Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

An Entire Galaxy at Our Fingertips

There are tablets and seven-inch tablets and carriageable accessories that abrasion their Android amalgamation on their sleeve, but Samsung has gone and accumulated the best of all that has appear afore and pushed it achieve absolutely newer and bigger with their new Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. As the name will tell, the two models in this band represent a added bearing of Samsung's accepted Galaxy Tab, and the 7.0 abundance we approved affirms the change abroad from the ten-inch ambit and against a added compact, added accepted seven-inch awning admeasurement that is added affordable and about easier to handle. (For those who adopt the beyond anatomy factor, Samsung does additionally action a 10.1-inch second-gen model.)

Of course, the user acquaintance is alone activity to be as acceptable as the operating system, and the Galaxy Tab 2 arrives active Google's Android 4.0 OS, codenamed "Ice Cream Sandwich." This is added added by Samsung's own "TouchWIZ" interface, which combines a alternation of gesture-based controls with a accumulating of "Mini Apps" These mini's--which accommodate an anxiety alarm and apple clock, calculator, music player, assignment manager, scheduler and more--are consistently aloof a tap abroad via the all-over basal taskbar, and any of them can accessible aloft whatever abroad we're currently doing, for seamless multitasking.

The Galaxy Tab 2 arrives able to watch movies via a arrangement of apps appropriate out of the box, aloof add content. The appreciably deep, affluent Samsung Media Hub, which the architect is alms beyond abounding of their newest CE accessories to added augment our ball possibilities, pushes all abode of movies and TV shows for rental or purchase. There's additionally a Reader Hub for books (powered by Kobo), newspapers (powered by PressDisplay), and magazines (powered by Zinio), added a Game Hub hawking exceptional and casual/social amateur for download. This is altered from Samsung Apps, additionally onboard, the abundantly chargeless area of alternate doodads that has been agilely accepted by software developers, and which adds amount to abounding articles (TVs, Blu-ray players) beyond the manufacturer's able-bodied arrangement of devices.

Behold the multitalented celebrity of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0.

Google, meanwhile, has afresh re-branded their own Android Market agreeable aperture into the Google Comedy Store, from which we can buy/rent videos of every description, as able-bodied as music, games, apps and books. If we're Netflix subscribers, or plan to be, we'll acquisition that app preloaded on the device, aloof a tap of the little red aboveboard abroad and defective alone an annual to accompany with.

Hero Sandwich

Since no carrier-connected (such as 4G) adaptation of either Galaxy Tab 2 archetypal has been announced, we will charge to locate a Wi-Fi network, 802.11b, g or accelerated n. For the abounding benefit, and to backpack over all I've done before, I entered my accepted Google bureaucracy advice with my Gmail abode and password.

But this was different: Working with the aliment theme, Ice Cream Sandwich whips up a accumulation of Google technologies, in new and altered and admirable ways, allegedly organized and agilely presented for my use and enjoyment. For example, aback application Gmail, I was pushed little beheld notifications of new messages, a contraction absent from my PC experience, and little chirps would active me of assorted activities as they happened.

The Tab 2 7.0 accuse and transfers abstracts via its (proprietary) USB cable.

Tab 2 additionally includes one year of the DropBox account which provides 50GB of online storage, commonly a $99 value. It's a accessible way to aback up files, administer them amid home and adaptable locations, or accelerate files to accompany and family. Afresh acclimated apps are neatly indexed, accessible if we demand to aces up area we larboard off, and called browsing allows us to accessible assorted web pages accompanying and drag amid them with ease.

The seven-inch WSVGA (1,024x600) LCD awning is admirable at its absence accuracy and can be adapted via a slider all the way up to a near-blinding bake position. This is accessible outdoors or in added blithely lit environments. Speaking of which, the Galaxy Tab 2 has a chic selectable Automatic Accuracy ambience will lighten or becloud the account on its own initiative, aback it senses accouterment in the ecology lighting. So if you move from a blurred autogenous to blinding sunlight, you'll still absolutely be able to appearance the screen.

Tab 2 additionally utilizes Samsung's new "Plane Band Switching" technology, agnate to In Plane Switching, developed to advance examination angles, angel affection and accuracy while abbreviation accomplishment costs. I will say that the examination bend actuality is actual wide, agitating for sharing.

Tiny but able stereo speakers abut the 30-pin adapter anchorage forth the basal (short) edge.

But what are we watching that's account sharing? The Tab 2 synchronizes with the PC as an MTP device, arena able-bodied with Microsoft Windows Media Amateur and accordant content. I was additionally able to alteration the Android Agenda Copy of We Bought a Zoo from the Blu-ray edition, application the disc's self-launching Fox Agenda Copy app on the PC. I additionally downloaded the Fox Agenda Copy app for the Tab 2 from the Google Comedy Store, to comedy this DRM-protected file.

Fox did such an amazing job with this transfer, and alike ashen to this seven-inch awning the angel actuality is attractive and aqueous and sharp, so abundant so that we can audibly apprehend every chat and cardinal in the absolute acreage advertisement Matt Damon is captivation in one scene. Fox is the alone above flat I'm acquainted of that supports an Android Agenda Copy on their discs: They rule! One surprise: Despite the device's gyroscopic sensor, it turns out that a cine can comedy upside-down. I additionally loaded up a 1080p bivouac for a contempo Hollywood hit, and actuality afresh the angel was brittle and colorful, but I could still see affirmation of accomplished blur grain!

A micro anchorage for the microSD card.

Adobe Flash Amateur is supported, although I bare to download the latest adaptation for the device. I can't abundantly accent how admirable it is to be able to acquisition videos beyond the all-inclusive internet and aloof be able to comedy them after disappointment. In short, there is no curtailment of being to watch on the Galaxy Tab 2. And if we accept to abundance our agreeable locally, an another microSD agenda can add up to 32 gigabytes to the congenital eight GB. All of my ahead loaded agreeable on the microSD agenda I acclimated was anon apprehend and fabricated accessible to on the Tab 2, with no reformatting necessary.

For sound, we acquisition a brace of absolutely baby edge-mounted, side-firing speakers. These are calmly blocked aback we authority the device, and while the affection is inherently bound by their admeasurement and location, the aggregate and activating ambit absolutely weren't bisected bad. We will acceptable demand to use headphones, conceivably wireless, with the abutment for higher-speed, lower-power-consumption Bluetooth 3.0 accessories. But approved active headphones assignment aloof accomplished acquainted into the jack that Samsung wisely placed on the top of the accessory (unlike Amazon's camp adjustment of the headphone jack on the basal of the Kindle Fire).

The accompanying cameras (front and rear) accredit a apple of communication, abundance and aloof apparent fun. And the Bluetooth abutment makes accession of an alien keyboard addition productivity-enhancing possibility. Those are two things you won't acquisition on the analogously priced Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet.

A Peel for the Masses

One appropriate onboard accoutrement sets the Tab 2 afar from any added book I accept anytime tried: an IR emitter in the centermost of one edge. The preinstalled Peel Smart Alien app masterfully exploits the altered aggregate of accouterments and software herein, enabling the 7.0 to action as an ultimate home amphitheater alien control. This feature--and accumulate in apperception that it is one of many, acute no added amount whatsoever--is lightning-quick and idiot-proof to configure, with a abbreviate alternation of basal questions. Sure, it referred to my new Onkyo 7.1-channel home amphitheater receiver as a "stereo," but it additionally ample out how to about-face inputs and more, and its aboriginal guesses at the able IR codes were about consistently correct, so we sailed through the setup.

From appropriate to left: the ability button, aggregate up/down... and AN IR EMITTER!

I absitively to opt into Custom Picks, to see if it could assumption my accurate tastes, and Peel knew what was on Dish, accusation me abundant suggestions with blush photos. I broke the basic button below one and was anon transported to that program, alive and in progress. Basal controls are additionally positioned on the larboard ancillary of the awning (up, down, play, pause), and formed flawlessly. Peel was additionally "smart" abundant not to change the approach aback all tuners were active recording. Absolutely able indeed.

As with application the iPhone as a alien however, it's a tad annoying to accept to deathwatch the comatose Tab 2 every time I demand to abeyance or resume or change the channel. But as an added benefit for Samsung-ophiles, the Tab 2 7.0 additionally supports Dual View, the anew developed accessory awning affection that interacts with baddest newer, higher-end Samsung TVs for added agreeable and control, although I was not able to acquaintance this hands-on.

The adjustment and acuteness of the bend buttons led to common accidental hits, sending the book to beddy-bye aback I was in the bosom of this or that. And as with about every artefact at this akin of composure that I've tried, I did appointment best hangtimes than accepted while cat-and-mouse for apps to barrage or transition, and already in a attenuate while the accessory would benumb for a moment. I'll booty the accusation for my again abortion to analyze the awning abduction button on the basal of the screen, it aloof didn't assume essential, but it is so accessible to acquisition and use that I accept several caps I never alike knew I wanted. The images are actual simple to adapt by the way, with an app that opens automatically.

Turn-Ons:

• VERSATILITY, with a advanced arrangement of home theater-friendly applications, and beyond
• Front and rear-facing cameras, Bluetooth, microSD agenda slot... and an IR emitter!
• Android 4.0 operating arrangement with Android Market and Flash support

Turn-Offs:

• Some apps slower to barrage than others
• Proprietary charging/data alteration jack
• No 4G connectvity advantage (yet)

The 3MP agenda camera about back, not far from the headphone port.

Final Thoughts/Conclusion:

Other than some balmy amateurishness in button placement, I can't absolutely anticipate of any added complaints about Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. It's a actual altered acquaintance for addition advancing from the artlessness of the iPod/iPad/iPhone, and that is in no way meant to be a dig at either Apple or Samsung (or Google). I aloof bare to be a bit added proactive in downloading the all-important $.25 of software to do the things I capital to do, and about consistently for free.

The Tab 2 does so accursed much, I can't affirmation that I accept baffled it all, or alike approved it all over several canicule of ceaseless use. I accumulate adage "Wow, I didn't apperceive it could do that," and I apprehend that these blessed discoveries will abide for absolutely a while. For those in look of an bargain and bunched another to the iPad, but with added ability and adaptability than a adored eReader, Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 has got your number. Highly recommended.

Manufacturer's Specifications

• MSRP: $249.99
• Dimensions: 7.6" H x 4.8" W x 0.41" D
• Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Screen: 7-inch capacitive touchscreen TFT LCD (PLS)
• Resolution: WSVGA (1,024x600)
• Processor: 1GHz dual-core Texas Instruments OMAP 4430
• RAM: 1GB
• Cameras: 3-megapixel front-facing, VGA rear-facing
• Output/Input: 3.5mm Stereo Headphone Mini-jack, proprietary 30-pin adapter (USB), Congenital Microphone, Integrated Speaker
• Wireless Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0
• Supported Audio Formats: MP3, AAC/AAC+/EAAC+, WMA, OGG (vorbis), FLAC, AC-3
• Supported Video Formats: MPEG-4, H.264, H.263, VC-1, DivX, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark, 3gp (MP4), Windows Media (asf), AVI (DivX), Matroska mkv, Adobe Flash flv, webm
• Supported Angel Formats: IF, AGIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, WBMP, WEBP
• Supported certificate Types: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF
• Pre-Installed Apps: Netflix, Peel Smart Remote, Amazon Kindle, DropBox, Google Search, Google Talk, Google Maps, Google +, Google + Messenger, Google Comedy Store/Android Market, Samsung Apps, Samsung AllShare (DLNA), ChatON, etc.
• Storage Capacity: 8GB anchored flash
• Card Slot: microSD (up to 32GB additional)
• Battery: Congenital rechargeable 4000mAh lithium polymer
• Available finish: Titanium Silver
• Warranty: 1 Year, Limited

What in the Box?

• Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (GT-P3113)
• AC adapter
• USB Cable
• Documentation