Kylie Minogue helps launch the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
Korean firm Samsung today (August 16) started sales of the Galaxy Note 10.1, its premium tablet featuring a pen stylus that can write on the screen.
But the launch comes midway through a major patent trial between Samsung and its main rival Apple, in which each company has accused the other of copying their designs and technology.
The Galaxy Note 10.1, which joins last year's 5.3-inch Galaxy Note smartphone/tablet hybrid, is powered by a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor and has 2GB RAM. It runs Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, larger than the 9.7-inches in Apple's iPad, the tablet comes with an S Pen input peripheral for interacting with the screen, enabling users to make written notes around internet pages, videos or apps.
It also has a split-screen functionality which means two apps can be used at once and comes with the Smart Stay feature that tracks the user's eye and always stays on while they are looking at the screen.
Various celebrities attended a launch event for the Galaxy Note 10.1 last night at London's prestigious, One Mayfair, including Kelly Brook, Millie Mackintosh, Rosamund Pyke, and stars of Team GB at the Olympics, such as Victoria Pendleton and Laura Trott.
The night was gilded with a performance by superstar Kylie, who made her entrance we! aring a bespoke dress designed by Matthew Williamson and made with Galaxy Note 10.1 devices. She performed her new single 'Wow Wow Wow Wow' in the dess.
On the launch night, magian Dynamo, DJ Eliza Doolittle and singer Charlie Simpson also entertained the guests.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 is available in the UK from online, high street and other approved retailers from today.
The dress worn by Kylie is currently on show at the Westfield White City and will come to the Samsung Brand Store at Stratford in the coming weeks.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 arrives as Samsung dukes it out with Apple in a US court over the patent infringement allegations.
Apple is claiming a total of $2.5bn (1.6bn) in damages over seven alleged patent breaches, in addition to other trade violations. The firm has previously claimed that Samsung "slavishly copied" the iPad with its tablet designs.
However, Samsung is demanding a "reasonable royalty rate" for five patents which it claims Apple has infringed in its devices.
The judge overseeing the case has again asked the chief executives of both firms to try and resolve their dispute without need for a court ruling. But that outcome seems unlikely considering that peace talks have failed before on several occasions.
