galaxy tab

Why I think Steve Jobs is lying

At yesterday's Apple earnings call, CEO Steve Jobs quelled rumors that the company was on the verge of producing a smaller 7-inch iPad to counter the arrival of such mini slates as Samsung's Galaxy Tab. He said that these devices were "tweeners" and would be dead on arrival. He scoffed that normal-size human fingers are simply too big to be able to accurately hit icons on a screen that size.

"Apple has done extensive user testing and we really understand this stuff," he said. "There are clear limits on how close you can … Read more

AT&T gets down to business with iPad

AT&T is pitching Apple's iPad tablet directly to businesses with a discounted wireless data plan, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The move could help AT&T generate more revenue as the market for smartphone plans becomes saturated, the Journal said.

It could also--temporarily at least--increase the threat posed by Apple's mobile operating system to Research In Motion's market-leading BlackBerry Enterprise Server software.

Apple's iPhone is already catching up to RIM's BlackBerry in terms of security--until now one of the RIM device's key selling points. And though Apple … Read more

Samsung boss hints at 10-inch Galaxy Tab

Samsung has offered a strong hint that there's a 10-inch version of the Android-powered Galaxy Tab in the pipeline. The 7-inch Tab has attracted loads of attention with its AMOLED touch screen, built-in high definition camera, and ability to make phone calls.

While discussing the availability of the Tab in Ireland, Samsung's local grand poobah Gary Twohig appeared to confirm that there would be different sizes. We could be putting two and two together and coming up with 10, however: although some reports have taken this to mean there will be a 10-inch version, the original report has … Read more

Galaxy Tab coming to all four carriers

Links from Friday's episode of Loaded: Samsung announces the Galaxy Tab Bing Maps gets public transportation HDCP is really broken Justin.tv iPhone app to stream live broadcast

Buzz Out Loud 1310: HDCP cracked like a nut (podcast)

The news that Windows Phone 7 won't be coming to any CDMA carriers just yet has some of you close to suicide. That's extreme. Just wait for LTE. It'll happen. Also, the HDCP master key turns out to be legit (whoa!), notebook sales growth goes negative in a widespread iPad fallout pattern, and there's a new Yahoo Mail Beta coming!

Samsung takes on Apple iPad with Galaxy Tab

NEW YORK--Samsung's assault on Apple is under way, as the company unveils its plans for its new tablet PC as well as a new service that allows consumers to purchase or rent TV shows and movies on their Samsung mobile devices.

At an event here at the Time Warner Center tonight, Samsung took the wraps off its iPad-killer, the Galaxy Tab. It also announced a new service called Media Hub, an iTunes-like service, which allows consumers to buy and rent movies and TV shows for their Samsung portable devices.

The announcements follow Samsung's launch earlier this summer of … Read more

Report: Samsung plans Galaxy Tab U.S. event Thursday

Is Samsung planning an event in New York City to introduce its touch-screen tablet next week?

That's what The Wall Street Journal is reporting. On Friday, the Journal cited two anonymous sources who claim that the Galaxy Tab will debut in the U.S. market at an event in NYC's Time Warner Center on September 16.

The Galaxy Tab made its worldwide debut at gadget fest IFA Berlin last week, but is not yet for sale. It's a 7-inch touch-screen tablet featuring Android 2.2, or Froyo, Flash 10.1, 16GB or 32GB of memory, GPS, a … Read more

Samsung Galaxy Tab: An Android contender

Editors' note: Sprint announced that it will offer the Samsung Galaxy Tab starting November 14. Pricing for the Android-based tablet is $399.99 with a two-year contract, and customers will be able to choose from two 3G Tablet Mobile Broadband plans: a 2GB data plan with unlimited messaging for $29.99 per month or a 5GB data plan with unlimited messaging for $59.99 per month.

BERLIN--After more than an hour putting the Samsung Galaxy Tab through its paces, I have to say I'm impressed.

It's no iPad-slayer, but it's an elegant tablet with conveniently compact dimensions, good performance, and a bright, responsive multitouch screen.

Samsung debuted the Galaxy Tab Thursday at the IFA electronics show here with strong words showing it plans to compete directly with Apple's iPad. Just how well it'll succeed depends in large measure on how well developers embrace large-screen Android devices: the Tab's most awkward moments came with applications designed for a smaller screen, and there will have to be a lot more games before Android tablets can take on the iPad.

First, some Samsung Galaxy Tab details. Front and center is its 7-inch, 1,024x600 touch screen. For a tablet to be competitive, it's got to respond quickly to touch, and the Galaxy Tab does--most of the time. The screen is bright and text is easy to read. It's not as spacious the iPad's, but it's a big step up from mobile phones.

The brains of the operation are a 1.0GHz Cortex A8 ARM-based processor paired with a PowerVR SGX540 graphics processor. Game developers take note: The two made the Tab the fastest and most responsive of Android devices I've used. Applications loaded fast and responded to input moderately fast. Internal memory of 16GB or 32GB is supplemented by a microSD port that can accommodate flash cards with up to 32GB more.

Speaking of mobile phones, note that the Tab is available only through carriers that provide mobile phone service. There's no Wi-Fi-only option, though the Tab does support 802.11 a, b, g, and n. For cell networks, it can use 2.5G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE) and 3G (HSUPA at 5.76Mbps, and HSDPA 7.2Mbps). I found Wi-Fi and 3G both worked well at Samsung's booth. … Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 14: Which Android Tablet will be the iPad killer?

This week we get Android math lesson from Google, Apple and Microsoft, check out four tablets vying to be the iPad killer and get giddy for Angry Birds on Android. Join Justin Eckhouse and guest host Jasmine France for this week's Android Atlas Weekly.

News Stories Google responds to Steve Jobs' comments on activation numbers http://www.androidcentral.com/google-responds-steve-jobs-comments-activation-numbers

Microsoft claims that Google's Android is not free http://www.businessinsider.com/android-costs

First official look at … Read more

Samsung: Galaxy Tab has leg up on Apple iPad

BERLIN--When Samsung debuted its Galaxy Tab on Thursday, it made a bold claim: the device is at least as good as today's dominant tablet, Apple's iPad.

"Honestly, I don't see anything [about the Galaxy Tab] that is weaker than the iPad," W.P. Wong, head of Samsung Mobile's product planning team, said at a press conference here at the IFA electronics show.

And in several ways, he said, the Galaxy Tab is stronger. It permits both picture-taking and video chat with front- and back-mounted cameras. Its weight of 380 grams (0.8 pounds) is considerably less than the iPad, which weighs 680 grams (1.5 pounds) without 3G and 730g (1.6 pounds) with it.

"In terms of the weight, you may not think it's a significant factor. But we think, through consumer research, that weight is very critical to enjoy the user experience," Hong said.

The product itself will begin shipping in late September or early October in Europe and by year's end in the U.S.

Samsung is already working to raise expectations about as high as they'll go.

"The Galaxy Tab will change our lives," Samsung Mobile President J.K. Shin said. "It is a true paradigm-shifter." … Read more