Samsung poised to jump onto Android tablet bandwagon

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Rumors have been swirling for months that Samsung is prepping an Android tablet dubbed the "Tab," and word has it that the 7-inch slate could take the stage as early as next month.

Leaked photos of the Tab began circulating around the Web back in June, and a Samsung exec went ahead and confirmed the existence of the Tab shortly thereafter, promising a launch date "no later" than the third quarter of this year — which just so happens to be right around the corner.

Indeed, CrunchGear seems pretty confident that Samsung will unveil the Tab — complete with version 2.2 ("Froyo") of Android — at the IFA consumer-tech trade show in Berlin, which is set to kick off on September 3. (Earlier rumors had it that the Tab was to get its close-up this month, potentially at a Samsung press event last week, but the tablet was a no-show.)

So, what exactly are we talking about here in terms of specs and features? Rock-solid details have been hard to come by, of course, but a rumor site called Samsung-Firmwares.com (via Engadget) ticked off a few key (but still unconfirmed) possibilities, including a 1GHz "Hummingbird" processor, a 3.2-mexapixel camera in back plus a front-facing lens for video calls, Wi-Fi (naturally), Bluetooth, GPS, and Flash support.

Not bad, but one of the more controversial aspects of the Samsung-Firmwares leak is the claim that the Tab's 7-inch display would have a resolution of just 800 by 480 — more than respectable for, say, a 4-inch smartphone display like those on Samsung's Galaxy S handsets, but a bit stingy when it comes to a tablet-sized 7-inch screen. Then again, Gizmodo points out that coders on a mobile developer site are insisting that the Tab's display resolution is closer to 1024 by 600, so there's clearly room for debate on that point.

The latest round of leaks comes a couple months after Engadget unleashed a series of (rumored) Tab specs from its own tipster, who claimed that the "very thin" slate would boasts a SIM slot for 3G data, voice calls though a Bluetooth headset, and an embedded, non-removable battery (sorry, folks).

Of course, the Tab figures to be only one of dozens of new tablets poised to make landfall in the coming months. Technologizer's Harry McCracken does a nice job of rounding up at least 32(!) slate devices that are either out now or potentially coming soon to store shelves, ranging from the 10-inch, Android-powered Asus EeePad EP101TC and the just-released Dell Streak to the rumored HP PalmPad (running on Palm's WebOS platform) and even the purported "BlackPad" from RIM.

In any case, all signs point toward the Samsung Tab finally being exposed to the world in just a few weeks. Stay tuned.

So, what do you think: In the market for an Android tablet? Leaning toward a Windows 7-powered slate? Or are you sold on the iPad?

Samsung-Firmwares.com: Exclusive Samsung Galaxy Tab [via Engadget]

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Edited August 17, 2010 by El Buscador

[spookyturtle 9,466]

The flock will buy iPads. The geeks will buy Android.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The flock will buy iPads. The geeks will buy Android.

You don't see yourself ever buying a tablet-like device?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

You don't see yourself ever buying a tablet-like device?

I would buy one if the price was right. I like the iPad but not for $500.

Right now I'd love to get one of the Sony Z series laptops. 13.1", solid state drives, etc.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644570897

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I would buy one if the price was right. I like the iPad but not for $500.

Right now I'd love to get one of the Sony Z series laptops. 13.1", solid state drives, etc.

http://www.sonystyle...552921644570897

See, I think the old school techno-geeks will actually be the last ones to embrace tablets as the next device for most people's computing needs because they tend to use computers for more than what most people use their computers nowadays for - communicating/social networking. A tablet will never replace a laptop, but it will severely diminish the laptop market, IMO.

[Nagishkaw 510]

I would buy one if the price was right. I like the iPad but not for $500.

Right now I'd love to get one of the Sony Z series laptops. 13.1", solid state drives, etc.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644570897

I have the F (16,4") series and it is a nice machine.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchCatalog?storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10551&in_dim_search=F+Series&keyword=F+Series

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I have the F (16,4") series and it is a nice machine.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchCatalog?storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10551&in_dim_search=F+Series&keyword=F+Series

Sony does make some really nice laptops.

[Calypso 464]

The clothing industry must keep up with technological progress. Let pockets be bigger, big enough for a tablet to fit in.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The clothing industry must keep up with technological progress. Let pockets be bigger, big enough for a tablet to fit in.

Those would be mighty big pockets.

I have read that clothing is being developed to provide power for most of our handheld devices, by harnessing kinetic energy.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

The clothing industry must keep up with technological progress. Let pockets be bigger, big enough for a tablet to fit in.

Welcome back!! How have you been?