Samsung Galaxy Tab Offers Media Hub, Android 2.2, Video Conferencing

by Nicholas Kolakowski

Samsung’s American unveiling of the Galaxy Tab took place at New York City’s Time Warner Center. Executives demonstrated the device’s battery life, slim form-factor and other features.??í

The Samsung Galaxy Tab natively supports Adobe Flash, allowing the device to display rich content from a variety of Websites. Samsung is counting on Adobe’s platform to help differentiate its tablet from the Apple iPad, which makes a point of not supporting Flash.

Samsung will release a 3G-enabled version of the Galaxy Tab first, followed by a WiFi-only version at some undefined point later. Company executives were tight-lipped about cost and exact release dates for the device, saying that much of that would be up to the carriers.

The Galaxy Tab’s home screen. Like the Samsung Galaxy S smartphone, the Tab offers multiple home screens for pinning widgets and applications.

More widgets and icons.

Samsung is releasing its Media Hub, which offers movies and TV shows for purchase and rental, and doubtlessly hopes it will become a viable competitor to Apple’s iTunes storefront.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab, like all Android-based devices, features a range of productivity apps.

Web-browsing with the Galaxy Tab.

The Galaxy Tab’s virtual keyboard supports Swype, for users who want to drag their finger to form words. With the 7-inch screen, users with big hands can also type one-handed.

The Galaxy Tab in landscape mode.

The back of the Galaxy Tab. Note the 3-megapixel camera in back, with flash.

The Galaxy Tab’s software for images and video snapped with its integrated camera.

The Galaxy Tab’s Kindle app. Tablet PCs are seen as a growing competitor to e-readers such as the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook.

The Galaxy Tab’s dashboard for its video conferencing feature. The device includes a 1.3-megapixel front camera.

The Galaxy Tab playing a clip from “Iron Man.” The enhanced TFT display boasts a 1024×600 resolution.

The Galaxy Tab’s native Gmail application seems close in style to the smartphone version.

Google’s Android Marketplace features a growing collection of apps.

Samsung’s planned Galaxy Tab accessories include a full-size keyboard (seen here), as well as a docking station and a hard dock for a car dashboard.