With the Galaxy Note II, Samsung has already achieved a sort of double-surprise success. The manufacturer has not only forced an Android-based smartphone/tablet hybrid into mainstream popularity; it's done it for the second time in two years. And this time around, it's not just featured on one national US carrier, but all four - and it's available in 128 countries at the time of this writing. How Samsung achieved this level of success with such an unusual product is no puzzle if you've read our full Galaxy Note II review. The device scored higher than almost any other smartphone we've tested, excelling in almost every category. In our conclusion, we gushed: "Based on everything this device offers, the quiet competence with which its software operates, and the solid confidence its massive hardware inspires ... the future of the phablet category and Samsung's dominance of it has never looked brighter." But that was two months ago. The Galaxy Note II was released several weeks before that, and it broke cover way back at IFA. That may not be long in the real world, but in the accelerated timescape of the tech space, it's nearly a lifetime. How has the Galaxy Note II held up over the weeks since its debut? What does the buzz still there but now slightly muted with the passage of time tell us about how the new phablet's faring? Has the dawn of the 1080p smartphone era dulled our love of the Note II's massive 5.5-inch panel? Has the novelty of the S Pen worn off? Has its sheer bulk busted the seams on all our pants pockets? Those are solid questions, and it's a good thing After The Buzz is here to answer them. Click above for the latest installment of our re-review series, then throw us a line down in the comments to let us know how your Galaxy Note II is holding up. Visit us: http://pocketnow.com/ Follow us: http://twitter.com/pocketnowtweets Follow Michael: http://twitter.com/captain2phones Thanks for watching!