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Samsung will soon release its first Android tablet based on an Intel Atom processor, according to a source familiar with the plan, in what would be a vote of confidence for Intel chips in mobile devices.

The tablet, a Galaxy Tab 3, will have a 10.1-inch display and run on a version of Intel’s Atom chip known as Clover Trail+, the source said. Samsung hasn’t announced such a product, but a Galaxy tablet running Android 4.2 appeared on several benchmark websites this month, sparking rumors of its existence.

According to the GFXBenchmark site, the tablet’s display will have a screen resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels.

A Samsung spokeswoman declined to comment, saying the product hasn’t been announced. No release data was available.
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The Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 will succeed the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, which was based on a dual-core ARM processor. ARM-based chips are widely used in smartphones and tablets, areas where Intel has struggled to find a strong footing.

Late last month, Samsung announced a 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 that runs on a dual-core ARM processor with a clock speed of 1.2GHz. The 10.1-inch tablet will use Intel’s Atom Z2560 chip, which has a clock speed of 1.6GHz, according to the source.

It would be a big design win for Intel, whose chips are used in 15 tablets, most of them running Windows 8, which has not been a big success. Intel has been working hard to reduce the power consumption and improve the performance of its Atom chips with the goal of making up some ground on ARM.

Clover Trail+ was designed primarily for smartphones and is used in products such as Lenovo’s K900 phone, which started shipping in China this month. Later this year Intel is due to release new Atom chips for tablets, code-named Bay Trail, which should be faster and more power efficient than the current offerings.

Samsung also makes its own Exynos chips, which are based on ARM processor designs. The Exynos 5 dual-core and eight-core chips, based on ARM’s Cortex-A15, are used in Samsung’s Galaxy S4 smartphone, its Chromebook and the Nexus 10 tablet that it built with Google.

While there is now a new model available the Samsung Galaxy S3 remains extremely popular around the world and in a few weeks time it should be treated to some nice new features via the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update, which has now been leaked and shown off in a demo video.
There are already a variety of custom ROMs available for the Galaxy S3 that allows owners of the device to get an early chance to use the later firmware, as officially the handset is currently on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.
Now the guys over at SamMobile has given owners of the handset a sneak preview in what the new firmware will bring to the handset once released officially via a video you can see below. The official software is still being tested by Samsung with a release expected sometime next month, and it’s not known if the 4.2.2 update will bring the Galaxy S4 camera features to the device or if owners will have to wait for 4.3 Android.

Some of the new features coming to the device with the 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update include the new S4 lockscreen, ability to change clock size, new screen modes from the S4, Daydream, Driving mode, more options in Notification Center, Full screen Samsung apps, new Galaxy S4 voice controls, and much more.
There is also the opportunity for owners of the handset to flash a version of this software to their Galaxy S3, but it is only done at your own risk and is available via SamMobile. Most users will be waiting until the official software is rolled out though, although as we always see with Android updates its availability will be dependent on individual carriers.
Once Samsung does release the firmware officially you can be sure we will be bringing the news as we upgrade our own unlocked version of the device.
Are you looking forward to the next Android update for the Galaxy S3?

Credit: PHONESREVIEW