measures only 9.6mm thick and weights a very light 175g. Taking
full advantage of the large display, users are able to do more tasks to create
and consume more, with minimum scrolling and screen transitions, while
on-the-go.
We notice a lack of direct HDMI
output on the GALAXY Note. Being a device with HD recording, how can the GALAXY
Note share its multimedia content?
All HD contents within the GALAXY Note can
be shared via a HDMI adapter. All users need to do to enjoy this remarkable
feature is connect the GALAXY Note to a HDMI cable which can be connected to a
HDMI slot on a HDTV.
With the larger form factor and the
Super AMOLED display, there have been concerns about the device’s battery/life.
What can you comment about this?
We understand the initial concern because
of the device’s HD recording capabilities, 8-megapixels camera and the large
high-resolution screen are backed by a powerful 1.4GHz dual-core processor.
However, the Note has a 2500mAh detachable battery offering hours of always-on
usability and connectivity.
The GALAXY Note is running on
Android’s Gingerbread platform. Will we see the Note taking up on Android 4.0
(Ice Cream Sandwich)?
The GALAXY Note will definitely receive an
ICS 4.0 upgrade. An official announcement will be made as soon as it is ready.
What has Samsung learned from the
conception and creation of the Samsung GALAXY Note? What more can we expect to
see from this unique user experience?
With long-term goals to inspire and enrich
lives, Samsung will continuously innovate and create. From phones to cameras,
notebooks, SMART TVs and even home appliances, Samsung not only offers
beautiful and stylish products that complement lifestyles, but also provides
unique, intuitive experiences for consumers with the latest state-of-the-art
technology and engineering excellence that harnesses speed, creativity and
efficiency.
