While Apple continues to lead the booming tablet market, Android and Microsoft are trying to keep up. Tablet shipments, led by Apple's iPad, Google's Android, and Microsoft's Windows 8 operating systems, could top 125 million units in 2012, said Jeffries & Co.'s Peter Misek, as reported by eWeek.

As Research In motion, HP, and other Android OEMs, failed to compete with Apple, the market consolidated much more quickly than expected, leading Misek to cut back his original projection that the tablet market would exceed 150 millions units by 25 million.

Apple was the clear winner in tablet sales in 2011. Of the 70 million tablets shipped in 2011, 40.5 million were iPads, 10 million were Galaxy Tabs, and 4 million were Kindle Fire Android tablets sold by Amazon, the report said.

There may be a few reasons the Android tablet market didn't match up with Apple's: High prices, bugs in Honeycomb, and a weak application environment hurt Android sales by Motorola, who only sold 1 million tablets in 2011, Misek noted.

The iPad 3 is expected in the first quarter of 2012, which means that, if Apple follows its current pattern, iPad and iPad2 prices will be discounted. As prices because to fall, Misek expects tablets to go for an average of $350, according to the report.

While Android is trying to keep up with Apple, Microsoft has a shot at increased market share in the near future. Misek expects soon-to-come Windows 8-based tablets to give Microsoft a push in the tablet market.

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SAN FRANCISCO: An outbreak of iPhone fever made Apple the hottest smartphone maker worldwide at the end of 2011 but handsets powered by Google's Android software were shaping up as true winners in the market.

Worldwide shipments of smartphones soared 54.7 percent in the final three months of 2011 from the same period a year earlier, with California-based Apple making the most popular models, according to an IDC report released Monday.

Smartphone makers shipped 157.8 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to 102 million in the same period the prior year, IDC reported.

A total of 491.4 million smartphones were shipped during the year, up a "strong 61.3 percent" from the 304.7 million units in 2010, according to IDC. Apple had a 23.5 percent share of the global smartphone market, followed by Samsung and Nokia with 22.8 percent and 12.4 percent respectively.

"So-called 'hero' devices, such as Samsung's Galaxy Nexus and Apple's iPhone 4S, garner the bulk of the attention heaped on the device type," said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker.

"But a growing number of sub-$250 device offerings, based on the Android operating system, have allowed Google's hardware partners to grow smartphone volumes and expand the market concurrently."

While Apple tightly controls iPhone hardware and software, Google makes the Android mobile device operating system available free to smartphone manufacturers who have been building it into ranks of handsets.

Android and iPhone smartphones accounted for slightly more than 90 percent of US smartphone sales in the fourth quarter of 2011, industry-tracker NPD Group reported on Monday. Android commanded 48 percent of the market compared to Apple's 43 percent, according to NPD.

NPD figures indicated that Android handsets were more popular with first-time smartphone buyers in the United States, with its share of that market at 57 percent compared to Apple's 34 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.

"Android has been criticized for offering a more complex user experience than its competitors, but the company's wide carrier support and large app selection is appealing to new smartphone customers," said NPD analyst Ross Rubin.

Apple jumped into the third spot in the overall global mobile phone market from fifth place in the final quarter of the year due to a record-breaking quarter for iPhones, according to IDC. Apple sold 37.04 million iPhones in the quarter which ended on December 31, giving it a market share of 8.7 percent.

Nokia remained king, shipping 113.5 million mobile phones in the final quarter of the year to claim nearly 27 percent of the market. Samsung was second with 22.8 percent of the market, or 97.6 million handsets shipped.

South Korea's Samsung, a star producer of Android smartphones, hit a new milestone in the final quarter of the year, more than tripling handset shipments to top the 35 million mark for the first time.

Nokia and Canadian BlackBerry maker Research In Motion saw shipments drop by 30.6 percent and 11 percent, respectively. Nokia hopes to reverse the losing trend with a new line of smartphones based on mobile gadget software crafted by US technology colossus Microsoft.

A total of 427.4 million mobile phones were shipped in the final months of 2011 in a 6.1 percent increase from the same quarter a year earlier, IDC said. IDC warned that the growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2011 was weaker than the 9.3 percent seen in the prior three-month period of the year.

"The introduction of high-growth products such as the iPhone 4S, which shipped in the fourth quarter, bolstered smartphone growth," Restivo said. "Yet overall market growth fell to its lowest point since the third quarter of 2009 when the global economic recession was in full bloom."

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For those less interested in the football side of the 2012 Super Bowl and more attuned to the ancillary aspects of the game, Madonna’s halftime show and anticipation over a possible iPad 3 ad top the list. However, only one is expected to show today. Madonna has been confirmed as the halftime performer, with the only real mysteries being her setlist, her special guests (Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. have been rumored, as they appear on her new single), and whether the legend will connect with a younger audience (past halftime performances from the Rolling Stones and The Who have seen mixed results in that department). But unless Apple has gone to phenomenal lengths to keep quiet about it, the iPad 3 will not see its debut during the Super Bowl. The device is expected to debut next month, so an ad today could line up with the impending debut. However, Apple hasn’t bought ad time…

That means the only way Apple could launch the iPad 3 during the game today is if it bought ad space under a disguised name (which would likely have been sniffed out by now, considering the amount of attention paid by rumor sites to Apple’s every move). It’s far more likely that Apple will use one of its own press events next month to launch the iPad 3 instead, as it has taken to doing with regularity over the past several years for its major product launches. That leaves Madonna as the primary item of interest to those who tune in to the game today without interest in the game itself. For those who do care about football, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are attempting to rekindle their flagging dynasty with their first Super Bowl win in half a decade, as Eli Manning and the New York Giants are looking to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl again after having taken them down in the closest of contests four years ago and ruining New England’s perfect season in the process. Meanwhile, Eli’s older brother Peyton Manning will be in attendance as the game is hosted in his Indianapolis Colts’ home stadium.

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Goodbye, student backpacks loaded down with expensive, heavy textbooks? Well, goodbye to the heavy part, at least. Apple, which has made a habit of revolutionizing the way we interact with technology, is now turning its digital sights on the venerable analog textbook. Every costly new edition of a textbook means the old one is outdated, so Apple is betting that in the swiftly-changing information age, both the market and the halls of academia are ready for virtual textbooks – and that their wildly popular iPad tablet computer is the perfect platform to host them.

Virtual textbooks are portable and easily updated – and they can deliver videos, animations, definitions, flashcards, quizzes and interactive content. A pilot program at Amelia Earhart Middle School in Riverside found that students who used digital algebra textbooks on Apple’s iPad in the 2010-2011 school year scored 20 percent higher than their fellow students using traditional textbooks in the California Standards testing in the spring of 2011. But some experts are wary. Apple’s traditional 70/30 revenue split with content providers has ruffled feathers in the music business and Apple’s policies dictate that what is created with Apple software can be sold only through Apple’s iBookstore. Apple says that they can provide digital textbooks for $14.99 or less, but worries persist that cash-strapped schools won’t be able to provide a $499.00 iPad to every student, thereby widening the “digital divide” between school districts in wealthy and poor areas.

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The Dream Team of iOS code junkies have released their Absinthe A5 untethered jailbreak on both Windows and OS X for iPad 2 and iPhone 4S owners. The new jailbreak will release your iDevice from Apple's grip and allow you to tinker with it in new and Apple-unauthorised ways. Notably, this newest method is untethered, meaning the jailbreak will be retained after reboots.

If you fancy some jailbreaking action then head on over to greenpois0n where the standard warnings and trepidations associated with the jailbreaking process, as always, still apply.

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Apple has announced new iTunes U app for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch at an event held yesterday in New York, USA. Through the iTunes U App, students and academicians can access treasure of free educational content from reputed universities around the world. By using this app for academic purposes, students can receive updates from their teachers and even sign up for the classes (for select universities only). The new iTunes U app is now available from the App Store for download.

The iTunes U section comes in the form of a native app that can be used independently using Apple ID. The app loads with the same iBooks Store like bookshelf background but with courseware books instead. While the app is meant for all iOS running devices, some of the courseware content will be available only for iPad.
"The all-new iTunes U app enables students anywhere to tap into entire courses from the world's most prestigious universities," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet software and services.

"Never before have educators been able to offer their full courses in such an innovative way, allowing anyone who's interested in a particular topic to learn from anywhere in the world, not just the classroom," Eddy added. Students will be able to carry their entire course anywhere with the iOS based devices and access it anytime, even over active data connection when required. The notes taken and text highlighted in the iBooks app can be easily viewed in the iTunes U app. For students, there's a treasure of over 500,000 free lectures, videos, books and documents available and accessible any time.

Meanwhile, the iTunes U app also aids the teachers with numerous capabilities such as customising the courseware, posting messages for an entire class of students, and also passing on assignments. Several universities agreed at the launch to use the new iTunes U app for academic purposes. Apple notes that the selection of the courses, materials and availability of the content will vary by country.

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Speculation abounds that Apple will be announcing and launching the iPad 3 at some point in the next few months. Some reports claim it could happen as early as February, while others say it’s more likely to happen in March or April. Still others claim we might not see the iPad 3 until much later in the year, due to some issues with the device’s display and a change in launch cycles at Apple headquarters.

Of course, Apple isn’t saying what’s really happening, and the company has stopped short of even admitting that it will introduce an iPad 3 in 2012. But it’s not a stretch to say that it will, indeed, be hitting store shelves this year. It’s also not a stretch to say that for the vast majority of consumers, buying it on launch day might not be the best idea.

Yes, there will be some Apple fans and early adopters that will disagree with that logic, but there is quite a bit going on in the tablet market right now. What’s more, there are really innovative products that also scheduled to ship this year that could attract consumers.

Read on to find out why you shouldn’t buy the iPad 3 at launch:

1. It might not be a major update

Each year before a new iPhone or iPad is announced, the rumor mill suggests Apple is building in major enhancements to the new model. But in the last year or so, that just hasn’t been the case, as Apple has shown off iterative updates, rather than revolutionary upgrades. In that case there’s a good chance the iPad 3 won’t be a major update. If it’s not, would it really be best to invest at least $500 in a new device that, if you’re already an iPad owner, might not do much more than the device you have now?


2. The iPad 2 might be available at a cheaper price

Apple is widely expected to continue to sell the iPad 2 after the iPad 3 is announced. Like the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, the company might sell the iPad 2 at a discount and then start the iPad 3 out at the standard $499 price tag. The iPad 3 might be a highly desirable tablet, but considering the iPad 2 is worth buying in its own right, why not save a couple bucks and buy last year’s model, rather than this year’s?

3. Wait for Android tablets

Although it’s something Apple fans wouldn’t even consider, some consumers might want to see what kind of Android tablets are launched this year before they decide to buy the iPad 3. Sure, many of them might not appeal to consumer desire, but there’s a chance that some just might. In fact, one of the most anticipated rumor devices is a Google-branded tablet. Find out what that’s all about before buying the iPad 3.

4. Windows 8 is looming large

Windows has so far been unable to capture any tablet market share. But towards the end of this year, Microsoft plans to launch Windows 8 this year and slates running that operating system will  follow close on its heels. Will they be high-quality options? Will they fall short? For now, there’s no telling. But waiting to see what those devices are like could be the best move before buying the iPad 3.

5. Maybe an Ultrabook would be better?

Tablets are great, and there’s little question that the iPad 3 will appeal to consumers.  But there are other form factors available to customers looking to go mobile. Chief among those form factors is Ultrabooks. Those lightweight, thin devices are ideal for mobile consumers and come with a full physical keyboard to improve productivity. Plus, their prices are expected to come down this year, making them even more affordable. Consider them before buying the iPad 3.

6. Let the kinks get worked out

Being an early adopter is fine for folks that don’t mind suffering through odd hardware and software quirks, but for the rest of us, it’s a pain. The smart move with any product—Apple or not —is to wait a month or two to see if owners are complaining about issues. If they are and they haven’t been addressed, move on to another device. But if there aren’t any major flaws to speak of, feel free to buy the iPad 3.

7. Your office might get one for you

It’s often overlooked, but consumers looking to buy an iPad should keep in mind that the enterprise is increasingly warming to Apple’s tablet. In fact, there’s a good chance that after the iPad 3 launches, many more enterprises will start equipping employees with iPad 3s.

8. Wait to see what Amazon shows off

If there’s a solid number two in the tablet space right now, it has to be Amazon’s Kindle Fire. And that device, which is just $199 and comes with a 7-inch display, is scheduled to be updated at some point this year. Even better, Amazon is expected to launch bigger versions of the tablet. Consider waiting to see what Amazon shows off before jumping at the chance to buy the iPad 3 at launch.

9. The best idea is to spend cash now

There are many consumers out there right now that really want to get a tablet, but after hearing the rumors, are waiting for Apple to launch the iPad 3 before they do so. That’s a bad idea. Apple’s iPad 2 is an outstanding tablet, and so is the Kindle Fire. Spending cash now and then waiting to see what Apple shows off in the iPad 3 is unarguably the best move for consumers to make.

10. Maybe you should wait for the iPad 4

Those that already own an iPad or another tablet that works well should wait for the iPad 4.  After all, that slate will be the most likely to come with all the features consumers are after and it frees up some cash this year to be spent on other devices. The iPad 3 might be great, but if you can wait a year for the iPad 4, you’ll probably be quite happy you did. The last thing consumers should do is get caught in the consumer trap of buying a new tablet each year.

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With new Android rival tablets showcased in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012), Apple is apparently ramping up production in China for a March launch for its much-anticipated iPad 3. The new device is expected to feature an HD screen that rivals HD TV sets, a quad core processor for multitasking and 4G LTE support, according to Bloomberg.

Apple has sold over 40 million iPads since 2010, which have grossed over $25.3 billion in sales. But the company has been under fire from Android tablets and smartphones of late. With so much competition and quad core NVIDIA Tegra 3 devices already available, Apple needs to keep up with its rivals. In fact, Android has recently overtaken iOS in the smartphone space.

In addition to the iPad 3, Apple is expected to launch an iPad mini at some point this year. That device will compete with the lower-priced Amazone Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook devices that have connected with consumers thanks to their low price points. At CES 2012, Asus announced the first Tegra 3 tablet that will sell for $250 later this year, putting further pressure on Apple to compete with this new price point. The iPad 3 is expected to sell for the higher price points that many tablets, including iPad and iPad 2 currently enjoy at retail.

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Apple's new iPad 3 will sport a high definition screen, run a more powerful processor and will tap into next generation wireless networks, new leaks have hinted. Details about the new model, which is expected to go on sale in March with production in full swing by February, have been kept largely under-wraps. However, new sources have confirmed rumours that the latest tablet will use a quad-core chip, an enhancement that lets users jump more quickly between applications.

The new display offers resolutions four times higher than the current model, with more pixels on its screen than some HD televisions, a source told Blomberg. In addition, videos begin playing almost instantly because of the additional graphics processing, they added. The introduction of the new iPad will be Apple’s first major release since the death of company co-founder Steve Jobs in October.

Apple has been working on making the iPad compatible with a wireless standard called LTE (long- term evolution) another source told Bloomberg. Smartphone makers, including Samsung, Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. and Nokia, have already introduced smartphones that work on the faster networks. Apple is bringing LTE to the iPad before the iPhone because the tablet has a larger battery and can better support its power requirements, the source told Bloomberg.

The California-based company is counting on the new model to ward off mounting competition from rival products in a market that Apple pioneered two years ago. Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris told Bloomberg that the company does not comment on rumours and leaks. Production of the tablet has been pushed forward in Asia, ahead of the Chinese New Year on January 22-28, with factories running 24 hours a day.

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There's been much debate over the idea of a 7-inch iPad from Apple. Today, our pals at MacObserver jumped into the mix with their take on things. The Kindle Fire, Ted Landau points out, offers "an e-reader with added iPad-like features for half the price of an iPad."

Speaking as a happy Kindle Fire owner, I rather like the medium form factor. This is not an opinion universally shared in the TUAW trenches, but I appreciate the way I can carry it around in a purse -- something not possible with the iPad. That means, when I head out, I now often take the iPhone and the Fire along, where as before I'd have only had the iPhone with me. My iPad remains reserved for backpack or briefcase excursions.

A 7" screen offers a very good reading size. It's more portable than the iPad screen and offers more area than the iPhone. It also excels at gaming and video watching, providing that same middle balance.

As far as form alone goes, I think Apple could find a ready audience of customers who'd be happy to pick up a smaller unit at a bargain price, especially if it was 3G-ready like the iPad, and equipped with a Retina display for better reading.

The challenges come from two places: market fragmentation and software reach. When Apple introduced the iPad, it had a clear niche to fill: tablet computing held in the crook of your arm. A much larger screen yet small enough for easy portability. A smaller version of that tablet would be nice, and it would sell, but it wouldn't support a unique raison d'etre.

Apple does not want to return to the mid '90's with dozens of Performa and Quadra models littering its product line. When someone walks into an Apple Store, they need to want to buy a particular thing, not make choices between nuanced variations of the same idea. A 7" model, no matter how nice it would serve as a reader, doesn't add to the strength of Apple's bottom line. It doesn't create demand, it confuses it, even if the 7" is offered at a bargain price.

The second issue is the App Store. Although better developers do design with strong resolution-independence, you cannot assume that apps will simply work on new geometries. Launch screens differ, icons differ, proportions differ, and so forth. To create a polished app that fits properly into a new resolution is a big job. Apple would have to once again fragment their App Store to serve that, a step that's somewhat bigger than you might first expect.

As a developer, I lived through the iPad introduction and know that that kind of major OS and display fragmentation is not to be undertaken lightly. A lot of technology, infrastructure, terminology, and so forth has to follow on to the simple introduction of new hardware.

There's a lot of buzz about the pressure on Apple these days to follow up in the reader world with better markets, platforms, and tools -- I've been writing quite a bit about that topic this month, and there's rumors flying about what we might see announced soon. But I can't exactly see how a 7" tablet would help Apple respond to those issues, although I know I'd certainly buy one for myself.

For me this comes down to a split between yes, I'd love one personally, and no, I don't think it would be in Apple's best interest to go there. Did Apple get "caught with its pants down at Christmas" as it lacked a 7-inch model? I don't think so. Are they working on a 7-inch tablet now? I'm slightly on the "probably not" side, for the reasons I stated above.

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