Samsung set to debut new Note phone

While Apple and Samsung are locked in battle in a California courtroom over patent disputes, Samsung is preparing to release a new smartphone, analysts say. Samsung has sent out invitations to an event in Berlin for Aug. 29, just ahead of Europe's biggest electronics trade fair in that city, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. While the invitation contained no specifics, a Samsung spokesman confirmed the company will introduce a sequel to its Galaxy Note smartphone-tablet hybrid device, the Journal said. Analysts predict it will come with a 5.5-inch screen and a speedier processor that the current 5.3-inch Note. Released in November of last year, the Galaxy Note, dubbed a "phablet," has been a successful member of Samsung's mobile offerings along with the South Korean company's Galaxy smartphone. Samsung saw its share of the global smartphone market rise to 34.6 percent in the second quarter, compared with Apple's 17.8 percent, market research firm Strategy Analytics reported.