14 DAY TRIAL // Designing a tablet with an innovative look that’s also easy to handle isn't a simple job. Even so, according to a new uncovered patent Samsung is trying to do just that.
Samsung has repeatedly stated its intentions of focusing more heavily on tablets in 2014. Even as recent as the Mobile World Congress, Sammy’s co-CEO JK Shin announced the company’s expectations for this year.
“We will grow much higher than the market expectations of 20 percent this year. Next year, we will become a leader of tablets.”
“Every year was difficult (in the mobile market) but this year, the market’s growth itself is expected to slowdown. But we will still fair better in the first quarter compared to the second half of last year.”
Bottom line, Samsung plans to become the world’s largest tablet vendor by 2015, finally overthrowing Apple and its iPads from the top position.
And how will Samsung manage to achieve this goal? For starters, the tech giant has unleashed four new premium tablets (the Galaxy NotePRO and the Galaxy TabPRO line), as well as the Galaxy Tab 3 Lite, that’s targeting the budget sector.
If rumors are to be believed, the Galaxy Tab 4 line is on its way to being announced too, even if the tablet assembly failed to make an appearance last week in Barcelona.
Nevertheless, one thing stands out to those familiar with Samsung’s tablets. The Korean tech giant hasn't changed many things design-wise, when tablets are concerned.
That’s pretty obvious when you look at the Galaxy Tab 3 which is quite similar to the Galaxy Tab 2 and if leaks are accurate, the Galaxy Tab 4 bunch will continue to pave the same way.
However, knowing that design is a sure way to impress customers, Samsung is trying to change all that. A recent uncovered patent filed with the USPTO shows Sammy might be working on a tablet with curved margins.
Note, the tablet’s screen is not actually curved or flexible, with only the left and right margins being slightly curved. From the sketches revealed by the patent, one can also notice the slate has very thin bezels and no hardware buttons.
This suggests Samsung is looking to completely overhaul its traditional tablet design. Another theory might be the tablet in question is actually the elusive next-generation Nexus 10.
However, recent rumors seem to indicate HTC will be actually taking up the manufacturing process for the next-gen Nexus 10 and not Samsung, so the above scenario is not likely a viable one.
Anyway, the patent doesn't give off any extra details, except for the following description “the ornamental design for a tablet computer, as shown and described.” A patent doesn't exactly mean we will see such a device arrive in retail, but a Samsung tablet with a fresh design, would certainly be something lots of us will be interested in.
