Samsung Galaxy Tab gets 4G power

Samsung Mobile announced today at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas that it will be releasing a 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab. It features a 7-inch enhanced TFT display, full support of Android 2.2 with access to Adobe Flash 10.1, and a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird application processor. Sending a clear signal of its attempt to outdo the Apple iPad, it was also designed with a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera and camcorder. But will that be enough?

From the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that a 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab will be available on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network.

The 4G LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab features a 7-inch enhanced TFT display with 1024 x 600 WSVGA resolution, full support of Android 2.2 with access to Adobe Flash 10.1, 1.2GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird application processor and access to more than 100,000 applications available on Android Market.

Designed with a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera, the 4G LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab is also outfitted with a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera and camcorder, enabling video chat capabilities.

Given the absence of camera and video chat functionality on the Apple iPad, the device that ignited the tablet revolution, this sends a clear signal of Samsung’s attempts to outdo the iPad.

However, the fact that it features Android 2.2, rather than the latest release unveiled during CES, 3.0 or Honeycomb, suggests Samsung have rushed out this version. After all, if the new Motorola tablet, the Xoom, could be unveiled at CES with Honeycomb on board, it would have been expected that Samsung could have negotiated a similar upgrade.

Not that it does not try to raise the communications bar.

It includes access to Samsung’s Social Hub service, built around messaging, contacts and calendar sync, allowing users to send and receive information, whether it is e-mail, social network updates or text messages. It also features Samsung’s Media Hub content service available on the 4G LTE network, which offers a robust collection of premium movies and TV episodes for purchase or rental from some of the biggest entertainment companies in the United States. Additionally, the 4G LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab will come preloaded with popular LTE-specific applications.

“The 4G LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab takes full advantage of Android 2.2 to deliver a blazingly fast experience for customers,”” said Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “”The 4G LTE-Samsung Galaxy Tab pairs Samsung’s advanced technology with the power of Verizon Wireless 4G LTE, so that customers can leap into the future of the mobile multimedia experience.””

Eager customers would be well-advised, however, to await a version with upgraded software, running on Android 3.0. Honeycomb will hit the sweet spot that Galaxy users will truly appreciate.

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