HP TouchPad and Other Tablets vs. the Advantaged iPad

Michael Hickins, WSJ: "Hewlett-Packard announced its entry into the mobile device space today, but is entering a market already crowded with strong contenders. The market, currently dominated by Apple’s iPad (which hogged approximately 87 percent of the worldwide market in 2010, according to research firm IDC), already includes Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, and will count the likes of Motorola Mobility Holdings, Research in Motion and Dell, all of whom intend to ship by the end of this year. But it’s that very timing that gives Apple such a huge advantage, according to Susan Kevorkian, who follows the mobile device market for IDC. ... "

Kobo Announces An Aggressive Partnership Strategy for 2011

Given the situation with their partner Borders, they damned well better have an aggressive partnership strategy for 2011. PW: "Kobo ... plans to vastly expand its footprint in the e-book space. Kobo has made partnerships with companies like Samsung and RIM to place Kobo e-reading software on their respective tablet devices, the Galaxy Tab and the upcoming Blackberry playbook. At CES, which begins today, Kobo is also focusing on OEM partners who will sell devices with Kobo software built in. Freescale, a leading chip maker for e-readers and tablets, has included Kobo software in its new tablet reference design (which OEM partners use to conceive of what devices with Freescale chips might do), the i.MX53 SABRE, which the company is showing off at CES."

Galaxy Tab More Expensive at Home Than U.S.

"Verizon Communications Inc., the U.S. carrier, offers Galaxy Tab with no wireless contract at $599, or about 676,000 won at today’s exchange rate." - WSJ. "SKT in South Korea sells Galaxy Tab at 995,500 won, or about $884, without the contract. That means Galaxy Tab is 47% more expensive in the country where it is made."

Review: Samsung’s Galaxy Tab: iPad’s First Solid Contender

Wired.com: "iPhone:iPad :: Galaxy S:Galaxy Tab. That simple analogy is all you really need to know about the highly anticipated Galaxy Tab and what it can do. With the first legitimate competitor to iPad for the consumer-focused tablet-computer market, Samsung continues to take its cues from Apple — just as it’s been doing with cellphones. That is not necessarily a bad thing. For all its faults, the iPad is still the tablet to beat. The Galaxy Tab takes direct aim at iPad’s shortcomings and does a credible job at addressing nearly all of them. The most immediately noteworthy difference from the iPad is that the Galaxy is considerably smaller — physically about half the size and weight ... "

Samsung Rolls Out Tab at Home in Korea, Price Unknown

Digits - WSJ: "Galaxy Tab features a seven-inch screen and is built on Google Inc.’s Android operating system. It’s already on sale in Italy and will be available in the U.S. later this month. In the U.S., Samsung is offering the Galaxy Tab through one phone distributor for $400 with a two-year, $30-a-month contract and another for about $600 with a prepaid data plan that requires no contract. Since Samsung’s cellphone division developed the product, it has focused on distribution with its partners in the cellphone industry. There’s no immediate plan for a version with Wi-Fi connections that Samsung could sell through other retailers or directly to consumers itself."

WSJ Video: Publishers Line Up Behind Galaxy Tablet

Digits Live Show - WSJ: "Several news publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today are building software applications for Samsung’s Galaxy tablet, which go on sale later this year. The Wall Street Journal’s Julia Angwin and Jessica Vascellaro discuss publishers’ efforts to reach beyond iPad owners for mobile readership."

Details: Samsung's Android Galaxy Tab

The Clarion-Ledger: "It took some digging and a look across the ocean to Berlin, Germany, for information on the Galaxy Tab, which will be Samsung's first tablet device that'll run Android operating system 2.2, also known as Froyo. It was announced Sept. 2 at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin. The market is about to be flooded with e-readers and tablet PCs from various manufacturers, but this device has the potential to attract a lot of attention and capitalize on the growing popularity of the Android platform. ... "

IFA: Kobo and the Readers Hub for the Samsung Galaxy Tab

Good E-Reader Blog: "The CEO of Samsung used the opening of the conference to show off the new Samsung Galaxy Tab Tablet PC! More to follow on the semantics of the Galaxy Tab in another Post, what breaking news we have, is that Kobo is deeply embeded into this new device. The New software Kobo has pioneered for this device is called the “Readers Hub”. This new application was designed specifically for the Android 2.2 driven Galaxy Tab from the ground up. Kobo and Samsung both worked in conjunction on this application amidst great secrecy to give owners of the Galaxy Tab a viable store to use their device as an E-Reader."