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The Samsung tablet was first in the running to defy its dominant rival the Apple iPad.

With slick casing and a seven-inch (17.8-centimetre) touchscreen, slightly smaller than the iPad's 9.7 inches, the tablet was launched at the IFA conference in Berlin. The device uses Google's Android 2.2 operating system and brings together all of Samsung’s leading innovations to provide users with more capabilities while on the move. Consumers are able to experience PC-like web-browsing and enjoy all forms of multimedia content wherever they go. Moreover, users can continuously communicate via e-mail, voice and video call, SMS/MMS or social network with the optimized user interface and also features  a 3MP back-facing camera affair with auto-focus and an LED flash, and the forward-facing one (for video conferencing) has a 1.3MP sensor.

 Samsung is pitching the Galaxy Tab as an “on the go” device with a 4,000mAh battery (7 hour movie play). "Samsung recognizes the tremendous growth potential in this newly created market and we believe that the Samsung Galaxy Tab brings a unique and open proposition to market," said Samsung's head of mobile communications JK Shin. "There is a new and emerging consumer demand that Samsung can satisfy since mobile is in our DNA."

 The Galaxy tab which weighs in at 380 grams is almost half the iPad's 1.5 pounds which users found heavy to hold with one hand.  The Tab comes with an application called the ‘Readers Hub,’ Samsung’s unique e-reading application, which provides easy access to a vast digital library – from classical literature to the latest bestsellers and reference materials. The new device also uses Swype technology which lets users type by sliding their fingers across the screen.

 Samsung called it "the first of the company's tablet devices" suggesting further models will be forthcoming. For now though launches in Europe are expected in mid-September in 16 and 32GB versions, and in other markets including the US and elsewhere in Asia in the coming months. 

 Sadly Apple’s iPad competition doesn’t end there; the heat is definitely on as Toshiba released its latest innovation - the Toshiba FOLIO 100 at the IFA Conference in Berlin, the same day Samsungs revealed its own similar breakthrough.

 The Toshiba FOLIO 100 is a premium 25.7cm (10.1”) standard tablet device on paper, without any exceptional features to note besides access to the Toshiba Marketplace for apps and music, designed to offer a portable and versatile way to enjoy digital and web-based content and the device weighs in at 750grams. The tablet will run on Nvidia's Tegra chip and has a 1020mAh battery which Toshiba apparently reckons is good for up to 7hrs of “mixed use.”

 Contrary to the iPad, there are plenty of physical ports too which include HDMI both a full-sized USB 2.0 and a mini version, a 3.5mm headphone jack and an SD card reader.  Also, a 1.3-megapixel webcam, stereo speakers and microphone making video-chat simpler is a feature of the tablet.

Toshiba FOLIO 100 features a wide range of connectivity options to offer outstanding flexibility, with an SD card slot, HDMI connector, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth all included as standard and offers full Flash support, while the integrated 1.3MP front-facing webcam stereo speakers and microphone also makes video-chat simple.

"Fast, easy and enjoyable to use, the Toshiba Folio 100 offers a rich multimedia experience, with a highly intuitive touchscreen interface designed to run on top of the Android 2.2 (Froyo) platform," said Toshiba.