Samsung Tweaks Physical Design of Galaxy Tab 10.1, Sets Nov Release for Germany
Samsung Electronics has adopted design tweaks on its flagship tablet computer, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, in hopes of circumventing a court-induced ban for the product to be marketed in Germany, reports said.
The South Korean tech giant confirmed on Thursday that a re-designed Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be released in Germany by next week, allowing the company to get around an injunction won by Apple against its close competitor.
In a lawsuit filed by the American firm, courts in Australia, Germany and a number of countries have directed Samsung to hold off sales of its Galaxy product lines pending the resolution of Apple's claim that Samsung cloned its million-selling iPad and iPhone in order to produce gadgets that can effectively rival its products.
Samsung's overture of settlements have been repeatedly rejected by Apple, prompting the Asian tech giant to file countersuits that according to tech news site PC Magazine presently number to 30 cases being heard in various court rooms around the world.
Samsung officials have hinted many of its exclusive patents were being employed by products designed by Apple, including iPad and iPhone, which the company claimed could render the products unusable with its technology.
Among those that Samsung claims exclusive ownership are five wireless networking technology patents, PC Magazine said.
In a statement emailed to the tech publication, Samsung revealed the impending release of "Galaxy Tab 10.1N, a new version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1, will be available in Germany beginning the week of November 21st."
"Samsung has introduced this new version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in order to meet consumer demand for our innovative and distinctive products. The product will be available only in Germany," the South Korean firm said.
Quoting a popular German tech blogger, Florian Mueller, PC Magazine noted that Samsung did not perform a design overhaul on Galaxy Tab 10.1 except for the "metal frame or bezel that now wraps all around the edge to the extent that a part of it covers the margins of the front side."
"That is a characteristic of at least one of the devices rejected by the court as prior art," Mueller said on his blog, adding that the exterior adjustment of the tablet's design was made following suggestions made by Samsung's German lawyers to the company.