Galaxy Tab takes thinnest tablet crown

Samsung has unveiled not one, but two new tablet additions to its Android mobile product line at Florida's CTIA Wireless 2011. The company has managed to slim down the width profile on both devices to an iPad 2-beating 8.6mm (0.33-inch), claiming the crown for the world's thinnest tablets in the process. The 8.9-inch and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab devices both get a couple of cameras, benefit from dual-core processing and come in three storage choices.

Samsung already outed the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab at Mobile World Congress last month, but surprised everyone by shaving off some width for this announcement atCTIA Wireless. After releasing the 7-inch device last year, Samsung certainly looks to be covering all the mobile computing bases with an 8.9-inch version also unveiled.

The smaller of the two new tablets features an 8.9-inch WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution touchscreen display, is powered by a 1GHz dual-core application processor, and will be available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB flavors with microSD expansion. It runs on Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) and gets access to the Android Market and Google's Mobile Services such as Google Talk, GMail, Google Maps and so on.

Samsung has pre-loaded the device with a Reader Hub and Music Hub that gives users access to over 2 million books and over 13 million songs, and a Social Hub brings together email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface. Users also get something called the TouchWiz UX interface, which features a live panel where content such as photos, network feeds and favored websites can be displayed. The interface also includes a Samsung Mini Apps Tray for easy access to commonly-used functions like the music player and calendar.

The device offers full 1080p high definition video playback at 30 frames per second in MPEG4/H263/H264, Divx/Xvid formats and 720p movie recording, the latter courtesy of a 3 megapixel AF Camera with LED Flash installed at the rear and a 2 megapixel camera at the front. There's business-friendly Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support and Adobe Flash Player 10.2 compatibility. Audio from such formats as MP3, AAC, OGG, and MIDI is fed through to stereo speakers or a 3.5mm headphone jack.

This new 9 x 6.2 x 0.33-inch (230.9 x 157.8 x 8.6 mm), 16.5 ounce (470g) Galaxy Tab can operate on HSPA+ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100 and EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 networks, has integrated 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and comes with Bluetooth 3.0 technology. Physical connectivity is offered via a USB 2.0 port, the device is powered by a 6000mAh battery, and sensors include a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a digital compass, and an ambient light sensor. 

The 10.1 x 6.8 x 0.33-inch (256.6 x 172.9 x 8.6 mm), 20.9 ounce (595g) 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab shares many of the same features as the 8.9-inch model, but obviously has a bigger touchscreen display � a 10.1-inch WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution screen to be precise. It looses out slightly in the Bluetooth department, getting 2.1 with EDR, but makes gains with the battery, which is rated at 6800mAh.

Samsung has confirmed that the 8.9-inch model will be priced at US$469 for the 16GB and US$569 for the 32GB, and is set for a Q3 release. The 10.1-inch version has been given a definite June release date, and will follow Apple's iPad 2 pattern with a US$499 price tag for the 16GB and US$599 for the 32GB.

More information will no doubt appear on the Galaxy Tab web portal in the very near future.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

Apparently in order for something to be considered luxurious these days, it needs to be encrusted in Swarovski crystals. So to make sure that their customers weren�t forced to use some second rate tablet PC, Harrods unveiled a crystal encrusted version of Samsung�s Galaxy Tab. The Crystal Galaxy Tab is encrusted with 5,700 Swarovski crystals and the logo is done in Jet Hematite.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Verizon Wireless Tablet

Samsung Galaxy Tab Verizon Wireless Tablet is a powerful entertainment device ideal for home or on the go. Weighing just 1 pound, it features a vibrant 7inch touchscreen display with 3D like graphics, speedy 1 GHz processor, and the Android 2.2 operating system. All in a sleek and compact form factor.

This Samsung Galaxy Tab Verizon Wireless Tablet offers the fast speeds and reliability of theVerizon Wireless 3G network, you'll be able to connect to a wide range of streaming media choices and enjoy fast downloads of music, movies, and documents while on the go. Additionally, you can share your 3G mobile broadband connectivity with up to five other devices another phone, MP3 player, and many more, using Wi-Fi.

Samsung Galaxy Tab vs. Apple iPad: Specs Compared

see Samsung�s up-and-coming Android tablet measured up next to the reigning champ, as we compare Samsung�s Galaxy Tab vs. the Apple iPad from a specifications perspective.

What the heck is a tablet computer?

Mainstream America might never have known before Apple bushwhacked its way through technical barriers, misconceptions and skeptics stake its claim on tablet computing with the iPad. The breakthrough tablet, which Apple still struggles to keep in stock, dodged mistakes made by previous tablets by making computing with your fingers easy, relatively inexpensive , and above all, fun.

But no company can dominate an entire market forever � even one that essentially created it. Having eyed Apple enviously for months, other companies are now attempting to elbow their way in on the tablet space. And Samsung is among the first to the table with the Galaxy Tab. Can the supersized version of the company�s successful Galaxy S smartphones compete? We stacked it side by side with the Apple iPad to find out.

Size

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab

No denying it: The iPad is a bit of a heifer. By laptop dimensions, 1.5 pounds sounds phenomenally light, but hold it in your hands for a while, and you�ll realize a 1.5-pound book starts to feel heavy fast. The Samsung Galaxy Tab drops weight to just 0.84 pounds, while shrinking by several inches in width and height as well, due to the smaller screen.

Price

Winner: To be determined

Apple shocked audiences at its iPad launch by announcing that the cheapest iPad would go for only $499, making it one of the most affordable items in the Apple catalog. While we still don�t have full pricing information for the Galaxy Tab, rumors suggest it may be equal or potentially even higher. Rumors have pointed to �699 ($890) for the 16GB version and �799 ($1,020) for the 32GB version, and converting the pre-tax Swedish price puts it around $930. But since it�s all complete hear-say for the moment, it remains to be seen whether the Galaxy Tab will really arrive at a competitive price point.

Speed


Winner: Draw


Comparing the Apple iPad and Galaxy Tab in the speed department at this point is a lot like comparing identical twins on the track: Clearly, one must be faster, but you know they�re going to be neck and neck, and they�ve yet to race. Apple�s A4 processor is derived from the same A8 Cortex CPU the Galaxy Tab uses, so they�re essentially family. In our comparison of the iPhone 4 and A8-powered Captivate, we had to declare a draw considering both seemed to excel in different areas. We�ll do the same here.

Screen

Winner: Apple iPad

As far as LCD screens go, the iPad sports one of the best in the business. Besides efficient LED backlighting and a generous 9.7-inch span, it uses in-plane switching (IPS) technology, which gives it a viewing angle unrivalled by the cheaper twisted-nematic (TN) screens used in most other devices. The Galaxy Tab offers a 16:9 display ratio, which is preferable for watching movies, but it also reduces resolution (from 1024 x 768 on the iPad to just 1024 x 600) and shrinks to just 7 inches across. Less resolution, smaller size, and inferior technology? I think we know which we would prefer to watch last week�s Mad Men on, thank you.

Camera

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Tab

How did Apple miss the boat on adding a camera to the iPad? You�ll have to ask Steve Jobs, but Samsung apparently has itself put together a little better. The Galaxy Tabincludes both a 3-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing cam for videoconferencing. It will even capture 720p HD video. Samsung 1, Apple 0.

Battery


Winner: Apple iPad


Samsung hasn�t released full details on battery life from the Galaxy Tab just yet, but from what we know so far, the iPad looks like a winner here. The company claims its 4,000mAh battery will give the Tab seven hours of video playback, while Apple claims the iPad can do 10 � a claim we verified in our own testing. While that�s only one aspect of performance, we�re giving it to Apple until Samsung can defy expectations and outsurf or outread the long-lasting iPad.