Samsung Unveils Galaxy Note 2 in Berlin

Samsung unveiled the second generation of its popular Galaxy Note tablet in Berlin as Europe's biggest electronics show gets underway in the German capital.

Showing little outward remorse at losing a U.S. patent battle with Apple after a federal jury last week found Samsung had copied critical features of the iPhone and awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages, the South Korean company saw to it that a packed hall was greeted to a showy presentation of the new Galaxy Note II.

The Galaxy II, which is said to be ready to launch in October, features a thinner and slightly bigger 5.5-inch screen, powerful quad-core processor, the latest version of Google's Android operating system called Jellybean, and improved stylus function. The Galaxy also features a built in S pen that allows the user to take notes on the phone while watching movies, talking on the phone and generally use the Galaxy as a phone-cum-notepad.

It's the latest product to illustrate Samsung's attempts to make bold design changes as it comes increasingly under pressure to differentiate its line-up from the iPhone, whose simple and large touchscreen-based design revolutionized the mobile industry and is still considered the gold standard of design.

Samsung is also working to introduce smartphones with bendable screens later this year as it seeks to cement its lead in the $200 billion plus global smartphone market and challenge Apple, which is expected to launch its new iPhone on September 12.