Here we are with our final segment on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 – a subject that seems to generate the most discussion – 3G or no 3G?
When on the go just create a WiFi Hot Spot on your smartphone and connect right up.
As with our previous Tab 7.7 work, this is a reader/viewer generated article and video for our audience, all based on the questions and feedback on things you’d like to see demonstrated or shown on the Galaxy Tab 7.7.
We fielded questions from our own site, our Facebook page, Google+ Page and of course our YouTube channel, and came up with 5 short videos on various aspects of the Galaxy Tab 7.7.
The one question that keeps on popping up on both the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 and Asus Transformer Prime comments areas are to do with 3G versions of the two models. And the two questions that crop up here are a) how would you choose one over the other, and b) how would you get by with just a wi-fi version if you’re on the road?
Having an integrated 3G model definitely has its benefits from the word go. You can turn it on no matter where you are, and if you have a mobile signal, you are good to go for internet connection and therefore connect to all your apps, content, email, and anything else that requires an online connection.
Because 3G is built-in it’s instant-on, theoretically quicker because it uses it’s own hardware to connect and display online content, and you are not having to change your wireless settings every time you walk into a free wi-fi spot, although you may still want to do that to save on your monthly bandwidth.
And that brings me to some of the drawbacks to having a 3G tablet – it’s another account that you have manage, and if you sign up to a contract you may not use all your bandwidth and therefore waste it, or overuse and end up paying extra. Pre-paid plans do help with this and are much more popular these days.
The alternative to this is to pad your smartphone’s internet limit to a higher level and share that with your tablet, saving you on the cost of the 3G hardware (as there is a price premium for 3G vs Wi-fi only) and keeping your bill to just one that you can monitor and adjust as required.
I did a snap survey and I was very surprised with the amount of people that didn’t realise that “hotspot” activation on their smartphone was something they could do right now, today.
I know many of our readers are more advanced in their knowledge, but I thought this would be a good opportunity to show very quickly how to connect the Samsung Tab 7.7 to a smartphone, using two of the world’s most successful phones – the Apple iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S II.
The iPhone is pretty straight forward, and there are a couple of steps you do need to do each time you want the personal hotspot feature to be activated. However, it does work smoothly and Apple have made it as simple as they could within the menu system they currently have.
The Android software is a little more interesting because you can take advantage of the widget feature that gives direct control and feedback from your home screen without having to open an app or go into a menu setting.
You do have to go into the settings menu once to set up access to the hotspot with password protection, but once that is done it is a simple case of downloading and installing a free hotspot widget that you can then toggle on and off, making it very easy to connect your tablet to your phone within seconds.
Here is the video for the Android hotspot connection feature:
And here is the method for setting up a hotspot widget on your iPhone smartphone:
And that ends our extensive look at the Samsung 7.7. We will keep answering your questions on this product so please feel free to ask anything that we haven’t yet covered.
Which do you prefer? 3G or Wi-Fi only tablets? Do you hotspot or just use it from non-online activities when you’re away from your home wireless signal?
For a more detailed and first look at the Samsung galaxy Tab 7.7 CLICK HERE; for the first Q & A segment in which we compared the Tab 7.7 to the iPad 2, CLICK HERE; for the segment where we used theTab 7.7 as an eBook, just CLICK HERE; for a look at multitasking on the Tab 7.7, CLICK HERE; and for a quick video editing app look, CLICK HERE.
I prefer the 3G variant as a 7″ tablet is designed to be mobile and to always be connected to the internet. At least in my opinion.
Here in the UK 3G flatrates are rather cheap, you can have truely unlimited internet (and 240 free minutes in every UK network and unlimited texts as well as unlimited minutes to other GiffGaffers) from GiffGaff for just £10 a month (prepaid). It’s only for phones but isn’t the 7.7 a phone?
A tablet flat can be had for £15 with a 2GB allowance. At these prices I don’t have to think twice.
Hi Bjoern, welcome back! The 7.7 definitely straddles that line between tablet and phone. The 3G variant will be available in Australia, most likely through Telcos and specialist retailers.
3G rates haven’t matured to where the UK is just yet, and it could be one reason Wi-Fi versions still sell in good quantities, in addition to the price difference.
Thanks for the warm welcome 😉
As I might have mentioned before I’m thinking about to replace my phone with the 7.7, at least when I have a bag with me anyway.
The shown video editing tool looks promising (even if only basic), the mini apps as well. If the Tab would only be here right now!
The 16GB has just hit stores in Australia and the 32GB is due next week. Should be a good indication of other regions availability.
I can say that i was very enthusiastic when our telcos here (Barbados) launched their 4G network access and i’m itching to get onto that bandwagon. For comparison we charge roughly US$30 for 7GB on a monthly prepaid plan.
However i realise that alot of tablets charge a hefty premium just to get that extra 3G feature and i’m wondering if it makes more sense to (a) get a 3G MiFi device (Huawei E386) from my telco which i can use with all of my WiFi devices, or (b) just go for the 3G feature of a tablet which i can then use as a tether-base for other devices (which is the option i’m leaning to).
But of course the western-hemisphere hasn’t seen hide nor hair of Samsung’s 7.7 so i can only hope ASUS (or any other great tab maker) brings out a smaller model with 3G features!
The portable hotspots or Mifi that you mention are gaining popularity because of the rise of portable internet devices. It’s one way to keep hardware costs down for you, that’s for sure.
The 3G hotspotting also makes sense but it might drain your battery if you leave it on all the time.
We’ll be at the CES in a few days so we’ll definitely let you know what we find there.
Hi Ritchie,
I’d prefer the 3G version but using it only for data access and not for phone calls.
Actually I’m using an internet key connect to my notebook with a usb port.
The best for me would be to use the same internet key on the tablet.
Otherwise each time I go outdoor with the tablet I’d have to extract the sim from the internet key and put it inside the tablet and viceversa when back to home.
Last but not least, what about battery life ?
Hi Andrea,
Unfortunately USB modems don’t have the drivers for use in Android tablets yet. I’ve asked a few local Telco people here and they don’t yet have the Android integration ready.
We didn’t test battery life on the 7.7 but the official site quotes 10 hours for video.
HEY RITCHIE JUST WANTING TO KNOW HAVE YOU HEARD ANY NEWS ABOUT THE GALAXY S2 ICS UPDATE ARE WE GOING TO GET IT THANKS MATE HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
Thanks Brad, season’s greetings to you too!
The Galaxy S II has been confirmed as the first Galaxy model to receive the ICS upgrade before the end of March, and other models later in the year, such as the Note, 10.1, 8.9 and 7.7.
We’re eagerly waiting for the arrival and will be posting some reviews on the upgrade as soon as possible.
Love your site. I have a question for you. I will be getting the Samsung 7.7 wi fi version and would like to know if I will be able to use my Galaxy Vibrant”s Mobile AP to make and receive calls on the 7.7 . I know I will be able to connect the 7.7 to the Internet via 3g through the Mobile AP on my Galaxy Vibrant, but what about phone calls on the 7.7.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that using the mobile AP will not work with phone calls through the 7.7, it only transfers Internet data, not cell data.
There may be an app available to use the Bluetooth for such things between the phone and the tab.
I do know that you can use Bluetooth instead of the mobile ap to access the Internet as well on the android tabs, when you pair a Bluetooth device, you are able to set the Internet profile the “use paired device for Internet connection” this may be dependent on the version of android being run as well as the units hardware capabilities.
Cheers, Reece
Great site Ritchie. I have just bought a Samsung 7.7 16GB tablet which is great, however it will not let me sign in to my google account. it tells me that “Your username and password do not match. please try again”. Any ideas? Thanks, in anticipation
Hi Ritchie
I’m in Australia as well and was looking at getting the 3g 16gb model. Can I just take my phone sim out and put it in the tablet? Will that let me use the calls and 3g plans that I have associated with that sim?
it seem my win xp unable to tethering with hotspot. Anyone have facethis issue
?
Im using the samsung 7 inch galaxy tab GTP-1000. The wifi hotspot works with my laptop, but the iphone does not appear in the network list in the galaxy tab when i scan for networks. Any thoughts?