Samsung has announced that it will offer three new tablets based on Android, according to Computerworld.
The new tablets are the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, the Tab Pro 10.1 and the Note Pro 12.2. A fourth tablet, the Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2, will be available in March.
The new tablets will sport a custom user interface running on top of Android 4.4. “KitKat” dubbed Magazine UX. The interface splits the screen into tiles similar to Windows 8’s user interface. Magazine UX is intended to make multitasking easier to access on these tablets compared to the stock Android interface.
The 16GB Galaxy Tab Pro will retail for $399.99, the 16GB Tab Pro 10.1 for $499.99, and the Galaxy Note Pro will retail for $749.99 and $849.99 for 32GB and 64GB, respectively.
The tablets are designed for productivity in addition to entertainment. As well as an interface designed for easy multitasking, the tablets also feature a full-size virtual keyboard designed to make typing easier.
The interface allows users to see up to four applications at once. The devices make use of the increasing resolution and screen space that these tablets offer. Windows 8’s interface had a similar concept but was poorly received in some circles that focus on desktop use. Canonical has also employed a similar design that splits the screen in its own Ubuntu mobile offerings that will come on the market soon.
The new tablets show how much ferment there is in the Android market, compare to Apple’s tight control of both its hardware and software platforms. Amazon has been offering its Kindle Fire line of tablets, which also heavily customizes the Android interface. As long as Android remains relatively open, device makers might find it hard to resist customization, especially as it lets them stand out from their competitors.
Edited by
Cassandra Tucker 
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