Samsung Unveils First Android 4.0 Tablet, Galaxy Tab 2

Samsung expanded its mobile device line-up Monday with the introduction of its new Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0), the first ever tablet from the company to feature an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS.

The 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 runs a 1 GHz dual core processor, packs 1 GB of RAM and touts a 1024 x 600 LCD display. It measures 0.41 inches thick, weighs in at 0.75 pounds, and is available in both 3G and WiFi versions.

But what largely sets the Galaxy Tab 2 apart from its 7-inch predecessor, the Galaxy Tab, is its user interface and software offerings. The device features Samsung’s upgraded Touchwiz user interface and comes equipped with Hub services for one-step access to user content. Samsung said users can access over 17 million songs in the Music Hub, 2.3 million e-books, 3,500 magazines and over 2,000 newspapers (in 51 languages) in the Readers Hub, and over 1,000 film titles in the Video Hub.

Samsung also used the Galaxy Tab 2 as a debut platform for its AllShare Play content-sharing service which allows users to play or live-stream multimedia content on the tablet from PCs, other Samsung smart devices, or third-party web storages. "The new Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) will provide people with delighted multimedia experience and allow efficient communication," said JK Shin, President of IT and Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics, in a statement.

With Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich also intact, Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) users have access to an upgraded Android Market with more than 400,000 applications and a redesigned app gallery for easier content sharing. Samsung said the OS's performance is further enhanced by High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+).

The Galaxy Tab 2 (7.) will be launch globally in March, starting in the UK. Samsung has not disclosed any pricing details.