Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

Samsung will offer the Galaxy Tab 8.9 in two flavors: 16GB and 32GB. It will be WiFi-only, with a metallic-gray backing, and will run Android 3.1 (“Honeycomb”).

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (top) alongside the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (bottom): The Tab 8.9 feels lighter than its larger brother, and can be held more easily in one hand.??í

The Galaxy Tab 8.9 is a significant departure from the iPad (right, in case), both in terms of size and lack of a mechanical “Home” button.??í

Samsung has surfaced the Tabs’ Android operating system with its TouchWiz interface, which is a significant aesthetic departure from the “default” Android look.

The fundamentals of the Android operating system remain the same, however, such as the grid-like screens of apps.

Samsung is also offering Tab-specific features such as the preloaded Social Hub, which syncs email delivery to a single inbox and integrates social-networking accounts such as Facebook and LinkedIn.??í

The Galaxy Tab 8.9 features two cameras: a 2-megapixel in front, and a 3-megapixel in the rear (with flash and auto-focus).

The Galaxy Tab 8.9 boasts a screen resolution of 1,280×800, with the capability for 1,080p video playback. That’s good enough for e-reading as well as watching movies.??í

The Galaxy Tab 8.9’s 1.4GHz dual-core processor powers speedy app-loading and Web browsing.

Samsung is rapidly building out an ecosystem that includes not only the two versions of the Galaxy Tab, but also smartphones (the Samsung Galaxy S series) and media players (shown here, the Galaxy Player, which will hit the market in October).??í