Take a closer look at Samsung's TouchWiz interface overhaul for the Galaxy Tab 10.1, available as a free over-the-air update on August 5th, 2011.
Donald Bell
Donald Bell has spent more than five years as a CNET senior editor, reviewing everything from MP3 players to the first three generations of the Apple iPad. He currently devotes his time to producing How To content for CNET, as well as weekly episodes of CNET's Top 5 video series.
After receiving the over-the-air update to the Galaxy Tab 10.1's TouchWiz software, the tablet's home screens are outfitted with Live Panels, offering at-a-glance views of e-mail, weather, news, and more. These panels can be customized or deleted, and many can be resized.
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Mini Apps
Samsung has also customized Android 3.1 with a tray of Mini Apps, which can be accessed by swiping upward from the bottom of the screen regardless of the currently running app. These Mini Apps run as a window that can float over whatever you're working on. The installed Mini Apps include a task manager, calendar, world clock, memo pad, calculator, and music player.
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Preloaded apps
The Tab's app tray now offers more preinstalled software, including a photo editor, Music Hub store, Social Hub, Photo Editor and more. In this view, Samsung's in-house apps do add some confusion next to their Google counterparts. You have Google Books next to Samsung eBook, Email next to Gmail, and Google Music next to Samsung Music Hub and Music Player. On the second page you also have Samsung's video player next to Google's video store.
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Photo editing
The new Photo Editor included with the TouchWiz update makes it easy to crop and adjust your photos.
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Swype keyboard
Of the multiple keyboard options included on the Tab 10.1, users can now choose a tablet-optimized Swype keyboard that allows users to input text by dragging their finger across groups of letters.
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Music Hub
Samsung's Music Hub storefront (powered by 7digital) offers an iTunes-like catalog of 12 million DRM-free MP3s. The Music Hub app also makes it easy to create playlists of your favorite downloads.