Technology firms around the world are desperate to create a device that will allow them to compete with Apple's iPhone and iPad devices, which have captured the public's imagination and set trends in the industry. Samsung, for its part, has invested enormous amounts of money trying to create a handheld device to knock Apple off its lofty perch.
However, the firm has come up short thus far, consistently being outgunned by Apple. Now, though, it may have created a new device that could help to slow down the Apple juggernaut. That's because it has announced the release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, which joins T-Mobile's seven-, nine-, and ten-inch tablet offerings already on the market.
Samsung has explained that the new Tab 7.0 Plus is a refresh of last year's Tab 7 - but according to the manufacturer, it is thinner, lighter, and faster than the original. The 7-inch display rates WSVGA resolution with 1024 x 600 pixels. Also, the handset runs the latest version of Android 3.2 Honeycomb.
Jeremy Korst, T-Mobile's vice-president of mobile broadband and emerging devices, said the new device was highly convenient.
"Consumers want a selection of affordable, highly mobile tablets that can deliver the content they want virtually anywhere they go," he explained.
"The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is a perfectly sized, ultra-thin, and lightweight 4G tablet that easily fits in a coat pocket or purse and delivers a rich on-the-go entertainment experience."
Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus goes on sale on November 16th, meaning it is likely to be a popular present this Christmas. However, having not benefited from the same level of fanfare and media coverage as similar devices developed by Apple, it would appear unlikely that the world's biggest technology firm will be slowed down by a new handset from a rival manufacturer anytime soon.
Last month, for instance, Apple launched the iPhone 4S, an update to its series of smartphones. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, the firm reported record pre-orders sales figures, proving the ongoing appeal of the Apple brand.
BlackBerry, on the other hand, has been dealing with the backlash following a blackout of its service in various parts of the world. While the firm has issued an apology to its customers, market analysts have suggested that the incident has done irreversible damage to the company's reputation.
As a result, it would appear that despite the latest attempt by Samsung to steal a march, Apple is likely to remain the leading player in the smartphone and tablet markets for some time to come.