UPDATE: Samsung Unveils New Software For Its Tablet
August 03 2011 - 3:36PM
Dow Jones News
Samsung Electronics Co. (SSNHY, 005930.SE) unveiled a software
update for its 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab as the tech giant seeks to
differentiate its tablet from the other Google Inc. (GOOG) Android
devices in the market.
The update, which adds new features to the operating system,
comes a couple of months after Samsung first launched the tablet in
the U.S. The company, like many device makers, has been seeking
ways to distinguish its products from similar machines running on
the Android platform. But the various Android tablets so far
haven't gained much traction against the Apple Inc. (AAPL)
iPad.
Samsung on Wednesday introduced new software that it says makes
the user experience easier, more visually appealing and more
entertaining. It also unveiled new features to appeal to business
users, such as WiFi printing capabilities and secure remote network
access.
"When we first launched the tablet, we promised our customers
that we were going to delight them by ensuring the experience we
deliver them helps them with work and with play," Gavin Kim,
Samsung Telecommunications America vice president of content, data
services and enterprise mobility, said during a press event in New
York. "Today we're officially unveiling a major software update
that takes that promise even further."
The software includes a new "TouchWiz UX" user interface aimed
at taking advantage of the large tablet screen while allowing users
to multi-task and customize the system. Other new features include
a media hub with popular movies and next-day television content and
preloaded apps such as the Amazon Inc. (AMZN) Music Cloud Player
and Kindle.
Users, who will receive the over-the-air download for their WiFi
devices beginning Friday, won't be able to remove the Samsung
features even if they desire to return to the standard Android
platform, Kim said in an interview.
"We've done a lot of research on what consumers are looking to
improve," he said. "It follows along those three general
categories, with ease of use and visual appeal, much more fun and
entertaining and enterprise enablement. It's not intended to be
intrusive but is intended to be helpful."
Samsung and Apple currently are embroiled in a lengthy string of
litigation that began when Apple filed a patent-infringement
lawsuit against Samsung, claiming the South Korean electronics
company "slavishly" copied its iPad and iPhone. The companies have
also locked horns in South Korea, Germany, Japan and the U.K.
While the filings between the two companies haven't yet resulted
in any money changing hands or products being pulled from store
shelves, Samsung this week said it agreed to an Australian Federal
Court's request not to import or sell a variant of its Galaxy Tab
10.1 tablet until either its case with Apple is finalized or the
court says it can.
And while Samsung is seeking to differentiate itself on the
Android platform, Current Analysis analyst Avi Greengart said it is
likely a matter of time before other vendors, such as Motorola
Mobility Holdings Inc. (MMI), take similar steps.
"It's a matter of timing," he said. "Motorola wanted to be first
to market with the Xoom so they couldn't customize the software.
And Samsung itself launched their product without these
capabilities. [That is what happens] when you're building off of
someone else's platform."
A Motorola spokeswoman said the company has been working to
expand its smartphone software offerings to tablets, including
Motoblur, a program that aggregates content from social media and
other sources, and its 3LM enterprise software. The company hasn't
yet specified when the two offerings will be expanded to the
Xoom.
-By Shara Tibken, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2189;
shara.tibken@dowjones.com
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