A new tablet computer that is a direct rival to Apple's iPad has been spotted on a train in Australia ahead of its official unveiling next week.
Samsung is among several firms preparing to launch a touch-screen tablet device
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is a portable device with a 7-inch screen, and is briefly shown in a newly-released teaser video on the firm's website.
It is not due for release until September 2, but technology journalist Sanjiv Sathiah from Electronista.com said he saw a commuter in Sydney using a tablet matching the description with the Samsung logo above the screen.
He filmed the man using the device and asked a series of questions, until the man - who denied he worked for Samsung - said he could not reveal any more.
The anonymous commuter did, however, say that the tablet was "awesome" and said it was "very different" to the iPad.
Electronista.com journalist films tablet on train
[YOUTUBE]BRyFU1nF07o&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]
He also confirmed it ran using the Android operating system, which has been developed by Google.
Mr Sathiah speculated that the man may have been testing it to see how it performed using Sydney's mobile networks on commuter train lines.
The apparent leak of the Samsung galaxy Tab comes after Apple's new iPhone was also revealed to the world prematurely when an employee left a trial handset in a California bar.
Website Gizmodo gave an in-depth analysis of the iPhone 4's features, but failed to dampen consumer enthusiasm when the product reached Apple stores a few weeks later.
Samsung may be hoping a sneak peek at its Galaxy Tab will also help pique interest, rather than diffuse it, as it has an uphill challenge awaits the technology firm if it wishes to oust the iPhone.
Apple has sold more than 3.27 million of the devices since the April 3 launch and the range of applications is steadily growing.
Meanwhile LG is also developing a tablet and Blackberry maker Research in Motion is also believed to be close to launching a slate device.
Analysts say the tablet market is set to soar, and will account for almost a fifth of personal computers sold in 2015 - well ahead of the rate predicted for desktops.
"Tablet growth will come at the expense of netbooks, which have similar grab-and-go media consumption and web browsing as tablets but don't synchronise data across services like the iPad does," said Sarah Rotman Epps of technology researcher Forrester.
Samsung is among several firms preparing to launch a touch-screen tablet device
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is a portable device with a 7-inch screen, and is briefly shown in a newly-released teaser video on the firm's website.
It is not due for release until September 2, but technology journalist Sanjiv Sathiah from Electronista.com said he saw a commuter in Sydney using a tablet matching the description with the Samsung logo above the screen.
He filmed the man using the device and asked a series of questions, until the man - who denied he worked for Samsung - said he could not reveal any more.
The anonymous commuter did, however, say that the tablet was "awesome" and said it was "very different" to the iPad.
Electronista.com journalist films tablet on train
[YOUTUBE]BRyFU1nF07o&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]
He also confirmed it ran using the Android operating system, which has been developed by Google.
Mr Sathiah speculated that the man may have been testing it to see how it performed using Sydney's mobile networks on commuter train lines.
The apparent leak of the Samsung galaxy Tab comes after Apple's new iPhone was also revealed to the world prematurely when an employee left a trial handset in a California bar.
Website Gizmodo gave an in-depth analysis of the iPhone 4's features, but failed to dampen consumer enthusiasm when the product reached Apple stores a few weeks later.
Samsung may be hoping a sneak peek at its Galaxy Tab will also help pique interest, rather than diffuse it, as it has an uphill challenge awaits the technology firm if it wishes to oust the iPhone.
Apple has sold more than 3.27 million of the devices since the April 3 launch and the range of applications is steadily growing.
Meanwhile LG is also developing a tablet and Blackberry maker Research in Motion is also believed to be close to launching a slate device.
Analysts say the tablet market is set to soar, and will account for almost a fifth of personal computers sold in 2015 - well ahead of the rate predicted for desktops.
"Tablet growth will come at the expense of netbooks, which have similar grab-and-go media consumption and web browsing as tablets but don't synchronise data across services like the iPad does," said Sarah Rotman Epps of technology researcher Forrester.