Developer Samsung Predecessor Samsung Galaxy Tab | First released February 2012 | |
 | ||
Related Type Tablet, media player, PC Dimensions 196.7 mm (7.74 in) H
133.0 mm (5.24 in) W
7.9 mm (0.31 in) D | ||
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 is a tablet computer of a series of Android-based tablet computer produced by Samsung, introduced on 1 September 2011 at IFA in Berlin. Related models are the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0.
Contents
It belongs to the second generation of the Samsung Galaxy Tab series, which consists of two 10.1" models, an 8.9", a 7.0" and a 7.7" model. The 7.7 is the thinnest tablet Samsung has made in the 7" range.
History
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 has been shown to the public in September 2011 at the IFA in Berlin. It is, together with its cheaper sibling Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, the direct successor of the original Galaxy Tab.
On 4 January 2012, Samsung announced in Singapore the launch for February 2012 at a price of S$898 (US$695).
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 WiFi was on sale in Australia on 13 January 2012, with prices approximately A$550. The release was not advertised and only a few stores have stock.
After Apple had secured another injunction against Samsung tablet computers in Germany, Samsung had to pull the Tab 7.7 from their booth including everything related like posters only one day after the first presentation.
Software
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 runs Android 3.2 with Samsung's custom overlay TouchWiz UX. TouchWiz UX provides several widgets and:
In July 2012 appeared an update to Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) in Austria. More countries followed in the next months.
In May 2013 Samsung released an update to Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) in several Asian countries.
Hardware
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 is the first tablet computer featuring a Super AMOLED Plus display and sports a high pixel density. The Samsung Exynos 4210 dual-core processor works at 1.4 GHz, it consists of two ARM Cortex-A9 cores. The Tab 7.7 is equipped with 1 GB LPDDR2 RAM and 16, 32 or 64 GB of built-in storage which can be expanded by MicroSD card up to 32 GB
The Tab 7.7 is not technically related to the other Galaxy Tabs except the 7.0 Plus with which it shares almost everything apart from the screen and a slightly faster processor of the same type as used in the 7.7. The previously launched 8.9" and 10.1" Galaxy Tabs are equipped with a different (and slower) processor, different screen technology and they are not expandable by microSD cards. The original Galaxy Tab 7 is also different from every angle.
As with all Honeycomb tablets, the number of buttons has been reduced: The usual Home, Menu, Back, and Search buttons, which are present in most Android devices, are embedded in the notification and menu bar. The only physical buttons are Power, Volume Up, and Volume Down.
Like every other tablet from the Galaxy Tab series also the Tab 7.7 comes with the Samsung PDMI-like proprietary interface connector, which is used for both charging and data transfer. A keyboard dock will be available as well as a charging/data dock with a microHDMI out connector.
The cameras used are well known from many other Galaxy Tabs, the 2 MP front-facing camera has a fixed focus and is designed to be used for video chat or self-portraits. The 3 MP rear camera features autofocus and a LED flash light.
3G connectivity is supported in the P6800 models, dual Wi-Fi a/b/g/n antennas, which can operate at 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies, are standard on all models.
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 offers full phone functionality with a phone-like receiver/mic arrangement, on the Wi-Fi-only versions it can still be used for VOIP calls. Wired or Bluetooth headsets can be used as well as speaker mode.
On almost every review device used by several tech blogs or magazines an infrared port for using the Tab 7.7 as a remote control for entertainment devices such) as TV sets or DVD players was fitted (and a suitable app installed) but apparently this is not the case on the production units. However, in the US, a Verizon branded model does include the IR port.
Galaxy Tab 2
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) is a newer model (summer 2012) of the 7.0 Plus. It is equipped with Android 4.0, is available with 8 GB internal storage and comes with the infrared smart remote control IR Blaster.
Galaxy Tab 3
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (7.0) is the newest model (summer 2013) of the Tab 2 7.0. It is equipped with Android 4.2, is available with 8 GB internal storage and comes with the infrared smart remote control IR Blaster.
Banned in Europe
A sales ban on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 in Germany was extended to the entire European Union by a German court in June 2012.
The 7.7-inch slate is the latest casualty in the ongoing patent wrangle between Apple and Samsung. The tablet is no stranger to this dispute—it was officially unveiled at IFA in Berlin 2012, but was almost immediately yanked from the show floor after a sales injunction. Samsung has issued a statement saying that it was "disappointed with the court's ruling" and that it "will continue...to protect our intellectual property rights and defend against Apple's claims to ensure our products remain available to consumers throughout the European Union".