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By Sean Poulter and Niall Firth
iPad killer? People compare the performance of Apple's iPad (L) and Samsung's Galaxy Tab tablet devices at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin todayApple faces a killer blow to its iPad after Samsung unveiled its own device amid rumours it could could be just half the price.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab with its seven inch touchscreen is smaller than the iPad, however it matches the Apple device in virtually all other functions.
Initial details suggest some aspects of the Tablet are even more sophisticated than the Apple creation.
At the same time, Apple faces competition from other technology giants which are racing to get their own touchscreen tablets into the shops before Christmas
The iPad has been a phenomenal success, selling three million units within the first 80 days of its launch earlier this year despite its high starting price of £429.
No official prices have yet been announced for the Galaxy Tab, however company officials suggest it could be just £200.
Both the iPad and the Galaxy Tab connect to the internet for free via Wi-fi hot spots.
Importantly, both can also link to the web while on the go via a mobile phone network connection which has to be bought separately either on monthly contract or a pay as you go basis.
Just as the iPhone redefined the smart phone, triggering a raft of lookalike rivals, so the iPad has established a new market for tablet style computers.
It is being placed in a gap between smartphones and the bulkier net books and lap tops.
The details of the Galaxy Tab were made public by the South Korean company today at the IFA technology show in Berlin.
It uses the increasingly popular Android operating system software, which is providing a serious challenge to Apple's own technology.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet comes with multi-touch technology just like Apple's iPad but is considerably smallerHistorically, Apple devices scored because of their stylish looks, ease of use and, particularly, because of the hundreds of thousands of specialist Aps - applications - that could be bought or downloaded for free.
The Aps, which range from simple maps and navigation to games, shopping services and even heart monitors have converted smartphones into a modern day essential.
Duncan Bell, Operations Editor at T3 magazine said: 'With its support for Flash video and cameras front and back – both key features for a lot of punters, missing from the iPad – and iPad-like easy access to music, book and app stores the Samsung Galaxy S matches or surpasses the iPad in most areas.
'My only reservations are on battery life and screen size. The camera and Flash video mean it will almost certainly have significantly shorter battery life than the iPad.
'I also feel Apple got it pretty much bang on with a screen size of 10 inches. The Galaxy’s seven inches isn’t small as such but you’ll miss that extra space when browsing or watching video.
'Pricing will also be key, but it’s hard to envisage a Samsung product costing more than an equivalent Apple one. The Galaxy is the first real competition for the iPad.
If tablets are going to be anything more than an Apple-dominated niche market, a product as good as this really should fly.'
The Samsung Galaxy Tab will embrace augmented reality where the rear camera and GPS are combined to give information about real life surroundings However, software producers are making the same Aps available to people with smartphones - and now tablets - using the Android system.
The Galaxy's 7-inch screen compares to the larger 9.7in for the iPad. Arguably, this makes it more portable, however the images are necessarily smaller.
One of the advantages of the larger screen is that the iPad has found a niche as an ebook reader, allowing people to download and read books, magazines and newspapers.
Unlike the iPad, the Galaxy Tab has the latest version of the Adobe Flash software, which means it is capable of showing more of the video images found on the internet.
It features a camera on each side of the device, as well as a slot for expandable memory.
Both the iPad and the Galaxy allow people to make video calls, however this is only via a wi-fi link to the internet. Significantly, the Galaxy Tab also has the capability to make mobile phone calls.
The new tablet is an advance on the technology included in Samsung's popular Galaxy S smartphone. The company is also looking at the possibility of a larger 10in screen tablet.One Samsung product executive said the new tablet will probably sell for between $200 and $300. It is likely to be sold as part of a package incorporating a mobile phone contract.
Simon Stanford, head of mobile for Samsung in the UK and Ireland., said: 'Samsung recognises 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.'
Samsung's head of product portfolio, Thomas Richter, said:'This is not just another tablet. We call it a Smart Media device.'
Vodafone has announced that it will distribute the device in European markets including the UK in October. It will also be available from others.
Vodafone's Patrick Chomet said: 'Adding tablets as part of our device range is a natural next step that gives customers an alternative way to enjoy great content and internet services.'
The Galaxy Tab has a seven-inch touchscreen, slightly smaller than the iPad's 9.7 inches, and has a rear-mounted cameraOther technology firms PC makers including LG Electronics and Hewlett-Packard are already moving into the new category of devices.
And Dell said last month it was launching its new tablet device called the Dell Streak to U.S. customers.
Apple boss Steve Jobs holds up the new iPad at its launch earlier this year'Samsung is betting big on the tablet category with this device,' said Ben Wood, research director at CCS Insight, adding the success of Galaxy Tab - which is smaller than iPad with its 9.7-inch screen - will depend on pricing.
'If positioned carefully the Galaxy Tab could emerge as an operator-friendly alternative to Apple's iPad as it could be subsidised to extremely low price points in the run-up to the lucrative holiday sales season,' he said.
Lee said most European operators selling Samsung phones were set to also sell the Tab to their clients, and several operators would sell it in the United States.
Last week research firm iSuppli forecast the iPad will likely account for nearly three-quarters of worldwide tablet shipments this year, and hold at least 70 percent of the market in 2011 and 62 percent by 2012.
Samsung said the market was far from fixed yet.
'The market opportunity is wide open. We believe our Galaxy Tab will fill the big white space,' said YH Lee.
The Tab comes with an application called the ‘Readers Hub,’ Samsung’s unique e-reading application, which provides easy access to a vast digital library – from classical literature to the latest bestsellers and reference materials.
The new device also uses Swype technology which lets users type by sliding their fingers across the screen.
source: dailymail [endtext]
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