Samsung Galaxy Tab - first impressions

[garysargent]

First impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab are very positive!

For all those choosing a tablet - don't just look at the specs alone. The Samsung Galaxy Tab comes with a really good set of customised apps which really suit the larger screen size.

The email client is great. In landscape mode you get a list of emails in the left pane, and the full email of the currently selected email in the right pane. Switch the portrait mode and these two panes are toggled between.

Other apps such as the browser benefit from the larger screen, having extra icons across the top near the address bar - such as to open up a list of favourites.

So while I was expecting a bigger version of stock Android, what Samsung have delivered seems to be more than that. It is clear they have put some thought into its useability.

I also have the keyboard docking station which is excellent.

Only criticism is the short USB cable the Tab comes with for charging. Battery life is excellent however.

 

[dbpaddler]

I do remember seeing the email app and thought it was really nice. The only problem is if it's still the same tired email app functionality wise and you still can't move email to folders and such. So it becomes a waste if you need to go to K9 or Maildroid for functionality. Haven't seen it in action, but it would be nice if you could finger drag and drop an email into a folder while in landscape mode.

 

[duncanb]

I do remember seeing the email app and thought it was really nice. The only problem is if it's still the same tired email app functionality wise and you still can't move email to folders and such. So it becomes a waste if you need to go to K9 or Maildroid for functionality. Haven't seen it in action, but it would be nice if you could finger drag and drop an email into a folder while in landscape mode.

You can't actually see a list of folders to do this. There is a handy 'move to folder' icon on the top toolbar but you have to open the email first to use it.

I have two issues with the Galaxy Tab email client: one is that it often crashes when I try to open it. Not a big issue as I just have to open it again, but annoying. The other is that the Email client and the GMail client don't know about each other's existence and I'm not entirely clear how best to disable one, so I get GMail alerts on the status bar and Samsung Email alerts on the icon.

 

[dbpaddler]

now that ticks me off they give move functionality to the tablet but not their phones. Makes no sense.

Wonder why the app is buggy. And my big beef with android in general is that all email is not unified and treated equal. I really don't care if gmail has extra functionality, it doesn't mean it has to have it's own email app and screw up the seamless aspect of email. webOS, iphone and I'm sure WP7 are world's ahead of android here, and it's just a travesty that at 2.x it's still not unified AND fully functional.

I have three email apps because of this. gmail, stock for exchange and k9 for everything else. It's ridiculous.

You can't actually see a list of folders to do this. There is a handy 'move to folder' icon on the top toolbar but you have to open the email first to use it.

I have two issues with the Galaxy Tab email client: one is that it often crashes when I try to open it. Not a big issue as I just have to open it again, but annoying. The other is that the Email client and the GMail client don't know about each other's existence and I'm not entirely clear how best to disable one, so I get GMail alerts on the status bar and Samsung Email alerts on the icon.

 

[Lagerstars]

I really like the look of these and one thing i'd like to be able to do with it is to connect the dock up to my amp indoors via HDMI and then use the WiFi on the Tab to be able to stream music from my NAS thru my amp, bit like a Logitech Squeezebox, but better, but I've not been able to find out if this kind of configuration is possible.

Are there any apps out there that might achieve this?

 

[dbpaddler]

I'd just get the Miccus Bluetooth receiver and hook it up to your amp and stream audio via bluetooth. I do that now. Have the BT plugged into my receiver via a headphone to rca output. Works great in the morning. I wake up, turn on RadioTime and stream sports talk to the stereo while I'm getting ready. The stereo is on the other side of the room in a cabinet. I have RF on the Harmony remote so nothing is visible, and I can even bring the phone in the bathroom to check email while getting ready while streaming to the other room. Miccus sells a combo pack (transmitter and receiver) for $50 so you can hook up any non BT device with a headphone out and stream via bluetooth. Works great for me for some of my mp3 players and Sirius Stiletto. If my Stiletto had BT, I'd be in heaven.

 

[0sync0]

Why does Google say Android is not ready for tablets yet?

 

[dbpaddler]

I think resolution and screen real estate is a main reason. Like Gary mentioned, Samsung made a nice upgrade to the email app to be Outlook like in landscape. Otherwise you'd have the standard app with a lot of black space. Most of the apps are made for the phone resolutions WVGA and WHVGA (is it hvga?). The OS isn't formatted to the higher res. You have 600, 720 and 768 res possibilities in tablets coming so the OS needs to be able to take advantage of them. There could be other things, but I know that's one of them.

 

[raqball]

The apps not filling the screen has already been solved....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zasSIA7sexM&feature=player_embedded

 

[dbpaddler]

ahhh....well i forget then. I'm sure if you played around with an ipad enough, you'd figure it out.

Personally, I think the OS still just isn't ready. It looks so unpolished on a great 4" SAMOLED screen. It would just get amplified on a bigger screen. Not to mention it's still lacks a lot of polish in apps like email, media and such. Still owning a Pre and being around a bunch of iphone owners, it's actually effort to make android look as polished as the two, and the apps don't help. HTC seems to be the only mfg or developer intersted in making the OS pop (taking games out of the mix). It's sad really, and hopefully what gingerbread will finally bring to the table. Let's hope the former Palm guy has shaken things up a bit.

 

[Lagerstars]

I'd just get the Miccus Bluetooth receiver and hook it up to your amp and stream audio via bluetooth. I do that now. Have the BT plugged into my receiver via a headphone to rca output. Works great in the morning. I wake up, turn on RadioTime and stream sports talk to the stereo while I'm getting ready. The stereo is on the other side of the room in a cabinet. I have RF on the Harmony remote so nothing is visible, and I can even bring the phone in the bathroom to check email while getting ready while streaming to the other room. Miccus sells a combo pack (transmitter and receiver) for $50 so you can hook up any non BT device with a headphone out and stream via bluetooth. Works great for me for some of my mp3 players and Sirius Stiletto. If my Stiletto had BT, I'd be in heaven.

I dont want music on the tab tho, i want it to get it from my NAS and then stream it out.
Basically have it sat in its dock and get it from WiFi and output thru its docking port. But not found any apps that would offer this apart from QNAP or QMAP or something but that only works with its own brand NAS as well which is no good to me.

Was gonna get an O2 Joggler and use that but its just a normal 3.5mm headphone port whereas this is HDMI so should have a better quality output.

 

[dbpaddler]

Ahhh. I still haven't set up my NAS so I'm no help there. I'm peeved at the moment my 2.5" standalones aren't being recognized on my laptop, and I'm out some good files for now.

 

[slbailey1]

This is a question for anyone that has the Verizon version of the Galaxy Tab.

Does the Verizon Galaxy Tab have the Android Market, the Reader's Hub and the Media Hub?

 

[mach330]

anyone try to tether the tab with their droid phone yet? i heard it doesn't work. please say it aint so?

 

[rmjdees]

This is a question for anyone that has the Verizon version of the Galaxy Tab.

Does the Verizon Galaxy Tab have the Android Market, the Reader's Hub and the Media Hub?

Yes. Having the regular market is great. I had the viewsonic g-tablet over the weekend, took it back on Monday.

Having the full (real) market is so much easier than side loading. plus flash works. It's night and day difference.

randy

 

[uniquenameEVO]

anyone try to tether the tab with their droid phone yet? i heard it doesn't work. please say it aint so?

Since the tab has it's own data (I don't think wifi only came out...did it?), why would someone tether?

 

[garysargent]

anyone try to tether the tab with their droid phone yet? i heard it doesn't work. please say it aint so?

I have my Tab tethered to a HTC Desire running V2.2 Android. Works fine

 

[uniquenameEVO]

I have my Tab tethered to a HTC Desire running V2.2 Android. Works fine

Are you in the U.S.? If so, where did you get a wifi version? If not...mind if I ask what you paid?

 

[Tech Addiction]

Are you in the U.S.? If so, where did you get a wifi version? If not...mind if I ask what you paid?

All 3G Tabs have Wifi b/g/n as well as Bluetooth 3.0. You can buy a 3G Tab from VZW and then cancell the 3G and use it Wifi only if you choose.

As far as first impressions, like I said in the other thread, I am fully satisfied with the purchase. I bought a Viliv S5 Mid for $600.00 and it runs full win 7 but it's still very slow and hard to navigate with only a 4.7 in screen. Comparitively, the Tab is an oustanding bargain so I didn't mind the price. Off contract means if I get tired of it after a few months, i'm not stuck with a contract. I may upgrade if the SAMOLED comes out and give this one to the wife. Now let the Apps start rolling our way.

 

[uniquenameEVO]

All 3G Tabs have Wifi b/g/n as well as Bluetooth 3.0. You can buy a 3G Tab from VZW and then cancell the 3G and use it Wifi only if you choose.

I knew they had wifi also...but I wasn't thinking about not using the 3G. Good call.

 

[mach330]

I have my Tab tethered to a HTC Desire running V2.2 Android. Works fine

oh yeah? is it a US thing then? i haven't heard anyone yet that got it working due to the ad hoc limitation. anyone else got it working ?

 

[MonarchWines]

I too want to drop my verizon plan and just use the Wi-Fi. I'm only into day 2 but here's what I did to test it out:

I found the Mobile network settings.
Disable the Use packet Data
and
Data roaming

I am connected to my wi-fi and my browser works, guess I'll need to confirm this after a day or so with the verizon usage hopefully at 0.

 

[Afront]

I'm in the UK, with an HTC Desire on T-Mobile and an unlocked Samsung Galaxy Tab.

The Galaxy Tab connects no problem when tethered to the Desire via Wi-Fi Hotspot.

 

[KUDOS 555]

same here,uk wifi only version and use desire to tether for 3g when out of wifi zones

stunning piece of tech, joy to use, will do a review when had a few days to play

 

[Tech Addiction]

The wifi hotspot on my VZW Tab works without a hotspot plan. I have the 5 gb plan and use it in place of a Mifi. I could use my Droid Incredible but you cant take calls and maintain the wifi.