Camp HD

Perhaps being the number one rival to Apple iPad, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is making a name out there, impressing people with its smaller design and Android 2.2 OS. It comes in 16GB and 32GB versions and works perfectly with the Google OS and the impactful 7-inch screen. Tablets stand out by the design of their screens and the Tab’s screen comes out as a sturdy beauty. A Corning Gorilla glass layer protects the 1,024×600-pixel resolution LCD underneath that provides a higher pixel density. While the Tab is comparable to the iPad, its features, notably the Adobe Flash capability, gives it a striking difference from other tablets on the market. You can protect your screen using the Samsung Galaxy Tab screen protector that is readily available online.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is equipped with a 1.3MP front-facing camera, which is perfect when having a video conference. Self-portraits are also of high quality and are immediately scanned and accessible via the appropriate app. If you are using the Tab as an e-reader, you have plenty to celebrate. You can install e-book software from Barnes & Noble through the Android Market or access the Amazon e-book retail store through the preinstalled Kindle app. However, the Tab is considerably heavier than most e-readers and its battery life is considerably low. Also, most book lovers prefer e-ink screens to the Tab’s highly reflective backlit LCD.

On the back of the Tab is an impressive smooth 3MP camera integrated with flash. You can capture videos at 30fps and at a maximum resolution of 720×480 pixels. Overall, the Tab measures 7.5×4.7×0.5 inches and has a solid paperback book feel that prevents it from slipping when grasped by the hand. You do not need to cross your legs or set it on your lap to comfortably use it. Putting it in a Samsung Galaxy Tab case will not add any significant inches to its size. A pair of built-in speakers and Samsung’s dock connector are located at the bottom of the edge. The dock connector works with the included power brick and USB adapter and can also be used for other accessories including the video output adapter and the keyboard dock.

As expected, the battery life can quickly deplete when you add up GPS, Bluetooth, Flash video playback, 720p video decoding and other services. You can quickly activate or kill off 3G, Bluetooth or GPS by pulling down on the home screen if you wish to save your battery. When the core features such as e-mail, Web browsing, music and Wi-Fi are being used, the battery can last up to around 7 hours. The Samsung Tab is made to use GSM technology for cellular data connection and not CDMA as is the case with Sprint and Verizon devices.

If you are always working on the move, you will be happy with the Tab’s calendar that will take you to your Gmail and Exchange accounts. You can also view and edit and Microsoft Office documents thanks to the preinstalled ThinkFree Office app. However, for those people who are serious into document editing, it may be worth getting a Netbook with a larger screen and peripheral accessories at the same price as the Tab. The device does not have thousands of apps as is the case with the iPad and the handful that are optimized for it are not that exciting.

Those who need to customize their devices can get Samsung Galaxy Tab accessories online as they are not shipped with the gadget. Some of the popular accessories include TV-out cables, in-car chargers, leather slip cases, carry pouch cases, stand cases, screen protectors, multimedia desk docks, keyboard docks among others all made by Samsung.