Smartphones with quad core processors can effectively handle the same number of operations in half the time as similar dual core handsets. This is what makes the quad core processors on smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note II so attractive. That handset was launched this year on the Sprint network in the US, and is the first smartphone from Samsung to provide the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system out-of-the-box.
The Jelly Bean 4.1 operating system provides an upgraded graphics capability, as well as the new Google Now search and personal assistant service. Also containing Project Butter, those familiar with previous versions of Android operating systems have explained that Jelly Bean 4.1 is smoother and quicker, and offers less clutter. The handset is capable of simultaneous voice and data access, allowing you to browse the web or jot down e-mails or text messages while in the middle of a voice call. You can also watch video and movies while web surfing, and the smart stylus S Pen returns from the original Galaxy Note with native handwriting recognition technology.
The Samsung TouchWiz UI Android overlay is present, and accepts multitouch, capacitive gestures, and the largest screen for a 4G smartphone runs 5.55 inches. That touchscreen is aligned in a 16 to 9 aspect ratio, which provides for true HD video viewing. Resolution runs 720 x 1,280 pixels, and visuals are delivered in more than 16 million colors and at a rate of 265 pixels every inch. The Super AMOLED screen is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass, with standard light and proximity sensors built in.
A single charge of the Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note II 4G handset’s battery offers up to 15.0 hours of talk time, with 12.0 days of standby battery power also delivered. DLNA video-out wireless technology is on board, as is Near Field Communications (NFC) support for applications like Android Beam and Google Wallet. The CPU on board is a quad core 1.6 GHz model, and 2.0 GB of RAM system memory offer double the 4G smartphone average.
16 GB of storage are built-in, and the built-in microSD slot allows for storage expansion, supporting extra memory cards up to 16 GB in size. A 1.9 megapixel video call capable chat cam is built into the front of the Galaxy Note II, and the rear facing 8.0 megapixel camcorder is capable of video capture at 1,080P HD resolution.
