Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

GOOD NEWS!
http://www.oled-display.net/samsung-...sories-located
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdNqC3XepLI

Mind you, it's old news--but it sounds like you might have missed that before.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

I was thinking that it would be far easier to work with a spreadsheet as well using a keyboard. But I'm curious to what makes the experience so terrible.

Deb: Have you tried online solutions like google docs or zoho?

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Funny thing is Apple will probably release a 7 inch tablet. Then Steve will have some magical things to say about how 7 inches is great.

Capt'n Corrupt I take what you are saying about the tab being competitively priced with smart phones. However, I think smart phones are much more necessary. If you have a tablet you still need a phone. If you have a smart phone then you don't really need a tablet though it would be nice to have one. For that reason I would expect tablets to be cheaper than smartphones.

However, the main issue is that it is priced the same as what is going to be the most popular tablet for sure and which is bigger. It puts Samsung in a boat if they decide to release a 10 inch tablet. Will they really sell it at the same price as the 7 inch Tab? The options are:

(a) their 10 inch tablet will be more expensive than ipad (which is crazy);
(b) they would have to drop the price of the 7 inch and sell the 10 inch at the current price of the 7 inch;
(c) they price both the 7 inch and 10 inch the same.

(b) seems most likely. (a) and (b) both prove that the size of the internet tablet should affect the price which I certainly think should be the case. (c) proves otherwise but I find (c) to be most unlikely ( and (a) would be suicidal).

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

New video about blackberry playbook. There will be 64gb version. Guy in the video brags about how fast the device will be.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/19/b...d-to-a-5-300m/

Word of warning the video is as boring as all the blackberrys that have been released.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

For instance, it is not possible (or I couldn't see how) to select a range of cells to copy them, in order to paste them in an extendend range. I can't cope with the idea to copy one cell and paste the same formula in 30 other cells, one by one.

Docs to go (I got the paid for version) also didn't allow me to select a cell as an argument for a formula, and had to manually insert its coordinates through the keyboard. Thinkfree allowed it, but on the other hand when I inserted something like =C5+D5 and clicked return, there was no calculation and the input stayed there, treated as a string instead that as a formula (but I hadn't inserted any apex before the equal sign). Maybe I had to use an insert function menu instead than the = char, but then I was too annoyed and closed the thing.

Furthermore, you find all the special chars = ( ) ; : and alphanumerics in different sections of the virtual keyboard, so inserting a formula needs a lot of fiddling.

Today I tried to compose the same spreadsheet (a simple work hour recording monthly archive) on my N900 with gnumeric, and the experience was absolutely pleasant and flawless for one that is accustomed to using a spreadsheet on a desktop machine.

I think that the gui of spreadsheets or - more generically - of productivity apps should make full use of multitouch, e.g. to select cells ranges or move cells. By now, both docstogo and thinkfree remind me the way they're used on S60 or other thumbs-only interfaces, and they need much too fiddling with menus to be productive.

Otherwise, maybe using an external hw kbd could be useful, but I haven't tested it yet.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

This is a very good point. And I agree with you on all points of reasoning.

I think that this particular industry segment is young and this is classical economics at play. As competition ramps up -- not only between device manufacturers, but also carriers -- prices will inevitably fall. I think both Apple and Samsung have priced their devices at a profit maximizing point based on speculated demand and (lack) of competition and the rate of production (and many other metrics that I/we are not aware of). These prices are not commodity and I assure you that they are inflated above the costs of the hardware. But as these variables change, so will the prices if these companies wish to remain competitive; which I would bet the farm, they will remain.

I think it's a bit too early to speculate on pricing decisions, though your three options are well categorized, and I suspect that b) is also likely. But time will tell what this looks like, and that's based on quite a lot of unforeseeable factors (from my vantage anyway).

But I don't think that lowering the price puts Samsung in a tough position. It's *really* easy to lower prices. What's difficult is raising them without turning people off. :)

In all likelihood, you're right, the Tab isn't a viable smartphone replacement, and me comparing the price/specs in this regard is somewhat pointless, though useful to me and perhaps a few others.

I *do* however speculate that portable 3G tablets will have many thinking very differently about high-powered smartphones. While I don't think that smartphones are going away, I see having 'good-enough' smartphones -- inexpensive handsets with basic features -- becoming much more popular. I can see users reverting to $200 handsets that they can tweet from, take photos, take calls, etc, but use their portable Tablets for serious interaction. I speculate that a sizable portion of the market may fall into this model.

Interestingly, I can see Nokia profiting heavily from this switch, as well as Android devices as they are poised to capitalize on low cost, low performance devices.

In this case, a slightly more expensive tablet may not be balked at.

There's also the increase in carrier competition, that already has interesting effects on the ways that plans are structured. With multiple devices on the horizon, I see carriers adopting shared plans (multiple sims, one account) to consolidate usage. This will also make 3G tablets more attractive.

But this is all speculation.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Ah! I understand the problem more clearly now. It seems as though ThinkOffice could improve it's interface quite a bit. Perhaps even having a specialized keyboard for cell-entry would be good.

Here's hoping that there are other options in the future! Here's also hoping that it's far more usable with a BT keyboard.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Just a thought, not ideal:

I know in Excel and Gnumeric, in the upper left, there is a "name" box. It usually contains the cell you are in "A1". You can type in that box "A1:F1" to select A1, B1, C1, D1, E1, and F1. Don't know if that applies to Thinkfree or Docs to Go, but it might be worth checking.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

German vodafone 16gb Tab pricing has been revealed.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/19/s...0-if-bought-w/

And Samsung's pricing seems to be getting more and more silly. The 16gb Tab apparently cost €30 more than the 32gb ipad. :confused:

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Something that has me concerned is that I've read that Honeycomb is just about finalized and manufacturers will be getting it shortly. This is the 'tablet' version of the Android OS. But the Tab may not be getting this for two reasons:

1) It was stated that the Tab would be getting Gingerbread by Samsung Execs, but not honeycomb.
2) It seems that there's a 720p spec requirement for Honeycomb that Tabs don't fit in with 1024x600 res.

And just like that, I'm going to have to avoid the Tab! It's a quality product, to be sure, but I would have hoped that it would be well supported into the future. However, it looks as if it will be obsoleted almost before it's released!

At the very least, I'm forced into a wait-and-see position.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Is it Honeycomb that is the tablet version? All along I thought it was Gingerbread.

Also how often do these updates come along? Aren't most devices just being updated to froyo now? So shouldn't it be a few months before gingerbread is released? And then a good time after before Honeycomb is ready (like a year from now)?

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

I thought that Gingerbread was as well. These releases are usually linear, but it seems as though Gingerbread is almost going to be skipped over entirely or released in very close proximity to Honeycomb, which is puzzling. The rumours are probably a few tweaks away from accuracy.

There's not enough information to draw conclusions about what's going to happen next in the Android multi-verse, so I'm going to wait until things focus a bit before jumping on the Tab.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Pretty much. Which is why I take anything Steve Jobs says with a massive dose of salt.

I'm thinking that my future gadget ensemble (outside of videogame electronics and cameras) will be a desktop PC, a tablet, and a smartphone. Right now it's a desktop, laptop, and the N900 which ranges from a tablet to a meh smartphone (depending on how I'm using it).

So I guess my purpose for a tablet would be somewhat like a laptop replacement. But I can move the heavier tasks onto a desktop (currently first generation dual core [AMD opteron!] to a quad core) and just VNC onto the desktop. I don't do that now because my family shuts off the router when they aren't using it (and they are decently tech savvy they just don't want the power consumption). So my primary use of a tablet would be light office work and media consumption primarily. I was thinking the Tab's DLNA capabilities would be nice but chances are if I get an Android smartphone it might have those features as well. And I'm more likely to carry the smartphone than I am a 7+ inch tablet. At home, I would have a DD-WRT router, and my quad core desktop to handle DLNA and all that fun. Hence my consideration for a v2 or v3 iPad.

But there are alot of pros and cons to the different tablets I'm considering. For example, the forward facing camera on the Tab is nice.. but everyone I know that uses video calls uses GTalk or Skype (not Qik). So even Facetime would be kinda pointless.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Yep! Hell, they're already buzzing a bit about Android 4.0: Ice Cream

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Indeed! I would be more than happy to get the tab *if* I was certain I could load Honeycomb on the device.

But if I think about it another way, if manufacturers are soon to get Honeycomb SDK, then we won't be seeing devices for some time (perhaps a year?). Hmm... I'm confused!

Dan?! What should I do?!

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

If honeycomb is scheduled for 2011 (developers are just getting it), then I'll likely get the tab as I *need* (yes actually need -- for work) a 3G device, and this is the only device that currently meets my specifications.

Sorry for the back and fourth everyone! I usually type first and think later :p

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

I dunno about you, but I don't see why I wouldn't still get it. I still plan to, actually. What's it missing, really? heh

Honestly, they're only saying that they're not officially promising Honeycomb on it--what makes you think you wouldn't still be able to run Honeycomb on it anyway? Even as a community-made ROM (say, the way Cyanogen or Ultimate Droid, ChevyNo.1, etc. go around doing their own ROMs, upgrades and and kernels). I've got a Droid 1 right now--I get the sneaking suspicion that the community is probably going to port Gingerbread to it when it comes out since they're ALREADY compiling kernels and Android OS from the source code as it is. And why not? Like I've said all along, Android isn't totally open but increasingly more and more of it seems to be far more open than Maemo was--and it's showing.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Dan, you're the man! Seriously, though, you're 100% correct. I'm spooking myself into always waiting for the next greatest thing, when the Tab will do what I need it to do, and by all indications will have community support for future developments.

It's so sad how much I need a 3G enabled device. WiFi works well, but when I'm out, it just isn't practical for communications. I've thought about getting a MiFi, but having to juggle two devices is a turn off, especially coming from the N810 that had me feeling as though I had to compromise at every turn to accomplish something akin to what I wanted.

Tab come back. You can blame it all on me. I was wrong, and I just can't live without you.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Here's a cool video showing an case accessory for the Tab:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUqoFLUIMEw

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Here are a series of video tests for the Tab:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sihp0V-jQPU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz67V88cDt4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHLf3_lI6Nw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SExwqeo2chE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T1LvT9kkcg

The low light performance is impressive though the resolution is just adequate.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Here's a really neat video using the Tab as a in-car navigation device:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp4MTkn1XfQ

It actually looks EXTREMELY functional. It's definitely big and unsightly, but with a better stand, it could look quite nice. The reviewer really likes it as a navigation device and seems to easily manipulate the device while driving.

Very cool.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

More videos coming your way!

Here's one showing the music player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHJQCDiLU0w

Many people have said that the Music Hub needs tweaking, but it looks positively fantastic to me. Of course, I'm coming from Maemo's built in player which leaves quite a lot to be desired, so anything is bound to look good.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Actually, I rather like it as a nav device with the big screen. The Droid screen just seems too tiny for me as a nav device. I WANT a big screen so that I don't have to squint or study the screen for too long while driving.

To add to my earlier post, by the way.. officially, the Motorola Droid I have is supposed to be on Android 2.2 (Froyo) but, because I rooted and put Ultimate Droid 1.0.0 on it (with a kernel built straight from the Google source code), it's actually running 2.2.1 already (bug-fixes/security-fixes, mainly) PLUS it has the CPU Frequency Scaling enabled (which the official Motorola Droid image never had) so I have it going between 250MHz on up to 600MHz (GREAT for the battery life!). Thanks to the community, I'm already well ahead of the curve. No reason not to expect 3.0 and other backported kernels and ROMs. :)

Again, why bother holding back on the Tab given its sizable following and community already?

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

I agree. The tab makes a KILLER nav device. It offers a very large view and control targets that are easy to hit. Having used my N810 for nav (admittedly not much) I certainly can appreciate that a larger screen is better when it comes to viewing and manipulating. If it were mounted better it could look much more slick, IMO.

That's awesome news re: the Ultimate Droid ROM, and it lends great faith that the Tab will be well supported as well. I'm certainly planning on rooting the device once I get it. I've even been toying with the notion of engaging in some Android development, but time is a commodity of which I have very little these days. Time will tell.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

I knew it! Verizon Tab == $599
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget....ytabfront2.jpg

The verizon price for the tab? $599!
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/...1#comments-bar

It also has a very nice blackish/grey backing that's really slick (IMHO).
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget....abvertback.jpg

Now we're talking. This device suddenly got a *lot* more enticing. Lets hope that other carriers price it the same.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Too bad they bone you, hard, for the data service. $20/mo for 1GB?

We desperately need real competition in the 'states, cause that's just abusing your customer base and getting away with it.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

It's actually quite interesting how many people are complaining about the price, but I fully EXPECT that this will turn around completely when devices start getting into consumer hands.

It's very interesting that when the price was rumored to be $599 before, it was actually well received, but it just goes to show how capricious people's 'opinions' are and how the masses seem to proclaim the same idea thinking it's an original viewpoint.

I think that the Tab will do really, really well in the marketplace. I know that I'm going to get one, and I know everyone that I know will want one as well.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Agreed, $20 for 1GB is a lot of money. Thankfully, it's a prepaid system, which is indispensable if/when you actually need it, and when mixed with WiFi, should be enough for most (unless you're streaming videos).

In Canada, rogers has a $7/week prepaid service for 125MB, which is expensive, but very useful if you need connectivity in a pinch. This is the service that I will use as I don't need 3G all the time, but there are times when it's essential (like today).

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Here's a nice Android video player that's supposed to handle nearly any format that you can throw at it! Transcoding is so 2007.... :p
http://mobiputing.com/2010/10/vplaye...-wmv-and-more/

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

The news keeps getting better and better!

It looks like Android is being bumped to 3.0 in time for the holidays!
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/20/a...er-ahead-of-ja
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget....2010-10-20.jpg

There's some tech event that will happen in December and Samsung will attend! I'm betting that Galaxy Tab will be announced to get the latest version of the OS officially, though this is just baseless speculation. However, a fully hardware accelerated Tab would be a sight to behold!

I. Cant. Wait.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

It would be great for navigation but where are you going put it? I don't think you could windshield mount it (it'd block a huge view! and not to mention what mount supports that much weight). Maybe if cars came with slots for these things (alas maybe in the future).

While it's true that the Tab might have a sizable following, why wouldn't any other major Android tablet coming after the Tab?

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

The great thing about the Tab is that it's LIGHT. It's only 7 inches--it's large enough, but it's not HUGE. I could easily see it being window mounted in at least two of the three vehicles I own without obstructing my view of driving any more than my Droid, which really doesn't. I CERTAINLY can see it fitting right in on the center console of my minivan, but mounting it on the window should not obstruct anything at all. About the only car where I might find it worrysome is my 1974 Volkswagen Beetle. The flat windshield is much too close, since there's not much of a dashboard to speak of, but even in there, I could EASILY see it being mounted directly on my right via velco mounting hardware on the glove box door.

http://pleco.org/vw/1974%20Beetle%20...hboard%202.jpg

Did... someone... say this was the last major tablet somewhere in the thread? Are you having a separate conversion with someone somewhere?

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

I have no doubt that it would make a wonderful in-car navigation system.

It would also make one heck of an in-car passenger entertainment system. Because it's small and light, you don't have to resort to interacting with it on your lap, you can hold it easily with one hand or two and do just about any task.

I can only imagine trying to hold up a 10" tablet at 1.5lbs for any stretch of time. It would require both arms and you would have to prop them against something. The Tab on the other hand seems a might more palatable under these circumstances.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Also... really? An Android tablet in a cherry red 1974 VW Beetle. That's hot. ;)

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

I just tried it and it's...not very good. It's buggy. It's VERY inefficient, too. Plus--it's in alpha. :) I vote "don't download."

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Oooh. Dan, try out opera mobile when it hits Android (the new version that's not out yet). I'm interested to know how smooth the scrolling is!

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Haha where would you put it that wouldn't obstruct the windshield? Unless it's mounted closer to the top of the windshield. Even in the video it seems like it obstructs alot.

And I was saying that later Android tablets may also have major communities behind them too (for those people like I am who are considering waiting till Spring-Summer of next year).

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Here's a great video showing the updated Youtube app. What's interesting about this is it may have some new UI features of the next iteration of the OS.

http://www.androidcentral.com/androi...updated-market
http://images.androidcentral.com/sit...0_YouTube1.png
http://images.androidcentral.com/sit...0_YouTube2.png

I like that it can now play videos in portrait mode *and* landscape. I also like the video player interface, it's very clean and minimalist.

What I like most, though, is the tabs. You can switch between them by swiping left and right. It's a very slick way to navigate, and everything looks very smooth.

Animated transitions between portrait and landscape would have been nice, but it's still very nice.

This will look really nice on the Tab!

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

Huh something I didn't know. The Tab doesn't have a GPS built in. So you have to rely on A-GPS (or a bluetooth option?). There's also a car dock with a built in GPS apparantly.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Tab Info Thread
 

The Tab *has* gps.