Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Release
As many of you know, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was released, August 19, 2016. The Note 7 presents itself as the frontrunner in the shrinking Android “Phablet” market, and will likely be popular at Penn.
The Note 7 presents itself as a pocketable phone, while supplying a stylus (the S Pen) that rivals the best in the market from Apple, Microsoft and others. Despite the 5.7” display, the Note 7 does not feel too big or cumbersome, and the added productivity tools will likely prove to be a boon for many users across the University.
Specs
- Exynos 8890 Octa-core processor (2.15GHz quad + 1.6GHz quad)
- Mali-T880 MP12 GPU
- 64GB internal storage
- 4GB RAM
- 5.7” Super AMOLED display – 1440x2560 resolution (518 ppi)
- USB Type C charging port
- 3500mAh battery
- IP68 certified water and dust resistant
- Android 6.01 Marshmallow (with plans to upgrade to 7.0 Nougat)
- microSD slot supports up to 256GB
Key Features
- A greatly improved S Pen hardware and features
- Curved edge display, similar to the Galaxy S7 Edge
- Iris Scanner to unlock
- Wireless QI charging
- Secure Folder for managing separate personal and professional profiles for a variety of apps
- Available on all major carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Spring
Some Notes
The Galaxy Note 7 has a plethora of positive aspects, chief among them being the build quality of the device. The Note 7 is well designed, comfortable to use, and feels very durable, without being bulky or having a “rugged” aesthetic. The substantially upgraded GPU also implies a continued push towards integration with Samsung’s Gear VR and Oculus systems.
Among the Note 7’s many selling points, the S Pen really shines. While there are a few built in apps that fall a little short in implementation of the S Pen, the pen itself is top notch. Samsung Notes integration throughout the rest of the phone’s features, and the ability to write and sketch on the Always On Display without having to unlock the phone, really helps to solidify the pen’s usefulness. The S Pen has 4,096 degrees of pressure sensitivity, four times that of the Surface Pro 4’s pen, and twice that of the current generation Wacom Intuos Pro (Apple doesn’t publish specs on its pencil for comparison). The one hardware shortcoming of the S Pen is its lack of tilt recognition, making it more akin to the Surface pen than the Apple Pencil and Wacom pens.
Finally, the Note 7 introduces Secure Folder, a feature which allows for additional security locks, and managing of multiple profiles, for certain apps. Apps that manage mail, photo galleries, file management, etc, can be added to a Secure Folder, which can then be locked with a separate pin or password, or even using a separate unlock method, from the standard phone unlock. One example of an added benefit to this is that users can run a Mail app in a Secure Folder with their work identity on it, and a separate iteration of the same Mail app outside of the Secure Folder with their personal accounts linked, allowing them to keep the two worlds separate.
Recommendations
The Note 7 has been tested with AirPennNet, PennO365 and its included services, and other University services, without issue. When connecting to AirPennNet, please take note of the following steps:
- Be sure to disable Mobile Data temporarily, while completing the configuration process through AirPennNet-Help.
- When undergoing the configuration process, and the downloading of CloudPath (formerly Xpress Connect), be sure that you are doing so via Chrome, and not the pop-up browser that Samsung’s UI attempts to launch. The various download links will not work in the pop-up browser.
Available for Testing
If you are interested in testing out the Galaxy Note 7, please contact me at sulm@isc.upenn.edu, and I can work with you to fulfill your needs. A Galaxy Note 7 is available for short term loan, as well as in-house testing, and I can be leveraged for additional consultations if that is preferred. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any needs, questions, or concerns.