Samsung's Android-powered S-Pad tablet with 7-inch Super AMOLED in August?
By Thomas Ricker 
posted May 4th 2010 1:53AM
posted May 4th 2010 1:53AM
Know what's hot like 2001? Tablet computers. Just like that a product category has been reborn and proven viable as a money making machine. Now the scramble is on to fill the void by companies big and small. Samsung, a big name in the UMPC debacle (that's the Q1 to the right) with its own confirmed tablet ambitions, looks prepped to deliver product this summer if Korean pub Etnews is to be believed. First up, the OS: Android. Samsung's so-called "S-Pad" (the tentative name spawned under its S-Project initiative) will display Google's smartphone OS on a supposed 7-inch Super AMOLED display with WiFi and 3G data connectivity -- the latter supplied by SK Telecom who will supposedly help distribute the device. It'll also bring an iPad-esque USB dock and content from Kyobo books (Korea's largest bookstore) and Samsung's own Samsung Apps application store. If true, we should expect to see Samsung's S-Pad launch in August. While no price has been given you can expect the cost to be exorbitant thanks to that extra large Super AMOLED display unless SK Telecom can push it down through ample subsidies.[Thanks, JH Yee]
"Just like that a product category has been reborn and proven viable as a money making machine."
Thank God for Apple. Oh, this will probably be mediocre.
@Diondon
The difference is the operating system, apps and battery life. 3 huge aspects that were unavailable and never let original tablet devices succeed. This looks a lot more interesting than the HP Slate everyone was so excited about until a pre release version was tested and it cr@pped out. I don't think it will compete to much with the iPad but it will take a little market share with the apple haters...which will post momentarily.
Just because you don't have a need for something doesn't make it useless to everyone else. I have a ps3, does that make the the 360 and Wii useless? I have a Honda, does that make Toyota and other like companies useless? I wish some people wouldn't be so arrogant. Many people have a use for the iPad or an Ipad like device. Some peoples superior veiw of themselves making fun of people that use something so "useless" is laughable. Why would you be so interested in what other people do anyways? Get a hobbie and stay out of other peoples lives
@SiLeNt KNighT
I think everyone hates the iPad because honestly, watching the unveiling, it felt like the biggest let down in a while... Or maybe that's just me.
I can see the uses of the iPad (mainly the larger screen for web browsing and book reading), but I already have an iPod Touch so it just wasn't different enough. I was really hoping it'd run real OSX (with finger friendly tweaks), but alas.
As an owner of multiple UMPCs, they were by far not a debacle.
It's especially hypocritical to call them such after how much you guys praised the ipad
@Extinction Of course they were a debacle. Very expensive and often with full-blown OS on super tiny screen.
@Extinction
Not to mention the Q1s horrible keyboard solution.
@Diondon Would be great though if they'll just release it. Those super amoleds deserves some loving. http://bit.ly/samsung-slate-cold-impressions
@Shokz +1 good post. I agree with you. People are easy to judge
Can't wait until this tablet phase goes away. Tablets are boring and have no purpose at all aside from being toys rather than its productivity.
@chrisrottan Do you have something against toys? Not every product has to be the be-all-and-end-all of technology.
I've been waiting for a nice OLED e-reader. This just might fit the bill.
@mentalchaos If you are looking for simply an e-reader then why would you purchase anything other than an e-ink display? Aside from being able to read at night, e-ink is much easier to read, and easier on the eyes, not to mention the ridiculous battery life.
sweeettttt can't wait
another copy cat
@galaxy1000 ha ha ha, in your rulebook, Apple copied phones from motorola, Samsung TVs from Thomson, Honda cars from Ford, etc u get the point
@galaxy1000
I know... shame on them for copying DynaBook!
@galaxy1000 And shame on Apple for copying a black version of the PalmOS when they made the iPhone OS.
@galaxy1000
Just go & check who made the all the 'core technology' that went into making Apple's products such as processor chips, display, & battery, etc. for the ipod, iphone & ipad.
Just go & see what percentage of earnings from all of Apple's latest products goes to Samsung which supplies all the latest technology that runs most of the Apple's best selling products. You'll be surprised & realize how ignorant & arrogant you were. Without Samsung Apple couldn't even come up with a competitive product since all they have is an OS. No wonder why Samsung is so relaxed while Apple is selling millions of iphones, ipads, & ipods worldwide. Their account is being fattened every time Apple's product is sold! hahaha....
definition of fugly
@1mc
How the hell can you comment on its looks if its not even released yet? The picture is of a different product years ago.
@hated one ...nothing really. A all lot of nothing. But it says a lot on how one company understood that through r&d and marketing they could create a new sub class of computational devices in the entry level. Major win for them. The main class of portable devices wasn't going stale or anything, but to create a new sub class in the spectrum and be able to project it that timely was pure apple genius. Don't compare desirability across diferent classes of devices, just doesn't work that way. The iPad even at over 1 million units sold is a spec in the ocean of the computational spectrum where other products lead. To try and agrandize it as you have with that statement is pure fanboyism.
all while steve jobs is singing "a milli a milli a milli!"
@WillSmith
LMFAO!!!!!
So much win in that statement....
@hated one
Dude seriously,
What did android do to you?!?!
Engadget is doing a good job coming up with new and interesting ways to start the monsoon of tablet articles there's been recently!
So with all the Android goodness out there ( from phones to tablets etc ), one question is how does Android apps "scale" with such diverse screen/sizes and resolutions ? Apps need to be specially coded for the differences or will it scale ? or apps written for a lower res screen will not be able to run on a higher res screen ? I am no developer but interested to know
@skateni
NICE Question...I just wanted to say that
@skateni Good Question, they seem to scale well between 2.5 inch to 4.3 inch screens, what abt 10 inch screens?
@skateni what I have seen of the ipad tool to upgradefor screen size android can not do worst the facrparty one especially
@jasonfreeman27 I think the aspect ratio will be the only issue. When I first got my Droid, many of the apparently didn't fill like. 25" on the bottom of the screen.
launch the galaxy s pro already, after that we can talk about tablets
@hated one
You sir make me want to kick a kitty.
...Why isn't this fella banned yet?
@hated one You do know Samsung has been making tablets for years right? RTFA
@hated one
Dude. I'm a big fan of yours. Really. lol
I admire your ability to pop out 5 comments within minutes that say exactly the same. ;-)
But you can stop sucking up to Steve. He will never give you a job as a sales guy. He will worry that customers will smash his store to pieces over your arrogant attitude.
Seriously, how can you diss anything non Apple related? It's this competition that they seed themselves that makes them research and develop even better IPhones and IPads in 2nd and 3rd generation that you can buy a dozen of. You should be thankful and happy.
In my opinion an android device in south korea (phone or tablet) isn't really going to mean much until they open the app store to include paid apps in Korea. Frustrating. And this product might further delay the release of the current ban on iPads in the country if it was coming out sooner.
@MegaJapan My guess...he fulfills the punching bag troll meme.
Bah, android and arm cpus suck just like the ibad. I want a decent slate with a real ulv x86 cpu (no atom) where I can run my gazillion windows apps (and some that I coded myself for windows) and nobody restricts me from running software they don't like because they want to cash in.
And I don't care if it costs 1k$+ or that it has a lesser running time. I am willing to pay for a quality product and 4-5h of my apps on x86 is better than 10h of none of my apps on an arm...
I really hope the chinese will flood the market with their x86 slates soon...
@Avaron I like x86(atom) in a slate but I do care about the price
@Avaron You don't need a tablet, you're better off with a laptop.
Bring it on, we could use some competition here on planet Earth!
@hero785
ugh, i know, i despise the fact that when people mention tablet PC's everyone assumes you mean an ipad...
get apple fighting for sales
though i doubt theyll have to, people will buy anything from apple, and in 3 versions time the ipad will be decent :(
does anyone remember the Pepper PC Linux tablet from mid-00's? i had two iterations, almost the same form factor as this with the split QWERTY thumb board.
@oldsmobuick PepperPad I mean, not Pepper PC.
@cherryboom
So you think without the COMPETITION Apple would give a damn?
They could sell the same device forever without improving it further. Why bother?
Apple is the innovation leader only until someone else builds something better. Then or to prevent that they build something new. That's why their R&D departments works overtime. Otherwise they wouldn't need them.
I'm happy to see Apple, Samsung, JooJoo, HP and all the others pushing each others R&D further.
@hated one the only reason there selling so well is because off people like you who blindly follow what some one tells them its cool to by the ultimate web browsing device which is restricted frpm 98% of the web
@cherryboom might be as you say but all those different companies but when they all add together android will have more units out there with there os on
@cherryboom might be as you say but all those different companies but when they all add together android will have more units out there with there os on
"S-Pad"? Seriously? You're not even trying, Samsung.
You said Super AMOLED. Now the rest of the tablet better do that screen justice.
@hated one you know amoled will kick the shit out of the ipad screen right?
samsung wave = most beautiful screen ive EVER seen, it is the definition of perfect