Galaxy tab getting Honeycomb?

[frenzy757]

Hey guys,

I bought the tab with the understanding that it will "eventually" get honeycomb. Now after doing some more searching it seems like the Tab WON'T get it?

Do any of you know for sure one way or another? With the supposed Motorola 7 inch tablet that will have honeycomb being rumored for early next year, I was thinking about returning the tab and waiting for that. I am happy with the tab, but am intrigued to what Honeycomb can do for the tablet.

 

[jasonaward]

Everything I've heard suggests that it will get Gingerbread and Honeycomb. Of course, as with everything in life, those are only rumors. I dont think anyone (probably including Samsung) knows what they will receive over time at this point.

 

[jasonaward]

As a side note, you should keep in mind that we really don't know what kind of goodness Honeycomb will really have. So why wait for a completely unknown version of the OS? You can never win the wait and see game with technology... so I'd say, just keep your Tab and enjoy it now.

 

[mclarryjr]

As a side note, you should keep in mind that we really don't know what kind of goodness Honeycomb will really have. So why wait for a completely unknown version of the OS? You can never win the wait and see game with technology... so I'd say, just keep your Tab and enjoy it now.

I 100% agree with Jason on this

 

[frenzy757]

true, I don't like playing the waiting game, but Honeycomb is not a simple iteration of android but more of a new beginning for the tablet OS style no?

its not like gingerbread versus Froyo, but its kind of a new beginning for android. Id like to know that I will be able to get honeycomb on this. The tab is a great product and I love it, but I do want it to be able to get honeycomb. I dont care that much about specs, but care more for the software.

 

[jasonaward]

Well, again, no one really knows. The rumor mill says it'll be a tablet-oriented version, but who knows? Google is nearly as tight-lipped about this one as Apple is about the future of their iProducts. Makes for more suspense in the story, but that's about all. In the end, I love the Tab. It does what I want ... today, not 6 months or however long from now.

I feel Samsung did a relatively good job of changes that allow the OS to be tablet friendly. I'm just curious if there are any other reasons that would convince you to return it?

 

[frenzy757]

nope not really. I love the Tab and if Google said that samsung's tab makes Froyo tablet centric id believe it to be honest. Most (95%) of the apps I put on work fine especially after the spare parts mod to make them fullscreen.

Reading the kindle is great, and I even love the WSjournal app.

What I am afraid of is developers making tablet centric apps that Google ONLY allows on Honeycomb. I will miss out on a whole new set of apps that could provide some nice features. E.g., if the tab is stuck in phone mode, then you cant get the new apps...kind of like how the iPhone can't download the iPad apps...I don't want to be stuck.

 

[Jahntassa]

I don't want to be stuck.

I wouldn't hold out for any Moto stuff then. I've been waiting for 2.1 (or anything newer than 1.5) on my Cliq XT since July. They just keep pushing it back.

Nobody will be able to tell you what's going to get what this far ahead of time. You either need to play the waiting game (in which case, something 'newer' than Honeycomb will be in the works when Honeycomb comes out, and you'll ask if devices will get the 'newer' thing), or take the plunge.

 

[clevin]

i don't believe whatever tablet version of android google eventually comes up with will be drastically different.

The things I like about android device, especially the tab, is large screen, front camera, interesting keyboard, firefox, google navigation, and flash. Is google gonna change these? Doubt it.

 

[frenzy757]

I dont think major things will change, I can see though, with the apps that are meant for tablets to be released only to devices running honeycomb. if the tab does not get honeycomb, then we are SoL.

My main concern is with honeycomb. After that I don't really care.

 

[copr165]

Tab

I have the HTC Inc and the Moto X. Wife has the Droid 2 so I am an Android fan. I am also a VZW loyal customer. Always wanted Iphoney years ago but hate AT&T. I now love Android, however, due to pricing I went to VZW this past Friday and purchased an Ipad, WiFi version only cause on my X I have Hotspot. Brought pad home where have strong WiFi and went to Apple site Saturday night to take the tour. The thing would not play the video for the tour on there own site. Each section would play few seconds and freeze. Sunday took Ipad back, had to pay mandatory $70 restock fee, not VZW rules but Apple rules, now have new Samsung Tab and love it and it does even more. Shame on me but I have repented and will never buy another Apple product, EVER, simply because of the restock fee. So enjoy your new Tab now who knows what the future will hold.

 

[dcviper]

I have the HTC Inc and the Moto X. Wife has the Droid 2 so I am an Android fan. I am also a VZW loyal customer. Always wanted Iphoney years ago but hate AT&T. I now love Android, however, due to pricing I went to VZW this past Friday and purchased an Ipad, WiFi version only cause on my X I have Hotspot. Brought pad home where have strong WiFi and went to Apple site Saturday night to take the tour. The thing would not play the video for the tour on there own site. Each section would play few seconds and freeze. Sunday took Ipad back, had to pay mandatory $70 restock fee, not VZW rules but Apple rules, now have new Samsung Tab and love it and it does even more. Shame on me but I have repented and will never buy another Apple product, EVER, simply because of the restock fee. So enjoy your new Tab now who knows what the future will hold.

Did they try to see you a MiFi with it like with the iPhail?

 

[TenshiNo]

You guys should have a little more faith. Even the "iPad-only" apps aren't locked to a specific version of iOS that way, so much as they are locked to the iPad device itself. An iPhone can't download them because it's not a tablet.

Google has been on top of all the fragmentation in the Android world pretty well and I would imagine any "Tablet-only" apps would still be able to load onto the Galaxy Tab even "if" if was only running Froyo or Gingerbread.

Remember: every manufacturer has different timetables releasing updates for their devices so I would have a hard time believing Google would lock anything specifically to a certain OS.

There are apps that are not supported by lower versions of the OS (1.5,1.6,etc) because they require newer features that were added to the later versions of the SDK. Apps such as those might still be a problem, but I would suspect that with the massive success and proliferation of the "Galaxy" devices (even in the relatively short time they've been on sale) that Samsung would not skip the update, especially if Honeycomb optimized things for a tablet device.

I also have to agree with everyone here that, if you keep waiting for something better that's "just around the corner", you will *always* be waiting. Such is technology.

 

[frenzy757]

Right but the apps that are not supported by the older version of the OS (like the 1.5, 1.6 etc) are filtered out in the market place by the OS build right, not the actual device itself. Or am I wrong.

I am concerned with the hardware specs that are required for honeycomb. I know if they will allow it, samsung will eventually get honeycomb to the tab.

 

[ConceptVBS]

A Samsung rep in India was quoted as saying the Tab will have Honeycomb updates. Later, he back tracked and stated that there are no "guarantees" but that they will be working hard to make those updates available. I'm guessing they will have to scuffle with Google to get the Honeycomb on their Tab.

 

[igotsanevo4g]

Worry about getting gingerbread first, remember, this is samsung we are talking about.

 

[ppatron]

My understanding is that Honeycomb is mostly about further separation of Google Apps from Android OS and support for new hardware: dual-core processors, near field communication, higher display resolutions to support tablets larger than 7 inches? Galaxy Tab is not going to change display resolution, gain NFC or CPU. Gingerbread is the start of the new UI standards and thus GTab would get value from this upgrade. But again these are all rumors and prognostication ;-) fun though...fyi. I got a GTab as well. I'm enjoying it with Froyo today.

 

[frenzy757]

do you think things like dual core processors etc will be a requirement for Honeycomb?

 

[takkun1946]

I don't think it'll be a requirement. It will mostly just be an addition. Honeycomb will be another update to the OS, not a new branch.

As to your original post... I would suggest keeping the tab for now, enjoy it's 7" tablet goodness and wait and see. If they don't get honeycomb, sell the Tab and put that money towards the next 7" that does.

 

[toddjy]

I've seen comments that the present Galaxy Tab will not get Honeycomb, but it is supposed to be get Gingerbread. I'm sure there will be apps that support the Tab, if it sells enough units.