Hold fast, Galaxy Note 10.1 owners -- the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update has kicked off in Germany, giving European Samsung fans a taste of the (nearly) latest edition of Android.
The over the air update is arriving for our German tech pals, Sammobile reports, and weighs in at a hefty 300MB. The update's arrival on the continent means the much-anticipated new software can't be far away from UK territories.
The update appears to be making its debut on schedule, but that's only because the arrival date was pegged as happening at some point in 2012, which is a rather broad stretch of time.
If you've spotted the Jelly Bean update arriving on your own Galaxy Note 10.1, give us a shout in the comments and let us know when it first landed.
4.1 Jelly Bean isn't quite the latest version -- that honour lies with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which will be arriving first on the Google Nexus 4 smart phone and Nexus 10 tablet.
It's not surprising that Samsung takes its time squeezing out updates however, as the Note 10.1 is choc-a-block with the South Korean's own-brand software and doodling apps, which work with the still-not-cool S Pen stylus.
We gave the Note 10.1 a loving four stars in our review back in August, but the sudden rush of new Android tech means its position is now less certain. It's not cheap at nearly £500 (that's a John Lewis price, though there is £50 cashback on that listing), and risks looking old hat next to the cheaper, more powerful Google Nexus 10, even though the Note 10.1 is only a few months old.
Ah well, such is the rushing pace of time. Would you rather own a raw-Android powered Nexus device, or one of Samsung's altered beasts? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters 
Comments 21
Add your comment
anonymous 9 November, 2012 16:00
I am really finding it quite difficult to decide whether I should get the Note 10.1 or Nexus 10. I like both devices and each has its positives and negatives. I wish I could use the multitasking feature on Nexus 10 with perhaps some S Pen style apps and stylus and that would make it much easier...
anonymous 10 November, 2012 11:49
I use my 10.1 to well.... take notes if you would pardon the pun. It's an amazing device for a student. If you are more into media consumption or gaming, the note will do that too but I would go for the nexus device myself. The s-pen is only cool if you have a use for it like I do.
anonymous 11 November, 2012 10:45
I use my note for a variety of different uses, and it is a market leader , it it more usable than apple, and more durable, the pen is an excellent feature coupled with drawing apps, and for note taking. So a big thumbs up for note.
anonymous 11 November, 2012 18:17
If it helps in the comparison, Tesco now have the Note 10.1 for £320 and then you get £50 cashback from Samsung - so overall £270 - not bad really...
anonymous 12 November, 2012 18:48
£318 now at Tesco with £50 cashback so thata makes £268 in total
anonymous 15 November, 2012 14:03
your blog sucks the s pen is great stylus what makes the 10.1 better than other tabs. if you don't want a super accurate stylus then another iPad clone with specs that won't get supported by anything . who cares aboutthe nexus.
anonymous 17 November, 2012 08:53
I am about to buy the galaxy note but wondered if it was worth waiting for the jelly bean version.
Does anyone know when I will be able to buy it in the UK or is just a download patch for existing notes?
anonymous 17 November, 2012 09:24
The existing note's will get upgraded to Jellybean. Buy one now
anonymous 18 November, 2012 09:58
i just got the Note 101 from US last month and i am using it here in middle east it was really great learning become easy specially using styllus,i'ved never regret getting it and it was really fun making a lot of things.until now i am learning a lot of things with this tab and exploring great features on it.i would really give 5 star even without jelly bean and when it arrive tha's a bonus.No tablet u can compare in this powerful gadget....really worth buying for!
anonymous 19 November, 2012 22:11
The Samsung Note 10.1 is my second Andriod Tablet. Previously had an ASUS Transformer TF101. Loved it loved the keyboard was going to upgrade to the Infinity but the Samsung notes display and features just blew ma away. I don't notice its not 'high-res' the display is just so vibrant. The handwriting recognition is the best there is you can use it anywhere instead of the keyboard. I now wite e-mails by hand, take meeting notes directly into Polaris Office as a Word document, tasks calender etc. Dont miss not having a keyboard anymore. Glad Samsung kept the Internet Browser with the Quick Controls. Quite simply it is an awesome tablet. I really dont use paper anymore. The video player is awesome too plays native high def .mkv files just beautiful HD movies. Mutlitasking is great in a meeting. There are features I miss like full USB, but not so much I would use another tablet. It doesnt deserver some of the bad reviews it has had. It is NOT laggy, handwriting recognition works extremely well in all sorts of conditions. Its is simply the best tablet out there bar none. the digitiser is simply fantastic. Also the e-mail client on the Note is one of the best I have used to SYnc with Outlook. I have tried many and paid for a few and the default mail client is very attactive with great features. Makes the Apple mail client look very poor (I have an iPhone 4 too). Well DONE Samsung, this tablet deserves better than its getting in the press, and it is sooooooooooooo not a copy of an iPad thankfully it is nothing like and iPad.
anonymous 22 November, 2012 02:46
I had been waiting for the samsung 10.1 note for 6 months since they launched it in Feb. THe wait was worth it... All the negative reviews on the Note 10.1 were not justified because they just don't understand the important use of the stylus. The ipad is just an over glorified Iphone - that's all. Now the ipad mini - another of the same... but the note 10.1 - best hand writing recognition software ever. Samsung was smart to put 2GB ram and a more powerful processor to anticipate the upgrade to Jelly bean. I am just waiting for the jelly bean and that will make me more than satsified customer....
Samsung has brought the usefulness of the tablet in the market.
thanks so much for that...
anonymous 23 November, 2012 18:56
John Lewis have now got this on offer at £318 in addition to the £50 cashback from Samsung. Really tempted to get it at this knockdown price!
anonymous 23 November, 2012 19:02
John Lewis also give a 2 year guarantee.
anonymous 28 November, 2012 22:55
Tesco sells Note 10.1 for £318 and with the 10% discount for £308 whilst John Lewis at £328 with a 2 year warranty. you have nothing to lose.
I have used an Ipad 2 and currently have Ipad 4 with Note 10.1 and my Ipad is in my room somewhere because I use my Note 10.1 everyday.
Jelly Bean is going to even make it more than enough for every need even if you are not interested int the Stylus, every other functions on it surpasses the Ipad in every way. Even my Iphone 4s is crap.
anonymous 30 November, 2012 10:08
Just to advise that the Manufactures Product Warranty is stated in my Galaxy Note 10.1 handbook as 24 Months with 6 months for the battery. So John Lewis are not giving anything extra. And I find the Tablet is Brilliant and I await the upgrade of 'Jelly Bean' to improve it even more.
anonymous 3 December, 2012 14:29
The Galaxy Note 10.1 is a fabulous tablet. It's made my note book and laptop almost redundant. It's fast and oh so versatile, documents, spreadsheet, games, music, video, camera and the S pen is also a great feature, go out and buy one if you can.
anonymous 8 December, 2012 19:09
I've got the same problem - deciding between the Nexus 10 and the Galaxy Note 10.1. Apart from the stylus pen which I like, the Note has a split screen and, with multi-tasking, this makes it a really useful device. Can anyone tell me if the new Nexus 10 has multi-tasking split screen viewing?
anonymous 11 December, 2012 01:05
Was reading this so checked for the update and up it came, took 20 mins to download and about 10 mins to install. All apps seem to be working ok, 10.1 32Gb wi-fi only tab2.
anonymous 12 December, 2012 17:03
But the trouble is Samsung is so slow on the upgrade not like apple and that is going to push me back into the apple family....The company I work for said's the same thing Samsung are to slow and lazy to give the update to everyone at the same time...
anonymous 29 December, 2012 12:16
No update for me yet (UK). :( Hope they get a move on.
anonymous 3 February, 2013 09:53
which one of Samsung galaxi is best for making drawing?