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Friday, June 15, 2012

Tech Microsoft and Amazon to Rekindle Tablet Efforts

Posted by Goldy on Fri, Jun 15, 2012 at 11:50 AM

Two local tech giants are expected to step up their efforts to take a bite out of Apple's burgeoning iPad market with new tablets of their own. According to a report in All Things D, Microsoft will use Monday's scheduled event in Los Angeles to take the wraps off a Microsoft built and branded tablet device. The tablet will run Windows RT on ARM-based processors.

Meanwhile a separate report in Digitimes says Amazon is looking to rekindle waning consumer interest in the Kindle Fire by launching a higher resolution version of the tablet device, while slashing the price on the current version to a bargain basement $149.

Apple's iPad currently holds about 60 percent of the fast growing tablet market.

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And don't forget Google is going to be showing a Nexus Tablet at Google I/O at the end of this month.

Posted by arbeck

on June 15, 2012 at 11:59 AM

Are they flexible yet? Can they make flexible tablets? I need one that will conform to the generous profile of my posterior when I slide it into the back pocket of my jeans. I would find that far more convenient than DRM and media streaming.

Speaking of media streaming, I think someone should announce another boring little set-top box for streaming movies and TV! We need another one of those!

Posted by Zebes

on June 15, 2012 at 12:16 PM

Digitimes is the National Enquirer of tech websites. Throw out enough bullshit speculation and occasionally you get one right.

Posted by bigyaz on June 15, 2012 at 12:18 PM

"Rekindle"?

Terrible.

Posted by j.lee on June 15, 2012 at 12:22 PM

Agree with #3, they have a hit rate of perhaps 10% on their rumor stories.

Posted by ryanmm on June 15, 2012 at 12:24 PM

@ 4 - I chuckled.

Posted by merry on June 15, 2012 at 12:31 PM

Never buy something that lacks a SD memory slot, unless you dont mind paying an obscene price of 99$ for an extra 16gb of space. Microsoft, Apple and Amazon all appear to be guilty of this, screw them all.

Posted by Kinison

on June 15, 2012 at 12:37 PM

Many tech supply chain analysts predict Apple will grow market share beyond 75% (sources: many, do your own fsking research)

Posted by Will in Seattle

on June 15, 2012 at 12:45 PM

MS was so close to something interesting in regards to a tablet just a couple of years ago, but Gates killed it because it didn't have a native email client. The whole story is worth a read: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-201280…

Posted by yelahneb

on June 15, 2012 at 1:02 PM

@8 Other people look at the numbers and realize Apple had 95% in 2010. They'll keep losing market share to Android.

Posted by pjmad on June 15, 2012 at 1:16 PM

"Apple's iPad currently holds about 60 percent of the fast growing tablet market."

Not for long. The fastest-growing market segment is below their price point. That doesn't mean they won't still be making a boatload of money for a while longer.

Posted by Daddy Love on June 15, 2012 at 2:24 PM

Apple's laptop business seems pretty safe as it's so differentiated from the competition: OSX vs. Windows offers a huge distinction.

But who cares what OS is on a tablet? Apple is going to need to do something groundbreaking (again) to keep that 60% marketshare.

Posted by Free Lunch on June 15, 2012 at 6:04 PM

@12: I care what OS is on my tablet because it connects with what programs are on my tablet. At this point, developers still write first for iOS and for Android only if they have time. That matters to me, at least.

Posted by Canadian Nurse on June 16, 2012 at 4:20 PM