Epic 4G and Galaxy Tab - Sammy's double competitive whammy
Full Sprint Epic 4G review - Galaxy Tab preview
Phil and Dieter over at sibling site Android Central have gone a little Samsung Galaxy-class crazy, with a full review of the Sprint Epic 4G and an advanced look at the Galaxy Tab tablet (including hands-on video and spec shootout vs. our own iPad).
So is the Epic 4G... epic?
Compared to the other Samsung Galaxy S phones, the Sprint Epic 4G has a leg up in several departments. There's the keyboard, of course, which is pretty darn good. Not perfect, but above average. The addition of a 4G radio is a big plus. But along with that comes a slightly higher phone bill, and battery usage. (Same is true with the Evo 4G, of course.)
And is the Galaxy Tab fit for launch?
As it is, we can't say for sure just how the Galaxy Tab will fare - its fate is tied to the release date, carrier customization, and most-of-all app support from developers. It's not enough that the Tab has access to the market, it needs Android apps that by hook-or-crook take advantage of this extra screen size and the powerful processor. Samsung's fate isn't entirely out of their hands, though, as we still have yet to hear the full Media Hub story for getting ahold of video content.
Based on our short time we think the Tab should be on your short list, but while Samsung has made a great device here, the devil will be in those carrier/pricing/app details.
Epic 4G seems like it will be another monster. Not as polished as iPhone 4 but more open and adaptable. Galaxy Tab is harder to predict given the "pad" market didn't really exist before March. Are there enough people who want a "pad" just not an iPad to create a competitive market like we have for smartphones?
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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I just want to state a friendly reminder on the slightly higher phone bill, it may be higher than the standard sprint fee, but is still generally less than any of the other carriers.
I don't think the 4G charge is that relevant. Sprint was sloppy with marketing. Other carriers would just bake it in to their plans. AT&T Edge customers are definitely paying for 3G whether they have it or not.
It's hard to say if this android tab will take off. Apple had a built in market, optimized ios for the ipad, etc which as the owner of the hardware and OS is easy for them to do. Samsung would need google's help and the android market is far from having "pad" apps.
In the video, it basically looked like a bigger android phone. I'm not seeing a good reason to get this and a smartphone. Have to be one or the other.
The $10 extra charge is not a 4G charge. It's a Premium handset charge .. that gives you TRUE UNLIMITED DATA unlike other carriers.. on the other plans, they will throttle your speed once you reach 5GB ..
Oddly enough, ATT has one of the the cheapest super app smartphone plans today with a $15/mo 200 MB/mo data plan.
Also, we should question this assumption that having a hardware keyboard is better. Why should it be a leg up? The current world record for texting is for virtual portrait QWERTY using Swype or the iPhone one if video is to be believed. Having a hardware keyboard is an alternative form factor for those who really want it, but in the form of a slider or QWERTY candy bar, it offers a few drawbacks too. Considering the rise of the iPhone form factor in iPhones and all its clones, the market is kind of speaking.
The market is most definitely NOT speaking. Exclusivity and the government theft of American's spectrum have gagged the market from ever truly speaking.
@Jerry
Don't know what you're drinking. Either that or your work for Sprint P.R. The plan you're required to pay for with the Evo or Epic is the same as you get with the Hero, which is still UNLIMITED data either way. The $10 is only if the device is 4G capable whether you live in an area that can take advantage of it or not (and Sprint has flip-flopped on whether it's a data charge or a "premium phone" charge. Unjustified either way).
Now that that's out the way, I still think pads are a solution is search of a problem. A problem that actually exists if the newspaper/magazine creates it. There are a few apps for iPad from them. But they as an industry need to push this. Teenagers today won't be reading newspapers when they become the adults of tomorrow.
If you total up the extra 10 dollar monthly charge, it's still the cheapest plan around than the other competitors. Research would do you good.
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Swype is one of the best ways of writing text to date except for voice to text apps. I had a 2g, 3gs, and moved to an evo because I was tired of my 277.00 monty bill from att. I had two phones, unlimited internet, 700 family plan with 200 texts per phone, I'm sorry att but I am tired of bending over for you. I love the iphone and the switch has been hard for me the first week I had my 3gs by my side to check blogs ect. I downloaded a iphone keyboard to help in the transition. My wife got the epic, the battery life is worse than my evo, and that's right at the iphone, but I can change my battery on the evo or epic. I am on 3g sprint right now and am looking forward to 4g next quarter. I have everything with sprint including the extra 10 bucks per phone is saving me over 70.00 per month.
The iphone is a great product but not worth an extra 1000.00 per year. Apple needs to cut the strings with att, then I will switch back....
Seriously guys... my iphone3g unmolested lasted 2 years (almost up to the contract termination date.) ATT has been hard charging me since the very beginning and has even tried to take away my unlimited data package...(very sneaky.. NOT!) I payed a premium back then, and I am willing to bet, if I want this samsung galaxy pad Im going to have jump in the sac again with ATT or whoever for 730 days?? Why jump the gun for these phones, please tell me. They wont hold or have any charge 2 years from now, or if they do they will be living on life support glued to a wall charger.. Me personally, Yes I liked the Iphone up till the end of the first year but now, im not really feeling the new and trendy... Although who doesn't want a portable web flash player... =)
I'm really excited about the Galaxy Tab, but just looking at that picture it seems far too big to be used as a phone. Imagine walking around and talking on that - its even bigger than the first mobile phones!
I think I'm going to buy a sim free Galaxy Tab so that I can use it exclusively as a tablet PC
Nice try Bazz. Yes the first thing you should take away from Kenny is the on-the-ball defense, but the second is to SHARE the ball. Hence Kenny showing Barkley's block and interviewing Bazz as the team's center.