Samsung has unveiled its latest tablet device tasked with eating into Apple’s iPad dominance, launching the new Galaxy Tab 7.7.

The device is an upgrade of the original Galaxy Tab, launched last year, in every sense of the word; not only does it have a dual-core 1.4GHz processor, it also packs in a Super AMOLED Plus (1280 x 800 resolution) display, up to 64GB of in-built storage, 3-megapixel camera and will be powered by Google’s latest Honeycomb update – Android 3.2.

However, the most unique thing about the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is its profile, in that it is just 7.89mm thick. We are talking super-thin territory here, moving to the thickness of a pencil. The Galaxy Tab 7.7 has a brushed metal reverse, taking it away from the flimsy plastic finishes that it came known for with its previous tablet and smartphone devices.

Release dates and pricing is unknown but Samsung will offer them up very soon, check back for more information.

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With Berlin’s IFA 2011 mobile expo fast approaching, Samsung has unveiled four new smartphones that it intends to showcase at the event, each bearing the fruits of the Korean smartphone vendor’s new naming policy.

Samsung adds the Galaxy W, Galaxy M Pro, Galaxy Y Pro and Galaxy Y to its Galaxy Series of smartphones, each unique in terms of features and pricing.

In a bid to simplify the way it names its smartphones and to reduce consumer confusion, Samsung has begun to categorise the handsets in its Galaxy range into five different categories, sub-categorising each device into as many as three variants.

Samsung’s top-end handsets will now be given a “S” (Super Smart) classification and in most cases will be one of the company’s flagship phones. “R” or Royal, is a premium model which combines power, design and productivity, with “W” (Wonder) delivering high-quality strategic models and “M” (Magical) phones coupling performance with a decent price.

The “Y” (Young) range of smartphones targets younger demographics or new smartphone owners, priced lower to appeal to emerging markets.

Each category of smartphone will have three classifications; Plus, Pro and LTE – indicating an upgrade to an existing model, the addition of a QWERTY keyboard or 4G support respectively.

Samsung’s four new devices a placed in three of its new naming categories:

Samsung Galaxy W

The Samsung Galaxy W smartphone is a candybar handset that is powered by Android 2.3 and features a 1.4GHz processor, 3.7-inch WVGA (800×480) TFT LCD, and 14.4Mbps HSDPA, 5MP camera, Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and 1500mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy M Pro

As a Pro model, the Samsung Galaxy M Pro is a QWERTY smartphone that comes with 2.66-inchWVGA (480×320) display, Android 2.3, 1GHz processor, 5MP rear-facing camera, front-facing VGA camera, Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and 1350mAh battery. The Galaxy M Pro launched with enterprise app support for Cisco Mobile, Webex and Sybase Afaria.

Samsung Galaxy Y

The Galaxy Y is an entry-level smartphone, running Android 2.3 with a 832MHz processor, 3-inch WVGA (320×240) display 2MP camera, Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 7.2Mbps HSDPA and 1200mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy Y Pro

Very similar to the Galaxy Y, the Galaxy Y Pro adds a portrait QWERTY keyboard and sports a 2.6-inch WVGA display, Android 2.3, 2MP camera, Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, and 7.2Mbps HSDPA.

For those who are still unsure of Samsung’s new naming policy, the infographic below may help:

Each of the devices will be showcased at IFA 2011, where Samsung will likely announce newer, more powerful smartphones and tablets.

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Apple has stepped up its bid to protect its design patents and innovation on its iPad and iPhone devices after escalating its dispute against Samsung to request a sales ban on sales of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia.

Bloomberg reports that Apple has asked an Australian court to block sales of the tablet in the country, accusing Samsung of infringing ten of its patents, including the “look and feel” and the touchscreen technology use in its iPad, said Apple lawyer Steven Burley.

Burley also stated that the company would look to stop Samsung selling its tablet in other countries, although it is not known where.

Apple’s legal action against the Korean smartphone vendor began in April, with the Cupertino-based company stating that Samsung willfully violated patents, committed trademark infringement and exercised unfair competition with its smartphone and tablet devices.

It stated at the time:

It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging. This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.

Apple believes the injunction is necessary because has had “announcements of an imminent launch of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 device ongoing since July 20”. Because the tablet differs slightly from that on sale in the US, Samsung’s lawyer has said the company will provide Apple with the Australian version of the tablet so it can determine whether it will pursue legal action to ban sale of the device.

Samsung lawyer Neil Murray has indicated that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will go on sale in Australia in “at least a couple of weeks,” suggesting the company may be able to clear the issue with Apple before the device launches.

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Electronics giant LG has been forced to cut its smartphone and handset targets after its Optimus line of Android and Windows Phone handsets failed to mount a serious challenge against Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S range, Reuters reports.

The world’s number three handset vendor will lower its smartphone targets from 30 million units to 24 million, reducing its overall handset target from 150 million to 114 million units as it hopes to reverse its four consecutive quarterly losses.

Park Jong-seok, head of LG’s handset division, said:

“Our overall performance is gradually improving…but it’s difficult to give a precise prediction when our business will turn around due to a fast changing external market environment.”

The Korean vendor is expected to post a fifth quarterly loss as it has not introduced new products that have been able to compete with Apple and Samsung but has started to slowly recover, helped with the demand for its Optimus 2X and Optimus Black Android smartphones.

While LG is expected to narrow second quarter losses to around 90 billion won, Samsung is expected to post operating profits of 3.7 trillion won, after selling 19 million smartphones in its second quarter.

LG hopes that its line of 3D devices will be able to reverse the trend and help it compete with its more successful rivals.

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Samsung has begun mass producing its active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) panels in its new factory, two months ahead of schedule, as it attempts to cope with demand for the latest wave of smartphones and tablets.

Samsung announced in September 2010 that it would open its new $ 2.1 billion facility in July increasing production output tenfold as a result. With sales of the company’s Galaxy S II smartphone already topping one million units in its home country alone, Samsung is able to boost its AMOLED production from 3 million units per month, up to 30 million in the same period.

The increase in production will better equip Samsung to be able to handle orders from rival smartphone vendors, with Taiwan-based smartphone manufacturer HTC partnering with the company in the past.

Additional reports suggest that Apple is also in negotiations with the Korean electronics giant to supply panels for its iPad tablets after it emerged that its current partner LG was forced to reduce shipments of LCD panels in Q1 because of a light leakage problem.

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Samsung today announced the launch of its flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy S II in a press event in New Delhi.

Touted to be one of the thinnest Android handset in the market, Samsung Galaxy S II was unveiled in Mobile World Congress earlier this year and is the successor of the illustrious Samsung Galaxy S.

Specs-wise, it boasts a 4.3″ Super AMOLED plus display, 8MP rear camera with auto-focus and LED Flash, a 2MP front camera, 1080p video capture and NFC Support.

It runs on Android 2.3 “Gingerbread” with TouchWiz 4.0 UI layer and is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. The phone will retail at Rs 32,890 (727$ ) across all retail outlets in India from June 9, however the pre-booking will kick start from 26th May.

Planning to buy Samsung Galaxy S II? Do check out our unboxing video (Tip: this unboxing was done at 8,000 feet in an aircraft) and our hands-on video.

Update: Vodafone has tied up with Samsung to grab a 6 day exclusivity over Samsung Galaxy S II’s sales in India i.e. Vodafone will start retailing the handset from June 3.

Also, Vodafone has introduced a special data plan for all the new Galaxy S II customers wherein it will be offering 1GB free data for 6 months.

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