iCloud beta Review: iOS 7 Aesthetics and New iWork Apps Arrive

The new iCloud beta got a significant update recently, adding an iOS 7 style look to go with the iWork apps previously added when it first launched. This site replaces the former iWork that included Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Notes, Reminders and Find My iPhone. It’s still missing access to photos and videos from Photostream.

A primary benefit of iCloud now with the iWork apps comes when a user must jump on a non-Apple product like a Windows PC or the Chromebook we’re reviewing. It also lets a user access their iCloud stored content on someone else’s machine, like when visiting family or working at another office.

iCloud beta sports a new iOS 7 style interface along with the already added iWork apps.

The simple version of the iWork apps work well. We prefer them over Google Docs and Office 365. They look better and offer just as many features, but in an easier to use presentation.

With Pages users can do basic word processing tasks and even some simple desktop publishing. The templates look a lot like the iOS versions of the app. The first time a user opens one of the iWork apps, the site shows helpful yellow tool tips with visual cues about using the site. Click on the large plus symbol to open the Template Chooser, which shows available templates. Begin editing to create a masterpiece ready for coworkers or personal use.

Users can jump between iWork or iCloud apps from the file manager in each app. Click the cloud button on the upper left to do this in the iWork apps. Here’s one inconsistency between the iWork apps and the other iCloud apps. They don’t show a cloud icon, but show the name of the current app with a drop down arrow next to it which lets the user switch to the other apps by clicking the link.

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Notice the link instead of the cloud icon used to jump between apps.

When creating a new document, a new window pops up so that the user can return to the file manager or the iCloud home page just by switching browser windows.

The site works great on a Mac, and we even find it useful on a Windows or Chromebook machine. We like the user interface and enjoyed creating simple documents, spreadsheets and even presentations.

iCloud beta (link to Apple info page) has room to grow with more features needed. The iWorks apps don’t share the overall iOS 7 look that graces the other iCloud PIM tools. We guess that might change on final release, which some iOS 7 detractors may not like. We miss the menu across the top of the windows and some of the advanced features hidden in them, like creating a user template in Pages. We also think Apple should add Photostream access to the mix. The Mail app really needs to add POP3 access or better iMap access so we can use other mail accounts with the app, like we can on the mobile and computer versions of Mail. The same holds true for Calendar, which remains useless for Google Calendar users.

iCloud Mail needs access to other email accounts via POP 3 or IMAP

Only iCloud subscribers can access it and then only those who sign up for the beta and get approved by Apple. When it finally launches, likely about the same time that OS X 10.9 Mavericks hits the Mac App Store and new Macs, the current iteration of iCloud will offer enough to pull Mac users away from Google Drive or Office 365, if they prefer using iWork on their iOS device or computer. It won’t draw them away if they already invested in Microsoft Office 365 or use Google Drive heavily.

Windows 8.1: 3 Things It Won’t Fix

To hear many Microsoft watchers tell it, the Windows 8.1 update is chock full of features and changes that could “save” Windows 8 from the same reputation that defined Windows Vista. They laud its added customization options, and trumpet Microsoft’s newfound ability to ship an absolute boat-load of feature additions in just a year. I’m not sure that they are wrong, either.

After spending almost two months running the update I’m inclined to agree that many of the feature changes that they’ve made make Windows 8.1 the best operating system the company has shipped yet.

On the other hand, there’s a lot here that just doesn’t fix some of the fundamental issues introduced in Windows 8.

Closing Apps

The updated Start Screen in Windows 8.1

Microsoft’s new app model in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 allows users to open apps almost effortlessly with their fingers or a mouse and keyboard. Unfortunately, it doesn’t exactly make it obvious to users that they can actually close these apps.

To be fair, it’s by design, Microsoft made sure that open Windows 8-style applications don’t hog system memory or resources. However, that’s of no consequence, since most users have no way of knowing that and have become accustomed to closing applications they aren’t using. Microsoft has made no effort to address this issue in the Windows 8.1 update.

Notifications Are a Mess

Windows 8.1 Still Depends on the Live Tiles for notifications

I’ll admit that this issue never occurred to me until I sat down to write this very piece. Windows 8 introduced a feature that the company borrowed from its Windows Phone operating system called toast notifications. The concept is easy to understand. When users are sent an email, message or breaking news, the operating system pops up a small little notification on the right of the screen with whatever they need to be informed of.

The bad news, is that in doing so Microsoft also may have created one of the same issues that Windows Phone has on Windows 8.1. Should a user miss seeing that notification, or what Microsoft calls toast, they have no way of knowing what the notification was about.

Instead they either need to have the app pinned to their Start Screen, or open every app they’ve got installed until they figure out what the toast was. As there’s no centralized way to view notifications outside of things that are pinned to the Start Screen in Windows 8.1, the problem is still there, and it will still continue to confuse casual users.

Gestures are still all over the place

Navigating Windows 8.1 with touch still isn’t as obvious as it could be.

When Microsoft first announced Windows 8, it said that it would help users with laptops and desktops bridge the usage gap between devices without touch input by enabling track pad gestures. These track pad gestures are meant to complement and mirror the gestures of touch-equipped devices.

As it turns out, neither are necessarily good things. For starters, most Windows 8 — and I suspect 8.1 machines — will come with these gestures turned on. That means users will find themselves accidentally triggering these new gestures all the time. The second thing is that, no matter how many How-To apps Microsoft embeds in Windows, none of these swipe gestures are exactly obvious.

For example, outside of the tutorial and the Help + Tips app, there is still no way for users to even know that the multitasking bar can only be triggered by swiping right on the touch pad or touch screen of a Windows 8.1 device. Just to reiterate, there’s absolutely on-screen cue that would let a user know that they can swipe down from the top of an application to close it. In short, even in Windows 8.1, Microsoft seems to be betting that users rely on these not so obvious gestures to complete everyday tasks.

There’s no doubt that Microsoft is making an honest effort to address the issues of the past, but in my experience with Windows 8.1, I don’t see much here that essentially changes some of the hardcore issues with Windows 8.

Really, the only thing we can do is hope that Microsoft addresses these core concerns before the operating system goes out for free to users on October 17th.

iPhone 5S New Color All But Confirmed

The iPhone 5S is all but confirmed to be coming in a new color with the heavily rumored gold iPhone 5S almost certain for arrival at Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5S launch date.

Rumors, for weeks, have been swirling in regards to a new color for Apple’s iconic iPhone. While the company, in the past, has only offered up black and white options, rumors have pointed to a chance of pace with 2013′s model rumored to be called the iPhone 5S. A gold iPhone 5S has shown up in numerous leaks prior to launch and it now appears that the device is, in fact, the real deal.

Apple is expected to debut a gold iPhone 5S.

A new report from AllThingsD claims that a gold iPhone 5S will be a topic of conversation at Apple’s iPhone launch, something that all but seals the deal on a new iPhone color. The color is described as “elegant” and like “champagne” and it will likely match up with the leaks that we’ve seen occur in the days leading up to Apple’s suspected September 10th iPhone 5S launch date.

The device is expected to have a white face with a champagne gold back plate that is far different from the white and black iPhone models that Apple has sold in year’s previous. The color will extend to the device’s edges as well it seems, offering consumers something a bit different from the white and black devices that are expected to accompany it.

Gold iPhone 5S parts have leaked out prior to Apple’s launch.

Apple’s iPhone 5S is expected to be joined by an iPhone 5C, a plastic iPhone model that is rumored to be arriving with a host of different color options, again, something that Apple has not offered in the past. The iPhone 5C, unlike the iPhone 5S, isn’t supposed to be a premium option but instead, a phone aimed at those that don’t need a premium quality design with their 4-inch Retina Display. It’s also expected to have a lesser camera.

The company still hasn’t confirmed an iPhone 5S launch event though the iPhone 5S launch is all but confirmed for September 10th, just a few short days after Samsung unveils its Samsung Galaxy Note 3, one of its iPhone competitors.

iPhone 5S release date rumors have pegged the device’s release date for October, but those remain unconfirmed and given Apple’s history, unlikely.

iPhone 5S Release Date Reportedly Set for September with iPhone 5C

The iPhone 5S release date is set for September alongside a budget iPhone 5Crelease date according to a new report that cites sources inside Hon Hai Precision, better known as Foxconn, a known Apple partner that hand-assembles the iPhone and iPad.

Apple is working on a flagship iPhone 5S with a design similar to the iPhone 5 and a budget plastic iPhone 5C with many iPhone 5 features according to the latest rumors.

Several previous leaks point to a Gold iPhone 5S option, a fingerprint reader on the iPhone 5S and a special iPhone event on September 10th. Rumors of an iPhone 5S event for September did not include confirmation of an iPhone 5C, but analyst notes point to a budget iPhone that comes in a variety of colors for between $300 and $500 off contract.

The iPhone 5S release date is expected in September alongside an iPhone 5C.

In a report from The Wall Street Journal, we learn that Hon Hai Precision Industry is prepared to start shipping two iPhone models in September.

The Journal sidesteps the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C names, but this report suggests Apple will stick to its well-known launch and release timeline which helps us predict the iPhone 5S release date.

Apple’s timing is likely designed to steal the spotlight from the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which rumors suggest will launch on September 4th at IFA 2013 in Berlin. Samsung is reportedly putting the Galaxy Note 3 release on a fast track, to start shipping the phone in early to mid-September.

iPhone 5S Release Date in September: More Evidence

Apple’s earning’s guidance previously pointed to a iPhone 5S release by mid-September. An analysis from BTIG claims that Apple can only hit the revenue guidance with a new product launch in September, and that the profit margins listed point to that new product being an iPhone, not an iPad.

Walter Piecyk of BTIG issued the following commentary in July;

“We don’t think that Apple can hit its newly issued revenue guidance for the September quarter unless it launches new products.

…

margin guidance also likely indicates that the new product launch this quarter will be an iPhone and not a lower margin iPad.”

In today’s report, The Wall Street Journal cites well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI securities, who predicts Apple will sell a significant number of iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C units in September.

Kuo believes Apple will sell over 5 million iPhone 5S units and over 8.5 million iPhone 5C units before the end of the third Quarter on September 30th. One previous leak indicates the iPhone 5S fingerprint sensor is the root of production issues that could limit the iPhone 5S release date supplies to 3-4 million.

Apple sold 5 million iPhone 5 units on opening weekend in 2012, so a prediction of 5.2 million iPhone 5S sales in September is not out of line if production can keep up.

iPhone 5S Release Date Timing

Possible iPhone 5S release date timing.

If Apple is planning an iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C event for September 10th, and with the multiple sources pointing to an iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S release in September we can work out likely iPhone 5S and 5C release dates.

Based on Apple’s previous timing, the iPhone 5S release date is likely on track for September 20th, which would allow Apple to announce the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S on the 10th, start taking pre-orders on the 13th and release an iOS 7 update on the 18th.

All in time to deliver an iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S release on the 20th. This would allow Apple to sell the iPhone 5S for roughly a week before the end of September and the end of Apple’s 2013 Q4 financial quarter.

The iPhone 5S release date on AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint will likely be the same. We could see the US Cellular iPhone 5S arrive at the same time or with a short delay.

The iPhone 5S will reportedly look a lot like the iPhone 5 with a new gold color option, a 128GB storage option and an improved camera with a dual LED flash. The iPhone 5S will likely include a 4-inch Retina Display and a new Apple A7 processor.

An iPhone 5C is reportedly arriving with multiple color options in a plastic body with a 4-inch Retina Display and Lightning connector. The iPhone 5C could replace the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S in App[e’s lineup according to multiple rumors.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3: New Domain Hints at Key Feature

Samsung appears to have registered a new website ahead of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3launch on September 4th and from the looks of things, the domain could tie into the device’s S Pen, a feature that could ultimately be the star of the show.

For weeks, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has been at the forefront of smartphone rumors, teasing consumers around the world with leaks galore. The device, which is all but certain to launch on September 4th, looks on paper, to be a worthy successor to the Galaxy Note 2.

Rumors suggest a device that will come equipped with a larger and better display, a faster more efficient processor, a better camera, and Android 4.3. However, while hardware rumors have been dominating the news, we haven’t heard much about the device’s software, something that will play a key role in the Galaxy Note 3′s success.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is rumored for release in September.

The Galaxy Note 2 arrived with two important and unique features that sold many users on the large-screen device. The first, upgraded software including the Multi-Window View that has arrived for the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3. Second, its ergonomic S Pen stylus. Neither the Galaxy Note 3′s unique software nor its S Pen have surfaced in rumors and perhaps, it’s because Samsung is trying extremely hard to keep them a secret. Samsung is known to go to great lengths to keep its designs a mystery ahead of launch as well.

Today, we have a potential sign of things to come as Techtastic has spotted a recent domain registration from Samsung. The registration for website www.samsungpenup.com doesn’t disclose much but it does reveal a keyword: Pen. As in, S Pen.

This website could refer to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 S Pen.

This could just be Samsung gobbling up potential S Pen websites ahead of launch but it also could be a sign that the S Pen will be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, Galaxy Note 3 features. It’s impossible to what this website is for but it could be that it ties into a dedicated page about the Galaxy Note 3′s S Pen.

With competitors like HTC rumored to be coming out with their own phablets this fall, the pressure is on Samsung to deliver an innovative new Galaxy Note 3 that goes beyond just the powerful hardware. The S Pen and its applications are a place where the Galaxy Note 3 can standout and it could be that this website will be part of the push to educate consumers on the benefits of the Galaxy Note 3′s stylus.

iPad 5 vs. iPad mini: Alleged Photo Shows Size Difference

A new iPad 5 leak allegedly shows a photo of the new iPad 5 back in white and silver with an iPad mini back in silver that could be for the iPad mini 2 or iPad mini 2 Retina, but it is impossible to know from the information provided.

This isn’t the first time an alleged iPad 5 back plate leaked in a photo, but most leaked photos show a black iPad 5 back.

Up to this point, iPad 5 backs are pointing to a new iPad mini inspired design that is thinner and narrower than the iPad 4.

Recent reports point to an iPad 5 event in October, where we could also see an iPad mini 2 with Retina Display — both of which could see a release in October.

This could be the back of the white and silver iPad 5 with a new design.

The new photo purportedly showing a white and silver iPad 5 back plate comes from Nowhereelse.fr, leaking from Chinese sina Weibo, a Chinese social networking site. Weibo is the source of numerous iPhone 5S and iPad photo leaks, likely from contacts within the Asian supply chain.

The inclusion of an iPad mini back plate in this photo gives a sense of scale to the iPad 5, and shows how the design matches that of the iPad mini.

In April, a photo showing what could be the front of the white and silver iPad 5 leaked, showcasing the thinner bezels that are a key component of the new narrower design.

This could be the front of the white & silver iPad 5.

The iPad 5 will reportedly use the same touch screen technology as the iPad mini. This would allow Apple to deliver a thinner iPad 5 thanks to a touch sensor that is built into the front panel. An iPad 5 with narrower bezels would likely use the same software enhancements as the iPad mini to tell the difference between touches and errant taps along the edges of the iPad.

The new iPad 5 display technology will play nice with a Retina Display and the latest rumors point to an iPad mini 2 with a Retina Display, adding a higher resolution screen to the smaller iPad.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the iPad 5 display is in production for an October release timeframe. The iPad mini 2 parts are reportedly in production with a release in November possible.

While the iPhone 5S is reportedly coming in a gold color, there are no hints of an iPad 5 in gold or champagne. The iOS 7 update for iPad users could arrive around the time of the iPad 5 and IPad mini 2 releases, according to a new rumor.

Xbox One Games: Microsoft Details 50 Games for Launch

Ahead of what should be a busy week of announcements at the GamesCom trade show, Microsoft has published a list of the games that it expects to arrive on its next-generation Xbox One console.

According to the list, which is now on the company’s Xbox Wire news blog, those who purchase the Xbox One this fall can expect a large assortment of titles to be available on the console including a huge line-up of sequels from well-selling past franchises. This includes new editions of Dragon Age, Assassin’s Creed, Forza, Halo and Final Fantasy.

These titles will also be bolstered by a line-up of fresh games getting their start on the Xbox One including exclusive titles like Titanfall and Ryse. Of the list, Microsoft says that 38% of the titles will be exclusive to the Xbox One, meaning users who purchase Sony’s PlayStation 4 won’t have the option to get in on any of these game experiences.

Microsoft is also highlighting its commitment to fostering new games, saying that 37% of all the games coming to the Xbox One will be what the company refers to as “new IP” or new intellectual property. These are titles that are completely new gaming experiences, something hardcore gamers look to for fresh takes on gaming genres.

What will likely garner more attention from gamers, is the 44% of its list of titles that will have exclusive content for Xbox One. Instead of just competing with Sony on exclusive titles, Microsoft is stepping up its practice of locking in exclusive content on games it can’t get exclusives on. This allows Microsoft to promote experiences on its platform, rather than sharing experiences with the PlayStation 4. According to Microsoft FIFA 14, Call of Duty: Ghosts and Battlefield 4 will all have content that users can only get if they are playing the game on the Xbox One.

The list includes:

• Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag (Ubisoft, Ubisoft)
• Battlefield 4 (DICE, Electronic Arts)
• Below (Capy Games, Microsoft Studios)
• Call of Duty: Ghosts (Infinity Ward, Activision)
• Crimson Dragon (Grounding/Land Ho!, Microsoft Studios)
• D4 (Access Games, Microsoft Studios)
• Dead Rising 3 (Capcom Vancouver, Microsoft Studios)
• Destiny (Bungie, Activision)
• Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved (Harmonix, Disney Interactive)
• Dragon Age: Inquisition (BioWare, Electronic Arts)
• Dying Light (Techland, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
• EA SPORTS UFC (EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts)
• FIFA 14 (EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts)
• Final Fantasy XV (Square Enix, Square Enix)
• Forza Motorsport 5 (Turn 10 Studios, Microsoft Studios)
• Halo Xbox One (343 Industries, Microsoft Studios)
• Just Dance 2014 (Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft)
• Killer Instinct (Double Helix, Microsoft Studios)
• Kinect Sports Rivals (Rare, Microsoft Studios)
• Kingdom Hearts III (Square Enix 1st Production Department, Square Enix)
• LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (TT Games, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
• LocoCycle (Twisted Pixel, Microsoft Studios)
• Mad Max (Avalanche Studios, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
• Madden NFL 25 (EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts)
• Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Kojima Productions, Konami)
• Minecraft: Xbox One Edition (Mojang Studios, Microsoft Studios)
• Mirror’s Edge 2 (DICE, Electronic Arts)
• NBA 2K14 (Visual Concepts, 2K Sports)
• NBA LIVE 14 (EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts)
• Need for Speed: Rivals (Ghost Games, Electronic Arts)
• Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare (PopCap Games, Electronic Arts)
• Powerstar Golf (Zoe Mode, Microsoft Studios)
• Project Spark (Microsoft Studios)
• Quantum Break (Remedy, Microsoft Studios)
• Ryse: Son of Rome (Crytek, Microsoft Studios)
• Skylanders: Swap Force (Vicarious Visions, Activision)
• Star Wars Battlefront (DICE, Electronic Arts)
• Sunset Overdrive (Insomniac Games, Microsoft Studios)
• The Crew (Ivory Towers, Ubisoft)
• The Elder Scrolls Online (ZeniMax Online Studios, Bethesda Softworks)
• The Evil Within (Tango Gameworks, Bethesda Softworks)
• The LEGO Movie Videogame (TT Games, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (CD Projekt RED, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment – North America)
• Thief (Eidos Montreal, Square Enix)
• Titanfall (Respawn Entertainment, Electronic Arts)*
• Tom Clancy’s The Division (Massive Entertainment, Ubisoft)
• Watch Dogs (Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft)
• Wolfenstein: The New Order (MachineGames, Bethesda Softworks)
• Zoo Tycoon (Frontier Developments Ltd., Microsoft Studios)
• Zumba Fitness: World Party (Zoë Mode, Majesco)

Microsoft will launch the Xbox One sometime this November. Users can pre-order the Xbox One at their local retailer for $499.99. Users should note that not all of these titles will be available on the Xbox One when it launches.

Nook Video: Now Playing on iPhone & Android

Users who’ve heavily invested in Barnes & Noble’s Nook media experiences now have a wealth of new devices to use instead of their Nook Tablet or Nook HD.

Starting today, users can download Nook Video for iPhone, iPad and any device runningGoogle’s Android operating system. The application is free of charge, and acts as a digital gateway to the Nook video store that’s already been available exclusively on the Barnes & Noble’s tablets for some time.

Users will be able to watch all of the television shows and movies that they’ve already purchased through the store, they can also purchase new content and the application will stream it in high-definition instantly.

Nook Video on the Apple iPad

Nook Video is debuting on Roku today as well. Unfortunately, just as with Nook’s eBook store, Windows users will be the last to get in on the action. If the company does have plans to make Nook Video available to Windows Phone and Windows 8 users it didn’t detail it in today’s press release. This is especially interesting since Microsoft actually owns a significant stake in Nook Media, the Barnes & Noble subsidiary that is responsible for the Nook devices.

In fact, its Microsoft’s rumored buy-out of Nook Media that first hinted that Barnes & Noble was preparing to stop making Nook tablets. According to those reports, Barnes & Noble had already decided to phase out its tablet operations and focus on creating eBook readers with e-ink screens and longer battery life.

The arrival of Nook Video signals the company’s final transition away from hardware. It’s already given Nook users the ability to install applications from places other than its own App Store. Together with the Nook apps for Android and iOS, most users will be able to move on to other tablets and still get most of the same experiences that they could on their Nook tablet.

So far, Microsoft’s buyout of Barnes and Noble has yet to materialize, though today’s release of Nook Video indicates that the company is moving ahead with scaling down its in-house device portfolio.

How well Nook Video performs on either Android or iOS remains unclear. Both operating systems already have exclusive video stores that offer more content than Nook Video, however neither offer the ability to watch content on each other.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Mysteries

With the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 launch date fast approaching, there is very little that consumers don’t know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. There are, however, several key Galaxy Note 3 mysteries that indeed do remain ahead of the device’s anticipated September 4th launch. Here, we take a deep dive into what we still don’t know about Samsung’s upcoming phablet.

Prior to its launch in March of this year, the Samsung Galaxy S4 dominated the smartphone rumor mill. Rumors leaked out on a near daily basis and the device found itself firmly in the sights of smartphone consumers as it quickly became one of the most hotly anticipated devices of the year.

There is quite a bit known about the Galaxy Note 3 already.

Many Galaxy S4 rumors were spot on which meant that for many, the Unpacked launch event in New York on March 15th just confirmed things that they already knew. Consumers know about its larger screen, the screen’s higher resolution, the faster processor and much of its software before Samsung took the stage at the Radio City Music Hall.

History seems to be repeating itself. Samsung’s other big name smartphone for 2013, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, is getting the same type of pre-launch treatment ahead of its announced launch date of September 4th.

Galaxy Note 3 rumors are plentiful and they have revealed a great deal about the device that is expected to displace the Galaxy Note 2 as the company’s flagship Galaxy S companion.

Rumors have all but confirmed several Galaxy Note 3 features ahead of launch. The device is widely expected to feature a larger 1080p display, possibly 5.7-inches in size. The device is all but assured to have a Exynos 5 Octa or a Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor from Qualcomm aboard. Rumors peg it as having an upgraded camera, possibly 13MP. And it should be coming to several U.S. carriers in the weeks after it launches.

There are, however, several Galaxy Note 3 features that remain mysterious, out of reach of consumers. Here is a look at those features and what to expect from them both prior to and at launch.

Release Date

While there have been some Galaxy Note 3 release date rumors, the specific date that Samsung may or may not have selected for the Galaxy Note 3′s debut on shelves has yet to be outed.

Rumors suggest that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 could begin shipping in early September, shortly after it announces the Galaxy Note 3. If true, that could mean one of the fastest flagship launches in Samsung’s history. There are also rumors that suggest that it could land in late September, something that fits Samsung’s Galaxy launch history.

No specific release date for the United States, or elsewhere for that matter, is known and we’re unlikely to see a specific date emerge ahead of the device’s launch..

Rumors suggest a September release date, but it isn’t clear.

Samsung, unlike Apple, typically does not announce its devices with a specific release date, instead deferring to carriers to fit its devices into its plans. So even if the device arrives in early September as rumored, carriers likely don’t have specific release dates locked down in stone just yet making it unlikely that we’ll see a specific date emerge ahead of launch.

Expect this mystery to remain unsolved ahead of launch as carriers to juggle the Galaxy Note 3 release date. And expect Verizon to be last to the device, per usual.

Design

Samsung is once again doing an admirable job of keeping its design plans under wraps as Galaxy Note 3 photo leaks have proven inconclusive thus far.

We have seen a number of purported Galaxy Note 3 photos emerge ahead of September 4th but none of them have offered us a look at anything credible. Instead, the best we’ve gotten is a boxy looking rectangle that appears to be either a Galaxy Note 3 prototype or the Galaxy Note 3 wearing a protective case, shielding the real design from view.

The mystery surrounding the Galaxy Note 3 design is nothing new. Samsung does a very good job of keeping its designs a secret ahead of launch, using a variety of tactics that include fake casings. This is a mystery that we do expect to be solved ahead of its arrival though.

This is about as close as we’ve come to a Galaxy Note 3 design leak.

Typically, Samsung does a fantastic job of keeping its design under wraps, that is, until a few days or hours before the launch. At that point, leakers have a field day. We’ve seen the past three flagships leak out ahead of time.

The Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S4 all emerge ahead of their respective launches after the company held prying eyes at bay for months. Consumers can expect the same from the Galaxy Note 3. With a September 4th launch date set in stone, it should only be a few days before we finally get some credible information on the device’s design.

For now, all we have to go on are a few tidbits: A possible 8mm design or dimensions like the Galaxy Note 2, and a look that resembles the previous Galaxy Note, meaning plastic.

Plastic seems like a given but the rest of it remains a mystery and should until the end of the month or early September.

S Pen

One of the key components of Samsung’s Galaxy Note series is the S Pen stylus that comes bundled with the device. With the Galaxy Note 2, we saw Samsung opt for a more ergonomic design, something that was welcomed by consumers. We fully expect the S Pen to play a big role with the Galaxy Note 3 as well but thus far, the stylus has managed to stay out of the rumor mill.

Recently, we saw Samsung register a domain with ‘pen’ in its name, a sign that the S Pen could play a significant role in the Galaxy Note 3′s success. This is something that is hard to dispute.

The Galaxy Note series is being thoroughly challenged this year by devices like the HTC One Max and Sony Xperia Z Ultra and it needs features, beyond the big screen, camera and processor to help it stand out.

The S Pen is one area where it can do that and so, we fully expect the S Pen to play a big role during the Galaxy Note 3′s launch. With the Galaxy S4 closing the gap with its touch less gestures, there is added pressure to introduce not only new, but innovative new functionality for the S Pen. Maybe that’s better on screen accuracy. Maybe it’s improved apps. Maybe it’s a tweaked design.

It’s just that we know very little about it so far and it’s impossible to say whether we will hear anything about it before Samsung takes the stage. History says yes, but it’s telling that it has been in the shadows this long.

One thing that we can say for sure though is that the Galaxy Note will have an S Pen and it will more than likely be a big selling point to consumers.

Software

The S Pen of course is driven by unique software that comes with the Galaxy Note. Apps like S Note and Easy Clip are unique to the Galaxy Note series and make it appealing to those that need more than just a touch screen. The Galaxy Note is also a multitasking beast as it allows owners to not only split up the display to run two separate apps at a time, it also allows owners to use the Pop Up Video feature to comfortably watch video while performing other tasks.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 should feature these features and more but it’s the more that continues to be elusive ahead of its launch date.

The Galaxy Note 3′s software beyond Android 4.3 is still very mysterious. Samsung Orb, a rumored Samsung version of Google’s Photo Sphere, is the only non-Android related feature that we’ve seen emerge thus far. And even then, that rumor sprouted up a long time ago.

Thus far, Samsung has done a great job at keeping the Galaxy Note 3′s software features protected but we wouldn’t be surprised if the lid burst ahead of the device’s arrival. With the Galaxy S4, we saw several big time software features emerge in the weeks leading up to its launch.

Samsung Orb may be Samsung’s version of Photo Sphere, Google’s panoramic camera feature.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 software as a whole isn’t likely to leak out ahead of its debut, this is Samsung we’re talking about here, not Google, but we’d be surprised if at least part of this mystery wasn’t cleared up prior to September 4th.

Price

One of the big remaining pieces of the puzzle is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 price. The past two Galaxy Note models have arrived with $299.99 price tags but given the price increase that we initially saw with the Galaxy S4, it moved to $250 on some carriers, and the fact that the Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to be dropping a 16GB for a 32GB model, things have become a little murky.

The Galaxy Note 3 price is still a mystery.

In the past, we’ve seen price tags on Galaxy related products leak out ahead of time. However, U.S. carriers typically keep their pricing close to their chest so this is a mystery that we don’t think will be solved until after the Galaxy Note 3 arrives.

$299.99 seems logical, given the past and previous successes with the Galaxy Note. The price is already steep for a smartphone and with the competition fierce and HTC proving that you can start with a 32GB model (See: HTC One) and charge familiar pricing, we don’t see Samsung and carriers alienating customers.