Samsung Galaxy Tab announced for US Cellular

Fancy picking up a tablet device? Actually, the Apple iPad has been doing gangbusters sales for the longest time already ever since it was released, and so far there hasn’t been any real competition to this device that can challenge its lofty position. Well, not until now – Samsung’s Galaxy Tab might have a smaller screen size at 7-inches, but it certainly isn’t any slouch when it comes to performance, running on the iOS’ rival platform – we’re talking about the Google Android operating system.
Most recently, the Samsung Galaxy Tab was released by US Cellular, where it is capable of delivering a premium mobile entertainment experience on the go, without getting bogged down by a bulky device. After all, it tips the scales at just 13 ounces while measuring 12 millimeters thin. The Galaxy Tab will be able to fit in nicely into a pocket or purse, so both genders will be able to carry one without growing extra muscles overnight.

Apart from the aforementiond brilliant 7-inch enhanced TFT display screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is also powered by a speedy 1GHz Hummingbird Application processor that is capable of supporting 3D graphics as well as smooth Web browsing, followed by a 1.3 megapixel front camera and a 3 megapixel rear-facing camera (for video calling and photo taking purposes, obviously), alongside the Android 2.2 operating system that throws in full support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1.
One thing about the Samsung Galaxy Tab would be its similarity with Samsung’s very own Galaxy S smartphones, which would mean carrying Samsung’s Social Hub application that is capable of synchronizing a user’s Messaging and Contacts to initiate the sending and receiving of information, regardless of whether it is e-mail, instant messaging, social network updates or SMS messages. Not only that, calendar information from portal calendars, such as Google Calendar, and social networking services are displayed together in one calendar with two-way synchronization.
You will also benefit from services such as Google Maps Navigation (Beta) and Google Goggles amongst others. With Wi-Fi connectivity, you ought to be able to surf at your favorite coffee place without missing a beat. Any takers for the Galaxy Tab?

Hands on first impressions of Windows Phone 7

We go hands on with the first Windows Phone 7 devices to see whether Microsoft can really run with Apple and Google in the smartphone arms race.

At the end of Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 launch event on Monday, something suspicious didn’t occur – there was no Q&A. While Microsoft’s total remake of the mobile phone is impressive, as are the multiple handsets we got our hands on, Microsoft’s unwillingness to publicly answer questions signals that there may be trouble.

And there is. In short, Windows Phone 7 isn’t quite a finished product. But there is plenty of room for growth. Whether there is time – remember, the similar Kin was pulled from the market in just six weeks – is an open question.

A fresh approach to smartphone design

First the good news: Windows Phone 7’s whole activity-based gestalt is an impressive step forward, beyond Apple’s and Google’s comparatively sterile icon-based environment. WP7’s Live Tile interface seems cluttered but entertaining – many of the tiles feature little animations, making the home page seem not just alive but a bit mischievous, something you wouldn’t expect from the normally buttoned-down Microsoft – as well as functional. Being able to “pin” nearly anything to the home screen as a new tile – apps, contacts, photos, webpages – gives the user near complete control over how they use their device.

WP7 is also clean. It uses a consistent large and easy to read sans-serif font in nearly every function. While each screen seems self-contained, a portion of adjacent screens peeks out from the edges to let you know there are more options.

Microsoft, of course, makes Microsoft Office, Outlook, OneNote and Explorer. While “pocket” versions of these essential productivity products were available, Microsoft has smoothly integrated them into Windows Phone 7. For instance, if you get an invite via e-mail, the message will include any possible scheduling conflict the software detects from the calendar. This conflict message is live – click on it, and the conflicting event in the calendar come up, which in turn is connected to all the affected parties in the conflict to make it easy to contact all concerned.

All work and no play makes WP7 a dull phone, so Microsoft has struck a deal giving Windows Phones access to AT&T U-verse content for a monthly fee. Unfortunately, no pricing details are available yet, but if you happen to be a home U-verse subscriber, you’ll get all that access through Windows Phone for no extra charge. Since each handset maker and carrier is likely to add supplemental offerings, such as a Netflix app, Windows Phones could be the most content-rich smartphones extant.

Actual navigation and usage is smooth and easy. Scrolling and screen swiping is instantaneous and natural as on an iPhone. The auto-correct software on the touchscreen QWERTY’s produced nearly perfect, mistake-free text, and is sure to convert hardcore physical keyboard lovers.

But in portrait, Send, Attach and Delete are to close to the space bar. While typing some test texts, we kept annoyingly accidentally hitting these control keys.

Missing pieces