latest
The big news of today was, of course, Google's announcement of Android 6.0 / Marshmallow. However, it's still going to be quite a while before we start seeing it widely distributed on devices not called Nexus. Now that we have that out of the way, AT&T's Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 variant can finally say goodbye to KitKat. Following Verizon's release of a similar OTA last week, Samsung and Big Blue have finally released an update for the mammoth-sized tablet, bumping it to Android 5.1.1 / Lollipop.
AT&T's Samsung tablet lineup is getting a couple of small updates, but it probably won't be all that interesting unless you've got a very specific need for carrier billing or kid-friendly content. The AT&T branded versions of both the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 and the Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 (good grief, Samsung, your names are a mouthful) are receiving minor updates to their firmware. Neither one boosts the Android software on the tablets (4.4.2), but they do add a few tools.
Most of the deals we post from eBay are for refurbished devices. It's a great way to save money on a new gadget, but some people are understandably turned off at the idea of buying something that's been used before, no matter how gently or infrequently. This deal is for them: a brand new Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 can be had from Newegg's official eBay page for 9.99. That's a full $300 off of the original retail price from back in March, and $150 off of the current price on Amazon.
There aren't a lot of options for big tablets with styluses, so the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 is kind of the automatic winner. The only problem is it's so darn expensive. Well, unless you're down with a refurb. You can pick one of those up on eBay right now for the reasonable price of $389.99.
Rooters and ROM flashers of several devices have new options today, as the developers behind the popular Team WIN Recovery Project have added three new Android devices to their growing list. The somewhat dusty LG Optimus 4X HD (from when phone names were crazy long), the LTE version of Samsung's Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 (because Samsung never really got over the crazy long name thing), and the Xiaomi Redmi 1S all get access to the touch-based recovery software, with downloads available from the website.
If you're one of the few people who sprang for Verizon's pricey, LTE-enabled edition of the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2, you may have noticed a software update in your notification bar today. The KOT49H.P905VVRUANE4 update isn't all that notable; most of the actual content comes from updates to a bunch of the bundled-in Amazon and Verizon apps like Kindle and VZ Navigator. But there are some bug fixes and a couple of security extras you might want to grab.
The biggest reason to turn down Samsung's Pro line of tablets is easily the exorbitant pricing. $750 for a tablet? Seriously, Sammy? Unsurprisingly, the various models have quickly fallen to some dramatic discounts, none more so than the top-of-the-line Galaxy Note Pro 12.2. BuyDig's eBay seller account has a refurbished 32GB model going for 9.99. That's 0 off the Amazon price (and technically $300 off retail), and $50 cheaper than we saw earlier this month.
Of the Big Four American carriers, AT&T has the best selection of Android tablets available... which, admittedly, isn't saying much. Today their shallow ranks get bolstered by two new Samsung tablets, one in the original Galaxy Tab line (which is now the de facto budget option) and one in the new Pro series. The Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 and the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 will be available on the carrier starting this Friday, June 6th.
If you think that Samsung's "Pro" line of tablets are too expensive, you're in good company. And apparently that company includes the folks at Amazon, because they've discounted every Galaxy Tab Pro and Note Pro model by a considerable margin. They're still expensive, at least compared to other Android tablets, but they might be a little more palatable with a lower price tag.
The Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 is the Android equivalent of the Ford Excursion: comically oversized, incredibly expensive, and its claims to "utility" are questionable at best. (Also, it might not get more than one major release.) But if you've got one, you're probably a hardware enthusiast, which means you also might be game for some modifications or custom ROMs. Well now you can: the folks at the Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP) have just released a version of their custom recovery for your gigantic tablet.
If you think that Samsung's new Galaxy TabPRO and NotePRO tablets are hilariously overpriced, you're in good company. As of today, that company includes at least a few people at Amazon and Best Buy. The new 8.4-inch, 10-inch, and 12.2-inch tablets have been given price cuts from $30-50 dollars. They're still really expensive, just slightly less so.
Customers who want Android tablets on Verizon's admittedly excellent LTE network tend to have only a few options, but there are two more this morning. Flagships from both LG and Samsung, the G Pad 8.3 and Galaxy Note Pro (or NotePRO) 12.2, are now available as branded Verizon devices. You can pick both of them up on the carrier website, and they should be available at retail stores either today or soon after.
Are you not experiencing the pleasure you need and deserve from your current tablet? Do you find that your 10-inch tablet simply isn't satisfying? The Samsung has the solution: not one, but two brand new tablets that offer a fabulous 12.2 inches of diagonal screen real estate. The Galaxy Tab Pro and Galaxy Note Pro 12.2, along with the smaller Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 and 8.4, are both launching in United States retailers on February 13th. And the screens aren't the only things that are big.
The Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 is two inches larger than your typical beefy tablet, and it's priced to match. The device will soon hit store shelves in the US for a whopping $849.99, over three hundred dollars more than Samsung's own 10-inch Galaxy Note 10.1 2014. Anyone who wants to call dibs on this expensive piece of hardware can do so now at Office Depot. It will become available February 13th.