The Samsung Galaxy Tab, model number GT-P1000, has been officially shown off at the IFA show in Berlin. So the good news is that this tablet computer is a real product, it hasn’t fallen foul of the Great Tablet Curse of 2010!
You can read the full text of the press release below, but the important fact is that while it’s being released in Europe within the next fortnight, the Samsung Galaxy Tab release date for Australia, Korea, the US and Asia will be late 2010. Note also in the press release that this is “first of the company’s tablet devices, representing a new category of mobile products for Samsung.”
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is like the Apple iPad, except smaller. Oh, with the addition of a Bluetooth headset it IS a phone as well, and it DOES play Flash, so you will see ALL of the web as you browse.
Specifications
Final specs will vary from country to country, but here’s the specs listed by Samsung at the launch:
- Network: 3G – HSUPA 5.76Mbps, HSDPA 7.2Mbps, 900/1900/2100 MHz; EDGE/GPRS/ EDGE 850/900/1800/ 1900 MHz
- Display: 7.0 inch TFT-LCD, WSVGA (1024 x 600)
- Dimensions: 109.9 x 120.45 x 11.98 mm
- Weight: 380 grams
- Operating system: Android 2.2 (Froyo)
- Downloadable apps market
- Processor: 1.0 GHz application processor with PowerVR SGX540
- Battery: 4,000mAh (7 hour movie play)
- Camera: 3 megapixel with Auto-Focus and LED flash
- GPS: Assisted GPS
- Video: Full HD (1080p) video player and recorder (720 x 480) @ 30fps
- 3.5 mm earphone jack
- Music formats played: MP3, AAC, OGG, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, FLAC, WAV, AC3, MIDI, RTTTL/RTX, OTA, i-Melody, SP-MIDI
- Video formats played: DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and more
- Memory: Two models, 16G and 32G internal memory, with up to 32G external memory slot
- RAM: 512 MB
- Android browser: Flash Player 10.1 support, RSS reader
- Touch: Multi-touch zoom
- Integrated email: Gmail, MS Exchange ActiveSync
Samsung Galaxy Tab press release
Berlin, Germany, September 2nd, 2010 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in mobile technology, today announced the launch of the Samsung GALAXY Tab (Model: GT-P1000). Powered by Android Operating System 2.2, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the first of the company’s tablet devices, representing a new category of mobile products for Samsung.
The Samsung GALAXY Tab brings together all of Samsung’s leading innovations to provide users with more capabilities while on the move. Consumers are able to experience PC-like web-browsing and enjoy all forms of multimedia content on the perfectly sized 7-inch display, wherever they go. Moreover, users can continuously communicate via e-mail, voice and video call, SMS/MMS or social network with the optimized user interface.
“Samsung recognizes the tremendous growth potential in this newly created market and we believe that the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a unique and open proposition to market. There is a new and emerging consumer demand that Samsung can satisfy since mobile is in our DNA. This demand continues to grow and develop as users tap its limitless potential,” said JK Shin, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung GALAXY Tab has been designed to enable consumers to maximize their online experience wherever that may be. The Samsung GALAXY Tab is pushing the market in new directions and Samsung believes this is only the beginning of its innovations as pioneers in smart media devices.”
A new concept of mobility for media
As a new category of device, the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a wealth of mobile experiences. Its striking 7” TFT-LCD display delivers exciting mobile experience for watching films, viewing pictures, e-reading or sharing documents. In design, its light (380g) build provides perfect portability, with its svelte dimensions making it easy to grip and use. Supporting the latest Adobe Flash Player 10.1, the Samsung GALAXY Tab fully supports swift, seamless viewing of every single page of the web.
The ‘Readers Hub,’ Samsung’s unique e-reading application, provides easy access to a vast digital library – from classical literature to the latest bestsellers and reference materials. At the same time, Samsung unveils ‘Media Hub,’ a gateway to a world of films and videos, and ‘Music Hub,’ an application giving access to a wide range of music tunes.
The Samsung GALAXY Tab has made rich communication truly mobile; it presents a level of converged technology that moves beyond mobile or PC to an entirely new category. Users have new powers to consume, create and communicate from wherever they are.
Powerful, always-on communication
With 3G HSPA connectivity, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth® 3.0, the Samsung GALAXY Tab enhances users’ mobile communication on a whole new level. Video conferencing and push email on the large 7-inch display make communication more smooth and efficient. For voice telephony, the Samsung GALAXY Tab turns out to be a perfect speakerphone on the desk, or a mobile phone on the move via Bluetooth® headset.
Powered by a Cortex A8 1.0GHz application processor, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is designed to deliver high performance whenever and wherever you are. At the same time, HD video contents are supported by a wide range of multimedia formats (DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and more), which maximizes the joy of entertainment.
While the front-facing camera allows face-to-face video telephony over 3G, the rear-facing camera captures still images and video that you can edit, upload and share, all without any hassle. As online content explodes, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the best portable solution for every lifestyle that needs a constant connection.
The Samsung GALAXY Tab will be launched in Europe in mid September, and in other markets including Korea, the US and Asia in coming months.