There are two ways one could think about Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab.
One would be to look at its slick casing, its compact 7-inch form, the latest Android software and extensive 3G support from European mobile operators, and say: here is a device which proves the iPad isn’t the only show in town.
The other would be to look at its slick casing, its compact 7-inch form, the latest Android software and extensive 3G support from European mobile operators, and say: isn’t this just an oversized smartphone?
Smartphone users are likely to be among the first adopters of any kind of tablet, so this is an important issue. And one can’t help but feel that Samsung have deliberately dodged the head-to-head comparison with iPad by picking an in-betweener size.
Many people’s first response to the iPad was to compare it to the iPod touch, or iPhone. Personally, my iPad rarely leaves the house, and can most often be found on the bedside table or sofa arm.
Samsung is pitching the Galaxy Tab as an “on the go” device. Its battery life is measured in “talk time” (1,000 minutes, since you ask). The company isn’t sure if music and movie stores are going to be available in certain regions because it is still “talking to carriers”, and it’s worried about competing with their own storefronts. There’s even a dock for putting it in a car as a navigation device (thanks to turn-by-turn in Google Maps).
But that focus on portability does mean the hardware has several advantages over Apple’s 10-inch rival.
The iPad is a touch too heavy to hold with one hand; not a problem for the Galaxy tab, which claims to be half the weight. It’s roughly the size of a paperback book, rather than the iPad’s magazine, which may make it more convenient for longform reading.
Samsung scores easy wins with features Apple left out. Video calling (which I wasn’t able to test in my brief look yesterday) to a tablet fulfils a future-is-now fantasy (although Apple is bringing that to the iPod touch too). The front and back cameras can also work with augmented-reality apps, such as Google’s own Places or Layar, which could be more useable on a bigger screen than a phone.
With the latest Android, Froyo, comes Flash, and the Galaxy tab also supports DivX, which when combined with a Micro-SD slot makes transferring anything you’ve downloaded (from, er, anywhere) really easy.
Samsung has also pre-loaded its own “hub” software bundles in an attempt to stand ahead of the inevitable flood of Android tablets. Readers’ Hub brings together newspapers (powered by PressDisplay), books (from Kobo) and magazines (courtesy of Zinio) into one app, while Social Hub pulls together Facebook, Twitter et al. There are also Media and Music Hubs, which like Kobo’s bookshelves, take many of their design cues from Apple’s stores.
On very early impressions, this is a good-enough device to please those waiting for an Android tablet that’s shiny enough to stand up to the iPad.
One slight concern, if it’s really a mobile device, is that the plastic back panel is a bit too slippery to keep a hold of. But for commuters who would rather keep their standard Nokia candybar and ditch the laptop, this could make a useful travelling companion.
The Galaxy will be available in 16 and 32Gb versions in European markets through Orange, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom in October. No word yet on pricing or the US release, which is expected to be through Verizon.
