Samsung Galaxy Note 8 gets US launch date
The company's latest 8-inch tablet, conceived as a direct competitor to the iPad Mini will go on sale in the US on April 11.
The tablet, which doesn't feature a high-resolution screen, but does boast S-Pen stylus support, a 1.6GHz Quad Core processor and 2GB of RAM plus 16GB of internal storage (which can be expanded to 80GB via a 64GB micro SD card) is being marketed by Samsung as the ideal device for both work and play.
The company claims it offers best-in-class multimedia performance in its size segment and that, thanks to its built-in IR blaster, serves as a universal remote control. Upon its US launch it will also be the first Samsung product to feature WatchON, a search and recommendation service aimed at users looking for the second screen experience. It is supposed to make finding content -- whether traditional programming, web clips or on-demand shows -- simple and clear, therefore eliminating the need to constantly channel surf.
On top of the standard $399.99 device, the first US buyers will also receive 50GB of free dropbox storage (valid for two years), a month of free Samsung Music Hub music streaming plus, for a limited time only, a $25 Google Play credit that they can use to buy Android apps. Samsung is offering a similar bundled deal in the UK where it is also scheduled to launch this week. However, British buyers will have to part with £339 ($500) for the same product as their US counterparts.
The Galaxy Tab 8 will launch online and in store on April 11 and can be purchased everywhere from Amazon to Best Buy.
