Samsung wasted no time announcing new devices during Mobile World Congress 2012, and what a strange lot, too. There's a projector phone and successors to the original Galaxy Tab that, by the specs, are last year's models. That's right, Galaxy Tab 2 has no quad-core processor for you.
Galaxy Beam stays in the past, too, running Android 2.3, rather than newest version Android 4.0 -- aka Ice Cream Sandwich.
Samsung didn't give pricing or availability in its Galaxy Beam announcement, keeping to MWC's awful tradition of announcing in Barcelona, Spain, but not shipping for many months later.
"Galaxy Beam provides mobile freedom, enabling a unique shared experience around digital content for everyone—anywhere and instantly—from a smartphone as slim and portable as any on the market", JK Shin, President of Samsung's IT & Mobile Communications division, says.
"Galaxy Beam is a device borne out of Samsung’s insight and innovation, demonstrating Samsung’s commitment to providing extraordinary experiences for consumers with products that let them express and fulfill themselves".
Oh? That would be "extraordinary" as in 5-megapixel camera and aging Android? Well, there is projection -- up to 50 inches. That's good enough to rent a movie from Android Market and have an impromptu movie with friends. Hey, Last night's Oscar winner, "The Artist", anyone?
Galaxy Beam basic specs: 1 GHz dual-core processor; 4-inch WVGA display (800 x 480 resolution); 768MB RAM; 8GB storage; microSD slot (up to 32GB additional storage); 5-megapixel rear-facing and 1.3MP front-facing cameras; HSPA (14.4Mbps/5.76Mbps) 850/900/1900/2100; EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900; 2000 mAh battery; and Android 2.3.
Samsung also unveiled Galaxy Tab 2 in two sizes, and the latter is a bit beefier than the original (could that be to avoid nuisance patent suits from Apple?). Again, the specs aren't exactly earth shattering. Other than Ice Cream Sandwich, I struggle to see much different from predecessor models.
7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 basic specs: 1 GHz dual-core processor; 7-inch WSVGA display (1024 x 600 resolution); 1GB RAM; 8GB, 16GB or 32GB storage; microSD slot (up to 32GB additional storage); 3-megapixel rear-facing and VGA front-facing cameras; HSPA+ (21Mbps) 850/900/1900/2100; 4000 mAh battery; and Android 4.0.
10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 2 basic specs: 1 GHz dual-core processor; 10.1-inch WXGA display (1280 x 800 resolution); 1GB RAM; 16GB or 32GB storage; microSD slot (up to 32GB additional storage); 3-megapixel rear-facing and VGA front-facing cameras; HSPA+ (21Mbps) 850/900/1900/2100; 7000 mAh battery; and Android 4.0.
Samsung didn't immediately announce pricing for the two tablets, which begin shipping in March.