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News, Reviews, & Opinion
After New iPad, iPad 2 'Feels Like an
Upgrade!'
Scripting.com's Dave Winer says he plunked down his money in March
to get the latest and greatest
iPad, but reports that while the ultra high-res Retina Display was
nice at first, it very quickly became commonplace, the gee-whiz effect
fading almost immediately. And while he got the LTE version, but he
doesn't really use LTE a lot because he's almost always close enough to
WiFi.
And while Winer reports that the New iPad is a great TV companion,
he's always running up against the battery issue with all those Retina
pixels sucking down the power, and the third-generation iPad's bigger
battery takes longer to recharge. He also notes that New iPad is
heavier, and it runs hot - not hugely uncomfortable, but
noticeable.
Winer says he's started using his old iPad again and has discovered that he
likes it better than the swish new Retina unit. In short, it's lighter,
the battery lasts longer, and it recharges much more quickly. "Having
gotten used to the new iPad, the old one feels like an upgrade!" he
declares.
Link: Which
iPad Is Better?
IHS: Apple to Maintain Tablet Dominance in
2012
PR: After suffering a temporary dip in market share in the
fourth quarter of 2011, Apple Inc.'s iOS is expected to reassert its
commanding leadership of the worldwide tablet space in 2012, according
to an IHS iSuppli Worldwide Tablet Market Tracker report from
information and analytics provider IHS (NYSE: IHS).
After dipping to 55.1% in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to a
final estimate, the Apple operating system's share of worldwide tablet
sales - a segment including both media tablets and PC-type tablets - is
set to recover to 61% for the full year of 2012, about the same portion
it had in 2011.
Apple's dominating media tablet market share in the fourth quarter
of 2011 had been diminished by a surge in sales of Amazon's Kindle Fire
tablet, which is based on Google's Android operating system. This had
caused Android's share of the tablet operating system market to climb
to 41.1%, up from 31.1% during the third quarter of 2011. However, as
Apple reasserts its leadership, Android's share will decline to 38.4%
for the full year of 2012.
"The key to Apple's media-tablet success has been its offering of a
complete hardware-plus-content ecosystem," says Rhoda Alexander,
director for monitors and tablets research at IHS. "The combination of
a good-looking device, well-designed applications, video, books and
music has provided consumers with an easy-to-use product and an
appealing use case. Such an ecosystem took Apple years to put together,
starting with the iPod plus iTunes Music Store more than nine years
ago, and it's proving to be a challenge for the company's competitors
to replicate it."
Further bolstering Apple's commanding position in the market,
supply-side sources indicate that the company will deploy a smaller,
7.8" display version of the iPad later this year, although Apple has
yet to confirm this. A smaller screen does not necessarily mean a
substantially lower price; rather, IHS expects Apple will place
continuing emphasis on the quality of the overall tablet experience and
the benefits of selecting the company's products.
Growth Tablets
Sales of tablets this year - including both
media tablets and PC-type tablets - will soar to 126.6 million
units, up a remarkable 85% from 68.4 million units in 2011.
The impressive performance of tablets this year builds on an even
mightier 253% explosion last year from sales of 19.4 million units in
2010. Tablets comprise one of the strongest categories in the consumer
electronics market today, with heady growth in the next few years
matching the wild exuberance of the cellphone or mobile handset
industry in its initial years of market-busting expansion.
Tablet sales will rise another 63% next year, on their way to 360.4
million units by 2016, as shown in the figure below.
Enter the PC Tablet
While media tablets such as the iPad dominate now and throughout the
forecast, new ultrabook offerings and the release of Windows 8 later
this year will help drive stronger sales in 2013 and beyond of PC-type
tablets, IHS predicts. PC tablets will appeal to users wanting the
flexibility of a tablet with the versatility of a traditional computer.
These devices are able to manage multiple windows and applications
including traditional full desktop applications, but can also convert
to a slate form with touch capability. The smaller, lighter form of
some of the new ultrabook offerings, touch improvements in Windows 8,
and more aggressive pricing will help drive growth in this
category.
Media tablets are often designated as "consumption-type" products
with which users can browse the web, send email, view video, play games
or interact with applications.
Within the media tablet space, however, the market is fragmenting
into two segments - value products largely serving as
"consumption-type" portable media players; and higher-performance units
incorporating more complex applications and stronger processors. Much
of the growth in the future will come from the value segment, but the
performance sector will provide the stronger challenge to traditional
PCs in both business and consumer markets.
Overall, the growth last year of media tablets dwarfed that of
tablet PCs, and media tablet sales will continue to outperform those of
tablet PCs in 2012. By next year, tablet PC growth will accelerate to
nearly 160%, compared to a still-robust 60% increase for media
tablets.
The PC tablet growth is a form transition within the larger notebook
market and does not reflect any cannibalization of the media tablet
opportunity. This is because PC tablets will still lag well behind
their media tablet counterparts next year, numbering a little over 8
million units compared to more than 197 million units for media
tablets.
Link:
No Contest: Apple iOS to Maintain Tablet Dominance in 2012
Samsung Wrests #1 Smartphone Position from
Apple
PR: Worldwide sales of mobile phones to end users reached
419.1 million units in the first quarter of 2012, a 2% decline from the
first quarter of 2011, according to Gartner, Inc. That marks the first
time since the second quarter of 2009 that the market exhibited a
decline.
"Global sales of mobile devices declined more than expected due to a
slowdown in demand from the Asia/Pacific region," comments Anshul
Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner. "The first quarter,
traditionally the strongest quarter for Asia which is driven by Chinese
New Year, saw a lack of new product launches from leading
manufacturers, and users delayed upgrades in the hope of better
smartphone deals arriving later in the year."
All vendors were impacted at different levels; however, white-box
vendors seem to have suffered the most. While tier one players such as
Nokia were negatively impacted on sell-in numbers (sold into retail),
white-box vendors were unable to adjust production and were left with a
buildup in inventory by the end of the quarter. Gartner expects some of
this volume to be sold during the next couple of quarters, because the
channel is likely to lower the prices to dispose of the stock.
"The lower results in the first quarter of 2012 have led us to be
cautious about sales for the remainder of the year," says Annette
Zimmermann, principal research analyst at Gartner. "The continued
rollout of third generation (3G)-based smartphones by local and
regional manufacturers such as Huawei, ZTE, Lenovo, Yulong and TCL
Communication should help spur demand in China. In addition, the
arrival of new products in mature markets based on new versions of the
Android and Windows Phone operating systems (OSs), and the launch of
the Apple iPhone 5 will help drive a stronger second half in Western
Europe and North America. However, as we are starting to update our
market forecast we feel a downward adjustment to our 2012 figures, in
the range of 20 million units, is unavoidable."
Samsung became the world's top mobile handset vendor during the
quarter, displacing Nokia which had held the No. 1 spot since 1998.
Samsung's mobile phone sales reached 86.6 million units (see Table 1),
a 25.9% increase from last year. Samsung took back the world's No. 1
smartphone position from Apple, selling 38 million smartphones
worldwide. In addition, Samsung's Android-based smartphone sales in the
first quarter of 2012 represented more than 40% of Android-based
smartphone sales worldwide; no other vendors achieved more than a 10%
share of the market.
Sales of smartphones continued to drive mobile device market growth,
reaching 144.4 million units in the first quarter of 2012, up 44.7%
year-over-year. This quarter also saw the top two smartphone vendors,
Apple and Samsung, raising their combined share to 49.3%, up from 29.3%
in the first quarter of 2011, and widening their lead over Nokia which
saw its smartphone market share drop to 9.2%.
Worldwide Mobile Device Sales to End Users by Vendor in 1Q12
Nokia's mobile handset sales reached 83.2 million units, a 22.7%
decrease from the first quarter of 2011. Smartphone sales are becoming
of paramount importance at a worldwide level. For example, smartphone
volumes contributed to approximately 43.9 per cent of overall sales for
Samsung as opposed to 16 per cent for Nokia, Mr. Gupta said.
Driven by the continued success of the iPhone 4S, Apple's sales grew
96.2% in the first quarter of 2012 as the new model expanded into new
markets and carriers. Sales in China were particularly strong this
quarter. With more than 5 million units, China became the
second-largest market for Apple after the U.S. On top of the sales
through official carriers channels, there was an increase in
transshipments from Hong Kong where volume has been growing over the
past few quarters to reach a sell-in of more than 3 million units.
"RIM sold 9.9 million mobile handsets in the first quarter of 2012,
with its global share declining to 2.4% as competition increased in its
international market strongholds. RIM desperately needs to deliver
winning BB10 products to retain users and stay competitive. This will
be very challenging, because BB10 lacks strong developer support, and a
new BB10 device will only be available in the fourth quarter of 2012,"
said Mr. Gupta.
In the smartphone OS market, Android accounted for more than half of
all smartphone sales (56.1%) in the first quarter of 2012 (see Table
2). Gartner analysts said the smartphone market has become highly
commoditized and differentiation is becoming a challenge for
manufacturers.
This is particularly true for smartphones based on the Android OS,
where a strong commoditization trend is at work and most players are
finding it hard to break the mould, Mr. Gupta said. At the high end,
hardware features coupled with applications and services are helping
differentiation, but this is restricted to major players with
intellectual property assets. However, in the mid to low-end segment,
price is increasingly becoming the sole differentiator. This will only
worsen with the entry of new players and the dominance of Chinese
manufacturers, leading to increased competition, low profitability and
scattered market share.
Additional information can be found in the Gartner report "Market
Share: Mobile Devices, Worldwide, 1Q12."
Link: Market Share: Mobile Devices,
Worldwide, 1Q12
Tablet Computing in Portrait Mode
Tech.pinions' Ben Bajarin notes that one reason why he's a big fan
of Logitech's Ultra-thin Keyboard Cover ($99.99
from Amazon.com) is because it allows him to do computing on his
iPad in portrait mode, while many companies who make keyboard
accessories assume that you'll only want to use the keyboard in
landscape mode.
Bajarin says he's found that his preferred use for docking the iPad
and using the keyboard is in portrait mode, and says he's convinced
that computing in portrait mode is far superior to landscape mode for
many different tasks, contending that portrait mode is by far the best
way to browse the Web, since many websites are designed with
up-and-down scrolling rather than left-to-right.
He also says he does quite a bit of writing and maintains that using
the iPad for writing in portrait mode is a powerful experience because
you can see more words on the page than when writing in landscape mode,
observing that when you see people using pen and paper today you don't
normally see them turning the pad of paper sideways, and that one of
his biggest complaints with the iPads virtual keyboard is not that he
can't type fast on it, but that he can't use it for any real productive
input while in portrait mode, while in landscape mode it takes up
nearly half the screen leaving him with very little of the software
application to see while typing.
Publisher's note: Back in the day, Apple made a Portrait Display for its
Macintosh computers, a vertical monitor with 640 x 870 pixels capable
of showing a full page when using a word processor. These were
incredibly popular among editors at the publishing house where I
worked, because it so perfectly mirrored the printed manuscript pages.
There is something very right about writing on a vertical display.
dk
Link: Tablet
Computing in Portrait Mode
Video: 7 Handy iPad Keyboard Tricks
Macworld's Dan Miller notes that as more and more of us use the iPad
for regular business chores, we're spending more and more time with its
virtual, onscreen keyboard, and there are some tricks that every iPad
user should know about to help make iPad's keyboard input more
efficient.
I knew about some of these, but most were a revelation to me even
after nearly 11 months of pretty intensive iPad keyboarding, once again
underscoring how inadequate Apple's features documentation is.
Miller has posted a video with accompanying text transcript of the
voice-over.
Link: Seven Handy iPad
Keyboard Tricks
Wozniak Would Like to See an Apple Without the
Walled Garden
WebProNews' Drew Bowling notes that Apple's so-called "walled
garden" policy is a continuous point of criticism and reports that even
Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak thinks Apple could be just as strong and
good if the company relaxed lockdown restrictions on its devices.
The report notes that this sort of philosophical tension dates back
to even Apple's early days, with Wozniak pushing for the Apple II to
have eight expansion slots, while his cofounding partner Steve Jobs
only wanted two slots, arguing that a printer and a modem would be all
people needed, and that while the Macintosh engineering group developed
a secret test board that could actually expand, when Steve Jobs got
wind he cut it off.
However, Bowling suggests that now into the Tim Cook era, a
non-walled garden Apple sometime in the future is less inconceivable
than it had been during the Jobs years.
Link:
Wozniak Would Like to See an Apple Without the Walled Garden
Rumor Roundup
Apple Books Half of Mobile DRAM Capacity at Elpida
Hiroshima Plant
DigiTimes' Josephine Lien and Jessie Shen report that Apple has
recently placed huge orders for mobile DRAM memory with Elpida Memory's
12" plant in Hiroshima, Japan, securing about 50% of the total chips
produced at the facility, according to industry sources.
Lien and Shen say Apple reportedly will source mobile DRAM chips
from Elpida for upcoming iPad and iPhone model.
Link: Apple Reportedly
Books Up Half of Mobile DRAM Capacity at Elpida Hiroshima Plant
(subscription required)
Accessories
Kensington KeyFolio Secure Companion for iPad 2
Integrates Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard and ClickSafe Lock
PR: Kensington Computer Products Group has introduced
Kensington KeyFolio Secure, a security case for the iPad 2. The new
KeyFolio Secure extends Kensington's KeyFolio family of products by
incorporating the easy-to-use ClickSafe one-click locking mechanism and
built-in security anchor. 
Now iPad users can be more
productive wherever they use their iPads with a case that features a
built-in Bluetooth keyboard, an adjustable stand and advanced
protection from damage or theft.
Kensington has a 30-year legacy pioneering the development of
physical security for computers. Its award-winning ClickSafe lock
designs provide a first line of defense for laptops and tablets. The
new security case builds on that legacy, and on the success of
Kensington's celebrated line of KeyFolio keyboard cases for tablets.
Since the original KeyFolio for iPad debuted in September 2010,
Kensington continues to expand its collection to offer enhanced
productivity and protection for all types of tablets including the new
iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Motorola XOOM and any 10 tablets.
The new KeyFolio Secure Case is optimized for touch typing and
features a high-performance removable, wireless Bluetooth keyboard with
one-button pairing. The case itself folds flat and protects the iPad
from wear and scratches. It includes an adjustable stand to achieve the
optimal angles for both viewing and typing.
The built-in ClickSafe lock is engaged with an almost effortless
one-click action. Constructed from high carbon steel cables with a
corrosion-proof steel lockhead, it delivers strong first-line of
defense for devices and data.
A recent study showed that 79% of business executives polled always
use their iPads when they are on the road, and more than half use it
for business communication.
"As tablet devices proliferate and are used in both professional and
personal environments, its important for people to protect both the
device and the valuable data it holds, says George Foot, Vice President
of Marketing and Development at Kensington. "Whether you rely on a
laptop or a tablet computer, Kensington continues its innovative
development of accessories that increase security and
productivity."
The Kensington KeyFolio Secure Features:
- Security case holds iPad 2 in place
- Folds flat for in-case use and protects your tablet from wear and
scratches
- Tactile keyboard with high-performance keys optimized for touch
typist
- Convenient loop to hold your stylus or pen
- Easy port access to all iPad controls and 30-pin connector
Kensington KeyFolio Secure Security Case for iPad 2, Bluetooth
Keyboard & ClickSafe Lock (K67746US) sells for $129.99.
Link: Kensington
KeyFolio Secure (available for $129.99 from Amazon.com
with free Super Saver shipping)
3 New Colors Available for Ipevo's PadPillow Tablet
and Ebook Reader Pillow Stand
PR: The Ipevo PadPillow family of
products has just added three new members. Ipevo, has announced three
new colors for their popular soft pillow stand: Lemongrass,
Honeysuckle, and Tangerine. These colors join three existing colors -
Steve's Blue Jeans, Light Khaki and Charcoal - for a total of six
different color options. The new colors are now available through
Ipevo's online store.
PadPillow is a triangular soft body pillow
designed to conform to the user's body, ensuring long-term comfort
for extended reading or tablet computing sessions. PadPillow is
made from a soft foam inside of a 100% soft denim cover. It can be used
on the lap while seated or reclining, and it can also be used on a wide
variety of surfaces carpet, fabric, bedding, etc. where traditional
rigid stands cannot.
PadPillow is a versatile stand
which can be used with the new iPad 3 or any generation of iPad, other
tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, ebook readers including different
models of Kindle and Nook, and even traditional magazines.
PadPillow features two hinged sections. The hinges can be brought
together for a compact stand, or they can be separated which provides
additional area for a Bluetooth keyboard.
"PadPillow is the unique pillow stand that
conforms to your body, and we wanted to better conform to our
customers' personal styles and preferences by offering three new
colors," says Royce Hong, CEO and Big Head of Design of
Ipevo. "PadPillow has been enthusiastically embraced as a better
way to read, surf, work and play away from the desk, and we're
excited to give our customers a few more ways to express their
individuality."
Ipevo's PadPillow Pillow Stand in Lemongrass (yellow-green),
Honeysuckle (pink) and Tangerine (orange), along with Steve's Blue
Jeans, Light Khaki, and Charcoal Gray, are all now available at a price
of $34 each through Ipevo's online store.
Link: Ipevo
(also
available from Amazon.com)
OtterBox iProtection for iPad, Now with Color
PR: OtterBox made protection for Apple devices popular; now
the leading case company makes it colorful. Introducing iProtection for
the iPad in color. Defender Series cases for the new iPad and iPad 2
are available for preorder on OtterBox.com in five combinations:
- Hornet: yellow polycarbonate with black silicone
- Deep sea: blue polycarbonate with black silicone
- Alpenglow: pink polycarbonate with gray silicone
- Crevasse: white polycarbonate with gray silicone
- Sea green: teal polycarbonate with gray silicone
The OtterBox Defender Series case for new iPad and iPad 2 features a
built-in screen protector to avoid scratches and smudges on the
high-resolution screen; a high-impact inner polycarbonate shell
with a foam interior to provide additional shock absorption and scratch
resistance; a robust 
silicone for durability and impact absorption, as well as
textures and styling, in combination with quality materials, to create
an overly-attractive, and now vibrant, protective solution. (Note:
Defender Series case does not protect against water. Will
provide some added protection against drop, bump and shock.)
The precision design of the OtterBox iPad case ensures all features
and functions are accessible with the case on so users can stay
protected while connected. A shield stand is provided to act as a
protective screen cover when not in use. This piece doubles as a stand
for typing or viewing in both landscape and portrait mode. Magnets on
the shield stand activate device sleep mode when the cover is installed
while in transport.
iPad users can email, browse, shop, read, watch and game in color
with OtterBox iProtection.
Environmental Protection:
- Drop and shock: protects device against drop, shock and bump
- Dust intrusion: dust does not enter in a sufficient quantity to
interfere with satisfactory operation of device
- Water protection: not tested or recommended for water
protection
- Dimensions
- case only: 9.90" (251.47mm) x 7.73" (196.64mm) x 0.72"
(18.36mm)
- case and shield stand: 10.26" (260.55mm) x 8.08" (205.13mm) x 1.14"
(18.36mm)
- Approximate Weight (case only): 15.84 oz (449.06 g)
Link: OtterBox iPad
Cases
