You get the sense that Samsung wants to be everything to everyone. The Korean company makes smartphones and tablets in all shapes and sizes. It does high-end, it does low-end, and it even does mid-range. You name it, Sammy has either done it or is planning on doing it. So the next items on the agenda should be no surprise: a rugged, outdoorsy version of the Galaxy S 4, and an 8-inch Galaxy Tab.
Today’s scoop comes courtesy of The Wall Street Journal. Their “people familiar with the matter” say that the rugged S4 is tentatively branded as the “Galaxy S 4 Active.” It will be water-proof and dust-proof (much like the Sony Xperia Z), but taking design cues from the standard Galaxy S 4.
The WSJ thinks that the Galaxy S 4: Bear Grylls Edition (not really) is designed to target business and government customers. Samsung’s KNOX security suite, waiting in the pipeline, is also aimed squarely at the enterprise – where a new war is being waged, along with Apple and Google.
The source expects the phone to ship in July.
Galaxy Tab 8.0?
The report only mentions the 8-inch Galaxy tablet in passing, but it sounds like it would be a Galaxy Tab or other standard tablet. In other words, no stylus or Note branding. It's expected to release in June.If Samsung could pack a high-res display and cutting-edge processor into the 8-incher, maybe it could steal some of the rumored iPad mini 2’s thunder. For all of the current iPad mini's great qualities, its display and internal components are very 2011-ish. Samsung would love to get a jump on its rival for the hearts (and dollars) of 8-inch tablet customers.
Source: Wall Street Journal
The review from the verge said: "I don't like holding this phone, and I can't overstate how much that informs the experience of using it. It makes an awful first impression, slippery and slimy and simply unpleasant in your hand"
Ouch. They make so many different phones to fit every need I guess I am surprised it took them this long to offer a version with a different casing.