Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 cut in a similar way, but only one is XL and the other is XXL. Size matters, and it's not just a choice between a loose fit and a tight fit. It's about usability, the size has to be perfect - so taking a closer look at these devices will not be superfluous. And mind you, this is not about which one is better - a smartphone or "tablet phone" - it's about which one is more suitable for you.
It's hard not to look at the Galaxy Note 2 as an enlarged Galaxy S3, but a few minutes of using the S Pen might convince you otherwise. The larger screen (with the new Super AMOLED matrix) and overclocked chipset are also nice additions.
On the other hand, 4.8 inches is plenty for a phone, and so is the clock speed of the Galaxy S3, unless you're a numbers geek. In addition, its screen uses a PenTile Super AMOLED matrix that can handle sunlight better. And styluses went out of fashion years ago, right?
We're going to be looking at the handsets in great detail, but if we had just 10 seconds to point out the main differences between the S3 and Note 2, we'd say the following:
Benefits of the Samsung Galaxy S3
- More compact - 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm vs. 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4 mm
- Lighter - 133g vs 183g
- Same resolution on smaller screen, hence higher pixel density - 306 ppi versus 267 ppi
- Better visibility in the sun
- Less cost
Benefits of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2
- Larger screen - 5.5" vs. 4.8"
- New screen matrix with a full set of subpixels
- Slightly brighter screen
- S Pen and Wacom technologies
- Faster CPU (1.6GHz vs 1.4GHz) and GPU
- All models have 2 GB of RAM, while the international version of the Galaxy S3 has only 1 GB
- Split-screen Interface, Split Screen, Page Buddy
- More battery life
|
|
While mobile devices tend to be good at consuming content rather than creating content, Samsung is trying to overcome that barrier with its S Pen technology. The split-screen interface also promises improved performance.
However, the Galaxy S3 is easier on the pocket (both literally and figuratively) and is more of the same device in terms of software and hardware (except for the S Pen stylus).
Here's the roadmap for our comparison - we'll start with the hardware, including screen and battery life, then move on to software and benchmarks, compare cameras, and finish with a sound quality comparison. Well, let's start!
Design, hardware
Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 use almost the same design and body materials - glossy plastic.
They vary in size, as we mentioned the Galaxy S3 measures 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6mm while the Galaxy Note 2 is larger in every direction: 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4mm . The difference in thickness is negligible (Galaxy Note 2 is not inferior to most other phones), although the height still raises the question of the Galaxy Note 2's "pocketability".
Width is the biggest issue - at 80.5mm, the Galaxy Note 2 is the widest smartphone (well, phablet) on the market outside of the LG Optimus Vu. This significantly limits the comfort of using the device with one hand, compared to the S3. However, it's 2.5mm narrower than the first Galaxy Note despite the larger screen (thanks to the switch from 16:10 to 16:9).
Weight also deserves attention. The Galaxy S3 weighs 133 grams, which is normal for its generation of flagships (HTC One X weighs 130 grams, LG Optimus 4X HD weighs 133 grams). The Galaxy Note 2 weighs 183 grams, which looks like a lot (in fact, it is), but the weight is well distributed (the device does not feel too heavy), and recall that the Nokia Lumia 920, for example, weighs 185 grams.
Another difference is that the Galaxy S III has a wider selection of colors, although we expect the Galaxy Note 2 to catch up soon.
We move on. Both devices have a removable back cover and replaceable batteries. The Galaxy S3 has a solid 2100 mAh lithium-ion battery, while the Note 2 has a battery capacity of 3100 mAh. We will talk about this separately, after we look at the screens.
Despite their size, both devices use only microSIM cards, although at the same time they both have a microSD card slot to expand the amount of internal memory (both devices are available in 16, 32 and 64 GB versions). There are slight differences regarding the shape of the hardware Home button on the front of the devices and the speaker on the back, but none of them have obvious shortcomings in this regard. Everything else - buttons and port layout - is exactly the same, with the exception of the S Pen stylus connector on the Galaxy Note 2.
Screen comparison
We are dealing with two Super AMOLED screens with a resolution of 720p, 4.8 and 5.5 inches respectively. In terms of area, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 screen is 30% larger. Both devices have a protective glass Gorilla Glass 2, but use a different type of matrix.
The Galaxy Note 2's screen has another advantage - it's brighter. At maximum brightness, it puts out 402 nits, well above the Galaxy S3's 330 nits. Both displays have perfectly deep blacks and theoretically infinite contrast.
In the real world, however, the Galaxy S3's screen has its advantages too - it has excellent sunlight readability, one of the best we've seen, while the Note 2's sunlight readability is average. We believe that the additional coating layer for the Wacom digitizer is to blame.
Contrast level
Viewing angles on AMOLED displays are generally flawless, and both Galaxies are no exception. However, when tilted, the Galaxy S3's display does show a slight color shift (blue/green tint), while the Note 2's display is less noticeable.
Battery life
The Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 use almost the same chipset, even though the Note 2 has higher clock speeds. There is a noticeable difference in screen sizes - the 5.5-inch Super AMOLED screen is more power-hungry. To compensate for this, the Galaxy Note 2 has an almost 50% larger battery (3100 mAh), while the Galaxy S3 has only 2100 mAh.
The screen plays no role in our first test - talk time - just like clock speed. The Galaxy Note 2 lasted about 17 hours of 3G talk time, well over the Galaxy S3's 10 hours and 20 minutes (the Jelly Bean update didn't help). The 65% difference is greater than the difference in battery capacity, so the Note 2 has a more efficient modem or antenna.
Operating time (talk time)
The Galaxy Note II holds the lead in web browsing as well, with a two-hour lead over the Jelly Bean-powered Galaxy S3. If the S3 is running the previous version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, the gap is even bigger - three and a half hours. So upgrading to the latest version of the OS has clear benefits.
Working hours (web browsing)
When it comes to video playback, the Galaxy S3 delivers 10 hours of battery life on Ice Cream Sandwich and half an hour less on Jelly Bean. The Galaxy Note 2 outperforms him anyway, albeit by a lesser margin.
Working hours (watch video)
The Samsung Galaxy S3 is able to last about two days of normal use, which means about an hour of calls, an hour of browsing and an hour of video viewing each day.
Galaxy Note 2 will last almost a day longer under similar loads.
While both devices have good battery life figures, the Galaxy Note 2 will be more suitable for really active users, especially if they make a lot of calls. It is also more convenient for browsing the web and videos due to the larger screen. In addition, we ran tests with the screen brightness set to 50% and noticed that the Galaxy Note 2's screen was brighter during testing.
User interface
As for the user interface on the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note 2, they use pretty much the same software - Android Jelly Bean with the latest version of TouchWiz. The biggest differentiator the Note 2 has is the S Pen functionality and the new split-screen capability.
Here is a video of the interfaces of both devices in action, if you can spot the differences (there are a few more):
Noticed? The applications section on the Galaxy Note 2 has a 5x5 grid of icons (5 rows of 5 icons), while the S3 has only 4x5. Oddly enough, this does not apply to the home screen, both devices have 4 icons in a row.
You can change the order of widgets on the desktop, and for some, the size, these are standard things for Jelly Bean. The notification area has been expanded, at the top there is a strip of 10 settings items (5 on the screen, and 5 more are available by scrolling to the left), a little lower is the brightness slider and, of course, the notifications themselves.
The Galaxy Note 2 also has what Samsung has called Page Buddy - additional screens on the desktop that appear only during certain events. One when you pull out the S Pen, another when you plug in your headphones, another for docking, and one for roaming. On them you can put any widgets you find useful (for example, S Note for S Pen, music player controls for headphones, roaming statistics data, and so on). The set of shortcuts on the quick launch bar at the bottom of the screen also changes.
Samsung has introduced S Voice functionality for TouchWiz in Ice Cream Sandwich, which is used for voice commands (dial a contact, get directions, turn on Wi-Fi, etc.) and ask questions. S Voice can be activated by voice (such as saying "Hello Galaxy!") rather than by pressing a button. The only difference with S Voice on the Galaxy Note 2 is that you can use the S Pen to manually enter a request (this can be useful in noisy environments, but inconvenient for long requests).
Jelly Bean now has a Google Now service app that uses the Google knowledge base so you can ask it questions too. It also supports some voice commands, but their list is much smaller than that of S Voice. Its huge plus is that Speech To Text (voice to text translation) works offline, and you can, for example, dictate SMS without an active network connection.
Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 users don't have to choose between S Voice and Google's solution - the former opens with a double tap on the Home button, the latter with a long press of the Menu button.
Both devices are packed with smart features designed to make your life easier. Thanks to Smart Alert technology, the smartphone gives a vibration signal when taking the phone in hand in case of missed calls. Smart Stay technology tracks the owner's eye movement using the front camera so that the display does not turn off and the device does not go into sleep mode while you look at the screen.
The Galaxy Note 2 has the additional functionality of Smart rotation - just like Smart Stay, it follows your face, but this time to clarify how the screen should be rotated, because the accelerometer is not always right (for example, when you read on the side).
There is also Quick glance technology - just wave your hand over the phone and it will show the clock and information about missed events.
 |
| Quick glance in action |
These features aren't currently available on the Galaxy S3, but it's easy enough to add support for both Samsung developers and third-party modders.
Two things that aren't officially coming to the S3 are the S Pen and the split-screen capability.
The S Pen has a range of functions besides drawing - by the way, it can recognize 1024 pressure levels and can even work from a distance. The last feature is called Air View and can be used to preview email, scheduler events, image folders, and video thumbnails.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Air View in action | |||
S Pen gestures can be used to bring up a context menu, go back, or something more complex - search the web, dial a phone, send a message, and more, thanks to the customization options.
The split screen is different from what we've seen in the gallery or mail app. It allows two apps to work side by side, just like on a Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. You can, for example, open a browser on one side and the Gmail client next to it.
Not all applications can work in split screen mode, but there are noticeably more than those on the Galaxy Note tablet. Here is a list of currently supported apps: Android Browser, Chrome, Maps, Messaging, Gmail, Gtalk, Twitter, S Note, Gallery, Videos and YouTube.
You can move the split line to give the application more or less space. Apps automatically switch between portrait and landscape when you rotate your phone. The split screen feature is not available on all Galaxy Note 2, but it will appear after the update.
Performance Tests
The Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note 2 are powered by the quad-core Exynos 4412 chipset, but the Note 2 has been slightly overclocked. Inside are four Cortex-A9 cores (running at 1.4GHz in the S3 and 1.6GHz in the Note 2), 1GB or 2GB of RAM, and a Mali-400MP GPU.
The situation with the Galaxy S3 is a bit confusing - the international version of the S3 has 1 GB of RAM, while the LTE and US versions have 2 GB. In addition, the US version is based on a different chipset, the dual-core Snapdragon. We are looking at the international version of S3, i.e. Exynos with 1 GB of RAM. It runs on Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean (it scores lower than ICS in some tests).
Cortex-A9 is not the latest ARM solution, but it is good in single-threaded performance. Due to the increased clock speed, we expect to see a 15% advantage for the Note 2, which is roughly what we see in the Benchmark Pi benchmarks. The leader here is the LG Optimus G (CPU Krait), which has a slight advantage.
Linpack's test shows good performance from the quad-core Exynos processor, but it's far behind the quad-core Krait. However, Exynos chipsets outperform another popular A9-based quad-core solution, the Tegra 3.
Geekbench 2 gives both Galaxy top spots (even better than the Optimus G). AnTuTu and Quadrant give close results to the S3 and Note 2, with the slight advantage of a faster processor, of course.
The Mali-400 GPU is the same one used in the Galaxy S2 and the original Note, but only the S3 and Note 2 use a more powerful version. It holds up surprisingly well against the new Adreno 320 and easily beats the ULP GeForce in the Tegra 3.
Since the Nenamark 2 test has a maximum limit of only 60fps, we focused on the GLBenchmark test. When rendering at 720p, both GPUs are very close and not far behind the Adreno 320. The Tegra 3 is about 50% behind.
At 1080p, however, everything changes - the new Adreno is far ahead, followed by the tri-core SGX543 chip in the Apple iPhone 5, and the Galaxy S3 and Note 2 are still close to each other, but almost 2 times behind.
As far as web browsing is concerned, both Galaxy's are powered by Jelly Bean, which has greatly improved performance in this area. The Galaxy Note 2 is the fastest Android device we've tested in SunSpider, only losing to the iPhone 5. The Galaxy S3 didn't break the 1000ms barrier, but its results are impressive too.
In the BrowserMark test, the Note 2 was once again the fastest Android phone and is very close to the iPhone 5. The Galaxy S3 is behind but ahead of the rest (with the exception of the Meizu MX 4-core).
Finally, the Note 2 performs impressively in Vellamo as well, while the Galaxy S3 lags behind its big brother and also falls behind the HTC One X.
Camera Features
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 use 8-megapixel cameras with LED flash and 1080p video recording. The feature set is pretty much the same, with the exception of the Note 2's added Best faces feature (takes 5 shots in sequence and lets you choose which facial expression is best for each person in the photo).
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Camera interface | |
Both cameras have a highly customizable interface and a rich set of features such as HDR, panorama photo, Burst Shot, finger-tap focus, and the ability to capture 6 MP photos while recording 1080p video.
But what about the quality of the resulting photos? Let's take a look at the shots of the test targets. The S3 and Note 2 scores are very close when it comes to detail.
Ever since the announcement of the new Galaxy Note phablet, Note 2 owners or potential owners have probably wondered if it's worth upgrading, or if it's better to take advantage of the moment and buy the Note 2 at a discounted price when local sellers lower prices to clear out their warehouses. Let's compare the technical specifications of 2013 and 2012 and find out if the game is worth the candle.
The size
Both gadgets have the same height. However, in the new model, Samsung decided to focus on the thickness of the device and therefore made it thinner by one millimeter. Considering that the new product received a larger diagonal display, while retaining, and in some places even reducing its dimensions, the Galaxy Note 3 is pulling ahead here.
Another positive change that the new phablet model boasts is its reduced weight - the Galaxy Note 3 is about 7 percent lighter than Galaxy Note 2.
Frame
Perhaps the most significant external change in the new model should be considered its body. Samsung decided to abandon the traditional glossy plastic in the new Note 3 and uses artificial leather here. It's possible this is some new kind of plastic coating, but at least now the device doesn't look like "just plastic". We will leave the final conclusions for the time when the device can be touched with our own hands.
Display
Perhaps the biggest reason to buy the new Note 3 might be its display. It's seven percent larger than the old model, offers Full HD resolution, and has 125 percent more pixels.
CPU
In fact, the Note 2 did not have any problems with performance: its processor did an excellent job with all the tasks assigned to it. But in the case of Note 3 performance promises to be even higher. The LTE version of the novelty will work on the basis of a fast quad-core, and the HSPA + version will receive a proprietary eight-core. In other words, the Galaxy Note 3 promises to be one of the fastest mobile devices for the rest of 2013.
RAM
Two gigabytes of RAM, which are used in Note 2, is more than enough for today's tasks. However, Samsung is looking to the future and offers as much as 3 GB of RAM in the new Note 3. This is the largest amount of RAM among all smartphones that are on the market.
Persistent memory
Samsung has opted to skip the 16GB storage version and only offers two options on the new Note: either 32GB or 64GB. Considering how much a set of only standard applications eat up in the 16-gigabyte version, then abandoning the younger model may seem like a really wise decision.
Battery
Despite the fact that the Galaxy Note 2 already offers one of the best batteries on the market, Samsung not only promises a battery with increased energy capacity in the new Note 3 (3200 mAh versus 3100 for Note 2), but also says that the display (despite the that it is larger) in the new device is less "voracious". It will be interesting to know how things will be in real tests.
cameras
The main rear camera in the new device has also received an update and now matches the 13-megapixel optical sensor used in the Galaxy S4. The front camera of the novelty is now 2-megapixel, and not 1.9-megapixel, like the Note 2.
Wireless capabilities
It is foolish to compare the capabilities of devices in this category, because almost every top modern smartphone has, among other things, support for the LTE communication standard. The only exception, perhaps, is the Nexus 4, but its days are already numbered.
Software
The brand new Note 3 is running the latest operating system (at least for now, until it appears) Android 4.3. Release 4.3 is also promised for Note 2. According to the latest rumors, this should happen this fall. Most importantly, Samsung has added "under the hood" operating system Jelly Bean.
And here, as in the case of the Galaxy S4, a whole ton of various useful (and not so) applications, along with the TouchWiz software add-on on top. And if everything is already clear with the Galaxy S4 and TouchWiz, then TouchWiz on Note 3 is of interest. And all because the device uses, among other things, an updated S Pen. And all its potential is revealed precisely in Note 3: the device allows you to create "active notes" by converting handwritten text (typed by S pen) into printed text. With the help of written commands, you can even call the desired number, find the desired address, add a contact or information in the search, and much more; "fragment album" allows you to collect all the necessary information from different sources (websites, video services, galleries, and so on) and organize it in one place, while maintaining links to the originals; function "instant comments" allows you to make a caption on any screenshot you have just taken; "S Finder" can be used as an advanced search for any information in the memory of Note 3. You can search by keywords, built-in filters (by date, file type, location). At the same time, information can be searched even for that which is written by hand; function "window within a window" is perhaps the most graphic extension of the S Pen. In this case, the electronic pen can be used not only for writing and editing drawings, but also for working with windows in multi-window mode. With the stylus, draw the desired size of the window and open the application in it. Anything, be it a browser, the YouTube app, or a calculator. At the same time, all other open programs will continue to work further.
Conclusion
As expected, the new device in almost all respects has become better than its predecessor. The new processor, increased in size and resolution, a more juicy screen with reduced dimensions, new software functions, a new case in the end.
So should you buy a new device as soon as it hits the shelves? If you own a Note 2, I would personally advise you to wait for the first tests in real conditions and feedback from the very first buyers. If you only want to buy a new device and make a choice between Note 2 "now" and note 3 "after", then the choice will also become more complicated by the fact that stores are likely to significantly reduce the cost of last year's phablet in the very near future, and the novelty, in turn, will cost as much as 35 thousand. But speaking in general, the Note 3 is already seen as a very worthy update to the line.
A source of information.
Which has been Samsung's biggest smartphone hit lately, but don't want to pay to support the active digital pen that this device comes with?
Then maybe you should take a closer look at the next novelty of the Korean manufacturer - a five-inch smartphone Samsung Galaxy S4, which was yesterday, finally officially presented. Let's take a look at how, apart from the lack of an active S-Pen digital pen, the new product differs from its older brother and what are its advantages.
Before moving on to a closer look at the differences between the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S 4, let's take a look at their technical specifications:
Specifications of Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2:
Screen
The Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 4.99-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels and a pixel density of 441 pixels per inch (PdI).
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has a 5.55-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels and a pixel density of less than 267pd.
Since both screens use matrices made using the same technology, their only difference is that the Galaxy S4 screen will have a noticeably higher image clarity. Otherwise, with regard to brightness, contrast and viewing angles, everything here will be traditionally at a high level.
Common will be the shortcomings of these screens, which are not very accurate color reproduction. True, some users really like the oversaturated colors of AMOLED screens, and some are annoying.
Verdict: Samsung Galaxy S4 wins this round with improved image clarity
Design and build quality
As for the design, everything is traditional here and the appearance of the Galaxy Note 2 and Samsung Galaxy S4, at least from the front, except for their size, is practically the same. Everything is recognizable here - the same rectangular case with rounded corners and one mechanical button surrounded by two touch buttons.
However, if you look at the two devices from the side and back, you can see that in the manufacture of the Galaxy S4, Samsung uses better materials that give the new product a more sophisticated and luxurious look.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 measures 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4 and weighs 183 grams, while the more compact Samsung Galaxy S4 measures 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9mm and weighs just 130 grams.
Verdict: Some will like the Galaxy Note 2 precisely because of its large screen, but for many, 4.99 inches is the maximum screen size that a device designed to be carried in a pocket should have. Therefore, thanks to a slightly better performance in this round, the Samsung Galaxy S4 wins.
Equipment
Processor, graphics and memory
The international Samsung Galaxy S4 model will be based on the Samsung Exynos 5 Octa octa-core system-on-a-chip, which has four main ARM Cortex A15 cores and four less powerful Cortex A7 cores (Big.little architecture), a PowerVR SGX544MP3 graphics accelerator, and is equipped with 2 GB of RAM.
For the US and some other markets, an LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be released, which is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, the performance of which you can see in the image below. This smartphone model also has 2 GB of RAM.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is based on a quad-core Samsung Exynos 4 chip running at 1.6GHz and equipped with a Mali 400MP graphics accelerator. It also has 2 GB of RAM.
The Exynos 4 processor was one of the most powerful mobile chips of 2012, however, we see that now it can not compete with such novelties as the Exynos 5 Octa and Qualcomm Snapdragon 600.
Internal memory and the possibility of its expansion
The Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S4 both have microSD card slots that support cards up to 64GB, and both have 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB storage options.
cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S4 has a 13-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel front camera for video calls, while the Galaxy Note 2 boasts an 8-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel front camera.
Battery
As a power source, Samsung Galaxy Note 2 uses a 3100 mAh battery, which provides it with a fairly long battery life. The more compact Samsung Galaxy S4 fits a less capacious battery, with a capacity of “only” 2600 mAh, but it’s too early to draw any conclusions about its battery life - you need to wait for tests of both versions of the device in real conditions.
Verdict: In terms of hardware, the newer model, which is the Samsung Galaxy S4, outperforms its older sibling, but that's to be expected.
Software
Both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 run the same version of Google's Android operating system, 4.1 Jelly Bean.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 uses a newer version of Android's proprietary shell, TouchWiz.
But the owners of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 have access to a range of branded applications to work with the active digital pen S-Pen.
Verdict: Draw
Conclusion
Time moves inexorably forward, and, of course, Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is inferior to the younger and more advanced Galaxy S4 in terms of its filling and screen quality.
Despite this, a huge number of Note owners will not refuse the additional features that an active digital pen and related software offers them.
However, if you just want a smartphone with a large and clear screen, with a powerful modern processor, then your choice is, of course, the Samsung Galaxy S4.
Related content:
Positioning
With this product, everything is quite simple and clear. The unexpected success of the first smartphone created a whole category, which even added tablets with a built-in pen for drawing and taking notes. I always thought that the Galaxy Note 10.1 is a fairly niche device, but the first information about retail sales contradicts my feelings, they cannot be called modest. Moreover, distributors are raising their purchasing forecasts as they believe demand will remain strong. But I don't want to put everything in one pile and I will say this, after all, Note is the only one in its class. What caused its popularity? I think that this is a large screen, working time, but the stylus and the ability to draw, write, and so on fade into the background. Both geeks and those who prefer to buy the most expensive models liked this device at the same time.
In terms of positioning, nothing changes, this device comes out with the same ideas - a stylus to draw and write information. Updated screen, processor, design reminiscent of the Galaxy S3.
I am sure that many will call this device the flagship of the Android line from Samsung, in any case, the initial cost of 30 thousand rubles clearly indicates this. But I think that this device is still somewhat out of the way, although it is built into the company's price range.
I have no doubt that the Galaxy Note 2 will appeal to many people. My reasoning is based on two facts. The first model turned out to be a bestseller in its price segment, and this will support, increase sales of updates, the same story has been with each generation of Galaxy S. The second fact is that compared to the first model, this device is much more attractive. It looks more expensive, and it is more pleasant to work with it. Although the dimensions are almost the same, the filling has undergone significant changes.
We again get a bunch of two devices - Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2. Someone will choose the first, and someone will find that he is more interested in the second. Still, the screen size plays a big role. Expectations of operators, distributors from Galaxy Note 2 are very optimistic - the volume of orders is already 3 times higher than that for the first model. Everyone believes that the device will be sold successfully. But we must understand that with a fairly low cost of the Galaxy S3, it remains the preferred choice and the most popular smartphone in most countries of the world, except for the United States.
If you look at Samsung's marketing communications, you'll see that the Note 2 is targeted not only at creative people, but also at business audiences and, oddly enough, students. The last thing this smartphone may be interested in is the ability to quickly enter notes.
Design, dimensions, controls
The main disadvantage of Note, which follows from the dignity of a large diagonal, is the size of the phone, it is large for most people. Dimensions of the device - 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4 mm, weight 180 grams. For comparison, the Galaxy S3 measures 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm and weighs 133 grams. If in the first Note a large screen diagonal was practically not reflected in the menu, settings, Android features, then in Note II a lot of work has been done, the company tried to make it possible to work with one hand. How successful this is is a separate question, but many of the shortcomings of the previous model have been removed, which can be considered a plus.
The model is produced initially in two colors, in white and dark gray. Later, according to a good tradition, a certain number of flowers will appear.
From the first days of sales, it will be possible to purchase leather cases-books, as well as protective cases in different colors.
The layout of the device is traditional: there is a mechanical key on the front panel, and two touch keys around it. Above the screen you can see the front camera, as well as the proximity sensor, light. On the left side there is a paired volume control button, on the right side there is an on/off button. At the top there is a 3.5mm headphone or headset jack, and there are microphones on both ends. The main camera is located on the back surface, next to it is an LED flash. Finally, at the bottom end is a standard microUSB connector, you can immediately see the slot for the S-Pen stylus.
The build quality of the device is excellent, there are no backlashes, the parts are tightly fitted to each other. Opening the back cover, you will see an NFC antenna on it, as well as a microSD slot and a slot for a microSIM card inside.
Display
The screen has a diagonal of 5.5 inches, is made using Super AMOLED HD technology, but its resolution remains unchanged compared to its predecessor - 1280x720 pixels (16 million colors). The screen is capacitive, supports up to 10 simultaneous clicks. The screen quality is excellent, the ppi value is 265 (in the first Note ppi 285, at a resolution of 1280x800 pixels, and a diagonal of 5.3 inches).
The hysteria that arose around PenTile technology, with the light hand of those who supposedly see it and cannot bear it, has taken root in the minds of many people. Such users without a microscope feel fewer subdots that form an image, and this negatively affects their work with screens. In real life, I had to mock them and their prejudices a lot by showing Galaxy Note and Note 2. I asked how they feel where PenTile is used. No one could really tell a display with PenTile technology from one without it. Note 2 uses an RGB matrix, which allowed me to conduct such an experiment.
Unfortunately, I do not see much difference in screen quality between the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3, except for the diagonal, font size and the like. The picture quality is quite comparable, although psychologically, knowing about the presence of an RGB matrix, many will say that this screen is better. Perhaps so, but I do not consider it necessary to participate in this game, since for me personally such a difference is imperceptible.
Comparison with Samsung Galaxy S3:
Comparison with Samsung Galaxy Note:
One of the advantages of a large diagonal is large fonts, but they can be made even larger. Even people with very low vision will be able to read from the huge screen without any difficulty.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Other screen features came with the Galaxy S3, such as Smart Stay. The front camera catches your eye and automatically adjusts the backlight of the screen, for example, when reading. In my opinion, this is an additional feature that does not work perfectly and is not much needed, it is convenient in real life. But there is such an option. Also added the ability to fix the screen orientation depending on the position of the head, it was not in S3. It works strange, and it's not very clear when this option is needed. It is possible that at the moment when you are lying in bed, but even here it does not work very well.
The screen brightness has a margin, an intermediate value is comfortable. In the sun, the screen is well readable, almost no glare.
Battery
The phone uses a 3100 mAh lithium-ion battery (2100 mAh in the Galaxy S3, 2500 mAh in the Galaxy Note). According to the manufacturer, the battery can provide up to 16 hours of talk time, up to 890 hours of standby time (3G mode). Under the conditions of Moscow networks, the device works on average for about two full days at a very high load (the difference with the first Note is noticeable and depends both on the hardware and on Android 4.1). The time to fully charge the battery is about 3 hours.
In our battery life study, we found that it lasted 20 percent longer on average in each mode than the Galaxy S3. I will not describe each of the modes, you can look and add those same 20 percent.
There are not many models on the market that have batteries with a capacity of more than 3000 mAh, while this is a rarity, although a number of flagships will receive such batteries next year, today it is a couple of models from Motorola. In terms of battery life, the Galaxy Note 2 is the champion among Android smartphones, which distinguishes the device and makes it attractive to everyone who cares about this particular parameter, and size does not play a decisive role.
USB, Bluetooth, communication capabilities
Bluetooth. Bluetooth version 4.0 (LE). When transferring files to other devices that support this technology, Wi-Fi 802.11 n is used, and the theoretical transfer speed is about 24 Mbps. Checking the transfer of 1 GB of a file showed a maximum speed of about 12 Mbps within three meters between devices.
The model supports various profiles, in particular Headset, Handsfree, Serial Port, Dial Up Networking, File Transfer, Object Push, Basic Printing, SIM Access, A2DP. Working with headsets does not raise any questions, everything is ordinary.
USB connection. In Android 4, for some reason, they abandoned the USB Mass Storage mode, leaving only MTP (there is also a PTP mode).
USB version - 2, data transfer rate - about 25 Mb / s.
When connected to a PC, simultaneous operation of USB and Bluetooth is unacceptable, the device requires Bluetooth to be turned off regardless of the current state (whether there is a connection and transmission, or not), this is extremely inconvenient. When connected via USB, the device is charged.
The microUSB connector also supports the MHL standard, which means that using a special cable (available from electronics stores) you can connect your phone to a TV (to the HDMI output). In fact, the standard describes the ability to connect via microUSB to HDMI. This solution looks more preferable than a separate miniHDMI-connector on the case. However, if you still have an adapter from previous models, then it will not work with the Galaxy S3 - the connectors have been swapped here.
For GSM networks, EDGE class 12 is provided.
WiFi. The standard 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz, Wi-Fi dual band) is supported, the wizard is similar to that for Bluetooth. You can remember the selected networks, automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a connection to the router with one touch, for this you need to press a key on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device's menu (WPA SecureEasySetup). Of the additional options, it is worth noting the setup wizard, it appears when the signal is weak or disappears.
HT40 mode of operation is also supported for 802.11n, allowing you to double the Wi-Fi throughput (requires support from another device).
WiFi Direct. A new protocol that aims to replace or compete with Bluetooth version 3 (it also uses Wi-Fi version n to transfer large files). In the Wi-Fi settings menu, select the Wi-Fi Direct section, the phone starts searching for devices around. Select the desired device, activate the connection on it, and voila. Now in the file manager you can view files on another device, as well as transfer them. Another option is to simply find the devices connected to your router and transfer the necessary files to them, this can be done from the gallery or other sections of the phone. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi Direct.
NFC. The device has NFC technology, it can be used with various additional applications.
S Beam. Samsung's proprietary technology, which allows you to transfer a file of several gigabytes to another phone in a few minutes, is only presented in the Galaxy S3. In fact, we see in S Beam a combination of two technologies - NFC and Wi-Fi Direct. The first technology is used to bring and authorize phones, but the second is already used to transfer the files themselves. The creatively redesigned way to use Wi-Fi Direct is much easier than using the connection on two devices, selecting files, and so on. At the same time, for non-Samsung phones, the use of S Beam is impossible, only Wi-Fi Direct remains to be content, which is understandable and understandable.
Memory, memory cards
The phone has 16 GB of internal memory (there is a version for 32 and 64 GB, the latter will appear later), initially about 14 GB is available to the user. Memory cards up to 64 GB are also supported.
The amount of RAM is 2 GB, after downloading about 1.2 GB is free. This is sufficient for all applications.
Performance
This is the second device from Samsung to use its own Exynos quad-core processor, the frequency of each core is up to 1.6 GHz (up to 1.4 GHz in the Galaxy S3). In all synthetic tests, the Galaxy Note 2 performs better than other devices on the market, but you should definitely not rely on these tests, as in real use scenarios you may encounter real problems. Another thing is that on Note 2 the number of such problems is minimal compared to other smartphones, this device is characterized by high performance.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Camera
Despite the fact that the Galaxy Note 2 uses the same camera module as the Galaxy S3, it has improved shooting in low light conditions, the corresponding mode has appeared in the menu. The company believes that it is possible to automatically detect low light conditions, but this can affect the quality of photos, so the mode is left to the discretion of the shooter - it must be activated. Let me take a few shots taken in a semi-dark room to show the difference with the Galaxy S3, as it seems to me, everything is quite obvious.
| Samsung Galaxy Note 2 | Samsung Galaxy S3 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Best Shots mode allows you to select the faces of the people in the picture, as well as different versions of them. Very handy for taking photos where you can choose people's smile.
There are no other differences in the camera (there is a Slow Motion mode when recording video), so we will list the main functions and give a number of shots, as well as a comparison with the Galaxy S3. Let me remind you that the camera in the Galaxy S3 is a reference for the market, however, the quality is the same on Note 2.
| Samsung Galaxy Note 2 | Samsung Galaxy S3 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Samsung Galaxy Note 2:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
If we talk about focus modes, then this is traditionally autofocus. For my taste, the macro mode is more of a tribute to tradition than a necessity, since the camera's automation perfectly handles all distances, including close ones (12 centimeters is the minimum distance, guaranteed is about 15 centimeters).
The flash is LED, it can be constantly on or work in automatic mode. I did not manage to see big differences in the quality of the flash from the previous device. He copes with his work, it is impossible to talk about any special results. It is optimal to use a bundle of xenon flash and LED, only in this case you can achieve good shooting in various conditions. Everything else is a compromise, which, on the other hand, suits the vast majority of people (this is the reason why manufacturers have abandoned the use of xenon flashes, and even turned their backs on photographic models - their sales are very modest).
Shooting modes. By default, there is one shot, this is a normal shooting, there are no special features here.
Continuous shooting is already more interesting, here you can get up to 20 shots in a few seconds, in this mode all additional settings (exposure compensation and so on) are disabled. You can also turn on the Best Shot function, the number of shots will be limited to eight, you can choose the best one.
HDR - the camera suggests not to shake your hands so that the picture is of the highest quality. I confess honestly that I did not notice any special differences in the pictures with and without this function. It is possible that I needed to find very contrasting objects, then the difference would be noticeable.
Smile - we press the camera button, and it takes pictures only at the moment when the person smiles. What a trick to get a smile. Few people use such tricks, but perhaps it is important for you.
A beautiful face is just an effect that removes skin defects, paints it in one tone. Sometimes the result is good, sometimes the face becomes not too natural. Here's how you feel. There is no particular point in using this filter.
A panorama is a normal panoramic shot, you move the camera slowly, and it is already capturing the picture. You won't be able to get a full 360-degree panorama, but what you get looks very interesting.
Caricature is a filter that distorts colors and makes everything look grotesque. Not sure if anyone will need it.
Photo sharing - the function uses Wi-Fi Direct, you can send your photos to another device after selecting the ones you want.
Share photos with a user - take a photo of your friend, and then the camera itself finds all his pictures in your album and sends them using Wi-Fi Direct. If necessary? I do not know, but this option looks interesting, although most likely it will not be used in practice by the majority. As a rule, we share not only photos with the faces of friends, but also other photos from this or that event.
Face tag is a trendy feature, here it is implemented on a grand scale. You can turn on face detection, then if you click on a face, a menu will appear with the ability to write a message, make a call. Does it need a gallery? I am sure not, especially since the yellow squares on the faces are more a minus than a plus.
In the settings, you can choose the shooting scene, these are preset settings that help you achieve maximum quality in certain conditions. There are the following scenes - portrait, landscape, night, sports, indoors, beach / snow, sunset, dawn, autumn colors, fireworks, text, twilight, backlight.
The exposure value can be set from -2 to +2, this is the standard setting.
Timer - 2, 5, 10 seconds, if you suddenly want to take a photo with a delay.
Effects - negative, black and white, sepia and a number of others.
Resolution - maximum 3264x2448 pixels, you can shoot in widescreen mode - 3264x1836 pixels.
White Balance - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent.
ISO - auto, 100, 200, 400, 800.
Metering - weighted average, spot, matrix.
Stabilization - enabled or not.
Image quality (JPEG compression ratio) - best, excellent, normal.
GPS tag - Disabled by default.
It remains to add that you can put any icon on the main screen of the camera, make it more convenient for your needs.
Video. The maximum resolution is 1920x1080 pixels (1080p). At the same time, up to 30 frames per second are indicated in the file properties (there is a slow or fast motion mode, it was not in S3). Constant autofocus is supported, while in difficult conditions the camera cannot always quickly focus on the subject or subject. But, in general, the quality of shooting is quite at the level of other solutions, and even better. When shooting a video, you can take photos. Of the minuses - the location of the second microphone (stereo sound recording is supported), you often cover it with your hand. This requires that you adjust to holding the apparatus correctly.
Note 2 software features
The main and standard Android applications are described in a separate article, below we will focus only on those features of the Galaxy Note 2 that distinguish it from other devices.
S-Pen features - updated version
If in the first Note the stylus was part of an important, but created by analogy with many devices of the past, kind of experiment, then after the success of this concept, it was given the closest attention. Firstly, the stylus itself has changed and has become much more convenient, it looks like a small pen, it is convenient to hold it in your hands. Secondly, the advantage of using a stylus was made clear - for example, taking out the stylus, you automatically launch notes and can instantly write or draw. Another point is that during a conversation you can take out the stylus, and a note will also appear that will allow you to instantly enter the necessary data. It seems that this is a trifle, but it is very attractive, and once you start using it, it is almost impossible to stop.
The phone has seriously wised up, for example, when using the S-Pen, it is not the keyboard that is automatically called up, but the handwriting window (the recognition quality has increased). You can turn off handwriting in the settings, leave the regular keyboard and press the buttons with the stylus, in case someone needs such text input. The English versions of the device have text recognition using the camera, this function is not available in Russian devices.
 |
 |
The stylus has become more accurate (1024 points of pressure, pressure), while adding a huge number of programs in which it can be used. For example, in S Planner, you can start writing right on a specific day. Draw something.
In the gallery, you can use the stylus to highlight a photo, then it will increase in size. When watching a video, you can rewind the video with the stylus. There are a lot of such minor improvements in the device, and they are noticeable. Shortcuts are supported, you need to press the button on the stylus and swipe up, a menu will immediately appear in which you can enter words and commands. You can also customize additional features, shortcuts, and programs.
From what you liked and very convenient - this is cutting out a piece of any screen, text and the ability to instantly insert it into almost any program. The pen is indispensable in such a situation.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
In mail, messages and a number of other applications, you can highlight lines, and then additional information will be displayed, for example, in mail this is the title of the letter. I recommend watching a video in which we describe in detail the functionality of the S-Pen, this pen has no analogues today.
It is also worth looking at how you can work with formulas and draw. These features are similar to the Galaxy Note, they have not changed.
Impression
The quality of voice transmission is very different from that of the previous model, the volume of the call has increased, the sound is clearer. The volume of the call is above average, but the vibrating alert is felt badly, due to the massiveness of the case.
The only complaint I have about this device is the size. It is rather big, and the screen is too big to comfortably work with one hand, despite all the settings and nice little things. On the other hand, the large screen diagonal provides excellent viewing of videos, photos, good opportunities to draw with a stylus and enter information. At the moment, there are no alternatives to this device if you are looking for a smartphone not only with a large screen, but also with the ability to draw in high quality, use handwriting. The new features of the S-Pen are very rich, and if you use them, the device is perceived in a completely different way. Based on the experience of the first Note, I can say that many do not use a pen, but buy a smartphone with a large screen and a long battery life. And that's okay. In principle, such buyers also get what they want. In my opinion, the model turned out to be successful, iconic. Given the popularity of the first Note, its sequel will also be in demand and will not be a niche device. The device has no serious disadvantages, just before buying you need to understand why you need it. It is possible that if there is no need for a stylus, then the Galaxy S3 will do, which can do everything except this. At £22,500 for the Galaxy S3 and £29,990 for the Galaxy Note2, choosing the latter makes sense if you're going to use a stylus. But, in any case, the device turned out to be unique and iconic, it has no analogues on the market.
P.S. The Russian firmware does not have a number of functions that are present in European devices. For example, an attempt to record what is happening on the screen (the home button and the volume up key) does not give any result. As well as there is no MultiView, when the screen can be divided into two parts and work in two different programs, as on the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. It is impossible to explain the absence of this key function, except for the fact that it was accidentally forgotten to be added to the firmware. The company promises to release a software update by the end of the year, which will be received by all users - the MultiView function will be present in it. But while it is not there, those who want to use all the features of the phone will have to install the European firmware (it has Russian).
Related links
Eldar Murtazin ()
The most elegant AZZA Pyramid 804 computer case has a pyramid-inspired design. On all four sides, the innovative chassis is equipped with four tempered glass side panels, allowing you to show off your beautiful computer design from all angles. And user access to ports such as USB Type-C, HD Aduio and USB 3.0 can be done through the opening glass door of the case. The package already includes a 120mm Hurricane II digital RGB fan, which allows you to customize its color to the taste of the owner of an unusual computer.
News about the most beautiful cases for a computer: The innovative model AZZA Pyramid 804 was created as a glass pyramid transforming into a table.The eye-catching Pyramid 804 computer case from AZZA is designed not only to showcase one assembly of powerful hardware. It is capable of supporting most builds that fit in any conventional mid-rack chassis. For example, it supports EATX motherboard, 300mm graphics card, two 2.5" SSD bays, one 3.5" HDD bay (the bay is also compatible with 2.5" SSD inches) and still supports water cooling up to 360mm in length or 120mm fans in the amount of three, in the bottom of the case. In other words, you can change the hardware as needed or at the request of the computer user.
As mentioned above, the cool computer case is equipped with a built-in 120mm Hurricane II digital RGB fan, which, thanks to its futuristic lighting, will be a cool highlight. But, it's not all about pleasing aesthetics for the user.
The versatility of a computer case
The undoubted advantage is that the unusual case of the Pyramid 804 computer can be demonstrated to others in more than one way. In addition to the usual installation on the bottom surface, like pyramids, the manufacturer also offers an additional stand with four legs, which allows you to install the computer case "upside down" (inverted). The bottom of the computer case then becomes a flat surface, allowing the case to be practically used as a glass table.
No matter what you do with this unusual computer case, it will prove to be functional and pleasing to look at in any circumstance.
Video review of the AZZA Pyramid 804 computer case with an elegant pyramidal design:Physical dimensions of the AZZA pyramid case: Height 585 mm, width and length of the base 490 mm each.
The new CES 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (in Las Vegas, America) featured a huge collection of amazing robots designed to perform just about anything, from daily chores to cultivating the good in a person. Perhaps as a reflection of our increasingly busy lifestyles, this year's tech show was also filled with a surprising array of robots designed to provide camaraderie and alleviate feelings of loneliness.
Latest robot news: Reviews and videos on the best robots presented by the international electronics exhibition in 2020Filled to the brim with the latest in robotics technology, CES 2020 has begun showing off funny robots and wowing attendees from all over the world. Here are some of the bright innovations that aroused the interest of visitors.
Spherical robot Ballie.
Samsung's Ballie, the unexpected announcement of a companion robot. The novelty is a bright rubber ball with built-in lenses for the camera. How amazing can this ball-shaped mini robot be? The commercial shows Ballie (the size of a tennis ball) merrily rolling around a posh apartment, interacting with the hostess, pet, TV, robotic vacuum cleaner, mechanical curtains.
For now, Ballie's ball-shaped robot is just a concept. The idea is that the robot moves around the premises, interacting with existing gadgets. This is the era of the Internet of Things!
Video review of the spherical robot Ballie: announcement of opportunities.In this way, the Ballie robot can improve the quality of your day and take care of your loved ones and your home.
Therapeutic robot Petit Qoboo.Petit Qoboo is a robot created by Yukai Engineering. If tickling and tummy rubbing is your main reason why you need a feline friend, then the Petit Qoboo robot might be a bit strange, but almost animal-like, for you. The companion robot in the form of a fluffy therapeutic pillow with an expressive tail looks like a substitute for a cat.
A larger model of the robotic therapy pillow with a tail can already be bought on Amazon for about $150, but the new Petit Qoboo robot model, which debuted at the latest at the 2020 CES Electronics Show, is still in the prototype stage. The creator of the new robot is working on an ambitious schedule and hopes to have his miniature cat substitutes in stores later this year.
Video review of Petit Qoboo: Comparison of the old and new model of the companion robot.
Comment on the history of the creation of the robot "Petit Qoobo", from the developer:
Saaya Okuda, Overseas Marketer at Yukai Engineering Inc:
"Yukai Engineering Inc. decided to create a new companion for Qoobo, "Petit Qoobo", as a result of listening to the voices of Qoobo owners and fans. We received comments hoping for a smaller, more portable version of the Qoobo to carry around. There were also requests for additional features that would make Qoobo more realistic. "Petit Qoobo" and its features are the answer to these voices.
"Petit Qoobo" is much smaller than the original Qoobo, and users can easily carry it for a walk, take it to visit a friend, and so on. In addition to Qoobo's original function of wagging its tail when touched, "Petit Qoobo" also responds to loud sounds such as clapping or saying its name. Users can also feel light heartbeats and breathing movements, which provide a more realistic experience. "
Friends, how do you like the Japanese therapeutic robot in the shape of a cute pillow with a tail? BellaBot maintenance robot with delivery function.
We continue the review of the new robots of 2020, adhering to the theme of cats. Bellabot, from Chinese manufacturer PuduTech, is a quirky cat-trolley hybrid that will bring you dinner and let you pet its ears. This particular waiter can load 10 kilos.
According to the developer, "BellaBot is the latest model of PuduTech's delivery robot. On the one hand, it is not inferior to the previous generation product, such as the four-level structure of large food trays, rich delivery functions, high-precision positioning and navigation, stable and efficient system. planning and, on the other hand, shows breakthroughs in appearance design and human-machine interaction, making BellaBot a new type of cute yet powerful delivery robot that is popular in this field."
For some time, serving robots have been roaming Chinese restaurants. A similar Peanut robot can be seen from manufacturer Keenon Robotics, but the fun addition of ears and whiskers makes BellaBot a much more attractive and individual robot. Next, look at what robot manufacturers have shown.
Video review of the delivery robot BellaBot: a new product of PuduTech.
It is worth noting that BellaBot is not the only such robot from PuduTech. Last year, Chinese engineers developed a less emotional PuduBot waiter robot. The 30 kilogram device, similar to the BellaBot design, holds 3 to 5 pallets with a load capacity of about 10 kilograms.
Domestic robot or bionic cat MarsCat.MarsCat by Elephant Robotics is a robotic pet that at first glance appears to be a feline version of Sony's Japanese Aibo puppy robot, but in fact, these robots are completely different. You may not be able to teach the old Japanese robot Aibo new tricks, but the MarsCat model is open source and controlled by a small Raspberry Pi computer, so you can work MarsCat however you like.
Even if you're not into robot customization, the MarsCat model still has a lot to offer, performing a variety of feline tasks regardless of your involvement. The new robot will also respond to your touch on its head or chin, and you can even give it voice commands. Frequent interaction with a robot can develop its personality, which will determine how friendly, vociferous and frisky it is.
It is worth noting that the MarsCat robotic project has already more than quintupled its funding goal on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform, and there is still time before the fundraising is completed. The MarsCat robot is expected to sell for $1,299, which is certainly a huge amount, but less than half the price of Japan's latest Aibo robot.
Video review of the bionic cat MarsCat: now a pet robot.
Completely self-contained, interactive and easy to program, MarsCat is the perfect companion with endless possibilities.
Interactive humanoid robot Reachy Pollen Robotics.Also at CES 2020, Reachy was unveiled by French developer Pollen Robotics, a new open source interactive robot. It has a wide range of abilities, such as performing tasks that people only do with their upper body.
The Reachy robot's shaking antennae make it look like an insect, a remarkable feat of engineering to create a user experience. Each arm of the humanoid robot has seven degrees of freedom, and its specialized neck joint allows the head to turn and tilt in an amazingly realistic manner. The robot head itself is equipped with a camera, microphone and speaker.
Like the MarsCat home robot, the new Reachy model is open source - you can use the Python programming language to create your own robot control programs. Another developer, Pollen Robotics, suggests using it for research and development, as a recorder robot, or as a useful interactive guide with artificial intelligence (AI).
What is the price for such a robot? A complete Reachy with head, body and two arms will cost around $17,000. Yes, this is an expensive robot, but a cheaper version of the robot with one arm is currently available for $9,000.
Video review of the Reachy robot:
Is it possible to customize the functions of the robot to suit your tasks? According to the developer's plan, Reachy's open source software tools are open source and can be freely modified or customized by the end user to suit their needs.
Such marvels of robotics can be applied to different lifestyles. Surely we will be presented with even more curious, unusual and very useful robots in 2020. We will definitely add news and videos about technological advances in robotics.
The new Air Pix device from the AirSelfie legend is a small selfie drone (photo or video). It can be used as the easiest and most enjoyable way to free your hands when taking selfies. The Air Pix hovering in the air allows the user to create stunning panoramic photos and videos in high resolution. You can use your own pocket personal photographer in almost any environment and share created selfies on social networks.
The latest drone news: Miniature, handheld flying camera Air Pix from AirSelfie.The flying camera drone started as a crowdfunding project (using public funding on Indiegogo and Kickstarter). He raised over two million dollars for his development.
What can a user do with the Air Pix mini drone?
Easily create stunning HD aerial photos and videos, edit them right in the app, and then instantly share them on your favorite social networks.
Specifications of Air Pix Drone with Camera
AirSelfie Air Pix has a compact size (pocket size), weighs less than a golf ball, creates 12 megapixel photos or videos in 1080p at 30 frames per second, can track people's faces during autonomous flight, is additionally controlled by a touch mobile application, has an internal memory of 8 Gigabyte. The Air Pix uses a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection to connect your smartphone to the Air Pix.
Video review of a flying small drone Air Pix:
Why do you need a mobile version of the site? In today's complex world, more and more advanced technologies are being created. In the last decade, we have witnessed an astonishing growth in the development of mobile technologies. Almost every week we see new gadgets appearing on the world market. It seems that smartphones and tablets are ahead of laptops and computers. More and more people are using mobile devices in their lives. Entertaining, getting information or even working with a business, it can all be done easily. Despite this apparent growth in mobile technology, there are still some webmasters who are too stubborn to convert their websites to mobile websites.
Website Technology News: The Benefits of Converting Your Website to a Mobile-Optimized Website.In this article, we will start discussing a very hot topic that seems to be very annoying for webmasters, why should we turn an existing website into a mobile website. The first obvious reason is that most websites that have not been converted to mobile sites will not display correctly on mobile devices. You can easily lose repeat visitors and sales in this situation. For example, if a mobile user is looking for something to buy on your site, but finds out that your site structure is loading too slowly, they will certainly leave looking for the desired item on other mobile websites.
Mobile sites are the best
Why a mobile version of the site? On top of all that, mobile websites also rank higher in search engines. It is clear that in classical search engine optimization (SEO), things have already gone too far. But with mobile SEO, everything is just getting started! The world's largest search engine, Google will, in fact, first display results that are optimized for mobile users. That's how you can get the means to reach your goals and beat the competition!
With mobile websites, you can be on site for your visitors all the time. Most mobile phone users are on the move looking for information on the go. If you display a phone number on your mobile site, your visitor can call you directly from their mobile device. For example, if you are the owner of a restaurant, this hungry user appears to be walking through your site. He can directly call the restaurant from his mobile phone and ask about food, location or any other information he needs! That's what the mobile version of the site is for.
Now you can see how great it can be to transform an existing website into a website for mobile devices (phones, smartphones, phablets, tablets)!
Before you finish reading, think about some numbers. The world population is 6.7 billion people. Of these, five billion mobile users. If that's not enough to convince you to convert your site to a mobile version of a website, here's another fact; an incredible 80 percent of these mobile users access the Internet using mobile devices every day! That's four billion users every day. Undoubtedly, it is clear that the mobile industry is moving very fast. Within the next two years, the mobile internet will overtake the natural website industry. So, friends, don't forget to take care of your mobile site today!
Electronics manufacturer Cooler Master has a range of hardware products such as keyboards, power supplies, headsets, computer (PC) cases, mice and, of course, coolers. Each of its products has been custom designed based on community feedback. Including hybrid keyboards. Cooler Master even had a Kickstarter project, an analog keyboard with pressure-sensitive keys called the ContolPad. With that said, let's take a closer look at what can make the new Cooler Master SK621 keyboard special to the user.
Keyboard news today: Cooler Master SK621 review - a mechanical wireless keyboard with a separate wired connection option.The first thing that is noticeable in the review is the ability to easily pair the wireless keyboard with three different devices. Connecting a device is as simple as holding the function button and Z, X or C. This feature makes it very easy to switch from using your phone to using your computer. Turning on the Cooler Master SK621 keyboard is also easy. Either connect it via a USB Type-C cable, or activate a very simple switch to wireless mode on the left side.
Specifications of Cooler Master SK621 Wireless Keyboard:
You can map a wide variety of colors (shades) to any key, adjust lighting modes, or set up macros using the Cooler Master software.
How does a wireless keyboard work?
When using the SK621 for the first time, it is recommended to connect to a computer via USB Type-C and install the Cooler Master Portal. This will allow you to control various lighting effects and wireless keyboard settings. It is possible to create preset profiles, which makes it easy to switch between profiles when using elements. You can also adjust the lighting effects with the controls, but the portal mentioned above is more user friendly. The wireless keyboard setup is very easy to use and has many combinations. There are options - adjusting the speed, direction and brightness of the keyboard backlight effects.
Macros can also be programmed. It's also worth adding that all functions such as RGB lighting, macros and controls are available when using the SK621 via a Bluetooth connection. The battery life of the wireless keyboard is also impressive. It may take a couple of full working days before the indicator turns red, indicating that the battery is low. Charging the SK621 wireless keyboard is also easy. Just connect your keyboard via USB Type-C. The keyboard can still be used as a wired keyboard as long as the cable charges the keyboard battery.
The body of the keyboard is crafted from brushed aluminum, making it lightweight, durable and looking great. There is also a nice smooth accent on the edge of the aluminum which adds a touch of elegance. The keys are made of plastic and don't have much texture.
The low-profile Cherry MX keys are quiet enough for office use. The key switches are incredibly responsive, and using the Cooler Master SK621 wireless keyboard takes some practice. This is because the keys register a press to the nearest millimeter or less.
The SK621 hybrid keyboard is designed to be compact and quite portable. A nice addition is a velvet bag. It's definitely made for gaming thanks to the Cherry MX keys, but it's easy to use for work.
The Cooler Master SK621 does everything it's meant to do. However, the keys are great for gaming, but too sensitive for typing. Plastic keys are also prone to oil stains on the fingers, so eating while playing can be tricky. Maybe if the keys had some sort of oil resistant coating or more texture, the oil prints wouldn't be as pronounced.
SK621 Wireless Keyboard Features:
Brushed aluminum body design;
Flat brushed aluminum keyboard top, floating keycaps and slim, minimalist chassis design.
Color backlighting of the Cooler Master keyboard (RGB LEDs);
Individual key illumination with LEDs and a customizable surrounding LED ring.
Hybrid wired and wireless;
Connect up to three devices via Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology or a wired connection and charge the battery at the same time.
Minimum keyboard layout by 60%;
We can say that this slim wireless mini keyboard has a unique design for maximum portability.
Easy to use software.
Low profile Cherry MX keys;
The reduced travel distance and actuation point functions with the same durability and accuracy (according to the wireless keyboard manufacturer).
Available controls;
In real time, you can customize the keyboard backlight and macros without the need for software.
Summary of Cooler Master SK621 Wireless Keyboard:
Overall, the electrical and keyboard manufacturer Cooler Master has exceeded all expectations. This is especially impressive due to the fact that it can make for a really interesting wireless keyboard. The SK621 features multiple lighting effects and customization, a compact design and a host of user-friendly features. Using the SK621 at work and then bringing it back home to play can make the gadget a favorite wireless keyboard for almost $200 USD.
The ETH Zurich (ETH Zurich) has unveiled the details of "Concrete Choreography", an installation recently opened in Riom, Switzerland. The groundbreaking installation features the first robot-built 3D printed concrete stage, consisting of formworkless columns 3D printed to full height in 2.5 hours. This process is expected to significantly increase the efficiency of concrete structures while achieving the fabrication of complex material components and construction robots.
3D printing news: ETH Zurich creates concrete columns with a special concrete 3D printer.In the Swiss Riom, at the Origen festival, nine columns 2.7 meters high are installed. Each column is 3D printed with concrete. The new columns were custom-designed using custom software and produced using the Concrete Printer, a new automated concrete 3D printing process developed by the ETH Zurich team with support from NCCR DFAB.
3D printing from concrete
Students in the MA in Digital Manufacturing and Architecture explore the unique possibilities of multi-layer extrusion printing, demonstrating the potential of computer-aided design and digital fabrication for the future of concrete construction. Perhaps in the construction industry, this process will become more environmentally friendly in the future if they develop new eco-concrete for 3D printing.
Video review of 3D concrete printing: Concrete choreography.
Here's how easy and fast concrete 3D printing works.
3D printing of houses, concrete buildings is a perspective for construction.
Hollow concrete structures are printed for the strategic use of materials, providing a more sustainable approach to specific architecture. In addition, the calculated material structure and surface textures are an example of the versatility and significant aesthetic potential of concrete 3D printing when used in large-scale structures.
The new review will be about printing on a 3D printer with metal.
It is worth noting that there is a technology that would carry out 3D metal printing. This is also a promising direction for construction, but other materials (for example, powder), programs and other types of printers are used for this (which we will talk about soon).
What color is your mobile phone? Is it black, red, white, gold or blue? Most likely the back of your phone has some kind of solid color variant that you will find in the beginner coloring set. It's taken too long for most phone manufacturers to realize that phone colors really matter to customers, and it's only recently that they've started giving mobile phones not only a rarely used color, but fancy hues like coral red or canary.
Honor News: With the new 3D holographic color phones from Honor, it's possible to add some new color to life.Unsurprisingly, most people don't mind hiding the backs of their phones behind opaque plastic cases. In cases, the user can choose the appropriate color of the phone case to give the mobile a bit of personality. But the new Chinese Honor 20 Pro and Honor 20 series phones are the world's first smartphones with a 3D dynamic holographic design, and their reflective exterior could become the new industry standard.
"Always better" is the motto of the company. Perhaps this motto indicates that she refuses to follow the industry standard, simply experimenting with layers of paint when creating each new phone model.
Color 3D holography for phone case.
In order to achieve a shimmering optical illusion for the body of the phone, manufacturer Honor has designed its Honor 20 with a depth layer containing millions of shimmering microscopic prisms, and on top of this is placed a so-called 3D curved glass layer. The combination of these technologies makes the light "play and dance" on the back of the phone when the user turns it in different directions.
Two colors for the Honor 20 phone can be found under these dynamic layers, they are Midnight Black and Sapphire Blue. Unlike the newfangled phrases for some phone colors, the mobile Honor has color gradients for phones that really evoke the effect of a shimmering night sky or a shimmering gem.
Although the color options of the cases sound exciting, with the Chinese phone Honor 20 Pro, you can go even further. This upgraded model contains the proprietary "3D Triple Mesh" containing three layers. Instead of just painting the back of the phone itself, this time with a body color layer, sandwiched between the outer 3D layer and the inner depth layer. According to the handset manufacturer, this makes the color shift effects much more dynamic.
The Honor 20 Pro mobile phone is actively sold in two colors such as phantom black (Phantom Black) and phantom blue (Phantom Blue). Although the names of these phone colors are not so metaphorical, you should not think that their rear panels are less dynamic.
Honor's obsession with picking the right colors might seem overly dramatic, but in the UK, for example, a survey of hundreds of Britons found that forty-nine percent of them consider color when choosing a phone to buy.
What is the sale of a phone with a changing color scheme for?
What is a phone for? The choice of a mobile phone, as Honor designer Jun-Soo Kim put it, is "Prolonging a person's life." In essence, Honor is stating that customer identities cannot be captured by one unchanging color.
The history of the creation of color phones Honor.
The Honor 20 model shows a natural evolution of the company's experiments with dynamic color in phone design (iridescent colors). With the Honor 8, the trend of a 2.5D layered back wall, which creates a 3D lattice effect, began. The Honor 9 version then evolved into a phone with 3D curved glass, echoes of which can be found on the Honor 20. Well, last year the Honor 10 featured an Aurora back glass that reflected colors from all sides.
What is it, the screen in the Honor phone?
Honor's design innovations are not limited to the color of the phone's body. It is worth paying attention to the placement of the Honor 20's camera. Instead of cropping the screen to make room for the "selfie" camera. The phone manufacturer has cut a 4.5mm hole in the top left corner of the screen, leaving more screen real estate for the user's needs.
AI camera or AI camera on your phone.
On the phone's description, it's worth noting that on the back of the handset, the Honor 20's AI camera has four lenses and is positioned to leave more space for the battery with more storage. But most importantly, the result is a 48-megapixel camera that uses the Kirin 980 AI microchip to take DSLR-level stills and enhance photos.
Honor phone color summary.
In summary, phone descriptions, technical compatibility, and cutting-edge hardware innovation are what usually draw attention to Chinese Honor phones. But, in this case, the technology is almost dwarfed by the uniquely colored case design, which may make some users reluctant to go back to plain 2D phone case colors in the future.
Rumors about the release of the Google Pixel 4 mobile phone continue to arise. A new set of information or predictions comes from an image leaked on the Internet (3D rendering of colored cases) that is believed to be of the Google Pixel 4. It is not uncommon for users to follow behind the topic of novelties, such images are overlooked. In the meantime, for some analysts, the new picture helps make a few guesses about more than just the color of the phone.
A new, unofficial image of the Google Pixel 4 gives rise to rumors about the color options of the mobile phone's body.
While another image of the phone's body itself doesn't seem to show any more than what's already been discussed online before, the model seen in the background of the photo is surprising because of the color. That mobile phone has a shade of magenta that the Pixel model didn't have before.
Elsewhere, there have been other leaks of the same Google Pixel 4 with "three phones" (variants) stacked in a row. There are white and black colors plus a third has a bluish tint that some call mint green. Would you like to buy a blue phone? Probably the name of the colors of the phone will still be updated.
Whatever the phone's color leak may be true or false, it's safe to assume that this year's new Google Pixel 4 will definitely feature an additional color. More interestingly, in the image, the physical buttons on the sides of the phones contrast with the body color. You can see white, blue and yellow buttons that give the phone a fun look.
For some weird reason, all the images and leaks seen so far have only shown the back of the Google Pixel 4 smartphone. According to various sources, Google allegedly shared a rendering of the phone, and there was also a part where the square camera bump was featured. The double camera block was visible.
The leaked photos in question, including the image along with the cases, show the rear panel in different colors and the camera module. What do you think is the best phone color?
About the specifications of Google Pixel 4:
Obviously, the idea of a fingerprint scanner does not leave fans alone. Some wish the phone had either face ID to unlock the phone, or an in-display fingerprint scanner, or both.
Some other aspects and specifications, such as the dimensions of the phones and the overall thickness of 8.2 millimeters higher than the 7.9 mm seen in the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, can be taken as close to reality.
There is speculation that the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL versions of the phone may look more like the "Apple iPhone 11" variant that is scheduled to release in a couple of months. When exactly? Tech company Google has yet to announce an official release date for the Pixel 4, but various sources are hinting at a release of the new phone at the end of the year.
Have you ever wondered why you need a phone of the latest model? Soon, we will talk about this in more detail, so stay tuned for news about new smartphones from Google.
Robotics News: Nimble MIT Robot solves Rubik's Cube in a world record time of 0.38 seconds.There is a special place in the hearts of many people for the Rubik's Cube. This is a good workout for the intellect. Many have loved or still love to play with this ingenious toy, and over the years there have been many contests, challenges and variations on the Rubik's Cube solution.
The popularity of the Rubik's Cube can be attributed to the simplicity of its design, combined with the mind-boggling difficulty of the puzzle.
New record for solving Rubik's Cube 3x3x3.
Engineers and hobbyists have been using robots to solve Rubik's Cubes for years. 10 seconds used to be considered a quick build, but by today's digital age standards, that time is a smile.
A new record was only a matter of time before engineers and roboticists began to tackle the challenge of creating a new robot. Back in 2016, a robot set a new record for solving a Rubik's Cube in 0.637 seconds. But for some enthusiasts, that time wasn't fast enough.
More recently, two MIT students, Jared Di Carlo (third-year electrical and computer science student) and Ben Katz (mechanical engineering graduate student), thought they could build a faster robot that could solve a 3D combination puzzle.
They looked at videos of previous robots and noticed that the robots' engines weren't the fastest they could use to solve the problem. So we thought we could do better with better engines and controls.
How does a robot collect a Rubik's Cube
The students installed an electronically controlled motor that powers each face of the Rubik's Cube. Using a pair of webcams pointed at the cube, special software determines the initial state of each side of the cube (what colors are on which side of the cube at a given time). Then, based on the information received, using the already existing software for solving the Rubik's Cube, the robot solves puzzles using the algorithm.
What is the result of the work? Their robot solved the Rubik's Cube in 0.38 seconds! It's safe to say that no human is physically capable of breaking this speed record. One more achievement could be added to the list of robots surpassing humans.
There is a man who holds the fastest world record for manual assembly, his name is Felix Zemdegs. He was able to complete the Rubik's Cube in 4.22 seconds. The skills and talents that robots are replacing are vast and varied, to say the least. Not to mention that robots can still surprise. Next is a video demonstration of the robot, when viewing it is better not to blink.
Video review of the assembly of the Rubik's Cube in 0.38 seconds:
So, hardware hackers, Ben Katz and Jared Di Carlo, broke the previous record for robotically collecting the Rubik's Cube. Their robot solved the puzzle 40 percent faster than the previous record.
Details about the record-breaking robot
The robotic fixture is assembled from the Kollmorgen ServoDisc U9 series motors, PlayStation Eye cameras (for scanning the cube) and, of course, a Rubik's Cube was needed. According to the creators of the robot, - "The entire software process takes about 45 milliseconds. Most of the time is spent waiting for the webcam driver and determining the colors on the sides of the Rubik's Cube."
Artificial Intelligence Research Group Facebook Inc. introduced a new robotics platform called PyRobot. This platform (framework) was developed in collaboration with researchers from Carnegie Mellon University. PyRobot is designed to help AI researchers and students integrate deep learning models built using the PyTorch platform (a machine learning library for the Python programming language) with the robots they create. The basic idea is that they can build their robots more easily using artificial intelligence skills such as natural language processing.
News from the world of robots with AI (AI): Facebook introduces the PyRobot robotics platform, an open source framework for controlling robots.Facebook said it wants to promote long-term robotics research to help develop embedded AI systems that can learn more effectively by interacting with the physical world.
Previously, to stimulate the production of artificial intelligence models, the company introduced the PyTorch Hub.
What is PyRobot today
PyRobot is a lightweight, high-level interface that provides hardware-independent APIs for robotic manipulation and navigation. The PyRobot repository also contains a low-level stack for LoCoBot, a low-cost mobile manipulator hardware platform (robot assembly toolkit). Now artificial intelligence and machine learning is becoming more accessible for newcomers to robotics.
Research Supervisor Abinav Gupta and Saurabh Gupta, as a Facebook Research Fellow, explained in their blog that: PyRobot is a lightweight, high-level interface on top of the robot's operating system. It provides a consistent set of middle-level device-independent APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for controlling various robots. PyRobot abstracts away the details of low-level controllers and inter-process communication, so machine learning professionals and others can simply focus on building high-level AI (artificial intelligence) robotics applications.
The Facebook source also says that PyRobot has dozens of potential applications, such as helping researchers share data and set benchmarks and build on each other's work. The company has solicited input from the broader AI research community on how to democratize robotics with LoCoBot and PyRobot, which is a hardware specification and toolkit for building low-cost robots.
PyRobot works by using an API to abstract the features that robots should use. Perform tasks such as kinematics, trajectory planning, position, speed, and torque control for joints, and visual simultaneous localization and mapping. PyRobot comes with a number of pre-trained deep learning models that allow robots to navigate, grab objects, and so on.
This means developers can program their robots with just a few lines of Python code, according to Facebook.
More researchers from Facebook say that: The cost of hardware and the complexity of specialized software limit the scope of research in the field of robotics. With lower barriers to entry, researchers can, for example, create multiple robots that collect data and learn in parallel. By providing a common platform for various equipment. PyRobot will lead the development of tests in robotics, similar to other areas in AI, and will quantify the pace of progress in robotics with artificial intelligence.
Like Amazon's RoboMaker tool, PyRobot runs as an interface on top of the Robot Operating System (ROS), extending the infrastructure. Tech company Microsoft released a limited preview robotics toolkit in May, and last year integrated the ROS platform into Windows 10.
Subscribe to:
