We have some more Jelly Bean joy to bring you now, this time for owners who are still rocking the original Samsung Galaxy Note device on AT&T’s network. The phablet may have been stuck on Ice Cream Sandwich for an eternity, but owners will be delighted to hear that Samsung and AT&T are now ready to give the device an official update to Android 4.1.2. Jelly Bean.

Even better, we can confirm that the update will start rolling out in the next few hours, meaning that many of you are going to be enjoying Jelly Bean and a brand new user interface over the weekend, not to mention a much smoother performance experience.

It looks like the update is only going to be made available though using the Samsung Kies software. That means that you shouldn’t wait around for the chance of an OTA update, as it looks like it won’t happen. You can install Kies here if you don’t have it, then make sure you have a MicroUSB cable at the ready, a fully charged battery and of course a stable internet connection.

As always when performing software updates, you probably want to back up all of your vital information as well, just in case anything goes wrong during installation. Samsung has already set up a guide for users to prepare for the imminent update, which you’ll find by visiting their support website here.

Google Now will be available after installation, along with some new Note specific features such as Popup note, Popup video and browser, Photo note and frame, and much more. You’ll also want to be aware that the new baseband version will change to I717UCMD3, letting you know that you have installed the right version.

So there we have it – yet more positive signs that Samsung are still committed to supporting older devices with new Android updates. Let us know if you have the Galaxy Note on AT&T and whether you have seen the download available on Kies yet or not.

With a month to go until the Mobile World Congress we have already learned a few details about the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, which is rumored to be their next tablet. There’s now a fresh rumor that the Note 8.0 has been caught on camera, but it’s anyone’s guess if these pictures are the real deal or not.

An Italian website has leaked what they report are the first hands-on images of the Galaxy Note 8.0 and from what we can make out is just an enlarged version of the Note 2, much like the iPad was a stretched out version of the iPhone a few years back. Just yesterday we reported that a brochure shot of the Note 8.0 was leaked along with rumored specs, but we have to say that the images look more believable.

You’ll see from the images on that Italian website that the 8-inch tablet has rounded edges and a physical home button and also touch-sensitive keys below that. Just like the Note 2 there is an S-pen and also a front and rear facing camera, which isn’t a surprise really.

We have to wonder what consumers will think about this because the bezel is a little on the thick side, maybe they will hope that this is just a concept version? Having said that, we know by experience that having a slightly thicker bezel makes it easier to hold a tablet of this size.

We have some more details on the upcoming and recently outed Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 device now, the tablet that is looking to provide a nice alternative to the Mini iPad and the ever popular Nexus 7 from Google. Samsung has now officially acknowledged the device, confirming that it will be on show at MWC 2013 next month – we now have what could be the very first picture of the device in the wild.

If you saw our previous article on the Note 8.0, you would have seen that the hardware specifications of the device are actually not that impressive. The Galaxy Note 8.0 is only shipping with a 5 megapixel camera, while the display is 1280 x 800 resolution and Super Clear LCD quality only.

There is a 1.6Ghz quad-core processor on board though, and the device will be shipping with the latest version of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean – so that’s more pleasing. Elsewhere we can now confirm a 4600mAh battery under the hood, MicroSD support on top of 16 or 32GB of internal memory, and HSPA+ connectivity support.

If you are looking at picking up an alternative to the Mini iPad or Nexus 7, you’ll want to take a look at the leaked image below, which is apparently an authentic peek at what the Galaxy Note 8.0 will look like. Make a note of the curved edge design which Samsung seems to have put a big emphasis on, while the back of the device looks a little plain in our opinion too, although it’s obviously hard to make a proper conclusion based on this single grainy image.

If this device isn’t equipped with the latest Exynos processor, we can’t see how they can justify charging $400 for it as speculated. At least it is set for a reveal at MWC 2013 though, so we’ll all get our answers soon. Let us know your first impressions, based on this image.

Samsung is prioritizing the newer Note 2 at the moment, leaving original Note users wondering when their promised official update to Jelly Bean is going to drop. Luckily, you don’t have to wait around if you want to take matter into your own hands, as a leaked Jelly Bean ROM has now emerged and it allows owners to catch up with those already enjoying the fruits of Jelly Bean.

More importantly, it gives all Galaxy Note users access to the Google Now assistant features, which are arguably even more impressive and reliable than Siri. As with any custom update though, you’ll need to be in possession of a rooted handset and you should only attempt to install this if you have used custom software in the past on your Note without any problems.

The new build has been identified with a model number of N7000XXLS2 and instructions on how to install and all of the relevant download links can be yours over at Sam Mobile. It’s worth pointing out that while this is a ROM based filed, it is thought to be an official version of Jelly Bean from Samsung.

This means that it could be a good sign that Samsung is finally ready to provide an official OTA update for users who are willing to wait just a little bit longer. This leaked version could actually be in circulation for testing purposes, with Samsung knowing too well that many users are going to jump on this straight away.

Are you still in possession of an original Galaxy Note? Let us know if you are already running Jelly Bean on your device and if there really is a need for you to upgrade your handset to the Note 2.

The wait has been a long one, but we finally have some great news for those of you who have stayed patient all this time. The Galaxy Note has been available on AT&T for almost six months, but we can tell you that the T-Mobile Galaxy Note will make its long awaited appearance on August 8.

That means that you don’t have long to wait at all and T-Mobile has also confirmed that there will be a choice of two service plans to choose from. For $199 on a two year agreement, you’ll be opted into the Equipment Installment Plan. If you want to go on T-Mobile’s standard plan though, you’ll have to pay $249 for the device instead.

Although the device originally shipped with Android Gingerbread, you’ll be pleased to hear that you’ll get Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. We’re also presuming that the device will definitely be on the list for an upgrade to Jelly Bean, but then again with the Note 2 out soon we can’t say for sure.

Is this a bit of a double edged sword for you though? The Galaxy Note arriving on T-Mobile is surely a moment to celebrate, but how are you going to feel having forked out for one of these on a two year deal, only to find that the Note 2 is superior in every way, which is likely to be the case?

Will you take a chance on the T-Mobile Galaxy Note, or wait for the Galaxy Note 2 on another network?

LG has a smartphone and tablet combi in the pipeline after first announcing the device back at MWC 2012 in February, and it looks like the LG Optimus Vu is now ready for launch. The bad news is that the design seems to be coming in for a lot of criticism, as many of you are unhappy with the rectangular design firstly, but also the amount of branding on the device as well.

The Vu is a 5-inch device which Verizon hopes will provide consumers with a Galaxy Note-like experience on their network. Hardware specs are decent, but nothing amazing either – you’ll get a 1.5Ghz dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of onboard storage and an 8MP rear camera combined with a 1.8MP front camera.

The choice of software may be a disappointment too, especially with all of the buzz surrounding Jelly Bean at the moment. A report filed by Android Police states that the Vu is only going to come with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box – a potential warning sign if Verizon make that usual ‘promise’ of an upgrade to Jelly Bean after launch, when in reality it happens half a year later.

Are you willing to look past the suspect design and give this device a go? With the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 a strong possibility for a reveal next month, we would say that you’d be better off holding on to your money for the moment.

We told you back in March that the ICS update had been delayed, to obvious moans and groans from the Android community. At the time though we told you it wasn’t all bad since Samsung had plans in place to make the ICS update worth while since it would also come bundled with some other new functionality for the phablet device.

According to a thread we spotted on XDA Forums, the update is now rolling out sporadically, with users in Germany said to be getting the update first. However, the update is now appearing in other countries as well, so it’s a good idea to check your Kies software updater to see if the upgrade is available.

We have word that the update is 318MB in size and just as Samsung promised, it includes the Premium Suite extras as well. These are the My Story app, the new S Note app and also an app to scribble down some quick memos. Let us know if you have received the notification in the US and other parts of Europe – we have a feeling that it will be available to everyone before the end of the weekend, since that’s usually the case with major Android updates.

It has been a long time coming, but for those that are already running Android 4.0 on the Galaxy Note – is the wait worth it? Let us know how your Galaxy Note handles now with a brand new interface.

We’ll get the bad news out of the way first, as Samsung has confirmed that the Android 4.0 update will not be releasing in the first quarter of 2012 as initially stated. The company has now delayed the update and will be ready for release sometime during Q2, but they have given Note owners reason for optimism.

ICS will come as part of a major update which they have dubbed the Premium Suite. Aside from the update to Ice Cream Sandwich, the device will also offer some brand new applications to check out which have been specifically designed for use with the Note’s Pen S stylus. One of these apps will be called My Story and will allow users to create personalized digital cards using hand-drawn notes, photos taken on the Note and also voice messages as well.

Another of the apps which users will find useful is the S Note app, a writing-based app which supplies you with various templates to compile notes in a stylish format.

While it is obviously disappointing that Ice Cream Sandwich has been delayed, it’s nice to see Samsung supporting the device with four brand new unique apps to use which will help to distinguish the device further from other smartphones on the market. Additional details on the Premium Suite can be found at Samsung’s press release here – there’s some information on Angry Birds Space too for those that are interested.

What are your thoughts on the delay folks – willing to wait another few months for this or not?

We have four visual reviews for you to gauge an idea regarding the Note and if you think it’s a worthy smartphone or whatever we should be calling it? The handset itself has a very stable platform because it has been built on top of the ever-popular Galaxy S II, although there are a few needed upgrades to make the device more relevant – well it is newer after all.

Our first video review will be interesting because they have had the European version of the Samsung Galaxy Note for just over a month so have given it a decent test drive, he does say you need to make certain you are prepared to have such a big device in your pocket for the next two years though.

It’s easy to see that the Note looks a little silly because of its size and could take time to catch on, but look what was said about the iPhone when that was first introduced. The reviewer said that he is going to find it hard going back to his everyday phone because the Note is so good – the biggest issue will be the size difference.

In the next video review goes on for almost 30 minutes and from the start the women in the video is full of praise for the Galaxy Note, and even though she points out the size of the thing she does say that it’s pretty manageable. While the reviewer is informative we can’t help think she is speaking a little too fast – much like the wife does when I’ve done something wrong.

The third video is much easier to understand because the guy in the video is not talking too fast or getting over excited about the Galaxy Note, instead he’s just keeping a level head and going over all the facts that you need to know. While he does his best to explain all there is to know about the device we can’t help feel the quality of the video could have been better.

Our final video the reviewer explains that AT&T are calling this a Super Phone because of its size, which makes the iPhone 4S look silly once placed side-by-side with each other. The market for the Samsung Galaxy Note might not be like it is for the Galaxy S II, but Samsung are not stupid and are doing their best to cater for all consumer needs – even though it’s a little over the top.

Earlier this month we had the news that a French cell phone carrier may have leaked the dates for a number of devices that included the Galaxy S2, which was pegged for March. Now according to an article over at Unwired View, a tweet by Eldar Murtazin is claiming that Samsung has almost completed work on its own Android 4.0 version and TouchWiz interface.

He continues by saying that Samsung will begin pushing out the update for both the Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note on the first day of March. The smartphones will be updated via the Samsung Kies software or an over the air update.

Many users will probably not see the new operating system quite so early though, as it will depend on the various operators being ready to release it as well. For some users it may take up until May to receive it, and could be even longer for users of the US versions. Owners of SIM free versions of the handsets may be in for some better luck though.

Samsung are likely getting its updates out to its devices quicker than its rivals because of the Galaxy Nexus device. Once Google chooses a company to provide a Nexus handset with the latest version of Android, they then get access to the software code under development. The company can then begin making changes to it for its own branded devices.

In the meantime rival companies have to wait until Google has finished its work and release the software to everyone. This early access to the software normally allows the Nexus handset maker to release operating system updates and next generation handsets a few weeks before its rivals. This is what happened in 2010 with HTC, who were able to release the Desire, EVO, and Droid Incredible before Samsung released its first Galaxy S.

Are you hoping to get ICS on March 1st?