>>>>>Don't count on it.
>>>>>
>>>>>>http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/04/technology/microsoft-acquires-nokia-units-and-leader.html?hp&_r=0
>>>>
>>>>You think they will start a "Buy our OS and get a free phone" <g>
>>>>
>>>>If Windows OS doesn't start showing up on Samsung phones the game is over ... at least in the US, Europe and first world Asia.
>>>>
>>>>And tomorrow in Berlin Samsung will introduce the Note III (whcih will definitely be in my pocket this quarter)
>>>
>>>I think the Samsung smartwatch is to be released soon too. They're a big player in the smartphone game right now - but that can change very quickly. HTC was the big-dog for a while as they had the best phones - right now it's Samsung. As far as the Note 3 goes I will be interested to see what it has that my Note 2 does not.
>>
>>I don't think there will be a lot of motivation to upgrade from Note II but 5.68" screen at 1920x1080, 4k video, 13mp front camera 3gb ram 32/64 gb on board with microSD expansion and a quadcore processor is looking really good to me as my present "smartphone" is just barely "smart" and while I love my ASUS transformer tablet, I'd really like a phone that could handle the ebook and Netflix duties currently requiring the tablet if I want them done right. My sister has the Note II and it has taken a lot of will power for the last year not to get one. Decided since I waited this long I'd wait for the III then pull the trigger the minute they were released.
>>
>>I take it you like your Note II ?
>
>Yeah it's great - or at least it is now. I have Verizon service and the version of the phone they sell is actually a world phone - but you have to hack it in order to enable that , and then of course you have to root it. Phone itself is great - just had to get rid of all the stupid crap Verizon did to it. One thing though is that part of the reason I got it was because of the stylus - but heck I've had the phone for several months now and not one time used the stylus...ha.
>Oh and the battery life is AMAZING on the thing.

Yeah, I was surprised to hear the the Note battery life is legendary. You'd expect different given the specs. And removeable / replaceable besides.

The Note 3 is supposed to have android 4.3 or whatever that is they put on the new Nexus 7 tablet. First phone to have it.

ATT&T owes me an upgrade - has for a loooong time so I figure around October I should be able to get a Note 3 for $300 or so.