Samsung has announced the second-generation Android tablet. The new Galaxy Tab offers far more firepower than its predecessor and is likely to be a much better iPad competitor.
Fortunately, Samsung has chosen to go with Google’s Android 3.0 Honeycomb platform on this version. Android 3.0 is properly optimized for the tablet form factor. Samsung has really stepped up to make the 10-inch Tab as a true smart media device. It has stereo speakers and packs a number of sensors such as compass, accelerometer, gyroscope and proximity. It can play full 1080HD video content.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will come in two variations, one with 16GB of storage and one with 32GB and will integrate Google’s video chat software, which was developed for Android 3.0.
The 10-inch tablet space is looking very competitive at this point, with the iPad, TouchPad from HP, and Xoom from Motorola all looking very competitive. The Galaxy Tab 10.1’s back is made of a carbon fiber looking covering that looks very nice. Samsung did a great job with design this time around on the device to set it apart from the growing set of tablets.
At this year’s consumer electronics show, Google has given us their view of the future for tablets with a sneak peek at Honeycomb – their tablet only operating system that is on the way. Honeycomb looks different than the interface you are used to but that is because Google is optimizing it for tablet use.
Widget use is clearly a focus of Google’s tablet plans and Honeycomb will be integrated with Google Maps 5 with 3D interactions and offline reliability, Google eBooks and Google Talk. Video chat will be integrated so users won’t have to go to third party vendors.
Tabbed browsing is an exciting feature that will allow tablet users to view the Internet in the same way that they do when on their laptops or desktop computers. This is certainly a big plus.
Android tablets look to be ready to make a big move in the same way that Android phones have done in the smartphone market. Custom built Android applications are very likely to start making some big noise in the marketplace very soon.
Android has recently stated that they are now activating about 300,000 Android handsets per day, which puts them on a quick pace to be the largest mobile platform in the world.
While iPhone application development for your business is a great idea, have you considered working a custom Android application into the mix? Often by looking at the demographics of their market, a business can tell which market is the best one to start with when developing mobile applications.
Android is obviously an important platform to consider since they went from zero to activating as many phones per day as global leader Nokia in just two short years. If you aren’t considering Android applications as a part of your marketing mix, you may be missing a huge market opportunity that is rapidly getting bigger and bigger.