14 DAY TRIAL // The patent war between Samsung and Apple has begun to reveal things neither party wants, such as future products. In this instance, Samsung is the one whose secrets are being exposed for all to see.
According to one of the documents that the court forced Samsung to reveal, the company will release a high-resolution slate this year.
In fact, the resolution is so high that it exceeds the quality of the so-called Retina display features in the latest iPad.
Whereas Apple's device has a 2048 x 1536 panel, Samsung's slate will boast a screen with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels (16:10 aspect ratio).
It is truly curious that the native resolution on portable, handheld devices is advancing so much faster than the resolution of HDTVs and monitors.
At any rate, Samsung's consumer electronics gadget is currently known by the P10 moniker and will have one extra perk: LTE connectivity.
All things considered, Samsung has everything it needs to go forward on the slate market, even if the jury eventually rules in its disfavor.
The decisions regarding Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 7.7 won't have any bearing on this new item after all.
At worst, Samsung will have to sort out some patent licensing deals, if any, maybe pay some fines, but the P10, or whatever its name will be, will have free reign.
What remains is for the design to be “different” enough from that of the iPad, inasmuch as the standard tablet shape (which Apple was somehow allowed to patent) permits for such a thing.
We don't know when Samsung will officially reveal the product. Perhaps IFA 2012 will bring some revelations, or some reports if nothing else. If not, the holiday season is when we think the 11.6-inch slate will begin selling.
In the meantime, we'll keep our eyes and ears peeled for future Apple's items. Since it was ordered to bring some of its own documents to court, there's a good chance we'll get a glimpse of its future too.
