Tomorrow, Apple is expected to debut a brand new 7.9-inch tablet called the iPad mini 2, a device that will replace the original iPad mini as the companys flagship. And while many people are likely comparing it to other tablets, others might be comparing the device to phablets like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Here, we take a look at how the iPad mini 2 should stack up with Samsungs brand new phablet.

Last month, Samsung announced its brand new Galaxy Note phablet, the Galaxy Note 3, a device that combines many of the properties of a phone but also throws in a bundled S Pen stylus and a massive 5.7-inch display, one of the biggest smartphone displays on the market. Thats of course where the phablet name comes from, a combination of a phone and tablet, and a size that is intriguing to many people who are looking to combine that experience into a single device.

Samsungs Galaxy Note 3 takes the place of the Galaxy Note 2 and we found the device to be a worthy successor to Samsungs second-generation Galaxy Note, and a device that should be on the radar of smartphone shoppers in the United States. Its also a device that some people might be comparing to smaller tablets like the upcoming iPad mini 2.

Last year, Apple released an iPad mini to compete with the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD. And while those were its main competitors, we heard from plenty of people who were comparing it to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. This year, while the iPad mini 2 will be aimed at the hearts of the new Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HDX, there will be some people that weigh it against the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

For those people, and for those curious, here, we take a look at how the rumored iPad mini 2 stacks up against the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Release Date

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 hit shelves in the United States in early October which means that it has only been available for a few weeks now. Because Samsung typically only releases one update to its Galaxy Note lineup per year, we expect the Galaxy Note 3 to be widely available through the summer of 2014. Best of all though, it means that buyers can head down to their local store and go hands-on with one should they need to before the iPad mini 2 release.

Speaking of that, the iPad mini 2 release date should land in just a few short days. Apple typically announces a device and tags it with a very specific release date that is only a few days out from the launch. In the case of the iPad mini and iPhone 5s, it was 10 days after launch, meaning, November 1st is looking very good for a release date.

The date will be confirmed at tomorrows launch and we expect it to be in the vicinity of November 1st despite rumors suggesting that an iPad mini 2 with Retina Display will come in December or in 2014. What this means is that buyers will only have a few days to prepare for its arrival. And if there is a pre-order, even less time.

Apple is likely going to have a thin supply of the iPad mini 2, something that should put even more pressure on consumers to make an early decision about the iPad mini 2, Galaxy Note 3 and more.

Design

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 design is a little different than past Galaxy-branded smartphones in that instead of a smooth polycarbonate plastic design, the Galaxy Note 3 utilizes a faux leather plastic design that gives the device a more premium look than its predecessors. Because the design is made of plastic, it affords buyers a microSD card slot for up to 64GB of expanded storage and a removable back for use with an extended battery.

Samsungs new Galaxy Note 3 also shaves off some of the size of the Galaxy Note 2, even with the larger display. The design is now only 8.3mm thin and weighs a mere 168 grams. Thats fantastic for a smartphone of this size and it makes it far more manageable when carrying it around inside of a pocket as a go-to device.

No surprise here, the iPad mini 2 is going to be larger than the Galaxy Note 3. Rumors suggest that the device will be similar in size to the current iPad mini which means that it could check in with a form factor that is around 7.5mm thin and 337 grams in weight. So, the iPad mini 2 should be thinner than the Galaxy Note 3 but it will almost certainly be heavier.

The overall size of the iPad mini 2 should be apparent as well. The original checked in at 200 x 134.7 while the Galaxy Note 3 is 151.2 x 79.2. This is obviously going to be important for those that are thinking about making calls (the iPad mini 2 can use services like Skype and FaceTime Audio) with both devices. Both can be held in one hand but its the Galaxy Note 3 that should be easier for most users.

This photo shows how much smaller the iPad 5 could be compared to the iPad 4.

As for the build quality, there is nothing to suggest that the iPad mini 2 will use anything different than the premium anodized aluminum build on the original iPad mini.

Display

In addition to the design differences, there should be some when it comes to their displays as well. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 touts a 5.7-inch 1080p display with 1920 x 1080 resolution at 386 pixels-per-inch. The display is one of the best in the business and produces high quality text, video, images, web and more.

The iPad mini 2 will have a larger display that checks in at 7.9-inches in size, same as the original iPad mini, and it should have 2048 x 1536 resolution at 324 pixels-per-inch with its larger display. Content on the iPad mini 2 should look gorgeous as well so the biggest difference here is likely going to be the screen size with the iPad mini 2 adding two extra inches with its display.

For many that will increase will make a huge difference. For others, a 5.7-inch display is going to be enough for things like gaming, checking email, or getting work done on the bus ride home.

Verizon definitely wants you to know that this phone is on its network.

(Credit:evleaks)

AT&T may have just added the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini to its lineup, but it's already eyeing Samsung's Galaxy S4 Mini, according to a well-connected industry source. AT&T isn't alone either in coveting the smaller, scaled-back version of the Galaxy S4. A series of tweets from prominent smartphone leakster @evleaks show that Verizon, and Sprint could also join the games in selling the Galaxy S4's smaller sibling.

While Sprint appears to have both the black mist and white frost variants, Verizon may only carry the former.

Big Red goes the extra mile to brand its version of the Galaxy S4 Mini. Just as they did with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Note 3, Verizon's name could adorn the home button, as well as the phone's back cover.

As for AT&T, the only color leaked thus far is a bright pink. Presumed to launch this month, it's likely in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

AT&T could have a pink Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini for October.

(Credit:evleaks)

Based on the rapid succession of the leaks, I am inclined to believe a formal announcement should be forthcoming. Samsung is likely to announce the phone's upcoming availability in the US, then leave it up to the carriers to detail their own specific pricing and timing.

The S4 Mini isn't the only Galaxy to come to carrier. Rumors also point to the Samsung Galaxy Mega coming to Sprint.

This 6.3-inch beast might not be as powerful as today's other Androids, but it could prove to be a nice balance of massive screen and lower price point. AT&T currently sells the Galaxy Mega for $149.99 with a contract.

As a refresher, the Galaxy Mega runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and features an HD Super Clear LCD display with a resolution of 1,280x720 pixels. Outfitted with a dual-core 1.7GHz processor, 1.5GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage, the giant phone also houses an 8-megapixel camera on the rear.

Stay posted; we'll update you as soon as we hear the official word!

Samsung already offers extended warranty options for its devices, but youd never know because it isnt something widely discussed. However, this weekend new reports have surfaced showing the company is planning a new take on its warranty offering. Possibly aiming to take on Applecare, Samsung could be delivering a new Protection Plus Warranty plan for devices.

The new Samsung Protection Plus plan was spotted by SamMobile headed through Trademark filings, and is a sign of the future, even if we dont know all of the details yet. Apples extended warranty plan has been a staple in the industry, and Samsung could be planning to offer something extremely similar for multiple devices. This is for more than just smartphones by the looks of it.

The trademark filings specifically mentions both electronics and appliances, so we could see this new warranty plan being a Samsung-wide option. Offering extended warranty coverage for smartphones, TVs, or even that brand new refrigerator.

Despite not wanting to place much emphasis on the U.S. market, Sony could continue its relationship with T-Mobile. According to a recent leak from @evleaks, T-Mobile is expected to announce the upcoming availability of the Sony Xperia Z1.

Introduced at IFA in early September, the Xperia Z1 can go toe-to-toe with just about any smartphone. On the surface, the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean-powered device packs a 5-inch 'triluminous' display with a 1920x1080-pixel resolution, as well as a 20.7-megapixel camera.

Under the hood, you'll find a quad-core 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. Rounding things out, the Xperia Z1 features NFC and support for Qi wireless charging. It also doesn't hurt that the phone is sexy, sleek, and waterproof.

T-Mobile currently offers the Sony Xperia Z, though it did join the carrier's roster nearly six months after its initial debut. Perhaps the successor will be faster out of the gate.

Samsung, LG, and others have been showing off flexible displays and even a prototype phone for years, but it's only now that flexible displays are going commercial.

Samsung's Galaxy Round raises a lot of questions about what a flexible display is and isn't, what the word really means, and just what kinds of benefits a bendable display would bring to a smartphone or any other gadget.

We address your burning questions below, but if you have more, drop them in the comments.

What is a flexible display anyway?
Colloquially, "display" means the thing you see when you look at your phone and navigate around. But more technically, display refers to the electronic material that sits beneath the glass or plastic cover (the part you actually touch) and is responsible for lighting up your phone.

So when Samsung (or LG, or anyone) talks about a flexible display, they're talking about the organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, layer -- located beneath the cover glass -- that's now made using flexible materials (like plastic) rather than rigid glass.

Companies like LG and Samsung have spent years demoing flexible displays that sit on their own outside of any device. These eye-catching products faithfully show off the interface you're supposed to see -- say a grid of icons -- without bending or breaking. Samsung's Galaxy Round represents the first time that a phone maker is bringing a flexible display to market.

How is the Samsung Galaxy Round different from the curved screen of the Galaxy Nexus?
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus (and Nexus S) boasted a slightly curved screen that was meant to more snugly hug your cheek. In this case, it was the glass top that contoured, not the OLED material below.

Does the Galaxy Round bend?
No. For the Galaxy Round, Samsung is using a 5.7-inch "full HD super flexible AMOLED" display, but that doesn't mean it's going to flex in your hands. The device is deeply curved, but the phone's body is rigid and will not bend when you move it.

Then why do people keep saying it's flexible?
Part of the confusion stems from the many definitions of what flexible means. Like we mentioned, the flexion can refer to just the OLED or LCD, to the glass, or even to both.

Beyond that, there are many forms that a flexible display can take. In the case of the Galaxy Round, the display is conformable, meaning it's not flat. "Contoured" is another word that's often used.

Companies making such devices bend the display at some point, say vertically in the case of the Round, but then fix the whole caboodle in place. Another type of flexibility is "bendable." Think of these sort of like credit cards. They flex a little bit, but don't completely fold in half.

Then there's a third category, foldable displays, which do just what you think. Finally, there are rollable displays, often called the holy grail of flexible displays. To picture this type, just think about a perhaps less extreme version of a scroll, or a Fruit Rollup, and you can see where the concept's going.

Why would anyone want a flexible display anyhow? What are the benefits?
As CNET has noted before, the benefits for a curved display like the Galaxy Round aren't immediately clear.

However, there are some pretty significant benefits for displays that can flex. For one, they could be more durable (especially when you drop them), largely because they might use plastic, which has some give, instead of glass. Plastic also can make the devices thinner and lighter, and it can allow for products in different shapes beyond the standard rectangular screen.

Note that this may not always be the case. Even plastic can break if you stress it enough, and glass-makers are also designing flexible glass, but more on that below.

Still, the durability issues raises the question: Why not just make a regular phone with a plastic display? We'll likely see that too, some experts say, but there are some things a flexible display can do that others can't.

Samsung's flexible Youm display shows the floppy, functioning OLED at work.

(Credit:James Martin/CNET)

Imagine being able to fold up your phone or tablet and put it in your pocket, or unroll a screen to serve as a map. These could even be incorporated into clothing or jewelry or other items where the screen needs to have some give. The future potential for flexible displays is huge if hurdles are overcome, even though we may not yet know exactly what their uses will be.

While some gadget-watchers are incredulous about the practicality of a scrollable phone, others see the benefit in trying to make them anyhow. NPD DisplaySearch analyst Paul Semenza is one of them. "I don't think anyone developing them knows the value of curvature or flexibility yet," he told CNET.

What are the hurdles to making a flexible smartphone?
It takes much more than a bendy screen to make a phone you can flex. Right now, batteries and other circuitry are unyieldingly straight. The durability of a bendable phone and its internal parts are also in question. Depending on the design, you may need to have a flexible display, cover material (like plastic or glass), arching batteries, and forgiving silicon.

Some of this is already in the works. LG announced new battery tech for three kinds of juice packs that can curve, squeeze into tight spaces, and even contort like a pretzel. Time will tell if these produce and hold enough charge to competitively power a smartphone.

Read more on what it takes to make a flexible phone.

In addition, devices can be designed so they have a sort of rigid spine that stores the components that can't be flexed, while the rest of the gadget moves freely. We know that these various flexible designs are possible based on concept devices shown by Samsung and others.

Along with making the guts flexible comes another big challenge -- manufacturing these devices and displays at high volumes. Phones that move will undoubtedly cost more than standard smartphones when they first hit the market, but after the industry nails down more efficient manufacturing, the cost to make the phones will surely drop, along with their sticker price.

Even though the Galaxy Round's display is curved, not bendable, it's undoubtedly still tough to manufacture. That's likely a reason that Samsung is only releasing it in Korea (at least for now).

Which is better, flexible OLEDs or LCDs?
When companies show off displays being curved, bent, folded, or rolled, they're typically using OLED. While it's possible to curve an LCD, it's not as easy or as effective as curving OLED, according to the experts we spoke with.

LCDs, or liquid crystal displays -- the most common type out there -- are made of two sheets of glass that sandwich a liquid crystal material that modifies the light as it goes through it. They require a backlight of light-emitting chips to sort of pump light through the display. It's possible to curve LCDs, but is difficult because the distance between the two sheets of glass have to be consistent. Forget about doing things like rolling them up.

OLED, meanwhile, doesn't need chips to create light, and it only needs one piece of glass (or even plastic or metal) to serve as the substrate. Both these factors make it a better candidate for bending. OLEDs light up the screen with carbon-based materials that are deposited onto the surface, and that surface can then be shaped. Companies typically will add a second piece of glass afterward to protect the bottom layer.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Round's screen made of glass?
We wish we could tell you for sure, but we just don't know yet. Samsung isn't sharing specific details, and none of the materials companies we reached out to would comment. There's some speculation that the company is using a plastic polymer screen, but it appears more likely that Samsung is using a thin layer of glass that has been bent into a curved shape.

So everyone will just switch to plastic, right?
Switching to a plastic display is what will allow a device to be truly flexible, but plastic comes with its own problems. It has different properties than glass, which means manufacturers have to find ways to use it without compromising the screen's crystal-clear image quality or responsiveness.

One big issue for plastic is that it's semipermeable, which could allow air and water to leak into the device. To avoid this, companies can coat the plastic and apply barrier layers, and some have experimented with glass/plastic hybrids. While there are still some hurdles to overcome, industry watchers say it's only a matter of time -- and money -- before this is no longer an issue.

"A lot of these problems can be solved with enough investment," said Sriram Peruvemba, chief marketing officer of Cambrios, a Silicon Valley company that makes technology used in flexible touch screens.

What about that bendable glass we saw at CES? When will that happen?
Not quite a year ago, CNET was the first to get its hands on Corning Willow Glass, an extremely thin, pliable glass that the Gorilla Glass-maker started developing in its R&D division. Corning described Willow glass as a material to go beneath and support the display, far away from tapping and swiping fingers.

What else is a flexible display good for?
Although we have yet to determine just how practical or even desirable a smartphone is that you can bend and twist, there are some good, practical uses for display technology that can be formed into S-curves and still respond to touch. Here's one: a wraparound touch display that covers the band of a smartwatch or other wearable. And here's another: an all-touch car dashboard that spills far beyond the confines of its usual 8-inch rectangular home.

Flexible displays -- on both the inside and out -- are going to be a hot topic in the months ahead. Whether gimmick or convenience, it's going to be fun to watch what happens next.

Whats the problem? Smart people abound. Smart people get hired. Smart people go to work to develop a new system or service. Smart people hype the roll out. The public shows up, eager to buy or try. Then boom. FAIL happens. What causes this? Sure, you can say that humans are involved and humans make mistakes, but one of the few maxims I live by is that no one ever begins a project hoping to fail. Or, in the case of business, no one ever begins a project hoping to tick off the customers they want by making it hard for the customers to give them money. So why are we growing increasingly accustomed to this kind of failure and increasingly skeptical about the success of any new sort of roll out?

Lets take three examples here that have been in the news: Apples new product launches, the Affordable Care Act, and Chicagos launch of the Ventra transit card system for public transportation.

First up, lets separate Apple from the other two by one simple factor. Apple will make its money regardless of the woes its customers have trying to order its products. There is no other phenomenon I can recall like this in business and marketing, but there you have it. Theres another factor here that differentiates Apple from the other two examples as well. No one, repeat no one, has to buy an Apple product. In the other two examples, there are, in some instances, mandates, involved.

That said, Apples product launches are notorious for disappointing users who arent willing to go to great lengths to get in on the first wave. Online ordering should theoretically take care of this, aside from supply and demand issues (if there is no product, you cant sell it- but thats another issue). But, Apples online ordering system can come to a screeching halt with just about any new product launch, or at least the ones that involve iOS devices. Is this a case of being greedy and just not ramping up enough bandwidth to handle automated purchasing? Or is it a case that the databases that run these ordering systems just cant scale up enough to handle the load? I dont purport to know the answer, and Apple is obviously comfortable enough with the way things are that there isnt a public facing move to make things smoother (like I said they will get their money in the end).

Going back to the human thing for a moment, theres also a psychology here that companies selling products depend on, or at the least hope for. When something becomes hard to get or unattainable, some want it all the more. Standing in line for tickets to an event used to have a certain romance, but that has certainly lost its luster as it transitioned into online ordering. Of course, plenty will now stand in line at an Apple Store and Im guessing well see that shortly when new iPads go up for sale.

Transitioning away from products no one has to buy, and to things that might be necessary like the Affordable Care Act and Ventra cards, lets take a look at those two fails.