The Note's stylus, called the S Pen, can be used instead of a finger to launch and operate apps.

WSJ: Personal Technology: A Mobile Device That's Better for a Jotter Than a Talker

That column was validated by the launch of the iPhone, which banished the stylus to "blown it" status and popularized "finger-friendly" handset designs from all major smartphone OS developers.

ENGADGET: Switched On: Token gestures