Samsung has introduced the latest in its series of Galaxy-branded Android devices, the Galaxy Note tablet.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 is a full-featured 10-inch tablet that aims to take on the iPad. It comes packed with a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor and the latest version of Android, version 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich.
The Note places an emphasis on being like a digital notepad. It has Samsung’s proprietary Touchwiz interface, and comes with between 16 GB and 64 GB of built-in memory. It has both front and rear cameras, and a resolution of 1280×1280.
Android fans should already be aware of the “Note” moniker, which is currently used as the name of Samsung’s large 5-inch smartphone. Some have referred to the phone as more of a tablet, and now Samsung is taking that to its fullest extent.
Samsung faces the challenge that all other Android manufacturers have been met with over the last two years – it’s hard to compete against the iPad. Apple’s product is the de facto tablet, and there is no such thing on the high-end Android side of things.
When it comes to Android tablets, Amazon’s Kindle Fire has quickly become the most popular option. At $200 it’s an impulse buy, and the integration of Amazon’s digital content makes it an easy and seamless experience for customers who want to get the most out of a tablet.
But admittedly, the Kindle Fire leaves a lot to be desired, especially because it doesn’t even give users full access to the Android Market. Only apps that have been approved by Amazon can be downloaded. In addition, the Fire’s processing power is not up to par with the iPad.
But the point is, if a consumer has enough money for an iPad, he’ll buy an iPad. If he doesn’t want to spend that much, he’ll buy a Kindle Fire. The market for expensive Android tablets hasn’t been defined yet.
