Galaxy Note Won’t See ICS Upgrade Until Q2, Delay Due to “Premium Suite” Software Package Now Included in Upgrade

There’s nothing worse than an ICS upgrade delay, and this time it’s the Samsung Galaxy Note that is troubled. Unfortunately, the phone-tablet hybrid won’t be receiving its upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich in Q1 as promised originally.

Samsung has just confirmed that the Galaxy Note will have to wait until Q2 for its ICS love, as the upgrade will now include a “Premium Suite” software package. Users can look forward to a group of exclusive apps designed to optimize the Galaxy Note’s S-Pen stylus on top of the expected Ice Cream Sandwich enhancements.

One of the highlighted benefits of the software package is what Samsung has dubbed the S Note. This tool mixes notes and sketches with other apps, like Shape Match and Formula Match, to recognize hand drawn formulas, sketches, and geometric shapes. Another interesting app bundled in the package is called My Story, which enables the user the ability to design personalized e-cards. However, if any of the apps mentioned above don’t seem enticing enough, Samsung was kind enough to throw in an exclusive Angry Birds Space level and free access to 30 “Danger Zone” levels for a limited time. Let’s hope this “premium suite” software package is truly worth the delay.

While you wait patiently for Q2 to roll around, check out Samsung’s demo video (above) illustrating the “premium suite” apps in action as well as the expected press release below.

Samsung offers Premium Suite software upgrade for GALAXY Note users

March 22, 2012

Software package offers exclusive S Pen applications, enhanced multimedia features, and an Android 4.0 upgrade

SEOUL, Korea – March 22, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today announced it will be offering a Premium Suite upgrade for GALAXY Note users worldwide from Q2. It includes extra multimedia features and a range of new S Pen optimized applications in addition to an OS upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The Premium Suite offers new features and applications exclusive to GALAXY Note and its innovative S Pen, which includes S Note, a unique tool that lets you combine your notes or sketches with other digital content, giving you a new way to create your own stories. S Note comes in various ready-to-use templates for a range of tasks including meeting minutes, diary and others.

S Note also includes the innovative Shape Match and Formula Match applications that help correct and digitize geometric shapes and even solve numeric formulas hand-drawn with S Pen, increasing your on-the-go efficiency and productivity. You can draw tables and grids which are instantly digitized, saving time and effort. Moreover, by using the S Note’s integrated knowledge search engines, users can quickly search, and obtain information.

For a touch of self-expression, the Premium Suite also includes My Story, another S Pen optimized application that allows you to create personalized digital cards for friends or family using any type of content including notes, video content, photos, text or voice.

In celebration of the Premium Suite upgrade announcement, Samsung will provide special offers to all GALAXY users as an official launch partner of Angry Birds Space, the newest Angry Birds game from Rovio Entertainment. For all Samsung GALAXY users, an exclusive GALAXY Note level will be provided for extra fun. Moreover, a special package of 30 challenging levels – ‘Danger Zone’ – will be available for free if unpacked within the three-month period. Visit http://samsung.angrybirds.com/galaxynote for more information.

“GALAXY Note continues to delight customers all over the world with its incredible versatility and unique user experience. With the Premium Suite upgrade, we wanted to add features that enrich users’ Note experience even more, including the great advantages of Android 4.0 and innovative applications for S Pen,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “We are committed to providing extraordinary experiences for consumers, and we will continue to provide new features and upgrades to enrich our offering.”

The Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade brings an entirely new look and feel to Android on GALAXY Note, with a more intuitive user interface that includes a redesigned App menu for easier multi-tasking. The upgrade also introduces innovations such as Face Unlock, Snapshot, Android Beam and others.

The availability and scheduling of the software upgrade will vary by market and wireless carriers’ requirements.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 222,000 people in 205 offices across 71 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Samsung