Hands-on TouchWiz On Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Today we got an early pic at TouchWiz on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Which will be available to registered customers on Friday the 4th of August from Samsung. So the question is, what’s the big deal?

TouchWiz UX adds a host of features to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 on the consumer and enterprise side of things. First of you have a slightly modified panel bar as seen in the image above that adds the ability to take a screen capture of your tablet desktop. There is also a Mini App tray which adds an extra layer of Multitasking with easy access apps at anytime during your tablet experience ( Task Manager, Calendar, World Clock, Pen Memo, Calculator, Music Player)

The addition of TouchWiz Live Panels, which give you the ability to resize widgets, that continually refresh and gives a more close fitting magazine-style look. Then you have the Hubs..

Social Hub: Allows you to synchronize all you social media sites and message to one central hub. Giving you the ability to update your feeds, send Twitter DMs, Facebook messages or even answer private emails.

Music Hub: Has over 12 million  DM free music tracks for purchase, you can search from genre through artist, provides suggestions to create a playlist and integrates seamlessly to you Samsung Music Hub on other Samsung Devices.

Media Hub: Gives you the ability to purchase movies, and day next TV shows, Allowing the user to search for TV programing on the day it was last aired and also giving you the ability to view on other Samsung devices.

Samsung Dive: is a web-based service that allows you to manage security options for you Tab 10. in the case of you Tab being lost or stolen, you can remote locate, remote lock, and erase all personal info on the device.

Also have SWYPE keyboard optimized for the tablet

Plus a host of Enterprise support features such as

Exchange ActiveSync Ver 1.4, On Device Encryption, Cisco VPN, Sybase MDM, Cisco WebEx Mobile Conference solution .

Apps Preloaded:
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 software update includes preloaded applications, scheduled to include:
• Amazon Music Cloud Player: Upload your music in the cloud and access it from any device
• Amazon Kindle: Get access to about a million Kindle books
• Words with Friends:Face off against friends near and far with one of the most popular social games from Zynga

So far Samsung Has taken the right steps in ensuring the Tab 10.1 is a tablet that offers a lot to consumers with the addition of TouchWiz UX. I most warn the OS does run a little sluggish at times; but the benefits of the added features such as the inclusion of print functionality to any Samsung Printer  and Smartview that allows for streaming content from you Samsung TV to your Tab 10.1 goes a long way to making the addition of TouchWiz well worthwhile

PRESS RELEASE

DALLAS – August 3, 2011 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 WiFi software update including Samsung’s TouchWiz® UX user interface, Adobe Flash Player 10.3 and the redesigned Samsung Media Hub service, will begin rolling out over the air to all Galaxy Tab 10.1 owners beginning Friday, August 5.
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 software update is scheduled to include the following features and services:

Samsung TouchWiz® User Interface:
The Samsung TouchWiz UX is specifically designed to work with Android™ Honeycomb 3.1 to optimize the large screen tablet user experience. The TouchWiz UX delivers superior multi-tasking and customization for an enhanced visual, fluid and intuitive mobile computing experience. TouchWiz UX features are scheduled to include:
• Live Panel: Magazine-like widget view for immediate access to weather, social updates, email, news, photo gallery, all on the home screen. The visual layout of Live Panel is completely customizable for one-touch entry into each user’s most important information.
• Mini Mode Tray: One-touch access to commonly used applications—Task Manager, Calendar, World Clock, Pen Memo, Calculator, Music—which overlay in a pop-up window on display screen for powerful multi-tasking.
• Clipboard: Advanced copy & paste functionality allows Galaxy Tab 10.1 users to store photos, Web pages, YouTube links, etc., on the clipboard for easy sharing via email and social network sites.
• Indicator Quick Panel: Quickly toggle on/off Wi-Fi, notifications, sound, brightness and settings in lower right hand corner of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 display.
• Photo Editor: Rotate, crop and adjust colors on high quality digital images
Samsung Media Hub:
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 software update will introduce the evolution of Samsung’s popular movie and next day TV content service, known as Media Hub. Media Hub has been redesigned with a new user interface and optimized video content for the 10.1” display for even easier downloads and higher quality viewing experience of rented or purchased content. Media Hub features thousands of new release and top-grossing titles from major Hollywood studios and leading television networks, including NBC Universal, Paramount, MTV, Warner Bros. , CBS and FOX. The new version also features Media Hub Show, which allows the user to playback Media Hub content on a TV through an HDMI cable from the Galaxy Tab 10.1 dock or adaptor. Users can register up to five devices under one account to access owned content across multiple devices without repurchase. Alternate premium video options include Android Movies, which is available to download from the Android Market.

Social Hub:
The software upgrade will also include Samsung’s Social Hub service, which aggregates email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into an integrated experience.

Apps Preloaded:
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 software update includes preloaded applications, scheduled to include:
• Amazon Music Cloud Player: Upload your music in the cloud and access it from any device
• Amazon Kindle: Get access to about a million Kindle books
• Words with Friends: Face off against friends near and far with one of the most popular social games from Zynga

Enterprise Solutions and Services:
• Full support for Exchange ActiveSync version 14
• On device encryption
• Cisco VPN (Virtual Private Network)
• Sybase MDM (Mobile Device Management)
• Cisco WebEx mobile conference solution for meetings on the go
Samsung Kies 2.0:
Galaxy Tab 10.1 users will also gain greater file sharing capabilities through Samsung Kies 2.0 with support for both PC and Macs. Samsung Kies 2.0 includes the following user benefits:
• Better device management: PIMS and multimedia data sync, firmware upgrades with file backup and wireless connectivity via WiFi and Bluetooth
• Powerful multimedia support: Integrated library for storing mass data and complex content files
• Faster performance: quick and seamless installation of Samsung Kies 2.0 delivers immediate access to file transfer process
Swype:
This enhanced, tablet-optimized typing application includes features such as ability to re-size the keyboard, move the virtual keyboard anywhere on the screen and of course, type faster by swyping.
Mobile Printing:
Print documents and pictures wirelessly from the Galaxy Tab 10.1 to any compatible printer.

Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi Software Update Assistance:
In order to receive the update, users need to set up a Samsung account on their Galaxy Tab 10.1 by logging onto the following URL:
http://ars.samsung.com/customer/usa/jsp/faqs/faqs_view_us1.jsp?PAGE_GBN=faqs_search&SITE_ID=1&PG_ID=0&AT_ID=377966&PROD_SUB_ID=0&PROD_ID=2103

Once registered, customers will be notified when the update is available for their device and will be prompted to follow simple directions to complete the process.
For help with receiving and adding the latest software updates to Samsung mobile devices, users should check out the step-by-step instructions at http://ars.samsung.com/customer/usa/jsp/faqs/faqs_view_us.jsp?SITE_ID=22&PG_ID=2&PROD_SUB_ID=2076&PROD_ID=0&AT_ID=375497 or visit Samsung Support at http://www.samsung.com/us/support
1 Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q1 2011 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.

About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2010 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, semiconductor chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.