The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7-inch and 10.1-inch tablets have been delayed until the end of April, with Samsung and Google reportedly needing more time with Ice Cream Sandwich before the two gadgets are ready.
The tablets were expected to arrive in the UK in March, but those who know their way around the Roman calendar will tell you it's April now, and there's been no sign of either slate.
The delay is down to software, ComputerWorld reports, with more time needed to perfect the version of Android 4.0 that's powering both tablets. That's according to a Samsung spokesman -- I've contacted the Korean giant asking for more information, and I'll update this story if I hear anything.
Samsung seems to be having a spot of bother wrapping its mind around the latest version of Android. While these two new tablets are delayed, the ICS update for the Samsung Galaxy Note has been pushed back, and Galaxy S2 owners have been struggling to get hold of the Ice Cream Sandwich update that started rolling out on 19 March.
The Tab 2 devices could be worth a peek. While the 7-inch model has a slightly uninspiring design, it's highly portable and will of course be powered by the latest version of Android.
The 10.1-inch version, meanwhile, is extremely slim and light, and when I saw it in February, I was impressed by the hi-res screen -- though the 1,200x800-pixel display feels a little less exciting now that the new iPad is in the wild.
Tempting nevertheless, even if there's not a great deal to differentiate these tablets from the Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9, Tab 7.7 and, oh, the Note 10.1. Yup, Samsung likes making tablets, although an exec recently admitted it hadn't been doing too well at it.
Former Apple boss John Sculley reckons Samsung's tablets are the "only serious tablet competitor" to the iPad, but in order to really appeal, these two new tablets will need to actually go on sale at some point, so fingers crossed there are no further delays.
I've stuck my hands-on videos with the Tab 2 7- and 10.1-inch versions below -- let me know if you're tempted by way of the comments, or our Facebook wall.
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anonymous 4 April, 2012 12:11
Not too hot on my Roman calendar but know my Gregorian by heart.....
anonymous 4 April, 2012 12:44
I suspect the implication that ICS is somehow to blame for the delay is a little unfair...well more than a little.
But if Samsung insist on skinning the O/S, then I suppose this sort of thing is going to happen. Better to blame their management and dev team than to blame ICS itself.
ace9988 4 April, 2012 18:17
ICS....annnounced in october, source code released a month later in november, updated nexus S in january (not properly yet) and the list goes on.
Google is to blame for releasing ICS much later than announcing it, its to blame for not letting manufacturers get dibs on the source earlier.
Manufacturers are to blame for taking too long to slap on skins, and making a complete dogs dinner of the update schedules
Phone operators are to blame for wanting their own rubbish (lets be honest NOBODY needs) and then waiting around till our handsets are obsolete to push updates.
We're to blame for being impatient....but really? is it too much to ask for? we don't care when the update happens, just as long as so its quick and efficient and no messing about like everyone does