Mobility & Email Blog » Devices & Mobility

Top 10 Gadgets for 2011 Holiday Gift Giving

Tim Attwood — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:00:53 +0000

Holiday shopping for any gadget lover in your life can be confusing unless you are equally technologically inclined. Between trying to keep track of new products and who is producing the best of each and then shopping around for the best deal, it can frustrate a shopper to the point of simply going into an electronics store and letting them talk you into whatever they want to sell you. Those of you who fall into this category, take heart; you need a list to use as a jumping off point. Here are ten of the best, most sought after new technological gizmos for 2011.

Unless you have been living in a cave for several years, you will not be surprised that a fruitful techno shopping trip involves a trip to the Apple product orchard.

1. Apple iPad 2 (16GB, Wi-Fi)

This is the Holy Grail of Christmas presents. As the originator of the tablet device, Apple’s head start has paid off; while its intuitive simple-to-use interface makes it ideal for even the most technophobe among us, it is still prized by those who pride themselves on being on the cutting edge of innovation. The iPad 2’s versatility assures its wide appeal; users can enjoy movies or get down to business with equal ease. Those who have ridden the latest technological wave from its beginning will especially appreciate the longevity of its battery life. Be aware, however, that all of this excellence comes at a price: between $550 and $650 except with especially good deals.

2. Apple MacBook Air (11-inch)

Apple devotees will consider this the only noteworthy notebook, but even those who aren’t completely sold on the “all Apple all the time philosophy of computer technology” will love this one; it is hands down the fastest and the easiest to tote with you on the go. The MacBook Air costs less than its nearest competitors and is more solidly made. Although not the lightest in weight or the one with the most memory or storage, its speed combined with its price sends it to the top of the list for those wishing for an ultrathin notebook. Cost: between $900 and $1000.

3. Apple TV

Probably the most affordable member of the family, this Apple product provides HD TV streamed from either an iPhone or an iPad. Apple TV is also compatible with Netflix and the only one that can stream iTunes so even those new to the Apple family can enjoy this item. Cost: about $100.

4. Roku 2 XS

Those not already entrenched in the Apple universe will love this ultimate in streaming devices for its multitude of programming options. Among those items available on Roku but not on Apple TV are FoxNews.com, Al Jazeera English, Facebook photos and AngryBirds. Another advantage, albeit probably a temporary one, is that Roku will stream all TV and not just the high-definition programs. Cost: about $100 or less.

5. HTC Sensation 4G (T-Mobile)

This is the best all-round smart phone on the market, and many people who have not smart phoned-up want one; even those who say they do not, really do. Perhaps it is because of the importance email has achieved in our lives and the desire for mobile email capability that has fueled the passion for smart phones. Whatever the reason, HTC is a good option for both the novice and those looking to upgrade. In addition to the highly publicized 4G, it also features an 8.0 mp camera equipped with LED flash and HD capable video record and play. For many, the superior reception is reason enough to choose this phone.

6. Apple iPhone 4S

Apples lovers will want nothing less than the iPhone 4S. Despite its lack of 4G, it does have a fantastic camera and there are also the innovations that can only be had with an Apple product, such as access to the iCloud, the ultimate in a hosted exchange where everything from photos to music can be safely stored and retrieved as needed by the iPhone or other Apple device.

7. Amazon Kindle Fire

The new Kindle goes way beyond being just an eReader; it can run thousands of applications thanks to its dual-core processor, including streaming capacities. For those who scoffed at its earlier limitations as well as those who loved its simplicity, this updated version will be much appreciated. It is perfect for those who are trying to ease their way into the multitasking device arena and makes an ideal stepping stone to more advanced gadgets.

8. Kodak Playsport

Perfect for the Spielberg wannabe on your list, the Playsport is a sturdy mini camcorder that can go where the action is without needing kid gloves treatment. It is waterproof up to 3.0 meters (9.8 feet) yet is made of a textured plastic with rubberized grip to reduce the chance of it being dropped. Be forewarned that the Kodak Playsport will not float, so although waterproof, it will have to be retrieved before it reaches its depth limit.

9. Nintendo Wii

Those who did not immediately buy a Wii when it first came out can pat themselves on the back; the newest addition of Nintendo Wii employs wireless and motion-sensitive technology to entertain as well as invigorate the user. This wireless feature makes it more user-friendly for shut-ins who can benefit greatly from the exercise it can provide as well as for small children who sometimes forget and become tangled in a wired device.

10. PlayStation 3

A big seller this year will be Playstation 3 both for its drop in price and its versatility. In addition to its obvious role as a gaming machine and its ever-expanding list of games exclusive to Playstation, it also can be used as a Blu-Ray player. Other features that illustrate how this item is a cross between a multimedia device and an entertainment center including online music streaming and Internet access capabilities.

The Kindle Fire: Amazon’s new eReader and Android Tablet

Tim Attwood — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:47:07 +0000

Announced on September 28, 2011, the much-anticipated Kindle Fire tablet from Amazon showed consumers a great deal to love and a number of things to be concerned about when the device drops in November. Speculation about the device has been rampant over the last year with Amazon as a perfect contender for the tablet market. While it doesn’t appear that the Fire will have the heat necessary to burn down the Apple tree, it has a lot to like.

What’s In a Fire?

First off, a lower price. Amazon is aiming to bring digital content to a wider array of users by pricing its 7” Kindle Fire at $200 US, a significant amount less than the $500 or more Apple charges for various versions of the iPad2. This will place the Fire well ahead of other devices in its price range, most of which are eReaders like the Nook. The catch? That the Fire will not have 3G access. At all. Instead, all versions of the Fire will be Wi-Fi enabled. While this is a small issue for those who will use the device at home or in their local, free Wi-Fi coffee-shop, it does make the utility of the Fire somewhat limited.

In addition, the Kindle Fire won’t come with a camera of any kind, front or back, and most users speculate that this is in an effort to keep costs down. A clever move for pricing, but a camera is pretty much standard fare for any tablet by now.

What’s Keeps the Fire Blazing?

Under the hood, the Kindle Fire will be running a heavily-modified Android 2.3.5. How heavily? Enough that it doesn’t look anything like Android when the tablet boots up, with many familiar icons not where they should be and looking nothing like they used to. While the tablet will still support native Android features like Android Email and calendars, the only App Store that users will have access to is the Amazon App store – any access to the Android App Store will be gone.

Still, there are a number of points in favor of the Fire’s hardware and software, including the Amazon Silk Web browser. By farming out much of the page-loading duties a Web browser has to manage on its own to the EC2 cloud, Silk provides pages that load lightning-fast, and thanks to the robust nature of the EC2 cloud farm, the speed should only improve. Amazon is also offering free backup of tablet content on their cloud, making the 6GB of storage space offered by the Fire not seem so meager. In addition, WhisperSync for movies and TV will let any television program or movie be synced from the Fire to a computer or Internet-connected TV, all without the need for cables, something Apple hasn’t done yet.

The Fire looks set to burn up the competition at its price point, but how it will fare against the iPad2 remains to be seen.

Quad Core Tablets: The Next Generation

Tim Attwood — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:40:25 +0000

As early as the end of 2011, quad-core chips may arrive in tablet form, including those running the Windows OS, to those powered by Android. Quad core technology for tablets comes hot on the heels of the deployment of dual cores for these devices, and many consumers are unsure of the advantages these new chips offer, who’s making them, and what kind of devices they can expect to see.

The Quad Core Advantage

Currently, there are at least three major manufacturers that are developing quad core chips for tablets, including Nvidia, TI and Qualcomm. Quad core chips are able to more efficiently manage resources by effectively splitting up the CPU of a device into two or more separate entities, which function as though they were alone on the device. Altogether, these chips can provide impressive processing power, but when split up to run more than one application, they are rumored to be able to turn tablets into effective media centers approaching the level of speed of a desktop PC, although experts warn that such speed comes with a cost – battery life. Intensive use of a quad core CPU could potentially drain a battery very quickly, and it is possible that many applications currently in use on tablets will need to be re-written in order to work properly.

TI is currently working on a hybrid chip that contains two high-performance 1.8 GHz cores for intensive applications and two 200 MHz cores for more mundane tasks like screen orientation. The Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, meanwhile, is the fastest of the three, coming in at 2.5 GHz, and with claims that it can be independently clocked or shut down for better performance. Nvidia describes the Kal-El as a “super-chip,” no surprise given the comic-book reference, and touts it as the “future of gaming.” Nvidia has said that its chip, dubbed “Kal-El” will begin appearing in November.

Who’s Making Tablets with Quad Core Chips?

Right now, Microsoft is at the forefront of the quad core chip pack, announcing that its new tablet will be using a quad core chip, though they haven’t yet said which one. It is still unconfirmed if the device will run Windows 7 or Windows 8. Speculation also abounds that the chip inside the new Microsoft tablet is an Nvidia Tegra Kal-El, but Nvidia has declined to comment. The company has, meanwhile, confirmed that they will be putting their quad core chips in new Android-based tablets that are due out by Christmas, with rumors flying that one of these may be the Amazon tablet, codenamed “Hollywood” that many believe to be on the horizon. Another likely candidate displayed at the recent Tech-Ed NZ conference is the ASUS Eee Transformer, which in its current iteration has seen marked success.

Within a year, it is expected that any tablet manufacturers looking to compete in the global market will need a quad core processor under the hood.

The QNX BlackBerry: RIM’s next Smartphone OS

Tim Attwood — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:05:56 +0000

Research in Motion (RIM) bought QNX Software in early 2010, and Blackberry users immediately wondered how the software would be implemented into the BlackBerry smartphone. When QNX software was used for the BlackBerry Tablet OS on the PlayBook, some of those questions were answered, but new questions arose. Finally, all the questions are set to be answered with the release of the first Blackberry QNX smartphone.

BlackBerry Colt

The first QNX-powered Blackberry is code named Colt, and depending on the source, it is rumored to be released in either the fourth quarter this year or the first quarter 2012. A few rumored specifications about the Colt have disappointed many BlackBerry aficionados, but others look forward to what the new OS will bring. Among the specifications that seem assured are the processor speed, the lack of BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) and the ability to run Android applications.

Single-Core Processor

While smartphones with quad-core processors are slated for release this year, RIM is expected to introduce the BlackBerry Colt with only a 1.0 GHz single-core processor. The likely reason for not including the 1.2 GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor used for the BlackBerry 9900 is that RIM has not yet perfected how the dual-core processor used in conjunction with the QNX Software will give users the battery life they have come to expect.

BES Not Ready

The next rumor concerning the Colt has the public wondering how they will get their Blackberry email through Exchange. RIM has yet to develop a version of BlackBerry Enterprise Server that will work with QNX software. Complexities in integrating QNX software with BES were one reason the BlackBerry PlayBook lacked a native email application. Instead of being able to use BES for BlackBerry Email and BlackBerry Calendar, users of the first Colt will have to rely on Microsoft ActiveSync, which the Colt will natively support.

Android App Support

The good news surrounding the BlackBerry Colt is that it is likely to support Android applications. Although the Android Player has yet to be released for the PlayBook, it is rumored to be available by the end of the year, shortly after BlackBerry Email and BlackBerry Messenger are added to RIM’s tablet computer.

Other Features

Other rumors surrounding the BlackBerry Colt and its QNX-based OS are all very promising. The phone will be easier for multitasking because it will feature the same touchscreen technology used in the PlayBook. Another great feature will be improved over-the-air (OTA) updates. The QNX software will allow the BlackBerry Colt to receive updates faster than ever before without having to connect the device to a computer. Finally, it is believed that the Colt will be the first BlackBerry phone to come equipped with a front-facing camera for video chat. When the BlackBerry OS 7 devices were released recently without such a camera, users were extremely disappointed. While the BlackBerry QNX OS will undoubtedly require some future improvements after its initial release, a few surprises may yet be in store.

RIM Refreshes the Bold and the Torch: New Smartphones from BlackBerry

Chinonye — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:11 +0000

BlackBerry has been fighting hard to retain its place in the smartphone world amid stiff competition from Apple, Android and Windows Phone 7. The company has seen less-than-stellar tablet sales, and recent rumors have RIM scrapping plans to create a second version of their PlayBook. Now, the company is on the verge of releasing a new generation of their classic BlackBerry smartphone in several varieties, and has also announced that these new phones will come with their next OS, BlackBerry OS 7.

Five new smartphones from the company have been unveiled – the Bold 9900 and 9930, the Torch 9850 and 9860, and the Torch 9810. All of the phones come with a touch display, with the Bold 9900 and 9930 keeping the classic BlackBerry keyboard on the bottom design, and the Torch models featuring a full-screen on top with a slider keyboard underneath. One of the main improvements in all of the phones is the addition of a 1.2 Ghz processor under the hood, which, by preview reports, makes browsing and other functions much more streamlined.

The Torch 9810 in particular has been hailed as what the Torch should have been the first time around – small, powerful, and functional. The 9930 adds Dual-band CDMA and EVDO as a step up from the 9900, and the 9860 includes Tri-band UMTS networks instead of the single-band supported by the 9850.

A New OS For BlackBerry

BlackBerry OS 7 is also a milestone for the company, and adds several important features for users. First is an improved browsing experience, which RIM claims is 40% faster than browsing done under OS 6 and 100% faster than under OS 5. It also includes HTML5 support, the new Liquid Graphics Interface, BBM 6 and “BlackBerry Balance”, which can create two separate streams of content on a single device – one for business and one for personal life.

In addition, the new OS also comes with Social Feeds 2.0 and Facebook 2.0, allowing BBM integration and the ability to see all social networking in one place. BlackBerry has seen the value of the social consumer, but knows that its core purchasers are those who use the device for business. BlackBerry email will still be supported along with Hosted Exchange through BES, with the intention of keeping a BlackBerry smartphone as the go-to device for business power-users.

The BlackBerry Balance feature is a good choice for the company, which needs to show that while its phones and BlackBerry email are still great for the work world, they can also keep up if users want to play.

Carriers for the new phones include AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, among others. No official pricing has been released, but expectations are that they will be in the $199 range with a contract. Release dates for the phones and the new OS are mid-August, and consumers should see the full line of new BlackBerry smartphones rolling out by the fall of 2011.

The Future of WebOS – HP News and Rumors

Chinonye — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:00:13 +0000

Hewlett-Packard hasn’t had a particularly good summer in 2011. It’s been exciting enough, certainly, but not for the reasons that senior VPs like Richard Kerris of the HP webOS development team were hoping for. Over the last year and a half, HP has been making a great deal of noise about moving into the tablet and mobile phone space, most notably by acquiring Palm and the webOS in April of 2010, and then announcing the launch of their very own tablet, the TouchPad. Released in July 2011, sales of the tablet went from bad to worse, and now the company has announced that TouchPad production will cease, and rumors are flying that the Pre³ phone won’t see a launch in the U.S. either. WebOS appears to be dead – but is all hope lost?

For the TouchPad, almost certainly. Early price discounts of $100 off didn’t spark consumer interest, thanks to a limited number of apps available at launch and nothing that really set it apart from its main competitor, the iPad. Steeper discounts leading to a $99 price tag for the device saw it selling out at stores across the country.

And while HP has no plans to bring the tablet back from the grave or do another production run, they have announced that webOS will not be going the same way – consumer response, they say, has encouraged them to continue developing the operating system. Speculation abounds as to how exactly that development will take place, with blogs from the company indicating that research will continue and some experts saying that the OS will be used in HP desktops and printers as well as any other electronic devices that are produced. WebOS contained a number of features that made it attractive, even if such attraction was not enough to drive sales. Multitasking, the ability to easily sync HP devices and webOS email were all highlights, and HP believes they are worth carrying forward.

As for the Pre³, there are rumors of an email from a U.S. parts supplier which indicates that the Pre³ will not be shipped and that the launch of the device with AT&T has been completely canceled. There is no official word from AT&T as yet, but many expect word soon that all launches of the Pre³ will not be happening. According to Leo Apotheker, CEO of HP, the “ramp up” to the broader market of tablet and mobile phone consumers was simply too long, and the HP device lines simply hadn’t gained enough traction.

Now, HP has also announced that they will sell or spin out their PC business in order to retain “flexibility and agility” in the market. As of the third week in August, HP has seen a rise in their share price, indicating that despite grumbling about the TouchPad launch and subsequent failure, consumers still place a measure of trust in HP, and in their webOS.

Windows 7 Tablets: What’s Hot, or What’s Not?

Chinonye — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:00:53 +0000

With a huge number of tablets now on the market, OS can make all the difference in seeing large sales numbers or being left out in the cold. For the Window 7 Tablet, competition is fierce.

Currently, a number of devices on the market do run the Window 7 OS, including the Samsung Sliding PC7, which was announced at CES earlier this year. This Tablet comes in at $649, and according to recent reviews on Cnet, among others, the tablet performs well, with both a “sharp design and powerful Intel [Atom] CPU”. Reviews say it is one of the few Windows 7 tablets that stands out in the market as being more than a toy. Despite its high price detracting from its appeal, it was still listed on ZDnet as one of the top 10 tablets of 2011

Other tablets which are also running a Windows 7 OS include the Acer W500 hybrid tablet, the ThinkPad X220i tablet, the ExoPC Slate tablet, and the Toshiba WT310/C. All of these tablets have a similar price point to the Samsung, and share a similar refrain from reviewers – that while Windows 7 makes an excellent desktop, it does poorly as a tablet OS, and can’t deliver the performance of other tablet OSs that are currently on the market.

As a result of their late entrance to the tablet market, much like their debut in the smartphone world, Microsoft is not seeing a large share of the market for tablets. Currently, Apple enjoys over 90% of the tablet sales and Web traffic in the US, with Android taking most of the remaining room and Microsoft, HP, RIM and others left to fight over the few percent up for grabs.

Now, many people wonder if the Windows 7 tablet is finished, despite more positive reviews and announcements of new tablets with the OS like the Asus Eee EP121, which will have a massive 12-inch screen, and the Viliv X70, which comes in at less than a pound with less than a 7-inch screen.

Rumors from DigiTimes are that Microsoft has been in talks with Texas Instruments and manufacturers in Taiwan to create a Microsoft-branded version of a Windows 8 tablet, and the New York Times claimed that the company would announce a Windows 8 tablet at CES at the beginning of 2011. This didn’t happen, but speculation has ramped up about a Nokia Tablet running Windows 8 that will launch in 2012.

No specifics have been released, but the rumor is that the interface for the new tablets will look a great deal like the current Windows Phone 7 and will work with a touch interface as well as a mouse and keyboard. While those in the know say a Windows 8 Tablet will look a great deal like an iPad, they’re hopeful it will have a slide-out keyboard, come with apps and app store, and be geared more for business rather than pleasure use.

The Tablet Generation: iPad, Android, TouchPad & Playbook

Chinonye — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:00:53 +0000

Everyone knows about the iPad. Initially, the tablet was criticized for being “too big” and for giving consumers what they already had in their iPhones – then charging them more for it. Now, the iPad is a market leader, and many are asking the question: can anyone else hope to keep up?

Since its launch in April of 2010, the iPad has sold over 25 million units, and while the company does not release sales figures by region, there is data to indicate sales of over two million iPads in the United States alone within two months.

Of course, with success comes other companies looking to cash in – most notably those like Android, HP, Samsung and Motorola. All of these companies have now released their own tablet versions in hopes of limiting Apple’s control of the market – but is it working?

In a word; no. According to predictions from research firm Gartner, the iPad and iOS will continue to dominate until at least 2015, and a comScore evaluation of US Web traffic in June of 2011 shows that Apple tablets are responsible for over 97% of all traffic from tablet devices, with Android in second place at a mere 2.7%. All other companies – including HP and RIM – are left with a 0.3% traffic share.

Some of these tablets are showing strong initial sales – for example, the Blackberry Playbook was able to sell 50,000 units on launch day, which outperformed sales of both the Motorola XOOM and Samsung Galaxy Tab. The Playbook also relies heavily on marketing hype around its inclusion of Flash on the tablet, while HP’s Touchpad focuses more on the business applications, including hosted exchange email and HP device syncing that can be done wirelessly with their tablet.

Other tablet sizes are being touted as well, moving away from Apple’s 9.7” rectangular screen. 10.1” wide-screen tablets are now on the market, as are 8.9” versions, 7” options, and a 12” option will likely hit the market soon.

In many respects, all of the tablet manufacturers listed are doing their best to find a niche in the market and corner it. HP is attempting to court business users, Blackberry is going after those who are looking for Flash, and some market from the position that they simply “aren’t Apple”. Right now, however, it is the way Apple delivers its content, not the amount of content included, that matters. Feature parity across devices is strong – most include app stores and the ability to capture video, sync to phones and run hosted tablet email exchange. The way that Apple sets up their devices, the intuitive and “sexy” GUI that the company is known for is, in large part, pushing them in the market.

While over time Apple’s US and worldwide leads will erode as other manufacturers step up and deliver a similar tablet experience, the tablet generation is currently owned, managed and directed by the iPad.

Windows Phone 7.5 Mango Tries To Play Catch Up

Chinonye — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:00:52 +0000

In November of 2010, Microsoft released their own version of the smartphone, Windows Phone 7. Caught off-guard by the absolute domination of iOS across the market, Microsoft was looking to get a piece of the smartphone pie. As it turned out, their slice was very, very small.

As of July 2011, most experts pin Microsoft’s market share at right around 5%. The CEO of Microsoft, Steve Balmer, recently said of the phone that they’ve “gone from very small to very small but it’s been a heck of a year.” Bulmer went on to re-affirm the company’s commitment to the Windows Phone at the Worldwide Partner Conference in Los Angeles, claiming they’re going to be “pushing very far and very fast.”

Right now, fast is looking like before the end of the year, and far is the next iteration of the Windows Phone OS, codenamed “Mango”. Coming in as Windows Phone 7.5, the new build is set to keep many of the core features that make up the Windows phone – things like exchange email, the Me Hub, and the company’s “glance and go” concept. Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed a release date for the new OS, but a tweet in regards to a contest the company is running said that all winners would receive their Windows 7.5 Mango phones by September.

While not everything about the new OS is known, there are a number of confirmed bits of information. Mango is slated to come with things like the Outlook Conversation View, which will combine emails into “threads” much like text messaging on the iPhone, Office 365 integration, which will give the phone built-in Office 365 features, turn-by-turn voice navigation, as well as HTML 5 support and hardware acceleration.

Several companies have received trial versions of the Mango per-release candidate, and the general consensus is that Microsoft hasn’t demolished their OS house to build a new one, but has spruced up things inside. Items like Windows phone email or the Me Hub aren’t disappearing, simply being streamlined to provide a better user experience – something Microsoft says they’ve learned a great deal about thanks to their new retail stores.

According to Microsoft COO Kevin Turner, Microsoft stores have helped the company “transition from thinking about our customers to thinking like our customers”, something that has likely played a role in the improved feature set of the Mango build. 75 more stores are in the works over the next 2-3 years.

With other phone retailers largely snubbing the Windows Phone, Microsoft needs to make inroads into the market, especially in the upcoming 2011 holiday season. While the features in the Mango build aren’t enough on their own to encourage new customer adoption, an aggressive marketing campaign combined with local availability at a Microsoft store may help the company push up and out of its 5% share of the smartphone market.

Android Tablets Galore: Who Will be the Champion?

Chinonye — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:00:57 +0000

The tablet market is heating up, and while Apple still holds the lion’s share of the industry, there are a number of manufacturers that are looking to get in on a small piece of the pie – most notably those that are running Android.

Over the last year, technology companies of all types have released Android platform tablets, some of which have seen great market success and some which have not been able to perform.

Those currently on the market include the Motorola Xoom, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, and the Lenovo LePad. Coming soon will be the Samsung Galaxy, the HTC Puccini, the LG Optimus and Toshiba Thrive. Each of these tablets claims to have something that sets them apart from the pack, and promises to deliver an experience that is at least comparable to, if not better than, the Apple devices they are competition with.

The iPad is the current market leader, but even desire for Apple products has lagged slightly with the transition to iPad2. With few game-changing features, even Apple users are not convinced that the iPad2 will revolutionize the tablet world as the first version did, and while sales are still expected to be strong, the fact that there is some movement in the user base and their interest shows that Apple can still be dethroned.

iPhones are a good example. When the Apple-brand Smartphone first hit the market, it was the clear sales winner. Now, Google Android phones lead the pack, with Symbian-based phones in second place and the iPhone in third. Part of this is due to the diversification of Android among device manufacturers, and is a result that could be easily replicated in the tablet market.

Currently, there are a number of clear winners in the battle for shares of tablet sales. Samsung is a front runner, with sales of seven million expected this year for its Galaxy Tab. LG and ZTE are also predicted to do well, with three million units apiece, while HTC, Dell and HP all lag behind at two million units each. Over time, this division is likely to become more pronounced, with Samsung and HP trending strongly according to estimates and Dell showing only moderate growth.

Though currently dominated by Apple, the tablet market is ripe for an Android invasion – the only question is which manufacturer will post the best sales figures.