Overview
If one thing is certain about Samsung, it is that the brand is synonymous with innovation. Considerably smaller than the famous iPad 2 and yet not that much larger than a smartphone, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 is the perfect combination of an incredibly convenient screen and a powerful processor. Even though there have been a lot of speculations regarding the daring launch of the tablet, the final results are as follows: the Galaxy 8.9 weighs only 1.03 pounds and is only 0.33 inches thick, meaning that it provides real competition for Apple.
In addition, unlike the initial general belief that the device is going to be set on the Android operating system, Samsung and Google created the special Android 3.0 Honeycomb, which according to the experts in the area will work a lot better for tablets. Besides the regular Android operating system features, the Honeycomb adds a completely new innovative user interface in order to make good use of the extra screen space on the tablet.
Specifications: A quick look at its main features
• It runs on the new Android 3.0. Honeycomb operating system which has been customized specifically for use on tablets;
• It includes a powerful 1GHz dual core processor to ensure that navigation and loading go as smooth as possible;
• It is equipped with two cameras that allow you to make 3D videos: a rear AF camera of 3 megapixels with LED flash on the rear and a 2 megapixels camera in front;
• The audio system is compatible with MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, OGG, MIDi and AMR-NB/WB formats;
• Radio connectivity compatible with Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n;
• Storage space capacity of 16GB;
• Battery capacity of 6000mAh that enables heavy usage of approximately ten hours
What we like
Even though not many experts have started testing the Galaxy Tab 8.9 very thoroughly yet, it seems that the best thing about it is the operating system. Since it was specially designed for the purpose of the tablet and with the help of Google, there are high expectations regarding the Android 3.0 Honeycomb. However, it seems that the 8.9 will work on a version of the Honeycomb and will require Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface. The opinions are split regarding this specific idea. Nonetheless, Samsung promises to incorporate Google’s own widgets to make it more attractive.
What we don’t like
The main problem reported with the Galaxy Tab 8.9 so far is that it does not have as many ports as expected. In fact, all it is equipped with is a non-standard dock connector. At the same time, most customers consider that a rough 10 hours of video playback is not a very satisfactory aspect regarding this tablet.
Reputation
Since the Galaxy 8.9 is not yet launched and hence, it is not available in all countries; there are not as many customer reviews and ratings as one would expect. So far, the only price spotted on the internet for the tablets is a pre-order for around six hundred Euros from Amazon.de. From the looks of things, the Galaxy 8.9 inch will be launched in Europe and the United States at the same time.
In a nutshell
Even though it is missing two important features (the MicroSD card slot for extra storage memory and the port), the Galaxy 8.9 so far indicates that Samsung found the ideal size for a tablet. Overall, the tablet seems to be worth it and the manufacturer still has some time available to make the final modifications. For the moment, all you can do is to wait for the actual launch date!
