Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 delayed by Ice Cream Sandwich
The 7- and 10-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 devices have been delayed, with Samsung reportedly needing more time with the Android software.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7-inch and 10.1-inch tablets have been delayed until the end of April, with Samsung and Google reportedly needing more time with Ice Cream Sandwich before the two gadgets are ready.
The tablets were expected to arrive in the UK in March, but those who know their way around the Roman calendar will tell you it's April now, and there's been no sign of either slate.
The delay is down to software, ComputerWorld reports, with more time needed to perfect the version of Android 4.0 that's powering both tablets. That's according to a Samsung spokesman -- I've contacted the Korean giant asking for more information, and I'll update this story if I hear anything.
Samsung seems to be having a spot of bother wrapping its mind around the latest version of Android. While these two new tablets are delayed, the ICS update for the Samsung Galaxy Note has been pushed back, and Galaxy S2 owners have been struggling to get hold of the Ice Cream Sandwich update that started rolling out on 19 March.
The Tab 2 devices could be worth a peek. While the 7-inch model has a slightly uninspiring design, it's highly portable and will of course be powered by the latest version of Android.
The 10.1-inch version, meanwhile, is extremely slim and light, and when I saw it in February, I was impressed by the hi-res screen -- though the 1,200x800-pixel display feels a little less exciting now that the new iPad is in the wild.
Tempting nevertheless, even if there's not a great deal to differentiate these tablets from the Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9, Tab 7.7 and, oh, the Note 10.1. Yup, Samsung likes making tablets, although an exec recently admitted it hadn't been doing too well at it.
Former Apple boss John Sculley reckons Samsung's tablets are the "only serious tablet competitor" to the iPad, but in order to really appeal, these two new tablets will need to actually go on sale at some point, so fingers crossed there are no further delays.
I've stuck my hands-on videos with the Tab 2 7- and 10.1-inch versions below -- let me know if you're tempted by way of the comments, or our Facebook wall.
