Samsung has announced updates to its popular Galaxy Tab line of tablets. The new Galaxy Tab 2 brings several new features and ships with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. At the same time, they’ve announced two new Galaxy Player devices. These media players allow users to get “the full Android experience” without the need to pay for smartphone service contracts. The company also hinted at forthcoming updates to the Galaxy Note line.

The Galaxy Tab 2 will be available in two variations: 7-inch (pictured below) and 10.1-inch (pictured above). Both tablets feature dual core processors, Ice Cream Sandwich, and integrated microSD card slots that allow their memory to be expanded by 32GB. The 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 comes with 8GB of onboard storage, while the 10.1-inch model comes with 16GB. Both also include a 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera and a VGA front camera, as well as GPS capabilities.

Perhaps the most interesting new feature of the Galaxy Tab 2 is the integrated infrared transmitter. When paired with Samsung’s Smart Remote app this “IR blaster,” as Samsung calls it, allows you to use your Galaxy Tab as a universal remote. The Smart Remote app even has the ability to help you find your favorite shows.

The 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 will be available on April 22nd, and has a suggested retail price of $249.99. The 10.1-inch model will be available on May 13th and will sell for $399.99.

The new Galaxy Player also comes in two models, differentiated mainly by their size. The larger Galaxy Player has a 4.2-inch WVGA display, while the smaller has a 3.6-inch HVGA display. Both run Android 2.3 Gingerbread and have 8GB of internal memory, as well as a microSD card slot. Each comes with an FM radio built in, as well as an embedded microphone. The Galaxy Player 3.6 has a mono speaker, while the Galaxy Player 4.2 sports dual stereo speakers. Each player has a 2 megapixel rear camera, along with a VGA front camera.

The Galaxy Player 3.6 is available now at Best Buy stores for $149.99, and will be coming to more retailers in the near future. The Galaxy Player 4.2 will be available alongside the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 2 on May 13th, and will retail for $199.99.

What do you think of Samsung’s latest additions? Let us know in the comments.