Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Lacks Advertised Multi-Window Display Feature, European Customers Say

The Korea-based company’s “phablet” successor was expected to come with a multi-window feature that would run multiple applications in a split-screen mode. This ability wasn’t ready to showcase when the Galaxy Note 2 made its debut before Berlin’s IFA conference, but the feature surfaced a few days ago in an official preview.

European buyers are reporting that this multi-window feature does not work on their new handsets, reported Droid Guy, an Android news blog. The multi-tasking function is launched by holding the back button, activating a menu that users can move with the S Pen stylus. Galaxy Note 2 users would be able to drag and drop this menu anywhere on the screen, and then decide which app will be placed in which space on the display.

No official cause for this Galaxy Note 2 malfunction has been announced, but some users speculate that it could be the result of an outdated firmware installed on some devices. Those with the version N7100XXALIE will not be able to use the multi-window feature, according to Droid Guy.

However, Galaxy Note 2 handsets running the N7100XXALIH firmware should not encounter this issue. To see which firmware a device is running, check the “About Device” option in the Settings menu.

Samsung has not commented on the matter or acknowledged that some Galaxy Note 2 devices are running old firmware, but the company is likely to roll out an update in the near future.

Despite this problem, the 5.5-inch smartphone-tablet hybrid will be the first handset to ship with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box. The Galaxy Note 2 has already been released in South Korea and the UK, and although the US is expected to get the phablet November, no official release date has been announced.

Samsung will be holding a media event on Oct. 24, presumably to announce when the device will launch, just one day before Microsoft will hold its keynote to introduce Windows 8.

A previous rumor indicated that the Galaxy Note 2 and Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 devices would debut at the same time. The Lumia 820 and Lumia 920 are rumored for a November release date as well, so Samsung and Nokia’s flagship phones may see a similar launch.

In addition to its larger display, the Galaxy Note 2 will feature a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, and 4G LTE connectivity among other specs and features. During a recent drop test, the Galaxy Note 2’s durability was showcased after being dropped from various heights.