Samsung's Galaxy Tab: Real, impressive, unpriced

Samsung has officially introduced the Android 2.2-based Galaxy Tab at IFA in Berlin. It has a 7 inch display with slightly lower resolution than the iPad (1024 x 600) but more dots per inch, front- and rear-facing cameras, and a 3G GSM modem with the capability to act as a (big) smartphone as well. Samsung has created a custom user interface and Android apps designed to take full advantage of the tablet's screen. In addition, the Galaxy Tab is the first Android tablet with official permission from Google to access the Android Marketplace.

It's when you start talking about prices and availability dates that details get a bit sketchy. Samsung says that the Galaxy Tab will be released in Europe this Fall but quoted no prices, and has provided no details about either a release date or price in the U.S. I suspect that it will be released in November in the U.S., in partnership with one or more of the major mobile carriers (most likely Verizon). It'll almost certainly be priced less than the iPad, but how much less (given that it has more features than the iPad) remains to be seen. Also, to work with Verizon's network, it will need CDMA support, which wasn't announced at IFA.

We're going to get a barrage of Android tablets between now and the end of the year (Toshiba just showed its dual-operating system Toshiba Folio 100 at IFA, Archos announced a new family of Android tablets yesterday, and Viewsonic announced its ViewPad 7 on Monday.)