The Samsung Galaxy Tab

The Galaxy Tab was released last fall to compete with the ipad, the big differance between the two is the size of the unit. The iPad has almost 10" of screen size while the G-Tab has a 7" screen. The G-Tab can fit in to a coat pocket and be carried around, while the iPad you would never get in to a pocket. Only 7" of screen, the G-Tab still does a great job playing movies from Samsung's own Media Hub app, yet still small enough to take the show on the road. The G-Tab runs on Android 2.2 so all the great features of your Android phone come to life on the tab with the exception of making phone calls. All the apps in the market, the gps, the navigation, and ofcourse text messaging, and web browsing. I bought my tab from Verizon Wireless, but you can get yours at most cell phone carriers. Verizon had a 1gb per month data plan for $20 but word has it that they no longer offer it, instead you have to pay more money for a larger package.
First impressions of the G-Tab is "Great, now I have another droid phone, just double the size". But I'll say this, Angery Birds on the tab is awesome.
     Samsung does offer accessories for the device such as silicone covers, and video out cables, bringing the stuff on your big screen to a even bigger screen through HDMI or plain Audio/Video cables. Like other Android devices, as of yet it would not let me stream copyright movies or tv shows on to the big screen, only videos I recorded with its 3mp rear facing camera. The device does have a 1.3mp front facing camera for face to face video chat, HOWEVER, it does not come with an app to support such feature. There are some apps emerging that begin to use the front facing camera but are still few and far apart. Rumor has it, once Android 3.0 is released for the tablets, it will have much more support for many features you would expect in a tablet android device, such as the front facing camera.
    The device came with a 16gb SD Card from Verizon, which is upgradeable to 32gb, unlike the iPad, what you buy is what you get. It also has 2gb of storage built in for installing apps and other data.
     This device is great for running apps such as Kindle, which will allow you to download books and read them on the go. Also apps like ThinkFreeOffice, which will allow you to work on Office type documents from Excel, Word, or PowerPoint. These apps are also available to you on your Android cell phone.
     I would say I use this device most at work, in the construction field it is handy to be able to take a picture of a problem, bring it down in to the field office, and show the Customer on a larger screen, what we are dealing with, and they can then give us a solution, without dragging them out to the field to see the issue. Also having the ability to take a picture of blueprints, and have them with me on the Tablet to review out in the field without the risk of damaging the fragile paper blueprints, or having to find a place to unroll them.
   It also works great for downloading an episode of Tosh.0 to watch during lunch break, however whatever the reason you find to use this over sized android device, just balance it with your budget because its $550 price tag without a contract from Verizon is steep. Some other carriers offer it a little cheaper with a 2yr contract. 

The Droid Army

Over the past couple years, a phone operating system has been building up an army of users. Google's new android system was not thought of much coming in to a world of Apple iPhone, however while many waited for the iPhone to come out on other networks, other than AT&T, they entertained their needs with a Droid or android phone. Now that the iPhone has been released to Verizon the party they brought was too little too late.
With the release of Android 2.0 and 2.1 and now 2.2 Android has transformed in to something great, only Google could pull something like this off using your Google Account to sync everything to your phone, from contacts, email and calender events. Another big winner was the use of Google Maps and Navigation, imagine talking to your phone. "Map of Chinese Restaurants". Bang, Google Maps opens, it finds your location and numerous place to eat Chinese food, while your at the map you can select a place, then you have the options of  calling them so you can place your oder, then get turn by turn navigation so u can pick it up.
How about "Navigate to Bank of America" It then shows you a list of Bank of America's around you, select the one you want to go to, and away you go. Thats the phone as a GPS system in your car, but why not listen to music on the way to get Chinese or to cash your check. Play your own music collection stored on the upgradeable SD Card, or stream Pandora or Slacker Radio, don't worry, when your listening to your music or talking on the phone, the GPS will still interrupt and tell you that your turn is coming up.
Customization. Sure the new iPhone can change the background wallpaper, lol, my printer can do that. The Android phone can not only change the wallpaper, but you can also download other apps like ADW which will allow you to install full out themes, you can download another app called Zedge to get free wallpapers, and ringtones. Most android phones allow you to have "live wallpapers" which are animated such as a fish tank with fish swimming around, or show a grassy field with the weather live and changing to what the weather is around you, if its raining outside, it will show raining on the phones home screen. There is a lot of apps and widgets you can download free from the market as well as some that charge a small fee. Try a little of this and a little of that because the android market unlike others, lets you buy and app and try it, if you don't like it uninstall it within 15 minutes and it will refund your money.
Thats it for now, but expect more to come about the android phones and by all means if you have any questions, feel free to ask  ----> benmarshall76@gmail.com