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Your Question:
“Do you think the new Samsung Galaxy Tab is going to give the iPad a run for its money?”
- Peter Santis
Dan's Answer:
If you are heading to your local retailer this holiday season you will see that everyone is jumping on the touchscreen tablet band wagon. Now there’s more than just the iPad to choose from. One of iPad’s retail competitors at this point is the Galaxy Tab by Samsung, offered through T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint. So how exactly does the Samsung Galaxy Tab stand up to the ever so hip Apple iPad? With its distinctive look, sophisticated specs, and array of features, it’s looking pretty comparable.
Let’s start with the positives. At first glance, the Galaxy’s refreshingly unique appearance sets it apart from the sea of identical tablets. And as an added bonus it’s nice that it’s somewhat less glossy than the iPad so it stays looking cleaner somewhat longer.
Its sleek look is matched with some pretty good functionality as well. The Android software is reminiscent of Samsung's Galaxy S phone operating system, TouchWiz, cartoony but effective and even elegant at times. Apps like email, calendar, and contacts are basic and easy to use. The dual cameras are also a nice touch, offering some great photo capabilities (3 megapixel with LED flash on the back plus 1.3 pixel on the front). Although it doesn’t have the ability to record HD video, it does a good job with standard 740 x 480.
The new Galaxy Tab definitely does have a few cool bonuses that the iPad lacks – but it does have some limitations as well. The most noticeable is the resolution with an LCD display at 1024 x 600; Samsung’s offering doesn’t have as high of a resolution as the iPad at 1024 x 768. You can compare them side by side to see if it’s an issue for you, and if not you can make adjustments to the tab for color saturation and other visual details.
Charging is another iffy area. Unlike most tablets, the Galaxy doesn't charge when it’s plugged into a PC or laptop. Sure, you can plug it in and stop it from draining battery, but it won't actually charge the battery at all, you need to plug it in to the charger separately.
While the performance is decent overall when it comes to browsing, this is where the Galaxy Tab really starts to fall short. It loads basic web pages easily enough, but doesn't scroll smoothly on more complex sites and has issues displaying Flash sites.
All told, the Galaxy Tab from Samsung has a lot going for it, and is definitely the best Android tablet you'll find… but is it a competitor for the iPad? In my opinion, not really. Despite its strengths, there's just not enough here to give the iPad a run for its money - certainly not with the $600 price tag ($400 with a contract). Do you have a Galaxy Tab? Agree or disagree? I’d love to hear your take.
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7 tips to conserve your Smartphone battery
 We wouldn't know what to do without our Smartphones these days - but occasionally, a depleted battery can force us to power them down and go unplugged until we can recharge. Here are a few of the most effective tips for extending the life of your Smartphone battery:
Disable Wi-Fi: Even if you're not using it, Wi-Fi drains power by checking for nearby hotspot signals and connecting whenever it's available. Disabling Wi-Fi will extend battery life by a substantial amount.
Disable Bluetooth: The same goes for Bluetooth, which drains energy when it's turned on - even when it's not in use.
Reduce screen brightness: Just like your laptop gets some extra “juice” when you dim down the screen, your Smartphone battery will last longer if you're using less power on brightness as well.
Disable GPS: Many new Smartphones can tell you exactly where you are via GPS locating, but just like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, orientation requires power. Turning this feature off when it’s not in use conserves battery life.
Turn off data push: Some phones have the capability to automatically push data, such as social networking posts, and website updates, to your phone. Although it’s a nice feature, searching for data takes a lot of power. Try disabling automatic data push and check manually to save power.
Check email less often: Each time you check email, you're connecting to a network and using power. Unless you're monitoring messages for work or waiting on important correspondence, keep email checking to a minimum, as hard as it may be.
Change your notifications: How does your phone signal an incoming call, text message, voice mail, or email? If your phone vibrates twice and then rings, it's using more power to do so than a single ring or vibration would. Consider changing your notification signals to cut down substantially on your power usage.
Don’t get caught “incommunicado” when you’re out and about—with a little foresight and some smart phone management, a little battery power can go a long way.
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The New Apple TV?
Imagine a device that connects your television directly to the Internet and allows you to stream movies, TV shows, and more. Now imagine that instead of being priced at $300, it was sold for only $99. Too good to be true, or just good enough?
Welcome to the new Apple TV. The second generation of Apple's tiny and often overlooked creation enables you to connect your television set to any Mac or PC computer and view movies, TV shows, photos, music, and more on your HD flat screen.
In addition to accessing videos and music stored on your hard drive, Apple TV allows you to watch movies through a Netflix account or from the iTunes store for just $3.99. Partners like Fox and ABC are offering $0.99 TV show "rentals" to Apple TV users, while others like CBS and NBC are still figuring out the system they'll use to provide their shows to those equipped with Apple TV.
Most exciting of all, Apple TV makes it possible to share content across any and all Apple devices using a new system called AirPlay. This feature is now available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, making it possible to seamlessly transfer anything you're viewing from one piece of Apple technology to another.
Watching an episode of a favorite show on your iPhone on the way home from work? Want to transfer the rest of the episode to your flat screen once you get home? AirPlay makes it easy. Looking for a way to transfer a song instantly from your computer to your iPod Touch, it's quick and easy. Even technophobes should be able to operate the Apple TV with no trouble, and a host of new apps from third-party developers are expected to make this kind of transfer faster than ever before.
Installation is a breeze, even for users who would never consider purchasing an Xbox, PS3, or other gaming system that offer similar TV functions. The one fly in the ointment? Apple has no plans to market the Apple TV widely, considering it a "hobby" compared to the Mac and the iPhone. Until then, you'll be one of the few who's taking advantage of it… though we hope Steve Jobs ultimately decides to pitch a wider net instead of keeping this gem hidden away on shelves.
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