Firmware leaks for Galaxy Note 10.1 GT-N8000, launch can’t be too far

Sam Mobile claims to have got hold of the firmware of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 GT-N8000, which means that the long-awaited slate should officially launch in the close future.

The firmware details are:

• Android 4.0.4
• Build date: July 20
• CODE: N8000XWALG7
• PHONE: N8000XXLGA
• CSC: N8000OJVALG4

Although it’s not impossible, it is highly unlikely that Samsung will have Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on the Note 10.1 by the time will launch.

The Galaxy Note 10.1 is a classic example of how Samsung (or any manufacturer for the matter) should not handle product launches. The Note 10.1 was first revealed at the Mobile World Congress in March, serving as a makeshift centerpiece for Samsung’s presence at the fair. As it was later revealed, Samsung needed something flashy to show, so they whipped up a product based on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. The Note 10.1 was identical in appearance with the Tab, with the only real discerning feature being the stylus.

Later on, Samsung revealed that the Note 10.1 would get an upgrade, both in terms of specs and in terms of appearance, which would cause it to be delayed, after it was initially pegged for an early summer launch. The slate got a quad-core processor and a slot for the stylus.

After a series of leaks and even a hands-on video, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 popped up for pre-order on Amazon, only to be taken down in a matter of hours. Samsung said that the listing was premature and the specs of the tab were not even finalized. The Note went back up on Amazon a couple of weeks ago, without any visible changes to the specs, but also, without an availability date.

The latest speculations about the Galaxy Note 10.1 concern the August 15 event that Samsung has announced last week. Some think that Sammy will finally make the new tablet official at that event, although we can’t really be sure. The Galaxy Note 2 is also supposed to arrive soon, so we might see that instead of the Note 10.1.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to wielding the S Pen on a 10-inch screen?