Samsung Introduces Its First 7 Inch Android 4.0 Tablet Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)

After launching an upgraded version of the Galaxy Tab 7.0 called Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus early this year, Samsung has now introduced its first line-up of Tablets for 2012 with the launch of the Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0). The Tablet has a 7 inch display screen and is the company's first Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) powered Tablet. Starting with UK, the Tablet will be launched in the global markets from March (around the same time when the Android 4.0 update will be introduced in other Android powered devices) and it will be available in Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+3G versions.

The Tablet has a 7 inch WSVGA PLS TFT (1024x600 pixel resolution) capacitive touchscreen display and runs on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system (with Samsung's TouchWiz UX user interface). It is powered by a 1 GHz dual-core processor and has 1GB of RAM. Users have the option of selecting between models with 8, 16 and 32GB of internal memory which can be further expanded by an additional 32GB with a microSD card.

The Tablet has a 3 mega pixel fixed focus rear camera and a front facing VGA camera for video calling (nothing to write home about). On the connectivity front, the Tablet has Bluetooth v3.0, Wi-Fi (with Wi-Fi Direct) and it also comes with a USB 2.0 port. All the Samsung Hubs like Music Hub for searching, downloading and listening to music; Readers Hub that has over 2.3 million e-books, 2,000 newspapers, and 3,000 magazines in up to 49 languages; and Game Hub that instantly connects users to the latest game titles have also been added to the device. Additionally, Samsung is also introducing the Video Hub, which offers over 1,000 film titles for purchase or rent and provides reviews, trailers and recommendations for easier content selection.

The device also presents S Suggest, a new service offering recommendations of apps suited to users' tastes directly on a home screen and Samsung's AllShare Play, a new content-sharing service (available for the first time on any Samsung mobile device) that allows users to play or live-stream their multimedia content on the Tablet from PCs, other Samsung smart devices as well as third-party web storages. It also allows users to transfer content to other devices or directly to web services. The device will also come with ChatON, Samsung's own instant messaging service.

The dimensions of the Tablet are 193.7mm x 122.4mm x 10.5mm and its weight is 344 grams. Samsung has provided a Li-on 4000mAh battery in the Tablet that should provide good battery life.

The price of the Tablet is not available as of now but looking at its specifications, its competitors in the Indian market should include Apple's iPad 2 (although rumours has it that Apple is all set to launch its iPad 3 next month), Acer Iconia A500, IdeaPad Tablet K1, Asus TF101 and Sony Tablet S, which sell in the price bracket of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 in India.

Ice Cream Sandwich will provide the users with an upgraded Android Market and a more intuitive UI that includes the ability to swipe-control applications as well as a wholly redesigned app gallery. Additionally, Android 4.0 will include a selection of embedded Google apps and a 'face unlock' feature that will allow users to unlock their Tablets through facial recognition software (which can be cheated with a still photograph, talk about advanced security).

The fact that the company is launching the Tablet in March, the same month that most of the other top end Android mobile phones and Tablets are getting their Ice Cream Sandwich updates, means that you can give this Tablet a miss and instead buy a better one and get it updated.