Tablet demand has spiked recently following the launch of Apple’s iPad, however there are very few models available. Although there are many more models in the works, the new Samsung Galaxy Tab seems to be well equipped to meet most consumer demands thanks to some very high specifications and modern styling.
The Galaxy Tab runs the latest version 2.2 of the Android operating system, and is currently the only tablet in the UK to run on this system; however, it will surely be joined by others given the popularity and versatility of the platform in mobile phone devices. The unit offers support for Flash, which is a huge advantage over its rival Apple given the number of web pages that incorporate this material. Wireless connection is also possible. Out of the box, the Galaxy has a plethora of pre-installed apps. One of the most impressive was the voice search option, which accurately recognized voice phrases and offered the ability to not only search the web but also your selection of apps. Email functions are vital on this type of device, and the model comes with GMail already installed, however there is of course the option to install your preferred services, and synchronization with Exchange, Pop3 and IMAP accounts is also possible. . When it comes to composing emails, the Galaxy benefits from Samsung’s excellent Swype text input method. This system recognizes the word you are trying to type without the need to press each key individually. You can simply swipe your finger across the screen to achieve the desired results, and surprisingly, the method is incredibly accurate.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab will draw obvious comparisons to the iPad, which is understandable given that they are the two main tablet devices currently available. Samsung’s model is certainly the smaller of the two machines, with a 2.7-inch screen less at 7 inches, and at 380 grams the weight is almost half that. This works in Samsung’s favor, as the iPad felt a bit too large for portable use. The Galaxy Tab can display a high-quality resolution of 600 x 1024 and display 16 million colors. The result is that the graphics look great, and the display of your own recorded media looks particularly good. Thanks to the 3.15 megapixel rear camera, a good level of still photography can be achieved, even in low light conditions thanks to the LED flash. 720P video streams can also be shot, giving you your home movies in stunning high definition. The unit has 16 GB of internal memory and the option to expand it up to a further 32 GB thanks to the availability of a micro SD card slot.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is perhaps the most versatile tablet we’ve come across to date, and the fact that it runs on Android works hugely in its favor.
