Samsung Announces Galaxy Tab 2 With Ice Cream Sandwich

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0), its first tablet to run the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.

The new version of the Galaxy Tab retains the size and styling of the original and includes a 1GHz dual-core processor which, combined with the new OS, should produce notably faster performance from the seven-inch device.

The Samsung tablet family’s new addition

The tablet will begin its worldwide rollout in the UK in March, and will be available with 8, 16 or 32GB of flash memory (with a microSD card slot to potentially expand memory by a further 32GB). The new entry level Samsung Tab will boast a three megapixel fixed focus rear camera with a front VGA camera for video calling.

Samsung’s included software is also getting an upgrade with the Galaxy Tab 2. The existing hub services – Music, Reader and Games – are getting a video addition, which adds 1,000 titles to buy or rent. Additionally, the introduction of the AllShare Play service will allow content to be streamed between the tablet, PCs and Samsung smart devices.

“We have actively worked to enhance and extend our tablet offering since the launch of the original Galaxy Tab 18 months ago, to put us in the position we are in today of being able to offer our customers a portfolio of devices of varying sizes relative to their different needs,” said Simon Stanford, managing director of Samsung’s UK and Ireland telecommunications and networks division, in a statement. “We are delighted to be offering our customers even more choice with our latest tablet which is our first to feature Android 4.0.”

Though the Galaxy Tab 2 has only just been announced, Samsung should expect copyright infringement suits in the near future. Apple made their opinion of the South Korean company clear in a complaint filed in a US court against the Galaxy Nexus smartphone, and will likely seek to ban sales of this latest tablet through legal channels.