Samsung Galaxy Tab P1000 tablet sports WiFi and 3G data, about as thick as an iPhone?
By Thomas Ricker 
posted June 17th 2010 7:04AM
posted June 17th 2010 7:04AM
Samsung's 7-inch Tab has certainly captured everyone's attention as another possible anti-iPad tablet. So far, Samsung's only saying that its Galaxy Tab will launch in Q3 without providing much in the way of detail other than this picture tweeted (and then pulled) by a Samsung's official Twitter account in South Africa. Since then we've seen rumored specs that include Android 2.2, a 7-inch Super AMOLED display, 1.2GHz A8 processor, 4,000mAH battery, 370-gram weight, and 16GB of on-board memory with up to 32GB of microSD expansion.
Today we've received an anonymous tip with even more info. After a series of communications with this person, we're confident enough to at least pass along what was said. Mind you, we're still classifying it as rumor until we see further evidence. First off, our source claims to have spent time with the same four-button device we saw in the video yesterday. The "sturdy and well-built" tablet was "very thin," described as about the same thickness as an iPhone. Our source says that the P1000 model is correct and that it will indeed feature "full phone functionality" albeit without a dedicated earpiece on the bezel -- for audio, you'll have to rely on a Bluetooth headset or the P1000's speaker. Thank gawd... the last thing we want to see is someone screaming into a 7-inch tablet held to the side of their head. There's a front-facing camera for video calling and a 3.2 megapixel camera around back for shooting pictures and video. Granted, 3.2 megapixels seems suspiciously low for the notoriously pixel greedy Samsung. Besides Bluetooth, we're told that the Galaxy Tab will also feature WiFi and 3G data, a standard SIM slot, and can tether over USB or WiFi. Oh, and the battery can't be removed and the version our source used had a 6x4 icon layout and appeared to be running stock Android 2.2 Froyo. Interesting, eh?
P.S. GPS too.
Today we've received an anonymous tip with even more info. After a series of communications with this person, we're confident enough to at least pass along what was said. Mind you, we're still classifying it as rumor until we see further evidence. First off, our source claims to have spent time with the same four-button device we saw in the video yesterday. The "sturdy and well-built" tablet was "very thin," described as about the same thickness as an iPhone. Our source says that the P1000 model is correct and that it will indeed feature "full phone functionality" albeit without a dedicated earpiece on the bezel -- for audio, you'll have to rely on a Bluetooth headset or the P1000's speaker. Thank gawd... the last thing we want to see is someone screaming into a 7-inch tablet held to the side of their head. There's a front-facing camera for video calling and a 3.2 megapixel camera around back for shooting pictures and video. Granted, 3.2 megapixels seems suspiciously low for the notoriously pixel greedy Samsung. Besides Bluetooth, we're told that the Galaxy Tab will also feature WiFi and 3G data, a standard SIM slot, and can tether over USB or WiFi. Oh, and the battery can't be removed and the version our source used had a 6x4 icon layout and appeared to be running stock Android 2.2 Froyo. Interesting, eh?
P.S. GPS too.
DO I understand correctly that it won't have a mic and I will need to buy a bluetooth device to record audio??
I am surprised that the author has never used a speakerphone on his phone or a desktop mic in his life. You don't really have to scream to it. IF the placement is correct you can get by with using normal voice. I have used the mic on my iPad and skype to make telephone calls and it works perfectly fine just as using a speakerphone on my PRE.
This looks really good. Glad to see there are legit competitors in the tablet world now. Tablets are such an old concept and are finally seeing decent products. I guess the technology finally got good enough for it. I was scared for a while, I thought the iPad would be the only legit option for a while. Thank God for alternatives, lol.
I knew there was a reason I haven't gotten and iPad yet.
@summerboy18
troll.
as long as it doesn't come with Steve Jobs i'm interested
@geekthree
Next thing you know, Toyota will be copying Audi/BMW and putting brakes in their cars!
If it has stock Android 2.2 I'm all in. I was waiting for Notion Ink's Adam but this definitely looks like a viable alternative.
But what's the screen resolution? It's only 800x480 or 840x600 I'm not interested. I've got that on my phone. 1024x600 or 1024x768 and I'm in.
Besides a large screen and bigger battery, what does this offer that my Evo doesnt?
@Jordus super amoled, froyo, stock android (speed + updates, but I know some would prefer Sense on all their devices) let's pray for build quality,,,I'll assume you don't need to have all the benefits that a bigger screen will bring.
Might not require a voice plan for those who are finding less & less use for voice. One of the great things is, there can be more things we don't yet know. Stay tuned.
@Jordus are you serious? It offers a bigger screen, bigger battery, and stock Android. Three big pluses in my book.
@juanvaldez
Oh boy it has stocked Android! Oh boy! I can't wait to use it for ten minutes and then toss it under my bed.
Mom, can I have another 500 hundred bucks. My last geek lust just ran out of steam.
@jowabi I said "besides the bigger screen and battery", are you blind? Also, I would imagine that there will be a sense and stock 2.2 ROM available for my Evo by the time this tablet comes out (or before). So those points are moot.
The only way ill get an android tablet is if it gets heavily integrated with Google TV (which it probably will).
@Jordus There was a demo of using an iPhone as the remote control to google tv the other day. They said they had an android version as well. I don't know if that's what you meant by integration or if you meant streaming to it.
@Jordus
Stock 1.2 ghz
@GoodToGo I hope Toyota does. I don't know what the heck that second pedal on my Camry does.
i normally like the android buttons (home, context, back, search) but after using my ipad for a while, I think they will only cause problems in a tablet form. I'm already accidentally hitting my ipad single button when playing plants vs zombies.. imagine non-physical buttons, oh god
R E A D T H I S ? O K
I don't want to sound like a fanboy but this thing will only run standard android apps .... isn't the whole appeal of the ipad the incredible apps and games ( and the builtin apps but android doesn't really do a good job at that , not to mention they will also be stretched...)....
And no WiFi only?
@Accelerator
It is almost certain it will be in the price range or cheaper than the cheapest WiFi-only iPad.. but you get 3G with it too..
How is this bad? Why would you even need WiFi only version in this day of age. It's a mobile device and needs to have 3G..
Apple did WiFi version only so they can rip people off and then they released the 3G version later and priced it out the whazoo.
This is definitely an awesome tablet and much better than iPad.
I do agree, they need to make a 10" version but I'm sure it will come. They want to see how well this one will work and they will probably make a bigger one down the road.
@Bozster i have no desire to pay for another 3g data bill. why not be able to just tether to my android phone? one connection should be enough. i always have my phone on me.
@jakeh0
Even better: It will support standard sims, so you can probably take your sim out of your phone and plug it into this. So only one bill. And since it's Android, you'll probably be able to tether too, if not out of the box, with an easy hack.
@Accelerator
"Build it and they will come." There were no apps for the iPad until there was an iPad to run them on. Why would there be apps for an Android device like this before there is an Android device like this on the market?
@toddjy
Doh! It says right there you can tether over USB or wi-fi. I assume that means linking this to your phone, because why would you want to tether a laptop to this?
@angermeans Two upped at least
I really like this but I would have preferred a 9 or 12 inch screen option.
Getting it... how much!!!!!!!
@androidftw
I'm guessing it will be cheaper than $630, the current price of the low-end 3g iPad.
@summerboy18
Twat
My birthday is in August.
I have plans for this. I'm putting it on a techmount on my Hayabusa, using that beautiful AMOLED as a Rear View/ Backup Cam Display, also for Nav, and I'll get a Bluetooth Helmet so I can answer calls and listen to music.
Not to mention all the regular stuff when not on the bike.
Oh yeah, can't wait.
Look closely at the photo. The tablet has know sim card in it. I think it might be a pre-production model that has no changes made to the os. I can not believe Samsung would make it have a phone feature.
I wonder if the iHaters who complained about the iPad's battery not being removable will put this thing down too for the same reason? Somehow I doubt it.