Apple iOS still the king, but Android catching up fast

DESPITE mounting competition from other operating systems (OSs), Apple’s iOS will continue to own the majority of the worldwide media tablet through 2015, according to Gartner, Inc. Due to the success of Apple’s iPad, iOS will account for 69 percent of media tablet OSs in 2011, and represent 47 percent of the media tablet market in 2015.

Gartner analysts said Apple iPad did to the tablet PC market what the iPhone did to the smartphone market: re-invented it. A media tablet is not just a different form factor to perform the same tasks that can be done on a PC. Tablets deliver a richer experience around content consumption, thanks to the ecosystem they support. The richer the ecosystem, the stronger the pull for consumers.

“Seeing the response from both consumers and enterprises to the iPad, many vendors are trying to compete by first delivering on hardware and then trying to leverage the platform ecosystem,” said Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at Gartner.

“Many, however, are making the same mistake that was made in the first response wave to the iPhone, as they are prioritizing hardware features over applications, services and overall user experience. Tablets will be much more dependent on the latter than smartphones have been, and the sooner vendors realize that the better chance they have to compete head-to-head with Apple.”

Google’s Android OS is forecast to increase its worldwide share of the media tablet market from 20 percent in 2011 to 39 percent in 2015. Analysts said Google’s decision not to open up the Honeycomb, its first OS version dedicated to tablets, to third parties will prevent fragmentation, but it will also slow the price decline and ultimately cap market share.

“Volume will be driven by support from many players, the ecosystem of applications for tablets getting more competitive and some platform flexibility allowing lower price points,” said Roberta Cozza, principal analyst at Gartner. “The new licensing model Google has introduced with Honeycomb enables Google to drive more control, allowing only optimal tablet implementations that don’t compromise quality of experience. This might mean that prices will drop at a slower pace than what we have seen in the smartphone market.”

With the migration of Blackberry devices to QNX – the OS used on the Blackberry PlayBook - in 2012, RIM will be able to offer users a consistent experience across its whole product portfolio and create a single developer community. While QNX is a strong platform that delivers on performance, graphics and multitasking features, Gartner analysts said success in the media tablet market will be driven by richness of ecosystem.

“It will take time and significant effort for RIM to attract developers and deliver a compelling ecosystem of applications and services around QNX to position it as a viable alternative to Apple or Android. This will limit RIM’s market share growth over the forecast period,” Milanesi said. “It will be mainly organizations that will be interested in RIM’s tablets because they either already have RIM’s infrastructure deployed or have stringent security requirements.”

Gartner analysts said platforms such as MeeGo and WebOS, which currently have a weak presence in the smartphone market, will have a limited appeal unless they can grow that business.

“Smartphone users will want to buy a tablet that runs the same operating system as their smartphone. This is so that they can share applications across devices as well as for the sense of familiarity the user interfaces will bring,” Ms. Milanesi said. “Vendors developing on Android should be prepared to see more cross brand ownership as some users might put OS over brand when it comes to the purchasing decision. Improvements on usability and brand recognition are the strongest differentiators they can focus on.”

A media tablet is a device based on a touchscreen display (typically with a multitouch interface) whose primary focus is the consumption of media. The devices have screens with a diagonal dimension that is over 5 inches and may include screens that are as large as is practical for handheld use, roughly up to 15 inches. The media tablet runs a lightweight OS such as Android and iOS that is more limited than, or a subset of, the traditional fully featured OS such as Windows.

iPad 2 pandemic hits Klang Valley

They've waited outside Machines since 6am and some slept there

MOVE aside Justine Bieber, it's iPad 2's turn to turn Malaysians into frenzy mode. Apple did it again this time as thousands of iPad die-hard fans thronged its distributors around Klang Valley early Friday morning to get the first batch of iPad 2.
The 10-inch touch screen device, that was first announced in the US on March 2 by Steve Jobs, has once again proved that it's still the king tablet computers in the market. Despite the hush-hush tactic adopted by Apple on the exact date of the launch, these fans somehow knew from a week ago that April 29 is the day, and some hardcore fans had camped outside Machines stores in two malls, Mid-Valley and Sunway Pyramid, to ensure they get the first iPads from the first batch.

One hour before Machines opens

It was an unusual sight in shopping complexes with Apple authorised distributors on Friday morning as fans had gathered as early as 6am, despite the stores' opening time of 10am.

By 9am, about 300 people had already formed a long circular que at Mid Valley's Machines outlet, patiently waiting for the store to open.

Machines in Mid-Valley was reported to offer 600 units of iPad 2 on Friday while Harvey Norman on the lower ground floor offered 50 units, all snapped up within an hour after the stores opened.

The first to be there was Internet marketer Wilson Lim, 26, who had booked a spot right in front of Machines in Mid Valley from 9pm last Thursday.

"I've been waiting for iPad 2 even since iPad 1 was available and I want to make sure that I'll be among the first Malaysians to own it officially," he said.

Lim and a bunch of other hardcore iPad were lucky as Mid-Valley mall's management had granted permission for iPad buyers to camp outside Machines the night before.

"I run a blog on iPad and have been following closely rumours and forums on this device and got the actual date of the iPad 2 availability," he said, adding thatt he will use his new 32GB Wi-Fi version iPad 2 for reading e-books, playing games and blogging.

Another early bird, Swee Wai Hoow, 25, an iPhone application engineer, started to camp outside Machines in Mid Valley as soon as the store closed its doors on Thursday night. He was there with three other friends, all iPad and iPhone applications engineers, from the night before.

"Originally we plan to go to Singapore to get the iPad 2, but since the availability of the products for these two countries fall on the same day, it's better and easier for us to just get it here," said Hoow.

"Malaysian were lucky too as the iPad 2 models here are cheaper than the ones in Singapore," he said.

For instance, a 16GB Wi-Fi version in Singapore costs S$728 (RM1,674), the same model here costs RM1,499. All the iPad 2 models are also cheaper by RM100 compared to iPad 1.

iPad 2 now in white frame too

Hoow said he's looking forward to experience the faster processor, longer battery life and faster graphic processor.

"Apple claims that the iPad 2 graphic processor is nine times faster than the previous version, and we're hoping to utilise this feature to develop more advance games for this platform. The the dual-cameras is also useful as we can also implement some ideas to make new games and applications," he said.

Meanwhile, sisters Siti Hafsah Mohd Hashim and Siti Hanizah Mohd Hashim came all the way from Sarawak to get their first iPad 2.

Wilson Lim"We've been following online forums and related Apple websites to know the exact date of the ipad 2 availability here and once we knew that it will be on Friday, April 29, we booked a room at the Gardens Hotel to ensure that our quest for iPad 2 will be a fruitful one," said Siti Hafsah.
"What I like about iPad 2 is the big screen size and thin form factor. This will make it easy for me to read e-books and online articles," she said.

The iPad 2 madness does not just hit the young generations, but also senior citizen as there were a few of them who joined the que on the early morning in Mid Valley.

One of them, Marcus LG Teoh, 56, said he's been watching his friends playing with iPad 1 all this while.

Wilson Lim spent the night in front of Machines to get the pole position

"I looks interesting and I tell myself that I am going to get the iPad 2," he said. Teoh was there at Machines queuing up from 7am.

"It's worthy it. Now I finally can feel and play with this elegant device," he said.

"My friends have been telling me that iPad games will be good for enhancing ones' hand co-ordination and reflex, and it is also a good way to keep senior citizen like me occupied and stimulate our minds," he said.

Teoh, who is still working as sales manager for a medical equipment company, said the iPad 2 will be a good device for business presentation.

"The ability to blow up pictures and graphics with your fingers seems attractive," he said.

Finally, close friends, Fadly Hashim, Izzat Zumairi and Roszaimy Yaakob have decided to get the 16GB Wi-Fi versions and in white.


"The white one looks really outstanding to me and I think people will straigh away know that we're holding iPad 2," says Fadly.

The three of them knew about the launch from chat forum on the Internet.

"The faster processor and longer 10 hours battery are a plus to the users. For example, I can run more applications faster and take the device out and use it the whole day without having to worry about charging it," says Izzat.

The launch has also attracted mobile broadband service providers like YES and Maxis to send their promoters at the stores to attract buyers.

There are six iPad 2 models namely the 16GB, 32GB, 64GB (Wi-Fi) and 16GB, 32GB, 64GB (Wi-Fi + 3G) and are priced at RM1,499, RM1,799, RM2,099, RM1,899, RM2,199 and RM2,499 respectively and they come in two colours - black and white.

Among the new features in the iPad 2 include LED-backlit display, dual-core A5 chip, dual cameras, 10 hours battery life, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology and 3G data service.

Will Motorola's tablet strategy work?

Models with the new Motorola Xoom

THE much talked-about Motorola Xoom is finally here on our shore just a day before the anciously-awaited iPad 2 availability, but will it be able to attract tablet enthusiasts?


On paper, it looks like the Xoom is a pretty capable contender in the tablet space with its first-of-its-kind dual-core processor, 16:9 aspect ration 10.2-inch screen, high-definition screen, HDMI, SD slots and many more.

The dual-core 1GHz processor alone will allow users to muti-task a lot of applications. Anybody would like to have this powerful machine as their Web companion, no doubt about it.

But at RM2,499 for only a WiFi version and a tie-up to a 24-month data plan from Maxis is a bit too much to ask, despite the fact that Motorola throws in its DEFY 3G smartphone with the package - you'll get two nice devices with one purchase.

The current Xoom WiFi version needs the DEFY phone to make it a truly mobile warrior.

Is this a smart move? my answer yes and no.

Firstly, if I don't have a smartphone and a tablet, I may lean towards this package (RM2,499 for two smart devices sounds good), but if I already have a smartphone, I may not want to spend RM2,499 for a Wi-Fi version tablet.

Secondly, Maxis is also offering HTC Flyer (a 7-inchAndroid 1.5GHz tablet with 3G capability) from just RM199 with an undisclosed data plan. Retail price of the device is RM2,499. This may sound more reasonable, spend RM199 with a data-plan tie-up. The discount on the device is huge here.

Thirdly, iPad 2 is officially available today with no tie-up to any telcos. You can buy it off the shelves from local Apple distributors from RM1,499 to RM2,499.

Then, there is also Acer Iconia Tab A500, a 10-inch Android tablet from RM1,599, also off the shelves, and a few more tablets like Samsung Tab, Viewsonic, Dell Streak 5, etc.

Come to think of it, this tablet war is really about strategy - pricing, tie-ups. The devices are just about the same.

Dell joins tablet war

NOTEBOOK and PC maker Dell has joined the Malaysian tablet war with the launch of its Streak 5 device.
Unlike the other players which focus on the 10-inch and 7-inch screen tablets, Dell has decided to go for a smaller 5-inch size, making it the smallest tablet so far available in Malaysia.
The Android 2.2 (Froyo) tablet is already available in the market since Wednesday at RM2,099.
What's so special about this mini tablet is that it can double up as a phone, means you don't need to carry a phone with it. This makes sense because at five-inches, doubling the Streak 5 as a phone does not awkward, compared to holding a 7-inch tablet close to your ear.
You can also synch your contacts with Facebook and import their profile images so that at a glance you can see who’s calling.
The device also offers Global Positioning System and eCompass functionality. Text-to-voice and turn-by-turn directions let you keep your eyes on the road, while Google Maps’ live traffic functionality helps you avoid those dreaded red zones (requires 3G connection).
The best part is the mini Streak 5 tablet phone multitasks, so you can play your favorite driving tunes and receive calls at the same time.
The tablet also comes with a 5MP camera on its back and a VGA one of the front.
Dell Streak 5 Android 2.2 Tablet includes the Stage User Interface (UI) and a collection of widgets that bring your content such as music, photos and email to your home screen.
It even includes Adobe Flash 10.1 support1 for the full mobile Web experience and the capability to use your Dell Streak 5 tablet phone as a portable WiFi hotspot that can be shared with up to eight other devices

iPad 2 finally here

Apple-authorised resellers nationwide are gearing up for the much-anticipated iPad 2 launch, expected to take place tomorrow.
For the past couple of weeks, a number of resellers have opened up bookings for the second generation iPad. Consumers can register and put in a certain deposit.
"This will guarantee that they will get the product once it's available. This will avoid disappointment as we are anticipating a very high demand for the iPad 2," said one reseller, who is expecting a sold-out launch of the product at its chain of outlets.
With the iPad 1 stock already running dry at most major reseller outlets, the shelves are ready to be filled with iPad 2.
This product has been gaining popularity since it was launched in the United States in March.
The iPad 2 is 33 per cent thinner than its predecessor, weighing just 601 grammes, compared with iPad 1, which weighs 680 grammes.
It will have more goodies, such as a dual camera and a host of apps that include iMovie, FaceTime, Garage Band and Photo Booth.
Under the "hood" is Apple's new iOS4 4.3, which is said to be faster and offers better processing power for running applications like video-conferencing, movies and games.
iPad 2 also offers HDMI support, which means that users can connect the device to a high-definition TV for a playback function of videos or pictures.
Previous iPad sales in Malaysia were split 50:50 between the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+3G models. For the iPad 2, the Wi-Fi+3G is expected to be more popular due to the availability of new features like FaceTimes and dual camera, which would be more practical with 3G services.
In terms of pricing, Malaysia is expected to be one of the cheapest places where you can get an iPad 2, with prices expected to range from RM1,500 for the 16GB WiFi variant to RM2,500 for the 64GB Wi-Fi+3G variant.

Fly with HTC Flyer

THE tablet PC market is set to get hotter with the latest announcement of HTC Flyer, a seven-inch touch-screen device.
Designed to meet the needs of mobile executives and tablet enthusiasts, the Flyer will be first through telecommunications Maxis starting May 12, 2011.
The telecommunications service provider has also singed a memorandum of understanding to allow it to be the first telco in Malaysia to exclusively offer existing and up-and-coming HTC smart devices to their customers.
According to Maxis' chief executive officer, Jean-Pascal Van Overbeke, the partnership with HTC began last year when Maxis partnered HTC to be the first to offer its customers the HTC Desire, Desire Z, Wildfire, HTC HD7 and HTC 7 Mozart.
"Today's partnership with HTC will ensure that Maxis customers will continue to be to the first in Malaysia to enjoy HTC’s new devices," he said at the signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur last week.
Maxis said it will offer the RM2,499 HTC Flyer at just RM199 with a selected wireless data plans, which will be announced soon.
Besides the HTC Flyer, Maxis also offers current HTC's flagship smartphone, the HTC Desire S.
To date, Maxis has 13.92 million subscribers with 41.5 percent of its mobile revenue coming from non-voice services.
Van Overbeke said besides offering exclusive devices for its clients, Maxis will also continue developing applications for these devices as an added value to the customers.
Commenting on the new Flyer tablet, HTC Asia's senior director of product marketing, Darren Sng, said that the new tablet offers users both convenience and power in one device.
"We've chosen to develop the Flyer in a seven-inch form factor to make it easy to hold. For example, when you write, you want to hold the device in one hand and the other hand writing, but if it's a 10-inch device, it will be difficult to do this," he said.
The Flyer is encased in a sleek aluminum unibody. It is also ultra-light, weighing as little as a paperback book, and compact enough to fit in a jacket pocket only.
"These features will make it easy for users to slip the device in their jacket pocket or even a small handbag.
The tablet is also said to be the current fastest tablet with a 1.5GHz processor and high-speed HSPA+ wireless capabilities.
As the device is designed for users to take notes with it, Sng said HTC has include a new technology called HTC Scribe, which transforms traditional note-taking into smart note-taking by integrating natural onscreen writing with thoughtful and integrated innovations.
"This technology enables users to use the included pen to take notes, sign contracts, draw pictures, or even write on a web page or photo. A feature called Timemark enables you to capture the audio of a meeting in line with your written notes, so tapping on a word in your notes instantly takes you to that exact place in time in the audio recording of the meeting. Notes are also integrated with the calendar so when there is an appointment reminder you are automatically prompted with an opportunity to begin a new note or in the case of recurring meetings, to continue where the last meeting left off," he explained.
Besides that, HTC will also be introducing NTC Watch, which is a movie download service to be used on its devices.
"With this service, users will be able to download premium Hollywood movies to their device," said Sng, adding that the service will be managed by HTC and will only be available in the fourth quarter of this year.
The HTC Desire S smartphone is already available atv RN1,299 onwards with Maxis data plans.
The Android-based phone features HTC’s trademark aluminum unibody and Qualcomm’s new 1GHz Snapdragon MSM8255 processor.
Its other features include dual front and back cameras, HD video recording and a 3.7-inch WVGA display.

World's Largest 3D Plasma TV for RM2.5 million

PANASONIC Corporation, a world leader in the HDTV technology, has developed the world's largest1) 152-inch 4K x 2K definition Full HD 3D plasma display. The TV was displayed at Genting Highland recently and costs a whopping RM2.5 million.

The display features a revolutionary new plasma display panel (PDP) Panasonic developed with its new super-efficient quadruple luminous efficiency technology.

The technology enhances PDP’s unique advantages as self-illuminating device, contributing to delivering an overwhelming immersive experience to viewers.

By employing the newly-developed ultra high-speed 3D drive technology, which adopts the super-efficient quadruple luminous efficiency technology, the new panel achieves a higher illuminating speed, about one fourth the speed of conventional Full HD panels4). This technology enables high-quality Full HD 3D display on the ultra large 152-inch 4K x 2K (4,096 x 2,160 pixels) panel.