It’s official. Announced today at the IFA trade show, the Samsung GALAXY Tab will first hit Europe at the end of September, then the United States and Asia soon after. The GALAXY Tab is powered by Android 2.2 and touts a 7-inch TFT display, TouchWIZ user interface, Adobe Flash, WiFi, GPS, rear and front facing cameras. It has PC-like web-browsing and also acts as a mobile phone. Weighing in at .84 pounds, the GALAXY Tab includes 16 GB or 32GB of internal storage and 32 GB MicroSD expansion.

In the HD video department, the GALAXY Tab supports playback of MPEG4, H.263, H.264, XviD, and is the first DivX certified tablet. Kobo will be the e-reading app for the device.

Pricing on the Samsung GALAXY Tab has not yet been announced.

Get more information at http://galaxytab.samsungmobile.com

Press release:

Samsung GALAXY Tab Opens a New Chapter in Mobile Industry

A New Smart Media Device, surpasses mobile boundaries, allowing you to enjoy more possibilities on the go

September 2nd, 2010 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in mobile technology, today announced the launch of the Samsung GALAXY Tab (Model: GT-P1000). Powered by Android Operating System 2.2, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the first of the company’s tablet devices, representing a new category of mobile products for Samsung.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab brings together all of Samsung’s leading innovations to provide users with more capabilities while on the move. Consumers are able to experience PC-like web-browsing and enjoy all forms of multimedia content on the perfectly sized 7-inch display, wherever they go. Moreover, users can continuously communicate via e-mail, voice and video call, SMS/MMS or social network with the optimized user interface.

“Samsung recognizes the tremendous growth potential in this newly created market and we believe that the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a unique and open proposition to market. There is a new and emerging consumer demand that Samsung can satisfy since mobile is in our DNA. This demand continues to grow and develop as users tap its limitless potential,” said JK Shin, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung GALAXY Tab has been designed to enable consumers to maximize their online experience wherever that may be. 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.”

A new concept of mobility for media

As a new category of device, the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a wealth of mobile experiences. Its striking 7″ TFT-LCD display delivers exciting mobile experience for watching films, viewing pictures, e-reading or sharing documents. In design, its light (380g) build provides perfect portability, with its svelte dimensions making it easy to grip and use. Supporting the latest Adobe Flash Player 10.1, the Samsung GALAXY Tab fully supports swift, seamless viewing of every single page of the web.

The ‘Readers Hub,’ Samsung’s unique e-reading application, provides easy access to a vast digital library – from classical literature to the latest bestsellers and reference materials. At the same time, Samsung unveils ‘Media Hub,’ a gateway to a world of films and videos, and ‘Music Hub,’ an application giving access to a wide range of music tunes.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab has made rich communication truly mobile; it presents a level of converged technology that moves beyond mobile or PC to an entirely new category. Users have new powers to consume, create and communicate from wherever they are.

Powerful, always-on communication

With 3G HSPA connectivity, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 3.0, the Samsung GALAXY Tab enhances users’ mobile communication on a whole new level. Video conferencing and push email on the large 7-inch display make communication more smooth and efficient. For voice telephony, the Samsung GALAXY Tab turns out to be a perfect speakerphone on the desk, or a mobile phone on the move via Bluetooth headset.

Powered by a Cortex A8 1.0GHz application processor, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is designed to deliver high performance whenever and wherever you are. At the same time, HD video contents are supported by a wide range of multimedia formats (DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and more), which maximizes the joy of entertainment.

While the front-facing camera allows face-to-face video telephony over 3G, the rear-facing camera captures still images and video that you can edit, upload and share, all without any hassle. As online content explodes, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the best portable solution for every lifestyle that needs a constant connection.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab will be launched in Europe in mid September, and in other markets including Korea, the US and Asia in coming months.

Applications of the Samsung GALAXY Tab

The Samsung GALAXY Tab is packed with services to complement and enhance your life in different ways. Access to Android Marketplace lets users download apps and personalize their device infinitely. In addition, there are pre-loaded applications uniquely designed and optimized for Samsung smart phones and smart media devices.

Readers Hub – Samsung Readers Hub consolidates e-reading applications such as eBooks, magazines, and newspapers. Users can enjoy ‘reading’ with unified and intuitive user experience powered by global eReading service leaders, Kobo, PressDisplay and Zinio. More than 2 million books including today’s best sellers, over 2,500 titles of magazines in 20 languages and more than 1,600 newspapers in 47 languages are available at launch and will grow the library gradually.

Google Mobile Services – Services like Google Maps Navigation (Beta) and Google Goggles are available on Google’s Android platform. With useful location-based services like Google Maps, consumers can search in Standard English instead of entering an exact address. A search-by-voice function is just as intuitive, meaning searches can also be completed easily on the go. Google Goggles is a powerful, visual search tool that uses the Samsung GALAXY Tab’s camera to uncover information – an image of a landmark or artwork is automatically used to perform a search, delivering relevant content like a description or history. In addition, with a camera, users can enjoy various augmented reality services which are downloadable in the application market.

More applications will be available from Samsung Apps.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab (GT-P1000) Product Specifications

• Network:2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz, 3G (HSUPA 5.76Mbps, HSDPA 7.2Mbps): 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
• OS: Android 2.2 (Froyo)
• Display: 7.0 inch TFT-LCD, WSVGA (1024 x 600)
• Processor: Cortex A8 1.0GHz Application Processor with PowerVR SGX540
• Camera: 3 MP Camera with Auto-Focus and 1.3MP front camera for Video Telephony
• Connectivity: 30 pin connector, WiFi 802.11n / Bluetooth 3.0
• Sensor: Gyroscope sensor, Geo-magnetic sensor, Accelerometer, Light sensor
• Memory: 16G / 32G internal memory with up to 32G external memory slot
• RAM: 512 MB
• Size: 190.09 x 120.45 x 11.98mm, 380g
• Battery: 4,000mAh (7 hour movie play)

Value-added Features:

• Android Market and Samsung Apps for more applications and contents
• Readers Hub, Media Hub* , Music Hub*, Social Hub
• *Availability will be decided by market preference.
• Adobe Flash 10.1 player support
• Full HD video playback, Thinkfree Office, Swype, Hybrid Widget

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

SOURCE Samsung Electronics

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School is back in session and soon students will be posing for their annual yearbook picture. Jostens (yes, the class ring company) just announced a new application that allows students to create their own personalized pages that will appear in the student’s copy of the yearbook. With the Personal Yearbook Pages app, students can design four pages using their own photos, artwork and text – friends can even collaborate on the design!

Students simply log on to www.yearbookyourself.com and get started by uploading pictures – they can even be retrieved from a Facebook or Flickr account. A total of four pages can be created. Students can customize each page with photos, choose the color and the font, and create their own layout and background. The “share” feature lets friends login to participate in the design. Once finished, the pages are sewn into the student’s yearbook and delivered to the school.

Personal Yearbook Pages are available now at participating Jostens Personal Yearbook Pages schools throughout North America for only $15. Jostens will be rolling out Personal Yearbook Pages in additional schools in the months to come. For more information visit www.yearbookyourself.com.

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Everyone loves apps! A library of 225,000 iPhone/iPad apps and 5 billion downloads are impressive numbers for such a young platform and confirm the fast growing interest in apps-based computing. Not only can apps run on smartphones, tablets and laptops but we predict the next platform for apps will be connected TVs. We see a living room where TV viewers click on a weather app or sports app instead of watching the local news. A home where families play a board game together on the TV using the Monopoly app, or stay in touch with their friends with a FaceBook app, all from the comfort of the living room couch.

Microsoft Unlikely to Win this Battle

Unlike the battle for the desktop OS it doesn’t look like Microsoft has much of a chance of winning this battle for the TV OS. Competition over who will provide a TV OS is heating up with Google TV getting set to take on all comers for control of the living room. Meanwhile Apple may soon lob a salvo with an updated version of their Apple TV that will plant Apple iPhone/iPad apps firmly in the living room TV.

TV Manufacturers Need to Adopt a Standard TV OS

A TV OS vacuum exists at the moment and unfortunately for consumers, TV manufacturers appear to be filling it with their own proprietary offerings. At this year’s CES, we saw all the big players showing off “connected” TVs with proprietary environments offering apps and services from providers like Netflix, Blockbuster, Pandora, and Skype. LG calls their platform NetCast, Samsung calls theirs Samsung Apps and Vizio has a platform called Vizio Internet Apps or VIA. It’s unclear how all these proprietary platforms will work with different apps and services but we feel a better solution is one standard TV OS that would run a whole range of apps including smartphone and tablet apps. Apps would be able to run on a TV, receiver, Blu-ray player, game console or any other device that has a screen or connects to a device with a screen.

For Now, the TV OS is Up for Grabs

A TV OS would be part of a platform that would run apps on all the screens in your home including your phone, your computer and the TV screen in your living room. Will the TV OS come from Google/Android, Apple, Microsoft, Sony, or someone else? Google needs to push Google TV hard to become the standard TV OS partly to compensate for losing search traffic as users migrate from browser-based search to apps. Apple needs to gain control of the third screen or TV screen, after smartphone screens and computer screens, and the TV industry needs to move away from closed environments and let their connected TVs work with all the apps and streaming content that consumers are finding so appealing.

Full Story: www.retrevo.com/content/blog/2010/08/battle-looming-tv-os

By Andrew Eisner

Andrew Eisner is a computer journalist and the director of content for the consumer electronics shopping and review site Retrevo.com.

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Epson today introduced a new all-in-one printer with automatic two-sided printing. Touted the world’s fastest all-in-one in its class, the Epson Stylus NX625 prints with speeds of 15 ISO ppm (black) and 7.2 ISO ppm (color).

The Epson Stylus NX625 features built-in Wi-Fi n and Ethernet, memory card slots and a 2.5-inch color LCD which lets you view, select, edit, and print photos without a computer. It has individual ink cartridges and uses Epson’s DURABrite Ultra ink for prints that are fade-, smudge- and water-resistant. It can print a 4″x6″ photo in about 20 seconds and also scans documents at 2400 dpi.

Additional features include Auto Photo Correction; print photos from mobile devices (see www.epson.com/mobileprinting) and the ability to restore faded color photos without a PC.

The Epson Stylus NX625 is ENERGY STAR qualified and will be available in September for $149.99 at retail stores and www.epsonstore.com.

“The Epson Stylus NX625 is perfect for families and students who need a superior performing all-in-one at an affordable price,” said Stacey Tieu, associate product manager, Consumer Ink Jets, Epson America, Inc. “Not only is the Epson Stylus NX625 the world’s fastest all-in-one with high-speed automatic two-sided printing, it is also a feature-rich machine with copy and scan functions plus superior photo capabilities.”

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Since Apple unveiled its iPad back in March there have been a ton of accessories announced. Everything from covers, skins, chargers…you name it. But we haven’t run across a bag as useful as the latest from Booq. The new Boa push iPad messenger bag can carry your iPad and iPhone, credit cards, identification, and more.

But what makes the Boa push different than some other iPad bags available is that it is not big and bulky, nor just a simple sleeve. Booq has taken the best of both and combined them into the compact messenger style Boa push. The bag includes a non-scratch compartment for your iPad, as well as credit card slots, charging cable pockets, a backside pocket for frequently accessed items, and a mobile device pocket located on the front flap. This bag has it all.

The next question you might have is “okay, but is it durable?” No doubt about it. Made of Twylon and Nappa leather, this baby is strong enough to withstand your busy life on-the-go. It features a button closure on the front flap and has a wide seatbelt nylon shoulder strap, making it comfortable for you to carry around. It is also equipped with the Terralinq service, which helps reunite you with your bag if it gets lost.

Available in sand or gray, the Boa push sells for $89.95 at www.booqbags.com and various retailers throughout the U.S. But we’re giving one away! We have one…yes, just ONE, of booq’s Boa push iPad messenger bags (in the color sand) to give away!

BestStuff.com‘s weekly giveaway starts September 1 and ends on September 10, 2010. To enter, simply fill out the form below with your name, email address and mailing address. One winner will be chosen at random and be contacted via email on or about September 13, 2010. Enter as many times as you wish. You must reside in the United States to win. Good luck!

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Clearwire has a new pay-as-you-go 4G mobile broadband service that they say is for “digitally addicted youth who refuse to settle for long-term contracts, overpriced internet service, or speeds slower than what they’ve become accustomed to at home.” The price of the service is $5/day, $20/week, or $50/month for unlimited usage.

The device, the Rover Puck, is a portable Wi-Fi hotspot that lets you share broadband access with up to eight devices. It is small enough to slip into your purse or backpack to use as an on-the-go broadband access point for laptops, netbooks, iPad, iPod touch, smartphones, or your PSP.

The Rover Puck has mobile download speeds of three to six mbps, with bursts over 10 mbps, and runs on Clearwire’s 4G network. The Rover Puck is available now for $149.99 in all of Clearwire’s 49 4G markets across the U.S., at rover.com, CLEAR stores, and Best Buy stores.

Don’t need (or want) to share broadband access? The Rover Stick is for you. The Rover Stick is a personal 4G USB modem that connects a notebook, laptop or desktop to the Rover 4G Service. The Rover Stick is compatible with MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops using Mac OS X, as well as netbooks and notebooks running Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. The Rover Stick is available now for $99.99.

Clearwire gives new users two free days of service to make sure Rover’s 4G coverage fits your mobile lifestyle (in other words…to make sure it works where you need it). Rover has a 14-day return policy for any device purchases made on rover.com or in CLEAR stores.

The Rover service is priced at $5/day, $20/week, or $50/month for unlimited 4G internet usage. Rover Re-Up PIN codes and/or physical Rover Re-Up cards can be purchased in $20 or $50 denominations.

Coverage maps of service availability can be found at www.rover.com/coverage.

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