Samsung Gives First 5000 Galaxy Tab 10.1s To Developers At Google I/O

The giveaways at Google I/O have become one of the most-publicized features of the conference; after all, the new features and frameworks matter to developers, but Oprah Moments^TM tend to resonate on the internet. Previously it was handsets being given away, but this year, with Android handset numbers blocking out the sun and tablets underdeveloped, it was Honeycomb that ended up in developers’ laps. Specifically, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Yep, 5000 of them are being distributed to Google’s dev base. This is pretty cool, since Samsung was previously a bit gun-shy about its new tablet, even publicly saying they had some work to do after the iPad launch. But the relaunch in March had them confident again, though the release was distant enough that we thought they might still have some work to do. I guess the developers at I/O will be able to tell us whether that’s true.
If you’re looking to get your own, check eBay in a couple hours, or else wait until June 8, the planned release date for the 10.1. Personally I’m thinking about that 8.9 — a little smaller, but with mostly the same specs. The 10.1s given out at I/O won’t ship with Android 3.1, but will be getting it soon.

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Gingerbread Rolling Out To Galaxy Tabs?

Samsung Italia is alive with the sound of Gingerbread! It seems that the country is among the first to get the Android 2.3.3 update for the original 7″Galaxy Tab. It’s rolling out via KIES, Samsung’s useful device management tool, but naturally there’s no word of it here in the states yet. Remain vigilant!
You could load it yourself before now if you really wanted to, but this update should have support for Samsung’s custom widgets and app store, among the performance gains and other features.

[via Unwired View]

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Samsung Readies 4G LTE Galaxy Tab, Galaxy S III Prematurely

As Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs 8.9 and 10.1 wait to launch onto the market, Samsung mobile boss J.K. Shin is already filling us in on forthcoming tablets from the South-Korea based company. In an interview with Dow Jones Newswires, Shin spilled that the company plans to release a 4G LTE-capable version of the Galaxy Tab later this year. In other words, you’re yet-to-be purchased Galaxy Tab 8.9 or 10.1 will be old news later this year, so patience will certainly be a virtue when it comes to slate shopping.
Shin also mentioned that the third installment to the Galaxy S smartphone line (what we assume will be called the Samsung Galaxy S III) will debut in the first half of 2012. The Galaxy S smartphones have been wildly popular here in the States, overseas in Europe and especially in South Korea.
No doubt we’re excited about the third-generation Galaxy S smartphone, and a 4G LTE-capable Galaxy tablet from Samsung sounds pretty sweet, too. What I can’t seem to understand is why Samsung would let us in on the fact that our cool new gadgets will be obsolete in the next few months.

[WSJ via BGR]

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Samsung CTO Responsible For The Galaxy Tab Line Steps Down

Omar Khan, the Samsung CTO who was responsible for the rise of the GalTab and other Android-powered smartphones, is moving to Citibank to handle that company’s global digital banking initiatives. He will be replaced by Nick Dicarlo and Gavin Kim in “product and service spokesperson responsibilities for Samsung Mobile.”
Clearly this whole hardware thing didn’t work out for him.
These sorts of lateral moves aren’t unusual but for Khan to have led a fairly successful run of tablets and cellphones and then decide to roll over to a bank points to a bit of political infighting and potential disappointment at the GalTab line, especially as Samsung is fighting – and lobbing – lawsuits atApple over “copyist” techniques by both giants.
Samsung is also facing intense pressure from HTC and, to a lesser extent, Motorola and their latest Android phones, while popular with a certain set, did not set the world alight like the Galaxy S.
via Slashgear

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I Don’t Think We’ll Be Seeing These Galaxy Tab Smart Covers Stateside

While I’m not quite ready to lay charges of criminal nepotism at Samsung’s feet (as 9 to 5 Mac and Gizmodo do gleefully, and not unreasonably), I do have to say that it seems a bit unwise, during high-stakes patent litigation, to lend their brand to such an incredibly blatant knock-off.

Apparently this “Smart Case” for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is being sold in Samsung stores throughout Korea, where, perhaps, US patent law cannot reach. But would Apple have neglected to file for a patent in such a large market?

At all events it’s shameless (the cases may have been approved because of some personal connections within Samsung) and I don’t think this will be Samsung-approved for long. Knock-offs are a normal part of the tech world these days, but dignifying them with shelf space doesn’t have to be.

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