At IFA 2010 in Berlin, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. revealed a tablet computer that's powered by the Android 2.2 operating system. The mobile computer is called the Galaxy Tab (GT-P1000), and Samsung implies that it's the first of many such devices to come.

The device has a 7" TFT LCD (1,024 x 600 pixel resolution) with a gyroscope sensor, geo-magnetic sensor, accelerometer, and light sensor, and can be used for everything from Web surfing, to e-mail access, e-reading, viewing photos, watching movies, social networking, voice and video calling, and SMS/MMS. Without even seeing the unit, it already has one obvious leg up on the popular Apple iPad: support for the latest Adobe Flash Player 10.1. It also has that really neat Swype typing feature that's found in the new Galaxy S (Vibrant from Bell) smartphone.

Weighing just 380 grams (and measuring 190.09 x 120.45 x 11.98mm), the lightweight unit comes with a variety of new Samsung "Hubs," including the Readers Hub for accessing, downloading, and reading digital books (powered by Kobo, PressDisplay and Zinio); the Media Hub for accessing videos and movies; and the Music Hub, an application for music. The battery can run for up to seven hours of consecutive video play.

Affording access to voice calls and SMS/MMS will be 3G HSPA connectivity; but the unit will also come with integrated 802.11n WiFi, as well as Bluetooth 3.0. It will also have push e-mail, plus speakerphone capabilities. A front-facing 1.3 MP camera makes video calls possible where available; while a rear-facing 3 MP camera (with autofocus and LED flash) allows for capturing images and video (providing a second obvious leg up on the iPad.) Captures images and videos can also be edited right on the device, as well as shared with friends, and uploaded to Websites.

While the device functions on the Google Android open source platform, it is powered by a Cortex A8 1.0GHz application processor. High definition videos are supported in a wide variety of formats, including, among others, DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, and H.264. Naturally, users will also be able to access and download applications from the Android Marketplace; and will come loaded with all of the typical Google applications, like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube.

Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Tab will launch in Europe in mid September, followed by other markets, including Korea, the U.S. and Asia, in the "coming months." A representative from Samsung Canada tells Marketnews that the device will reach the Canadian market at some point "this year." It appears that there will be two iterations one with 16 GB of internal memory and another with 32 GB, both of which will be expandable by another 32 GB via an optional memory card.

How does Samsung plan to compete with others in this space, including the iPad, which is arguably the leader in this new "mobile tablet computing" category? "Mobile is in our DNA," explains JK Shin, President and Head of the Mobile Communications Business and Samsung Electronics. "The Samsung Galaxy Tab is pushing the market in new directions, and Samsung believes this is only the beginning of its innovations as pioneers in smart media devices."

IFA 2010, which takes place September 3-8 in Berlin, Germany, is known as the "world's largest" trade show for consumer electronics and appliances.

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