Pathik Shah

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Review: First Look

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is the successor to the most popular Android tablet yet – the Samsung Galaxy Tab. It will be unveiled today at the Mobile World Congress 2011. Just ahead of the official launch, some images and details of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 have already leaked out. It will be powered by Android 3.0 Honeycomb, the latest version of the Android OS.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Specifications

Display: 10.1 inch SuperAMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen display, 1280 x 800 pixels
OS: Android 3.0 Honeycomb
Processor: 1 GHz dual core processor
RAM: 1 GB RAM
Camera: 8 MP camera with HD video recording
Connectivity: Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 3G HSDPA

Design

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 is much bigger than the Galaxy Tab and has a bigger display than the Apple iPad. But it will be much lighter and slimmer than both. It might be a bit bulky compared to 7 inch Android tablets, but should be slimmer than the Motorola Xoom. On the back, there is a rounded Samsung logo and the camera with flash.

OS and Hardware

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 will come with Android 3.0 Honeycomb, like all other major Android tablets launching in 2011. It will be powered bv a 1 GHz (or 1.2 GHz) dual core processor and will have 1 GB RAM. It will be one of the most powerful Android tablets at launch. It also has 32 GB / 64 GB internal storage.

Multimedia

The Galaxy Tab 2 will come with an 8 MP camera with flash and will also have a secondary camera (likely 2 MP) for video calls. It supports full HD video recording and playback and also comes with dual stereo speakers.

Connectivity

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 will have all the standard connectivity options – GPRS, EDGE, 3G HSDPA, Bluetooth 3.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n. It is also expected to offer 4G connectivity (HSPA+ or LTE).

The Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 will be one of the best Android tablets in 2010. It seems capable enough to beat the Apple iPad, Motorola Xoom and even the Apple iPad 2 when it comes out (taking in account the rumored specs). It is likely to be priced at around $700-$800 with a Wi-Fi only version priced lower.

Images via SamsungHub

Samsung Galaxy Tab vs Motorola Xoom – Fight!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is the best Android tablet currently available. The Motorola Xoom which was just announced is an excellent Android tablet too, and offers much more than the Galaxy Tab, but it will be available only by March.

In this post, I will compare the two – Motorola Xoom vs Samsung Galaxy Tab

Motorola Xoom vs Samsung Galaxy Tab

Design

Both the Motorola Xoom and the Samsung Galaxy Tab have roughly the same design and form factor with a few changes. While the Motorola Xoom has a bigger display, the Galaxy Tab is much more portable. It boils down to whether you want a bigger but bulkier device, or a portable one.

Display

The Motorola Xoom has a 10.1 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The Galaxy Tab has a smaller 7 inch TFT touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. Again, it boils down to personal choice. Portability vs Size.

OS

The Motorola Xoom comes with Android 3.0 Honeycomb – the latest version of Android made specifically for tablets. The Galaxy Tab comes with Android 2.2 Froyo. Both of them will have their custom UIs. Android 3.0 is obviously much better suited to tablets. The Motorola Xoom is the clear winner in this category.

Hardware

The Motorola Xoom comes with a 1 GHz dual core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and 1 GB RAM while the Galaxy Tab has a 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor with 512 MB RAM. The Xoom comes with 32 GB internal storage while the Galaxy Tab offers 16 GB. Clearly, the Motorola Xoom is twice as better as the Galaxy Tab in this category.

Multimedia

The Motorola Xoom will come with a 5 MP camera and is capable of 1080p HD video playback, while the Galaxy Tab can only handle 720p. The Xoom also has a 5 MP camera with dual LED flash while the Galaxy Tab has a 3.15 MP camera. The Xoom has a 2 MP secondary camera while the Galaxy Tab has a 1.3 MP secondary camera.

Again, the Motorola Xoom is the better choice.

Connectivity

Both the Motorola Xoom and the Samsung Galaxy Tab have almost similar connectivity options – 3G HSDPA, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS etc. The Motorola Xoom will get a 4G LTE connectivity upgrade while the Galaxy Tab is limited to 3G. Xoom wins.

The Verdict

The Motorola Xoom is undoubtedly the better Android tablet offering. It is much more powerful, has a better OS, better camera and better connectivity. But if you want portability, the Galaxy Tab is still your best bet.

Note: Samsung has announced an upgraded version of the Galaxy Tab. It will comes with a 5 MP camera, 1.2 GHz processor and 4G LTE connectivity. It might also get Android 3.0 Honeycomb.

Sony Playstation PSP Phone Review: First Look and Specifications

It seems like the rumored PSP phone by Sony wasn’t a rumor after all. It’s very real, and it’s awesome. Engadget, today, revealed some detailed images and specifications of the soon-to-be-launched Sony Playstation phone.

Sony Playstation PSP Phone Review: Specifications

It will sport a horizontal slider design with a 4.1 inch touchscreen display and a sliding control pad. It will run Android 3.0 Gingerbread and will support both the Android Market and a custom Sony Marketplace which will offer games designed specifically for the PSP phone.

It will be powered by a 1 GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor with 512 MB RAM. It has a 1 GB ROM and supports microSD cards. It will likely launch in Q1 2011, though a late 2010 holiday release seems plausible too.

Finally an awesome Android phone to replace my aging PSP and not-so-smart Symbian phone. The perfect device for all gaming geeks. Definitely my next phone (For real, this time).

For more details, head over to Engadget.

Note: I hope the Apple-Sony buyout deal doesn’t happen now, as we all know what the fate of this phone will be, if that deal does go through.

10 Reasons Why I’m Buying the Samsung Galaxy Tab (And You Should Too)

Samsung Galaxy Tab Review

1. Android

It’s the first serious Android tablet that can go head to head against the iPad, and probably win. It runs the latest version – Android 2.2 Froyo, and comes with the TouchWiz 3.0 UI optimized for a higher resolution display and Swype for text input.

2. Hardware

It has much better hardware specifications than the iPad. A 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor coupled with a PowerVR SGX540 graphics processor with 512 MB RAM (the iPad has just 256 MB RAM). It comes with 16 GB internal storage and support for 32 GB microSD cards.

3. Apps and Games

The Galaxy Tab supports all apps and games from the Android Market (many other Android tablets don’t). Most existing apps scale up properly to the larger resolution. As the display isn’t as big as the iPad’s 9.7 incher, even the scaled up apps won’t look as ugly as iPhone apps looked on the iPad. Besides, Samsung has included enough apps on it tailored specifically for the tablet form factor.

4. Multitasking

As it runs Android 2.2 Froyo with 512 MB RAM and a 1 GHz processor, you can easily multitask dozens of apps. The iPad can’t (though it will get multitasking with the iOS 4.2 update by the end of 2010, I don’t think 256 MB RAM will be enough).

5. Connectivity

It offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB and 3G connectivity. It can also function as a phone, and you can also make video calls using the built in camera. It also has built in GPS. Pretty much everything you will need.

6. Multimedia

It offers much better multimedia capabilities than the iPad or any other tablet. Like the Galaxy S, it can directly playback MP4, DivX, XviD, MKV and even RMVB in 720p. No need to convert any videos, you can directly transfer them to the Galaxy Tab and watch them.

7. Camera

It has two cameras – a front facing VGA camera and a 3.2 MP camera on the back. The front camera can be used for video conferencing while the one of the back can be used to record video and capture casual shots. (The iPad has neither).

8. Display

It has a 7 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels (higher pixel density than the iPad). A SuperAMOLED display would have been awesome, but I guess the shortage of SuperAMOLED panels didn’t help.

9. Portability

It is much more portable than the iPad. It weighs close to half what the iPad does and is also much smaller. Perfect for one handed usage, ebook reading and watching videos. It is also pretty stylish.

10. Pricing and Availability

Very few tablets are available internationally. The iPad still isn’t available in India officially and neither are most of the el cheapo Android tablets. Getting one from the grey market is very expensive. The Galaxy Tab should be available in India soon, and is expected to be priced around $500.

Unless Samsung screws up the pricing, I’m definitely getting the Galaxy Tab. Are you?

The early reviews of the Samsung Galaxy Tab are already out (and they are looking great).

Check some out:

Mobile Review – Samsung Galaxy Tab – First Look

Engadget – Samsung Galaxy Tab Preview

Gizmodo – Samsung Galaxy Tab – Quick Look

Samsung Galaxy Tab vs Apple iPad: Comparison

In this post, I will compare the Samsung Galaxy Tab, an Android tablet by Samsung which will be launched on September 2, and the Apple iPad, which is the best tablet available currently.

Apple iPad vs Samsung Galaxy Tab

Display

The Apple iPad has a 9.7 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The Samsung Galaxy Tab, on the other hand, will have a 7.0 inch TFT display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. The display of the Galaxy Tab is smaller but I would prefer that as it’s more portable, and also has a much higher pixel density.

Hardware

The Apple iPad has a 1 GHz A4 processor and comes with 256 MB RAM. The Galaxy Tab will have a 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor and will have 512 MB RAM. The Galaxy Tab clearly wins in this aspect.

The iPad is available in 16, 32 and 64 GB versions while the Galaxy Tab will have a 16 GB version with support for up to 32 GB microSD cards.

Operating System

The Apple iPad runs the older version of iOS – iOS 3.2.2 which doesn’t offer features like multitasking and folders. It should get the iOS 4 update soon though. The Samsung Galaxy Tab will come with Android 2.2 Froyo and will probably also get the upgrade to Android 3.0 Gingerbread. It offers full multitasking and folder support as well as many other features. I would go with the Galaxy Tab on this one.

After iOS 4 releases for the iPad, the scales may tilt in the iPad’s favor.

Applications and Games

The Apple iPad can run almost all of the 200,000 apps and games built for the iPhone. It also has over 12,000 native applications written specifically for the iPad.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab will presumably support applications from the Android Market, which add up to about 80,000. However, Android apps customized for bigger displays with higher resolutions will be hard to find initially. The iPad definitely wins this one.

Multimedia

Watching videos on the iPad is a huge hassle, as it doesn’t support most video formats. You have to convert videos to M4V, MP4 or MOV using the appropriate codecs (H.264, MPEG-4). On the Galaxy Tab, we will have support for H.264, XviD, DivX, MP4, MKV and even RMVB videos. You will probably be able to play most videos directly without having to convert them. It also has the better display.

The Galaxy Tab will also have a 3.2 MP camera and a front facing VGA camera. The iPad doesn’t have one. The Galaxy Tab easily wins this round.

Connectivity

The iPad offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity. You can also get the 3G connectivity option by paying $130 extra. The Galaxy Tab will sport Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 and also includes 3G in the base version. The Galaxy Tab also has a GPS transceiver with A-GPS support, which only the iPad 3G model has. It also has an HDMI out.

Galaxy Tab wins!

The Verdict

I have compared the Apple iPad with what we know about the Samsung Galaxy Tab so far, and the Galaxy Tab clearly comes out on top. It should be priced lower than the iPad. The Galaxy Tab will also be available in countries which don’t have the iPad, like India, which makes it a much better option for me. I am definitely getting the Galaxy Tab, are you?