GigaOM » IFA Expo

Hoping to steal iPad sales, three new tablets debut

Kevin C. Tofel — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:50:19 +0000

This week kicks off the IFA Expo in Berlin, Germany, which is the largest consumer electronics trade show on the planet. As such, it’s no surprise that all of the major hardware vendors are announcing a slew of new mobile devices. What may surprise, however, is that several hardware makers show no signs of giving up their assault on the tablet market, even though Apple’s iPad is clearly outselling all others. Here’s a quick overview of the three newest competitors hoping for a slice of the tablet market share pie.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7. This refresh of last year’s 7-inch model gains a slightly larger and much improved screen. The 7-7-inch, Super AMOLED Plus display uses a notebook-like resolution of 1280×800 pixels, as we expected. A 1.4 GHz dual-core processor powers the new tablet, which also gets a mobile broadband speed bump to 21 Mbps.

Unlike the prior model, the new Tab uses Google Android Honeycomb 3.2. At 7.89 millimeters, the new Galaxy Tab is thinner than before, but Samsung was still able to stuff a 5,100 mAh battery inside; a boost over the 4,000 mAh battery in last year’s Tab. Pricing and availability are yet to be determined.

Toshiba AT200. The company’s current tablet, the Thrive, is a bit chunky, but the new AT200 has been on a diet. The 10.1-inch Google Android 3.2 slate is thinner even than Samsung’s new smaller tablet, measuring just 7.7 millimeters in thickness. Toshiba still found room for plenty of ports and jacks, however: micro USB, microSD card slot, and a micro HDMI jack for connecting the AT200 to an HDTV.

A 1.2 GHz TI OMAP 4430 processor powers the slate. Toshiba didn’t supply pricing information, but says the AT200 will launch in Europe by the end of this year. I’m expecting a U.S. model to debut at January’s Consumer Electronics Show.

Lenovo A1. Yet another vendor is thinking what I’m thinking: there’s a market for 7-inch tablets. That’s the form factor of the A1, which uses a less-than-inspiring 1024×600 resolution, but Lenovo makes up for it in pricing. A Wi-Fi model with 8 GB of storage will cost only $199, with 16 GB and 32 GB models priced at $249 and $299, respectively.

At these price points, you can’t expect high-end specifications, but the slate should be capable enough with a single-core 1 GHz processor running Android 2.3. And although there’s no mobile broadband connectivity, the A1 does include an integrated GPS receiver for navigation and mapping.

Although only the A1 has an official price, it’s sure to be the lowest; even after Samsung and Toshiba announce their device costs. As a result, Lenovo’s tablet with a starting price of under $200 could sway some who want a tablet, but don’t have the extra cash to pony up for an iPad — even a discounted refurbished unit.

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Samsung goes big with a 5.3-inch, high-res phone

Kevin C. Tofel — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:16:08 +0000

In a challenge to the iPhone 4′s Retina Display, Samsung introduced a new high-resolution smartphone, the Samsung Note, at the IFA Exhibition on Thursday. The Samsung Note doesn’t pack all of its 1280×800 pixels into a small screen, however; the new Note uses a 5.3-inch display with Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology for vivid colors and wide viewing angles. If that sounds like a large phone or a very small tablet, it really is both. But Samsung is touting the extra screen space as better for browsing and note-taking with an included digital pen.

The large display, high pixel density — 285 pixels per inch — and abilities to take notes or draw with the pressure sensitive stylus are the stars of this short overview video:

Other hardware features in the Samsung Note, which runs Android 2.3 are attractive as well: a dual-core 1.4 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, 16 or 32 GB of internal storage, 8 megapixel rear camera with 1080p video recording (24 – 30 fps), 2 megapixel front camera, and microSD card slot. The usual host of radio connectivity is there as well: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and aGPS, plus support for 21 Mbps HSPA+ networks. Essentially, the Note is a small tablet with voice capabilities.

The other way of looking at it isn’t as a small tablet, but a big phone, of course. I’m partial to larger screened devices and can’t wait to take the Samsung Note for a test drive. Yes, holding a 5.3-inch phone to one’s head will look goofy to say the least. But I’m not thinking about products like the Note as a traditional phone for two reasons.

One, we’re actually talking on our handsets less and less. Far more of our time is spent in apps, browsing the web or watching videos, for example. These activities are sure to benefit from the larger, higher resolution screen. Second, for the few calls I get, it’s simple to use a Bluetooth headset — sometimes tech that’s been around for a number of years can actually supplement new tech. I say bring on the big screen phones. If I can carry a 7-inch tablet everywhere I go these days, surely I can tote a smaller slab.

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Europe's Approval of 60 GHz Makes Wireless HD Video Global

Stacey Higginbotham — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:13:03 +0000

Companies making products for wireless HD video transmission through the use of the 60 Ghz standard are showing off their wares in Europe, thanks to the European Union’s recent approval of the use of spectrum between 57 GHz and 66 GHz wireless bands for unlicensed commercial use. At the IFA Expo in Berlin today, consumer device firms such as Panasonic, Toshiba and LG Electronics touted adapters or devices that allow for the wireless transfer of large files over room-sized distances.

Europe’s approval of the spectrum means companies that are trying to bring 60 GHz products to consumers can sell them to all major markets. The 60 GHz band is already approved for similar use in North America, the Asia-Pacific region, Brazil, Russia, India and China. International regulatory hurdles can help kill a wireless technology, as was the case with Ultrawideband — or even with WiMAX, some argue. When governments delay or refuse to allow the use of a continuous band of spectrum that matches what other countries allow, it means the chipmaker building the wireless radio has to make a larger, more expensive chip that can tune to several frequencies, or consumer device makers have to make several versions of a product to sell in each country. All add expense.

So the EU approval is great news for those pushing the multiple standards and hoping to use the radio spectrum to deliver HD video. But as for the exact winners, it remains to be seen. A Wi-Fi standard is expected to use this spectrum as well. Several companies hoping to use it for HD video are members of the WirelessHD Alliance, including SiBeam, Broadcom, Intell, Sony and Toshiba, but a rival group, called the Wireless Gigabit Alliance, includes some of the same members and is also planning to use the spectrum for a broader wireless HD video delivery technology. It’s unclear if the products from each standard effort will be compatible. This means consumers may want to wait a bit before investing in a Blu-ray player that can stream their movies wirelessly to their TV using that spectrum.

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