[AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note I717] 00mred00:
Pic links should be back up by the end of today 2/3/12

direct link to the album still works

For those not aware, I have had the benefit of having a great friend at Samsung that allows me to view/test/play with devices before release.

Previous devices on ATT Galaxy s2, the 10" and 8.9" tab, Skyrocket, and most recently the Galaxy Note. He has been dead on with release dates on all of the above.

What I have so far:

Confirmed as available for retail 2/19/12, pre orders begin 2/5/12

The 18th is on paper

Now..the good stuff..as mentioned, pics are typically forbidden but I grabbed what I could. When I hooked it to the PC he got all freaked out about what I was doing so..no dump (yet)

I liked the device. I am 6'4" and it was comfortable to hold...I could thumb type, one hand it no problem. The screen is absolutely amazing. Clear, crisp, no signs of flaws save the minor discoloration (similar to blobs) on dark grey backgrounds...so barely noticeable that I think i noticed them, but could not reproduce them for further observation. Pulled a few HD vids on you tube and wow...it didn't put the Skyrocket to shame, but the difference was noticeable. Much crisper, more vivid..NO LAG. Both devices tested equally on speedtest.net on LTE. This bad boy never lagged not once and the new touchwiz was pretty cool, but only a few new additions. I failed to take video..I grabbed a snapshot and doodled on it with the pen and that was about it.

The bad...

The speaker appears to be the same as the Skyrocket. Plenty loud in a quiet setting but drowned out in a crowded In and Out at 10 pm. Call quality was awful..I made two calls, each to someone sitting at a nearby table. I could barely hear them, they could barely hear me. May have been the environment, this place was packed.

The stylus was a neat gimmick. With some practice it might be pretty cool but I did not get the feel I would use it more than to just show it off. The hope would be that developers work it in to more apps. I tested it with the built in Memo app and texting. Texting was awful...if you want an example try evernote...it really seems counter productive.

Overall it will be a great device, but it does not offer enough for me to ditch my skyrocket. If you want the screen size, and resolution, it's an OK upgrade. I can not justify the cost right now. We have more upgrades opening up on other lines later in the year, and I will evaluate offerings at that time. For now I will keep my Skyrocket.

Oh..NFC is a maybe at this point. The device on the inside of the battery door this guy claims is an antenna...Some report it as being NFC...

I will do some more research.

all pics can be viewed at http://photobucket.com/galaxy_note_lte

uploading shots taken with our skyrockets now

..:: [System Info]
ANDROID_ID=
CURRENT_TIME_MILLIS=1327806533123
ANDROID_SOCKET_zygote=13
ANDROID_BOOTLOGO=1
EXTERNAL_STORAGE=/mnt/sdcard
ANDROID_ASSETS=/system/app
ASEC_MOUNTPOINT=/mnt/asec
PATH=/sbin:/vendor/bin:/system/sbin:/system/bin:/system/xbin
LOOP_MOUNTPOINT=/mnt/obb
BOOTCLASSPATH=/system/framework/core.jar:/system/framework/bouncycastle.jar:/system/framework/ext.jar:/system/framework/framework.jar:/system/framework/android.policy.jar:/system/framework/services.jar:/system/framework/core-junit.jar
USBHOST_STORAGE=/mnt/sdcard/usbStorage
ANDROID_DATA=/data
ANDROID_PROPERTY_WORKSPACE=12,66560
ANDROID_ROOT=/system
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/vendor/lib:/system/lib
EXTERNAL_STORAGE2=/mnt/sdcard/external_sd

..:: [DateTime Info]
Locale: en_US
Locale Country: US
Locale Language: English
Locale Variant:
Locale ISO Country: USA
TimeZone: org.apache.harmony.luni.internal.util.ZoneInfo["CST",mRawOffset=-21600000,mUseDst=true]
TimeZone Name: Central Standard Time
TimeZone DST Saving: 3600000
TimeZone Row offset: -21600000
TimeZone SHORT: 0

..:: [Version Info]
CodeName=REL
Incremental=UCKLE
Release=2.3.6
SDK=10
SDK-Version=10

..:: [Screen Info]
DisplayId=0
Resolution=[B]800x1280[/B]
Orientation=0
RefreshRate 58.0 fps

..:: [Build Info]
Board=[B]MSM8660[/B]_SURF
Brand=samsung
CPU ABI=armeabi-v7a
Device=SGH-I717
Display=GINGERBREAD.UCKLE
Fingerprint=samsung/SGH-I717/SGH-I717:2.3.6/GINGERBREAD/UCKLE:user/release-keys
Host=SEI-48
ID=GINGERBREAD
Manufacturer=samsung
Model=SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
Product=SGH-I717
Tags=release-keys
Time=1325626536000
Type=user
User=se.infra

..:: [Secure Info]
INSTALL_NON_MARKET_APPS=1
LOCATION_PROVIDERS_ALLOWED=gps,network
DEVICE_PROVISIONED=1
ANDROID_ID=
ADB_ENABLED=0
USB_MASS_STORAGE_ENABLED=1
WIFI_NETWORKS_AVAILABLE_NOTIFICATION_ON=1
BLUETOOTH_ON=0
WIFI_ON=1
DATA_ROAMING=0

..:: [Telephony] -
IMEI=
CallState=IDLE
DataActivity=DORMANT
DataState= CONNECTED
NetworkType= 13
PhoneType= GSM
SimState= READY
CellLocation=
DeviceSoftwareVersion= 02
Line1Number=
NetworkCountryIso= us
NetworkOperator=
NetworkOperatorName=AT&T
SimCountryIso=us
SimOperator=
SimSerialNumber=
SubscriberId=
VoiceMailAlphaTag=Voicemail
VoiceMailNumber=

--- Generate with Android DUMP.

linpack

antutu

Elixir

CFBench

Fps2d

Misc

Device pics..taken with our Skyrockets

My source called today to let me know he has one in hand. I hope to get a chance to play with it by the end of next week.

As a few people know, I had the chance to play with the SGS2 and Skyrocket much prior to their release...and this guy was spot on with the release dates for those devices

I have posted this thread as a spot for all of you that seem interested in it to post questions about the device and I will do my best to test/eval/answer based on hands on experience with it.

so..whatcha want to know.

I will be trying to meet up with him next week.