Samsung not only responded to the display issue but also confirmed that it does exist and is a problem. Most apps scale up to the 1024x600 resolution on the 7-inch Galaxy Tab screen. However, some apps designed for Google's Android Market aren't scalable and only display at 800x400.
There will be a perceptible difference on the screen and it will be an issue for other vendors thinking of building larger tablets running the Android OS.
The problem exists because Android was developed and designed from the ground up to work on smartphones. No one thought it would be scaled up to become the OS of choice for a range of much bigger tablets.
We reported a couple of weeks ago that Google point blank said Froyo tablets couldn't tap into its Android Market. Google's global product management director for mobiles, Hugo Barra told a media briefing at the company's London offices yesterday, "If you want Android market on that platform, the apps just wouldn't run, Froyo is not optimised for tablets."
Companies like Toshiba, Archos and Samsung will have to rely on their respective apps stores if they want to keep the great unwashed happy.
We also reported at the time that Samsung said that the Galaxy Tab would be able to access the Android Market without any problems.
"The Tab is marketed as a phone/handset so has all the same capabilities as the Android phones on the market - there aren't any apps you can't use," a Samsung spokesperson told The INQUIRER.
Now Samsung has been caught out and is on the back foot, having admitted that some Android apps don't work properly.
We contacted a Samsung UK spokesperson about all this but were given a "no comment" response until tomorrow. µ
Labels: Android , Samsung
