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Galaxy Tab Bluetooth Stylus emerges, up for £49.99 pre-order
It's been a month since we caught our first glimpse of the Galaxy Tab's Bluetooth Stylus and today, although still seemingly unofficial, it's appeared in its first pre-order listing. Priced at £49.99 ($79) by UK online specialist Play, this capacitive stylus will facilitate handwriting recognition for those of us not served well enough by the Tab's generally excellent soft keyboard. It's also capable of hooking up to two Bluetooth devices at a time and has the extra intelligence thrown in to receive and reject phone calls -- whether on the Tab or on your phone. It's an intriguing piece of kit, maybe Samsung should go ahead and make it official now, eh?
Atmel confirms the Samsung Galaxy Tab uses its maXTouch touchscreen controller
We're guessing it hasn't kept too many folks up at night, but those curious about the multitouch brains behind the Samsung Galaxy Tab now finally have their answer: Atmel's maXTouch touchscreen controller. As you may recall, that was first announced over a year ago, and promised to bring a whole host of benefits to multitouch devices, including unlimited touch functionality, and faster, more precise input than competing devices. Interestingly, Atmel has also boasted that its controller is able to recognize touches even with gloves -- in addition to styli -- but it's not clear if the Galaxy Tab takes advantage of that particular ability. Full press release is after the break.
Samsung Galaxy Tab as Home Watcher remote control (video)
Seems like only yesterday that we were begging a big named consumer electronics company to get into home automation. Now Samsung, the world's biggest consumer electronics company, complies with a demonstration of the connected home of the future using its own Galaxy Tab. The demo depicts live widget-based control over your home's HVAC, TV (including remote viewing), stove, oven, dryer, vacuum robot, and refrigerator with integrated grocery manager that suggests recipes based upon the food you have. Unfortunately, instead of offering details on when (or how) Samsung's vision might become reality, the demo's main intent seems to be showing off Samsung's latest product line from IFA earlier this month. It's still worth a trip beyond the break for a peek though.
Sling founder concocts Crestron home automation app for Android, demos it on Galaxy Tab
Two years ago in Denver, we watched as a Crestron iPhone app wowed crowds at CEDIA. At this year's show in Atlanta, a similar app has been unveiled for a rival platform: Android. Blake Krikorian, better known as the founder of Sling Media, was recently able to demonstrate a new Crestron home automation app for Android, and he did it on Samsung's much-hyped Galaxy Tab. The program (codenamed 'R2') is the result of 1.5 years of work, and in large part, it was built to overcome the many limitations of iOS. Specifically, he wanted to bypass iOS' Slide to Unlock screen, and he greatly preferred Android's multitasking implementation and background notification system. Eventually, we're expecting the app to sell for around $99, but plans beyond that have yet to be made. Hop on past the break for a video demonstration, and stay tuned for any information we dig up regarding a solid release date.
New Galaxy Tab video offers thorough overview, glimpse of starry mail client
Can't get enough of the Galaxy Tab? Then Samsung's got you covered with its latest, and possibly most detailed video overview of the tablet yet. Running just over nine minutes, the video doesn't exactly offer a ton in the way of surprises (apart from a rather curious contact listing for someone named "Bill Jobs"), but Samsung's demonstration of the Tab's email client did catch our eye. As you can see above, it shows a Gmail account with what appears to be starred emails. Unfortunately, it's not clear if those stars are actually tied to Gmail, since the client also showed the same stars in a Hotmail account during our first hands-on with the device. So, is a star just a star, or a star? Just one of many things to ponder as you watch the complete video after the break.
10-inch Galaxy Tab promised for 2011 by Samsung Ireland General Manager (updated)
Tucked away at the bottom of a news story about who'll be carrying the 7-inch Galaxy Tab in Ireland this year is the promise of a 10-inch Tab (presumably for the whole world) next year. This comes straight from local General Manager Gary Twohig, who seems to have casually disclosed his company's plans for a 10-inch Android slate in the first half of 2011. Beyond that, all we know is that it'll include the V8 JavaScript Engine that first showed up as a touted feature in Froyo, though if we had to bet our Led Zep record collection, we'd probably say this 10-incher will be holding out for Android 3.x -- either Gingerbread or Honeycomb -- for an experience better optimized to run on larger screens. In fact, that may be the likeliest reason why this new tablet didn't debut with its 7-inch sibling: waiting on a better OS. [Thanks, Iain] Update: The original story has undergone a bit of massaging since we first reported on it and the connection between Gary Twohig and the 10-inch Tab has now been removed. We're still inclined to believe the content, however, as Samsung itself has not been shy about its plans to bring multiple Galaxy Tab sizes to the world.
Samsung Tab priced at $999 in Australian money, ships November
It seems that though just about everybody's getting the Samsung Galaxy Tab, few know how much it costs, but Australian customers can expect to pay AUD $999 if they're buying off-contract. Several Australian media organizations are reporting that's what the seven-inch, 16GB Android 2.2 tablet will cost, when it arrives at the country's three major phone carriers for a slated November release. Smarthouse points out that the price reveal surprised Australian executives as a comparable iPad 3G 16GB costs just $799, though a Samsung VP told the publication, "we believe this is a fair price." We'll just let the market decide on that one, okay?
Samsung Galaxy Tab feature tour reminds of just how pocketable it isn't (video)
Sony tried to convince us that its VAIO P was a pocketable computer, so we quite naturally pointed, laughed and mocked. It seems only fair, therefore, to give Samsung the same treatment when it tries to sell us on the idea that we'd be perfectly comfortable stashing its Galaxy Tab slate in the back pocket of our denims. Listen, the only way we're ever going to put hundreds of dollars' worth of money into our rear pocket is in note form, protected by our Jules Winnfield-endorsed faux leather wallet. But then again, if you actually like your gadgets to protrude a little bit, maybe this is just the Tab for you. Follow the break for the full video tour.
Samsung Galaxy Tab keyboard, desktop, and car docks eyes-on
The press release from earlier today provided all the textual details, but now we've gotten our own eyes on the Samsung Galaxy Tab accessory lineup -- not to be touched at the event, but we could gaze all the same. Pictured above is the $99.99 keyboard dock that gives you a full physical QWERTY on top of a charger / sync dock, along with stereo audio output. Then comes the desktop dock (formerly referred to as the HDMI dock) that allows you to watch videos up to 1080p, view pictures, and listen to music via HDMI All the pictures are below, can ya dig?out. Last but not least is the car / GPS dock for $99.99, for GPS turn-by-turn navigation on the go. %Gallery-102509%
Samsung Galaxy Tab loses voice capabilities in the US
Bad news, folks: not only is the Sprint Samsung Galaxy Tab a 3G-only device, but Samsung just confirmed to us that telephony was cut out of the Tab for the US market. That means you won't be able to pair up a Bluetooth headset and use the Tab as a really large phone like you can on the Euro model. That's super lame -- telephony features might have been the only way the inevitable two-year carrier contract would have been justifiable. Suffice to say, we're even more curious to hear about official pricing now, but it doesn't look like we'll be getting it until Samsung and its carrier partners are good and ready. We'll let you know.
Samsung Galaxy Tab for US (and Media Hub) hands-on (update: video!)
By and large, there aren't really any surprises with the Galaxy Tab we just tried out -- it was only two weeks ago that we tried it at IFA. We did hear from Samsung that the company might change the back, but what we said about hardware and experience before remains true here. The Media Hub, which is new, is sleek and convenient, and the Iron Man preview we watched looked great on the screen. If you're in need of more Tab pictures, we got you covered just below. Update: We've got video, just after the break!%Gallery-102505%
Sprint Samsung Galaxy Tab won't have 4G
Well, isn't this a bit sad -- the Sprint version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab will be 3G-only. Ouch -- we'd definitely heard that Sprint's version of the Galaxy Tab would follow in the steps of the Epic 4G and have a WiMAX radio, but no dice, amigos. We're guessing Sprint won't be cheekily releasing a Tab case with a built-in Overdrive pocket, either.
Samsung Media Hub: movies and next-day TV shows from NBC, Paramount, Universal, and more
We've been itching to see how Samsung would leverage Media Hub, and now we're getting the goods at its Galaxy Tab event. Compatible with Tab and Galaxy S devices, both movies and next-day TV shows will be available for purchase and rental. As for the content partners, they're not quite shabby: MTV Networks, NBC, Paramount, Universal Studios, and Warner, with more to be announced. Purchased content can be shared with up to five devices. What's not specified is pricing. We should be getting hands-on with it soon, so stay tuned -- or whatever the internet equivalent of that idiom is.
Samsung Galaxy Tab WiFi-only version coming, 3G versions almost certain to require contracts
After revealing the Galaxy Tab will be coming to all four major US carriers, Samsung also said a WiFi-only version will be coming soon. No word on pricing or availability yet, but it's pretty critical that Samsung meet the $499 base price of the iPad, especially since the Wall Street Journal says the carriers will offer the 3G version for $200 - $300, a price point that all but guarantees required data contracts given the unlocked European pricing. We'll be trying to find out more after the press conference, so stay tuned...
Official: Samsung Galaxy Tab headed to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon
That's right! Once again, Samsung's gotten all four of the major US carriers in its court -- and just as we'd heard, the 7-inch Galaxy Tab will be heading to Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile sometime during the October / November timeframe. We wish we had more to share on the availability part, but Samsung's leaving that and the pricing announcements to the carriers. (We do know that the keyboard dock will cost $100 and the desktop dock $50.) We got to check out the US version of the Galaxy Tab earlier today, and its raw specs -- 1GHz Hummingbird, Android 2.2, 7-inch, 1024 x 600 WSVGA resolution display, front and rear cams -- were exactly the same as the one we previewed last week at IFA. However, Samsung tells us that TouchWiz will be tweaked slightly for the stateside crowd -- it won't have the Reader or Music hubs, but will have the social networking apps and a new Media Hub. There will also be preloaded carrier apps -- for instance, AT&T's version will come with its Connection Manager. Obviously, we can only hope that Verizon's wised up and isn't planning to totally Bing-out its Tab. No word on an unlocked or WiFi version hitting the US, but apparently it's being talked about internally. We'll be bringing you some more hands-on shots soon and trying to dig up more on pricing, but hit the break for the full press release. Updated: Samsung just confirmed that a WiFi-only version will come at some point...
Verizon to announce Samsung Galaxy Tab on Thursday?
We pretty much assumed this would go down at Samsung's event on Thursday, but now we've got more confirmation Verizon will indeed carry the Samsung Galaxy Tab -- check out this leaked screenshot from the employees-only VZWeb system. Details are light, but it looks like Froyo and Flash 10.1 will be preinstalled along with "a number of exclusive apps" to differentiate it from the rumored versions coming to AT&T and Sprint -- we'd say Skype fits the bill quite nicely here, as does the thanks-for-telling-us-it-costs-$10-per-month NFL Mobile app with live game streaming and the RedZone channel. Unfortunately, it sounds like we'll have a bit of a wait for pricing and availability details, which will be released "over the coming weeks," and that's really all we want to know -- if this thing requires a two-year contract we're thisclose to calling it a dud out of the gate. We'll see, we'll see -- Thursday's only two days away.
Exclusive: Galaxy Tab, red / white BlackBerry Torch and Samsung Focus hitting AT&T in Q4
Mmm, delicious. That's the feeling we're left with after being inundated with yet another round of AT&T leaks, this time giving us insight at a few flagship devices on tap for the carrier's holiday push. First up is the Galaxy Tab -- an Android 2.2-based tablet that we had previously heard rumored for AT&T's airwaves. Thanks to a branded snapshot from the carrier's internals, we can confirm that the Tab will indeed be sold on Ma Bell, and it (along with three other new Android devices) will ship "prior to December." Moving on, we've got even more confirmation that the Samsung Cetus (i917) will be one of the operator's first Windows Phone 7 devices, and it looks as if a heretofore unheard of Samsung Focus and HTC Surround will be joining it. Better still, we've got it on good authority that three other WP7 handsets will be splashing down alongside those others in time for the holidays. As for the remaining BlackBerry loyalists, AT&T will be tempting you with a trio of limited run Torch motifs coming in "mid to late November," with an all-white version, red / black model and olive colored edition on tap. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground for more, naturally. %Gallery-102059%
Samsung Galaxy Tab heading to Verizon, AT&T, Sprint?
The way that rumors and Verizon's statements have been lining up this year, you might've been under the impression that its upcoming Android tablets would be carrier exclusives -- but maybe not: ye olde Wall Street Journal is citing "three people familiar with the matter" (it's not often they give a quantity of familiar people!) as saying that Big Red, AT&T, and Sprint are all on tap to take delivery of the Galaxy Tab. In light of Samsung's strategy in deploying the Galaxy S as far and wide (and with as little exclusivity) as possible, that'd certainly make sense -- the company is comfortable switching between GSM, CDMA, and even WiMAX radios at this point without breaking a sweat. Speaking of WiMAX, this rumor certainly lends credence to the possibility that the Sprint version will be 4G-equipped, giving the Epic a big brother in the carrier's growing stable of sexy WiMAX hardware. Samsung has an event lined up in New York next Thursday, the 16th (which we'll be attending, naturally) and the WSJ goes on to say that the Tab's US unveil is going to go down there. Pricing remains an open question, but considering that the Tab's a full-on cellphone in addition to a data device, it seems that American customers might need to be comfortable with another contract if they want in on this thing. Ouch.
Samsung vows to ship 10 million Galaxy Tabs, grab a third of the tablet market
We may still be waiting on final word of pricing and availability for the Galaxy Tab, but it doesn't look like Samsung is wasting any time in making some pretty bold claims about it. Speaking with The Wall Street Journal, Samsung product executive Hankil Yoon said that the company expects to ship 10 million Galaxy Tabs and grab a third of the global tablet market by next year. Yoon further added that Samsung eventually plans to introduce a whole family of Galaxy Tab devices, although it's not clear if those factor into his sales projections. Anyway you slice it, however, ten million tablets is a lot of relief on the go.
Samsung excuses absence of Super AMOLED on Galaxy Tab with Super TFT (video)
A Super AMOLED 7-inch tablet was highly unlikely to ever materialize in a marketable form, but that didn't stop many of us from dreaming about one. Consequently, there was palpable disappointment when Samsung failed to deliver on our unicorn hallucinations with the Galaxy Tab, but the company says not to worry. The Tab's 7 inches of glorious visuals are being handled by a Super TFT panel, surely the Korean company's answer to Sony's Super LCD. It's a screen technology that has been developed "alongside" Super AMOLED and just so happens to offer better battery performance and an obvious saving in cost. We're usually inclined to consider such moves cynical marketing ploys -- keep the Super branding, drop the actual super hardware -- but the SLCD display on the HTC Desire gives us faith that perhaps TFTs really can be souped up. Video after the break.
