Category Archives: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Gets Reviewed, Found Skinny and a Bit Buggy (Video)

Posted by on September 16, 2011 1 comment

The time has come to review the world’s most controversial tablet and it’s not even a HP model I’m talking about. Coming after a couple of months of legal trouble from Apple, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 started off as a potentially doomed slate, since it was banned in a few countries, but the ban was eventually lifted. What we have right here is a Honeycomb unit and the one that I tested lacked TouchWiz sadly.

Considering what I’ve been hearing recently, that the TouchWiz update cripples the Galaxy Tab 10.1 rather than enhance it, I’m lucky I didn’t get it. Supposedly, TouchWiz and the update bricked a number of units and really dug into the battery life. Back to our device on the testing table, this slate is thinner and lighter than the iPad, at 8.6mm and 565 grams respectively… and that’s felt the moment you grab the gadget with two hands.

The only time when I felt that Samsung was copying Apple was when I found out that this tablet lacks any kind of useful port. No trace of SD or microSD card slot, micro USB, full USB, HDMI or anything like that. We’ll have to do with an audio jack and the 30 pin port provided by Samsung. The display is top notch quality, with a 10.1 inch diagonal, widescreen view and 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, superior to the one on the iPad 2.

Galaxy Tab 10.1 comes with a 1GB of RAM, up to 64GB of internal memory and the usual dual core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor at 1GHz. HSPA+ connectivity of up to 21Mbps is available, as well as WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0. Don’t expect too much from the 3MP camera at the back, although on paper it promises HD 720p video recording. At least it has an LED flash and autofocus.. and it’s paired with a front 2 megapixel camera for videocalls.

The experience with this model didn’t give me any specific thrills in comparison with other Honeycomb models. The only difference here is the Samsung dedicated App Store and the Music Hub, that gives you the latest hits in the music industry for a certain price. In the Samsung application store there are a few nifty apps, like the Benny e-book for kids or the Star Chart for astronomy buffs. All in all I had a pleasant experience with this very light and thin tablet… but in the end the software spoiled it for me.

The tablet froze to bricked status for a day or two and that was a complete turn off for me. I may have been unlucky enough to get a buggy device, but that’s not the case. The bugs I saw here are the same as the ones on any other Honeycomb tablet: force closes especially in the YouTube app and lots of lag and blocks when the tablet runs multiple apps. Maybe with Android 4.0 this slate will perform better…


Logitech Keyboard Case for Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Now Available for $100

Posted by on September 15, 2011 No comments

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It wasn’t but Mid-August that we learned about and were able to preorder Logitech’s keyboard case for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. The keyboard case is enabled via Bluetooth and essentially turns your tablet into a netbook either in portrait or landscape mode.

I’m sure this will be a hot commodity for many. It’s recently been taken out of preorder status and seems to be in shipping mode, according to their site. Throw down your $100 for one and see if they really are shipping them. Let us know if you are able to report the mission to be accomplished. [Logitech, Thanks Greg!]

Did a Galaxy Tab 10.1 With T-Mobile Radios Pass the FCC?

Posted by on September 12, 2011 No comments

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T-Mobile could be gearing up to offer the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 alongside their forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S II. A device with the Tab 10.1′s dimensions has been spotted making rounds at the FCC. Inside? T-Mobile’s AWS bands for use on their 3G network and HSPA+ network. Exciting.

Internals – such as processor speed/type, internal storage and RAM – may differ from the original WiFi-only product, but we don’t expect much to be different. In case you’ve been living under a rock, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a 1GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16-32GB of internal storage, a 10.1 inch HD display, Android 3.0+ and more.

Unfortunately Samsung elected to forgo ports such as HDMI, standard USB and SDHC in favor of thinness. It’s a big tradeoff, but if size is important to you then the 8.6mm thin Galaxy Tab 10.1 will make you forgot all about those wasted opportunities. We’ll assume that this one will make it in time for Santa. [Engadget]

Buy a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Smart Case and Stick it to Apple

Posted by on September 12, 2011 No comments

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A couple months back, in the midst of an Apple lawsuit claiming that many of Samsung’s product infringe directly patents pertaining to the iPad and iPhone, the appearance of a so-called Smart Case from Anymode seemed like a rather odd choice as an officially licensed tablet Galaxy Tab accessory. The Smart Case, you see, is in almost every way identical to the Smart Cover introduced alongside the iPad 2. Of course, Samsung was quick to point out that they had no involvement in the design and conception of the Samrt Cover clone, and little has been seen of it since. Well now you can pick up your very own for a few cents under $15. It’s the only case that says “see if I care how much this product blatantly rips off Apple.” Sticking it to the man.

[via Case in the Box | Thanks, Andy!]

Loophole Allows German Retailers to Continue Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Sales Despite Injunction

Posted by on September 12, 2011 No comments

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A recent decision handed down by a German court upheld an earlier decision to ban the sale of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the country, but a loophole in how the tablet is distributed may allow for retailers to continue stocking the Android Honeycomb slate. A technicality in the law not only allows for the remaining stock of Galaxy Tab 10.1 units to be sold off, but also for ordering new units from Samsung.

The catch is retailers must circumvent ordering their supply directly from Samsung Germany. Routing orders through another branch of Sammy’s distribution chain would allow for the replenishment of Galaxy Tab stock, but it is unclear if stores such as Media Markt, a popular electronics shop in the Netherlands and Germany, will take advantage. Regardless, it sounds like those who really want to get their hands on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will still have the opportunity to do so.

[via AndroidPolice]

Judge Upholds Injunction Against Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany

Posted by on September 9, 2011 10 comments

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Samsung may have gotten their victory in the Netherlands but I’m sure Apple’s not mad at the latest decision in their Germany lawsuit. A judge has ruled that the preliminary injunction against Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (which effectively blocks the sale and advertisement of the device in Germany) will not be lifted.

They didn’t indicate whether or not this injunction would be permanent, but Samsung will have a chance to make an appeal or countersue Apple. Surely you don’t think they’ll take this one lying down, either.

While we’re not sure how much Samsung values their business in Germany, we’re almost sure they don’t value it low enough to brush the decision off and move on. We’re in for a lengthy one, folks. [FOSSP via Gizmodo]

Waterproof Fujitsu LTE F-01D Joins Galaxy Tab 10.1 on Japan’s NTT DoCoMo

Posted by on September 8, 2011 No comments

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NTT DoCoMo is gearing up to release their first LTE-enabled tablets, a pair that includes the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and a new slate from Fujitsu, the ARROWS Tab LTE F-01D. While the Galaxy Tab is the same device we have become familiar with in other parts of the world, the Fujitsu tablet is something new altogether. Along with its dual-core OMAP 4 CPU, 10.1-inch screen, and Android Honeycomb installation, the ARROWS Tab features a waterproof design and “Hand Gesture Control.” The latter feature apparently allows for touch-free control of the tablet while the former allows Fujitsu’s first Honeycomb tablet to be the perfect bathtub companion.

Both tablets should become available next month, though a newly filed lawsuit on Apple’s behalf has the potential to create the same problems for the Galaxy Tab’s release in Japan as it has in other regions of the world.

[via TechCrunch]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Gets Unboxed at Tablet News (Video)

Posted by on September 3, 2011 1 comment

It’s finally that time of the month again, when we get to unbox and review fresh new devices. This time we have a controversial device on our hands, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, that for a while was theoretically banned in Europe, after Apple’s legal attack against Samsung for presumably copying the iPad with this device.

This is certainly a slate to keep an eye out for, since it’s thinner and lighter than the iPad 2, plus it delivers Honeycomb in an excellent package. The box of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 includes the device, a bunch of manuals, a charger, cable and most importantly headphoens. It’s not often that we get to see tablet makers actually caring about the audio side and giving us headphones.

The first contact with the slate makes it feel dangerously thin, maybe even too thin for my big hands. It feels like I could drop it any time, but the finishes are elegant and overall the tablet looks great. One thing I noticed immediately is that this doesn’t look like a 10 inch tablet at all, so the display is very well integrated into the small chassis. We’ll be back with a full review in a couple of days.


Samsung Delays Australian Launch of Galaxy Tab 10.1

Posted by on August 29, 2011 No comments

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After promising to release the Galaxy Tab 10.1 on time despite current litigation with Apple, Samsung has wised up and delayed the launch of their Android slate in Australia pending the result of a court ruling to be handed down the week of September 26th. The Australian case is just one of many in which Samsung is defending their right to sell tablet and smartphone products in the face of Apple’s allegations of blatant patent and design infringement. So far, preliminary rulings in European courts have favored Apple, but Samsung hopes to have initial decisions overturned upon review and plans to countersue.

[via Reuters]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Available for Free With a Samsung HDTV Purchase From Best Buy

Posted by on August 19, 2011 1 comment


If you’re looking for a free tablet, stop hunting those carrier offers that include monthly fees and check this out: an offer that gives you a free slate with the purchase of a TV. I’m talking about Best Buy’s Samsung 3D TV promotion, available starting August 21st and including a 16GB Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 unit in the package free of cost.

The user gets to choose between a 46 inch Class LED 1080p Smart 3D HDTV from Samsung or a 55 incher from the same company, with the 3D Starter Kit. This tablet has been in the news quite a lot lately, both for its appealing features, the fact that it’s thinner and lighter than the iPad 2 and its recently lifted ban in Europe.

Usually, the 16GB WiFi version of the product sells for $499.99, which is pretty much for just another Honeycomb tablet, in spite of its size and quality, plus UI customization via TouchWiz. However, if you’re really set on buying a 3D TV, than why not throw in a free tablet for good measure? Maybe you want to know the prices… For the 46 inch 3DTV you’ll pay $1499.99, while the 55 inch one costs $1999.99.

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