CNet News
NEW YORK–Samsung’s assault on Apple is under way, as the company unveils its plans for its new tablet PC as well as a new service that allows consumers to purchase or rent TV shows and movies on their Samsung mobile devices.
At an event here at the Time Warner Center tonight, Samsung took the wraps off its iPad-killer, the Galaxy Tab. It also announced a new service called Media Hub, an iTunes-like service, which allows consumers to buy and rent movies and TV shows for their Samsung portable devices.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is an Android-based tablet that will be launched in Europe in early fall and in other markets including Korea, the U.S., and Asia in the following months. Pricing is yet to be announced.
>Pricing is yet to be announced.
Although it will be sold through cell phone carriers – so it’s going to cost you $3k over the contract whatever the actual hardwarecosts
Galaxy Tab is listed on Amazon UK at £799. Now that’s smackdown…
I would think it would do better with a Wifi only option sold through retail outlets. Considering the iPad might be coming to places like Target and WalMart soon. But for me I don’t want any of them. They are all tied to closely with the manufacture and it really does not matter if its Android or Apple. Your stuck with what you got. I have a iPod Touch and except for some games and checking mail. Its too small and sluggish for any real web surfing.
Steve is wrong. Amazon is selling it for only £680.
[That’s $1063 US… ouch! – ed.]
I think an open source OS on an overly expensive device is, wrong.
There is going to be an avalanche of Android tablets in early 2011. This one is nice but Google won’t have a true tablet profile for Android until Gingerbread. This may be upgradeable however.
I’m still thinking iPAD is the jail to be in for now even though one’s compelled to stay there once they’re in.
I already have one android device (Sprint EVO) with Internet access that, if rooted, will give me a free 3G/4G wifi access point (screw paying the carrier $30 for the “privilege”). I don’t need another wireless bill. Just give me a wifi version with no contract please.
Same as with smart phones Google Android is late to the game and weak on start but has unbeatable evolutionary approach. Many Android tablets will emerge, strongest will survive and their specs will lead next similar cycle. Apple effort, no matter how ingenious can’t match practical evolutionary forces (never mind even less genius MS effort). iPad v2 is the likely the last iPad to dominate (though I am sure Apple will have enough of the expensive niche to thrive off the front place).
Now where are those USB ports and card slots on this SamsungTab…
As long as other products are called “iPad killers” or “iPhone killers” or “iPod killers”, Apple has nothing to worry about.
[That’s $1063 US… ouch! – ed.]
For the same price you can get a touch screen laptop that flips into a tablet. It’s also a fully functional computer
android has a Cheap base(chip set)
Cheap OS..free
The hardware will be Upgraded, VERY quickly.
Each and every year, there will be an Improved hardware.
NOW, as they did with laptops..Give me a switch to TURN OFF the antenna’s/RF/wifi/3g/…, that are NOT IN USE
I just bought my daughter a really nice netbook w/ camera, mic., led backlight, six hour battery, etc. for $200. The price for the Galaxy is utterly outrageous.
The price is outrageous because they expect you to buy it subsidized from a carrier not purchase it outright.
Way too expensive and kind of disappointing in capability.
This is the Palm/PDA of our present time: it’s kind of cool, you get one, you play with it for a while, then you finally realize it’s just a toy, you don’t really need it, you sell it or let it rot in a drawer and… Look, new toy has been released! Ooooooh, shiny!
“Google executives have said that Android tablet manufacturers and application developers will have to wait until the release of the Android 3.0 operating system before they are able to fully develop Market Place applications that are specifically designed for a new range of tablets currently being released into the Australian market.”
Samsung seems to be trying to position this product to guarantee failure – they are charging more that the iPad, the hardware specs aren’t much good, and Google has said that the apps won’t run very well.
Samsung’s marketing slogan: “It’s not that magical or revolutionary, and there isn’t an app for that.”
I sort of agree with Dallas on this one. It is going to be a while before the Android OS gets the touch up it needs to be world class on this even though it is the best option available besides the ipad. I don’t think making equal or better hardware is an issue.
I still consider it to be a very over priced toy for media consumption.
I did purchase a kendle because while limited it allowed me to do what I wanted to do at a much lower price point.
I did a little thinking after I made my purchase and now realize that even though it means nothing to me Amazon was remarkably lack witted in not fixing it so that a device meant to facilitate the sell of media and which can play audio books can’t download and play the MP3 files Amazon also has for sell.
In my opinion Amazon would be well advised to make sure the kindle, in some form, can download and play all the media it has for sell and then sell the device at or near cost.
The real battle is going to be over market share and both Amazon and it seems Google are getting deeper and deeper into media retail sales. A cheap but good kindle like/ipad like device that is strongly tied back to Amazon is one way to try and hold on to what they have.
plus all the $$$ extra for the data transfers.. oh wait!!!, dont ya know? the wireless data connection is the new $5,000 a gallon ink??
😛
A while back, I acquired a Nook ereader and, against my suspicions found I thoroughly love it! While trying to use it’s rudimentary web browser, I found I might want a tablet. Since I do not want to be told what I can and cannot do with my personal gear, there will be no iPad in my life. So, I was anxiously awaiting the Tab. But at over $1000, I won’t be buying one. In fact, I won’t be buying ANY tablet that is tied to a phone company. I have a phone. I don’t need/want another no matter how ungainly it is. There will be far better options coming soon.
Do we even need tablets?
Or is this just more stupid fanboy(media) lust for another stupid gadget.
Have fun with your tard pads.
Other reports I’ve seen put the US price at between $200 – $400. If that’s the case, I’d be very interested. iPads are cool, but they’re way too expensive, and I just can’t manage to choke down the Jobs ego factor.
# 21 eighthnote “Other reports I’ve seen put the US price at between $200 – $400.”
That price point is if you sign on to a two year contract with a phone company. I hope they make a wifi only version.
# 20 fargonaz said, “Do we even need tablets?”
Well, sir. It’s quite possible you don’t. I travel a lot. I mean A LOT. I’d like to have a sort of a computer with me without the weight and bulk of a laptop or even my netbook. Right now, my Nexus One fills in for me on these trips but more would be nice.
So, “need” is a relative concept. Do I “need” one? No. Do I want one? You bet.
@ #17 Advantage iPAD. The iPAD is the gold standard for tablets and Android is the only real alternative even if companies are pushing tablet products (like Samsung) with a smartphone OS.
Microsoft is MIA but the likely third alternative – some day.
One can’t help but like the iPAD (never mind price) but what I fear the most is Apple locks down their platform way too much for my liking.
Having said that, I’m getting an iPAD on Jesus’s birthday for my magazine and photography addictions. Industry rumors suggest Apple may reduce iPAD prices in the 4th quarter a little and may even produce a 7 incher.
Who would pay thousands of dollars for this thing? (Thousands being the likely total cost after paying 2 years of phone company contract) Small, low-res screen; probably middling build quality; probably bastardised by the carriers; no or tardy OS updates because it’s Samsung and they don’t care — and besides, they know you’re stuck paying for the thing for 2 years regardless. Seems overpriced.
Why?
I wouldn’t buy a netbook either. Slow; tiny low-res screens; not even impressive battery life. They are basically pieces of crap and a massive step backwards in computing. The only good point is the light weight; I have one and it was light enough to stay velcro-d on to a tilting table even at 90 degrees with the screen out when I was in hospital for 6 weeks before Christmas -being able to stay connected was great. Coming home to my desktop was lovely, however (almost as good as walking again) – there is no substitute for raw power.
#26 Pedro, yep, I’m going for an iPAD because it’s just the best and regain face with my gay friends again as a bonus.
So, are you like this 7″ tablet or you still prefer a basic 10 incher in black?
There ya go.
http://crunchgear.com/2010/05/28/the-top-seven-ipad-knockoffs/
Yeah, its way too expensive. But come back at the January sale – and you might just find a cheap one 😉
I was very skeptical of all these devices, until I got a 3rd generation Ipod Touch, which I absolutely love. I got a Virgin Mobile Mifi unit for it, which does cost $40 a month, but for that I can listen to Internet radio and music (which I do constantly), do emails, read books (I don’t mind the little screen), browse the Net or read news, and use Skype. I’m thinking of dropping my cell phone and just using Skype – the sound quality is actually better and the connection is pretty reliable. It’s great for me as I travel a lot and the Touch has actually taken the place of even a netbook, and I can just stick it in my purse or pocket.
I just don’t see the need for the tablets – for the money, I’d get another netbook – or 3 or 4 at these prices.
@25,
Not all netbooks are slow and lame. My Acer Aspire One runs the full-fledged Ubuntu (or XP) and all the same applications I use on a desktop. I’m just not into games, everything else runs fine. 2 GB of RAM, 320 HD, 1.6 GHz processor, it’s almost as powerful as my old desktop. Battery life is not bad, 6-cell gives me about 5 hours with Wifi on. My only complaint is the screen, I really do wish it was taller.