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Wilson Rothman

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 heads to Verizon

In the coming weeks, Samsung will launch the 4G LTE-powered Galaxy Tab 7.7 on Verizon Wireless. With a super AMOLED 720p screen, 1.4GHz dual-core chip and super-thin body, it's an impressive piece of hardware.

With built-in infrared, it can be used as a universal remote, even if you don't have Samsung gear. And since it has DLNA capability, it can serve videos, music and pictures to DLNA-equipped TVs, set-top boxes and sound systems.

It's also geared towards business customers, with "enterprise friendly" security and encryption, and the ability to serve as a Wi-Fi hub for up to 10 devices when on the 4G network.

On the downside, it's launching with Android Honeycomb 3.2 as Google rolls out Ice Cream Sandwich, 4.0. And while Verizon hasn't announced pricing, it has to be very low to compete with the $200 contract-free Kindle Fire. The Galaxy Tab 7.7 may be a much better piece of hardware, but money talks.

More CES 2012 coverage from msnbc.com's Gadgetbox:

• Ultrabooks: Not just Mac Book Air knockoffs, says Intel
• Toshiba's Excite X10 tablet is as thin as it is tall
• High-tech Vegas security outsharks the sharks

We'll be posting live from Las Vegas this week at CES 2012. If you have questions or comments, shoot Wilson a tweet at @wjrothman, or grab one of the other Gadgetbox team members featured in the widget on the right. As usual, you can catch our ongoing conversation about technology over on Facebook.