Tablet computer sales losing steam?

Says who? Says IDC, a research firm tracking the market of tablet computers globally.

Although tablets have been one of the hottest items in tech in recent years, growth is 'likely' to slow in the coming years.

My iPad: I prefer the bigger 9.7-inch full sized ipad to its 8-inch mini variant

IDC said global tablet sales are expected to hit 221.2 million units this year, up 53.5% from last year but below IDC's latest forecast of 227 million. It said tablet sales are still growing but the pace is slowing.

For 2014, the firm projects growth of 22.2% to a total of 270.5 million units and single-digit growth by 2017.

"In some markets consumers are already making the choice to buy a large smartphone rather than buying a small tablet, and as a result we've lowered our long-term forecast," said IDC analyst Tom Mainelli.

Meanwhile, in mature markets like the US where tablets have been shipping in large volumes since 2010 and are already well established, we're less concerned about big phones cannibalizing shipments and more worried about market saturation.

IDC said it is watching the mix of small versus large tablets.

While the market has trended toward small tablets over the last 24 months, the rise of large phones could push consumers back toward larger tablets -- the difference between a 6-inch smartphone and a 7-inch tablet isn't great enough to warrant purchasing both.

IDC has previously said it expects tablet sales to outpace that of traditional computers by 2015. Source: AFP


TheGreenMechanics: Losing steam or not, tablet computers will be here to stay. If they can be powerful enough to be able to do most things the traditional laptops do, I will consign my old trusty PC and notebook to the 'substitute bench'.

I'd like the tablet to be my workhorse.

You knew it! Bigger phones mean bigger bills

On average I use 4.5GB to 5GB of mobile data every month and I'm using a 4-inch iPhone smartphone.

For the guys who own phones with screen size of 4.5-inch and above, you are one of those using more data than I do - 7.2GB in average according to study. What this means is that you pay more bills as your phone screen goes up.


Research has shown that users of phones with bigger displays tend to consume more data. - AFPRelaxnews photo via The Star


Study by NPD Group in the US market and shows that owners of smartphones with screens that measure 4.5" upwards consume 44% more WiFi and cellular data each month - some 7.2GB in total - compared with the 5GB that owners of smaller smartphones average.

Bigger sized phones are getting more popular - in November 2012, only 11% of phones on the market boasted a 4.5" or greater display, but now 28% of current devices on sale fall into that category.

And who else's been driving this trend if not the Android fraternity!

The Samsung Galaxy S3, which was the flagship phone of 2012 was notable for its 4.5" screen and its popularity opened the doors to other manufacturers, such as Sony and LG. As a result, a 5" high resolution display has quickly become the standard for any handset that wants to claim flagship status.

It is not surprising then that the 2013 Samsung Galaxy S4 has a 5" HD display and the flagship phablet, the Galaxy Note 3 is 5.5" in screen size.


What are these bigger phones being used for?

NPD Group says they are predominantly for:

• social media
• navigation, such asGoogle Maps
• music and video
• use of the Pandora Radio app

TheGreenMechanics: I'm a bit disappointed that my current iPhone 5S is only 4" in screen size but as a consolation, I now have 2 reasons to be elated - I can hold and use the phone with a single hand, and I'd unlikely be consuming more data (and higher bills) than my mates with Galaxy S4 or Note 3 in their hands!

The study was conducted in the US, but it can just be as indicative and as relevant here in Malaysia.

Source: The Star Tech-News

How 'Google Glass' works

Remember Google Glass? I wrote about Google giving away this wonder Glass sometime in February.

So far this piece of equipment have received not just praise but also opposition.

Google Glass: The probing cam and prism display is paired with sunglasses.

The info-graphic here describes how it works.

Courtesy - BGR.com

Every development in the IT and technology advancement in general has a downside to it. It is inevitable, so, it is down to every individual to accept or go against it.

Google giving away wonder glasses

Step aside bionic eyes, here comes your new challenger - a smart piece of glass.

Well, it's not exactly a 'give away' as the title suggests, as it cost early adopters or 'explorers' $1,500 to own the internet-enabled Google Glass. But its arrival could change the way on how people choose to get connected, and potentially being exposed. Or, do we really want to spend every second that we're awake connected to the net?

: : Photo credits: ndtv and zdnet : :

: :

How it works

It is claimed to perform many of the same tasks as smartphones, except the spectacles respond to voice commands instead of fingers touching a display screen. The glasses include a tiny display screen attached to a rim above the right eye and run on Google's Android operating system for mobile devices.

It will be easier to take pictures or record video anywhere and anytime. Just tell Google Glass to look for specific online search and you'll see the piece of information right in front of your eyes.

I suspect there'll be a bit of a challenge though for Asian users. Google's Android system has a voice search function on smartphones and tablet computers. Apple has its voice assistant Siri. But these voice search apps recognise English mainly in Europe (UK) and North America. What about localised English in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Hong Kong, etc?

But then again, the prospect of wearing a pair of these is pretty exciting.

-    -    -    -    ✄    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -

From  Associated Press on Feb 21:
Google to give contest winners a chance to buy its $1,500 glasses

SAN FRANCISCO: Google is giving more people a chance to pay $1,500 for a pair of the internet-connected glasses that the company is touting as the next breakthrough in mobile computing.

The product, dubbed "Google Glass," will be offered to "bold, creative individuals" selected as part of a contest announced Wednesday. Participants must live in the US and submit an application of up to 50 words explaining what they would do with the Google Glass technology. Entries must include the hash tag "ifihadglass" and be submitted through Google+ or Twitter by February 27. Google did not say how many glasses it will sell this way.

Winners will receive the "Explorer" version of Google Glass, a forerunner of the product that is expected to be released to the mass market next year. Google already sold an unspecified number of the glasses to computer programmers who also paid $1,500 apiece at a company conference last June.

To gauge how people might use its glasses, Google is encouraging entrants in its contest to include up to five photos and 15 seconds of video with their applications. The company doesn't want to see any nudity or violence. "Basically, don't add anything you wouldn't be OK with your Mom seeing," Google advised.

Google Glass is at the forefront of a new wave of technology known as "wearable computing."

Apple announces iPad with 128GB storage capacity

It is another first for a tablet PC and it's an iPad.

While physical size shrinks, the storage capacity gets bigger. Previously I posted an article about How Thumb Drives can hold so much data, and it is just a matter of time before tablets and smartphones manufacturers started shoving in bigger capacity storage cards in their products.

Come on, where's my 256GB variant?

Apple announces iPad with double storage capacity

Apple Inc said on Tuesday (January 29, 2013) that it will sell a version of its iPad tablet computer with 128 gigabytes of storage, which is twice the capacity of its existing models.

Apple, which has sold more than 120 million iPads so far, said that the new iPad will go on sale February 5, in black or white, for a suggested retail price of $799 (approx. RM2,459) for the iPad with just Wi-Fi model, and $929 (approx. RM2,859) for the version that also has a cellular wireless connection. - Reuters


So, for those keen on loading a lot of stuffs in their tablets, this is a great option.

Digital Pen makes old monitors touch-ready for Windows 8

If you are upgrading your operating system to Windows 8 and your old monitor is not touch-ready (like  many current laptops), you will be forgiven for feeling disappointed.

Swipe and touch your old monitor with this pen. AP Photo

My laptops are on Windows 7  and  touch-screen capability is not an issue  but with Windows 8, I want to be able to do that on my old Acer monitor. There is a tool for that - the Apen Touch8.


Touch and swipe old monitors with Apen Touch8

AP reported that the device was unveiled this week at the International CES, an annual showcase in Las Vegas for the latest smartphones, tablet computers and other consumer-electronic devices. It is a cordless pen that works in tandem with an attachment that plugs into the Windows computer's USB port.


How it works

The attachment, which is really an infrared and ultrasonic receiver, clips magnetically to the side of the screen, which can be as large as 17 inches diagonally. The pen emits an infrared beam out of its tip. The receiver attachment sends the pen's signals to the computer, which interprets its precise location.

Pushing down on the pen results in a separate ultrasonic signal, which is equivalent to a touch screen sensing when you are touching it. Just like that, you can swipe and tap your way through Windows 8. The pen runs on a watch battery, which should last about 500 hours and is replaceable.


Why it's hot

Windows 8, Microsoft Corp.'s effort to make desktop and laptop computers work more like tablet computers, was released in October to mixed reviews. A major problem is the fact that many of the features require a touch-screen monitor to work, making the experience unpleasant for those with older machines. Apen Touch8 offers a way for those with older computers to experience the newer touch-based functions.


Availability

The pen is to go on sale in North America by the end of March for $80.

You can expect this to be available in Malaysia a month or so after that. I expect that to happen in April or May 2013, but $80 (RM240) for a 'pen' would be a bit pricey I think. I'll stick to my mouse.


Source: AP via Yahoo! News