Last year, Android Gingerbread was the weapon used by Android manufacturers to compete with the Apple iPad, but this year, Apple’s rumored iPad 3 is expected to face “more polished” operating systems.
Android Gingerbread, the 2.3 version of the popular mobile platform of Google, was arguably the only weapon used by Android manufacturers to compete against the Apple iPad. In fact, Gingerbread was more popular than the tablet-centric Android Honeycomb operating system based on sales, despite the fact that the 3.0 version was designed to power tablet computers only while Gingerbread is intended for smartphones.
One of the best examples of the successful Gingerbread-based tablet computer is the Kindle Fire, Amazon’s 7-inch Android tablet running the fully customized or “forked” version of the operating system. Apparently, Amazon has decided to remove the default features of Gingerbread, including the native Google application market, the native web browser, etc, because Amazon wants to sell its own digital products like the apps in the Amazon App Stores, MP3 songs, e-Books and more.
Another example of a successful Android tablet running a smartphone operating system is the original Galaxy Tab with 7-inch screen. Samsung launched the device with Android 2.2 FroYo two years ago but the company updated the device’s operating system to Gingerbread. Google warned customers that FroYo was not optimised for use on tablets, but apparently, Samsung still attracted “millions” of customers.
Last year, Google introduced the Android Honeycomb and with its partnership with Motorola, the two companies welcomed the Motorola Xoom. However, the Xoom tablet has failed to attract tablet buyers largely due to weak tablet ecosystem plus the arrival of the iPad 2 with cameras.
According to a Guardian article posted last year, Motorola has seen sales drop of its Xoom tablet dramatically, with 250,000 units in Q1, 440,000 in Q2 and 100,000 units only in Q2, while the Apple iPad with the newer iPad 2 has enjoyed steady market share of more than 50 percent (this is the minimum guess) in the United States, and some analysts said Apple is currently holding 80 percent of the market.
Fast forward, this year, Apple is expected to release a new tablet computer. Aside from following its yearly device cycle, Apple’s rumored iPad 3 will try to stop the new operating system of Android that fits a tablet or a smartphone, or a large smartphone that looks like a tablet.
Aside from the Android 4.0, Microsoft is also expected to aggressively compete with Apple this year with its new platform that will take advantage of the touchscreen display aside from conventional desktop PCs, the Windows 8.
Android Ice Cream Sandwich
Rumors say Google will release its own branded tablet computer that might sport the “Nexus” branding, but no word yet from the search engine giant if it is true, or not. Meanwhile, popular computer makers are expected to release their own Android 4.0 tablet computers this quarter and early next quarter.
ASUS, for example, is expected to release a new 7-inch quad-core tablet that will use an inexpensive tag price and to attract more customers, the company will ship the device with the slightly tweaked Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Samsung is also rumored to be releasing a new tablet computer with faster CPU and with the new operating system. The latest rumor is claiming that a certain Galaxy Tan 11.6 will hit the MWC stage this month that will ship with the new operating system and boasting the largest screen in the market.
Amazon, the last quarter’s Android tablet winner, is also rumored to sell a new tablet computer this year. If true, then the new Kindle Fire with the rumored larger screen will also use Android Ice Cream Sandwich to get more customers.
Lenovo, Motorola and Sony are also expected to join the Android 4.0 market this year to get their own tablet market share.
Windows 8
A rumor posted last month has suggested that Microsoft, in conjunction with ASUS, will incorporate the Kinect technology to attract Windows 8 buyers. The rumor was talking about a prototype laptop, but if true, Windows 8 tablet computers might also get the same technology
A leak posted this month added the possibility of a Nokia tablet computer. According to the leak, Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Phone update will take advantage of the new Windows 8, and similar to Android Ice Cream Sandwich, the upcoming Windows Operating System are reportedly set to share the same “tools environment” that will allow app developers to work with the same codes for the tablet, computer and smartphones.
iPad 3 release date and its possible features
So, can the iPad 3 maintain Apple’s tablet market share this year? Rumor has it that the new tablet computer will ship with Long-Term Evolution (which is already available in the Android ecosystem), a quad-core CPU (Transformer Prime?), and a new high-definition screen (the best feature if true) that will sport more pixels per inch than the previous version’s screen, the iPad 2.
Rumors also suggests that the iPad 3 will still follow the March release, but this year is different because Apple will introduce the LTE for United States, while maintaining the 3G in other countries due to wireless network differences.
iPad is very important in the Apple ecosystem, and if analysts are correct, the iPad causes a halo effect for Apple sales. For starters, analysts believe that more iPad sales might give the iPhones and Macs more sales too.
