Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 & New Google Tablet Coming Out Soon
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Tablet
Samsung introduced its first generation Galaxy tablet, a 7-inch model (pictured), in 2010. A
10.1-inch version was initially launched in March 2011 in both Asia and Europe. Last February, just before the World Mobile Conference in Barcelona, Spain, Samsung officially announced its Galaxy Tab 2 Android Tablet line, beginning with the 7-inch model. Both new models will operate on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a TouchWiz overlay.- Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)
The Galaxy Tab 7 is a direct replacement for the original Galaxy Tab, a 20-month old tablet that Samsung will not be upgrading to ICS. The new 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2
Android Tablet will have a 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. Internal storage will be a choice of either 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB. Its 7-inch display will be a 1024 x 600 PLS LCD unit. The New Tablet will come with a 3-megapixel camera in back and a VGA webcam up front. Estimated price: $300-$350 for 8GB model.- Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1)
Like it's 7-inch version, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) will run on Google's Android 4.0 OS, Ice Cream Sandwich, feature a redesigned user interface with a new app gallery layout. It will also feature a cool "Face Unlock" feature that locks and unlocks the device using facial recognition software. The tablet is reported to be powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor. Estimated Price: Hard to say, but Engadget reported seeing the 10.1-inch model at Office Depot listed at $399 for the 8GB model.- New Google Android Tablet
In last December, Eric Schmidt made statements suggesting his
company was building its own Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Tablet. According to The Verge sources, the rumored co-branded Google Nexus Tablet, originally planned for a May release, is now set for a July launch. The reported reason for the delay is that Google wants to determine design changes to lower its price to complete with the Amazon Kindle Fire and other low-cost Android Tablets.- Google Android Tablet Specs
Specifications for the new Google Android Tablet are sketchy at best because the company is reportedly
redesigning it to lower costs. As of now, the Google Nexus Tablet (no official name yet) is is said to include a 7-inch display, possibly running at 1280 x 800 resolution, along with NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 chipset and WiFi connectivity. Google's first co-branded Android Tablet is reportedly being built by Asustek. The Verge sources say Google wants its new tablet to sell for $199.
Upcoming New Tablets from Samsung and Google have been delayed, according to reports made last week. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 – both the 10.1 and 7.0 variants – originally scheduled for a UK launch in March, now will be coming out later this month in the UK, followed then by a global rollout. The Google Android Tablet, a co-branded model earlier rumored to be coming out next month, has reportedly been pushed back to July.
The news disappointed those anxiously anticipating the release of these new Android Tablet PC models. Microsoft most likely breathed a sigh of relief on the news, since any 
delay of when the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 line and Google Pad (no official name yet) will be coming out buys market time for the first Win 8 Tab, reportedly scheduled for this fall. With the release of the Windows 8 Tablet, Microsoft will finally be in the game.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2
IDG News Service (via PCWorld) reported the Samsung Galaxy Tablet has been delayed until the end of April because it needed to make adjustments to get the TouchWiz overlay and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich working together optimally. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 was first announced at the Mobile World Conference in February. This is the second postponement for new Samsung devices based on Android 4.0. According to Pocketdroid, the company is also pushing its Galaxy Note upgrade out to Q2 2012, rather than Q1 as originally planned.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Price
Unit price of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 line has been a subject of speculation and debate ever since the new tablets were announced in February. The new 7-inch tablet (Galaxy Tab 7) is now expected to sell for about $350, with pricing on the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1-inch tablet still to be announced. Engadget reported seeing the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 2 at Office Depot with a price tag of $399 for the 8GB model.
Google Android Tablet Launch Delayed
While delays in the Samsung Galaxy Tablet line are to address software issues, Google 
company sources told The Verge that the postponement of Google’s new co-branded Android Tablet (possibly to be named Google Nexus Tablet) is due strictly to unit cost. The company had originally planned to debut the Google Tab in May – and a device was reportedly ready – but Google now wants a lower unit cost. Company sources told The Verge that Google wants to reduce the price of its new 7-inch tablet from $249 to $199, and to do that it must make design changes (see slide deck for potential specs).
Autumn Madness
The success of the Amazon Kindle Fire has shown that, unless you’re Apple (at least for the moment), price is key. Google seems to have gotten the message, and other tablet players have, too. With Amazon reportedly planning to release three new tablets soon, then add the landing of the party boat of OEMs coming out with their own new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Windows 8 Tablet devices later this year – plus, there’s Apple’s likely launch of iPad Mini this fall – is it an understatement to say that competition in the tablet market pre holiday season is going to be fierce, and maybe bloody?
Joe Hopkins, New Tablets News
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