Toshiba joins the Tablet PC market with the release of the Folio 100 Tablet powered by the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system, offering a cheaper alternative to both the Apple iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab devices.

The Toshiba Folio 100 is a 10.1-inch tablet pc featuring a capacitive touchscreen with multi-touch support that lets you tap, pinch and swipe the screen to zoom and flick through the menus.  The Folio 100 has a screen resolution of 1024×600 but also integrates a mini-hdmi output port allowing you to connect the device to a TV with full HD 1080p playback.

Toshiba Folio 100 Side View Images – Ports & Connectivity

The Toshiba Folio 100 comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options on board, while a mobile broadband 3G enabled version of the Folio 100 is expected to be released early next year in the first quarter of 2011.

Android 2.2 Froyo Platform

Powered by the Android 2.2 operating system ensures there is a wide range of apps available, although at the present time most Android applications have been optimized for smaller screen mobile devices so the large screen of the Folio 100 may not always be utilized to its fullest – this will likely change as Android application developers begin to cater for the larger screen tablet devices.

However, the Toshiba Folio 100 does have 10.1 Adobe Flash support, something which is lacking in the Apple iPad.  On the front of the Folio 100 device is a 1.3 megapixel camera for video calls (over WiFi), and there’s 16GB of storage included, which can be expanded up to 32GB with an optional high capacity SD Card.  A built in Accelerometer allows you to rotate the display, which will automatically turn the orientation of the menu interface, and this can also be locked into place, which is convenient if you are retiring to watch a movie for example.  The Toshiba Folio 100 measures 14mm thick and weighs 760g and has a stated battery life of 7 hours, calculated on the basis that you browse the web for most of the time (65%), a bit of video (10%) and some time on standby (25%).  The Toshiba Folio 100 is out now and has a retail price of £329.

The tablet battle is well and truly on. The Samsung Galaxy Tab, a 7-inch Android slate is set to be released on the 1^st November and looks to be the first real contender for the Apple iPad. But what is it about this newcomer that is going to give Apple a run for its money?

Size Isn’t Everything.

The most obvious difference between the two machines is that the screen on the Galaxy Tab is smaller. Although the iPad has an extra two inches, resolution is more or less the same at 600×1024 – more than ample for a screen of this size. However, Samsung’s device weighs in at less than half that of the iPad.

Calls and Connectivity

Like the iPad, the Galaxy Tab has 3G/HSDPA, but unlike the iPad, it also has the ability to make and receive calls via a Bluetooth headset, which, incidentally, is Bluetooth 3.0, as opposed to Bluetooth 2.1 on the iPad. The Tab wins this round hands down.

Expand Your Memory.

When it comes to storage, as the iPad has no memory expansion capabilities; you’re stuck with whatever memory your device came loaded with. On the other hand, the 16GB on the Galaxy Tab can be expanded via its micro-SD slot which can add up to 32GB extra memory. That’s a lot of movies and music.

Say Cheese!

One of the big gripes about the iPad is the lack of a camera. The Galaxy Tab comes with not one, but two cameras: a 3MP on the back with flash, plus an additional front-facing 1.5MP for video calls. Another win for the Galaxy Tab.

Staying Power.

The iPad wins out on battery life with 10 hours compared to the Galaxy Tab’s 7 hours. There simply isn’t the room in the Tab for the Li-ion cell that’s in the iPad.

Functionality.

Performance-wise there’s very little between the two. Both have 1Ghz processors. Sure, the Android doesn’t have as many applications as the Appstore, but it does have 10.1 Flash support, which could give you a lot more functionality. What’s more, the Tab has full multi-tasking.

The Bottom Line.

Now, let’s get down to the real nitty-gritty – price. Even though it’s not officially out yet, the price of the Galaxy Tab has already been falling. From £799, the Tab is now set to retail at under £600. However, that’s still as much as the most expensive iPad model. That said, if you need to make calls you’re going to need phone functionality too. And adding the cost of an iPhone to the cost of the iPad blows all financial considerations out of the water. You could make serious savings by simply buying a Galaxy Tab with its already included additional functionality.

It’s worth bearing in mind too that if you’ve got your heart set on a slate PC for Xmas, your choice may not be so black and white, as the RIM BlackPad, and probably several other similar devices could be on the market by then too.

Samsung’s first tablet computer, the Galaxy Tab, a lighter and smaller alternative to Apple’s iPad, has been unveiled at the IFA conference in Berlin.

Weighing in at 380g and featuring a 7-inch (18cm) screen, the Galaxy Tab is smaller and lighter than the iPad, but offers the ability to make voice and video calls with the device, on top of the movie, music and book media you can usually consume on the iPad and similar tablet PCs.

The Galaxy Tab will be powered by Google’s Android operating system, and come with a storage capacity choice of 16Gb or 32Gb, which can be expanded by a further 32Gb.

The device can connect via 3G mobile networks and offers Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity options.  Music and videos will be accessible through Samsung’s “Media Hub” and e-books through its “Reader’s Hub“.

The Samsung tablet can play Flash videos and supports streaming content to an external TV.  Samsung called it “the first of the company’s tablet devices“, indicating newer Samsung tablet models will be released in the future.

The Samsung Galaxy Tablet release date will be confirmed by Vodafone who will be distributing the device in the UK from October 2010.