xoom

Android tablets will grow, but iPad to dominate

Android tablets will win over more customers but continue to play second fiddle to Apple's iPad, according to some recent reports and forecasts.

Apple's tablet will dominate the industry for the next 10 years, predicts Needham analyst Charlie Wolf. In a research note released Friday, Wolf is eyeing an 85 percent share for the iPad this year from nearly 100 percent in 2010.

Although that number will gradually shrink each year over the next decade, Apple will retain its lead. And by 2020, the company will still account for a 60 percent slice of the tablet market, predicts … Read more

Verizon pushes update to Motorola Xoom

Verizon Wireless announced today that a new software update is available for its Motorola Xoom tablet. The biggest wins from the HTJ85 update are microSD card support and a screen scaling compatibility mode, but users should appreciate the smaller features as well.

With a microSD card you'll now be able to use the file manager to view files stored on the card and write content to the card through a PC or Mac connection. Considering that file managers aren't consistent across all Android devices, we're glad to see more user accessibility here.

The new screen-scaling option will let you switch to double pixels mode for selected applications and then save the settings you prefer. … Read more

iSuppli analyst on iPad vs. Android tablets (Q&A)

An IHS-iSuppli analyst believes Android and the cadre of tablet makers that use Google's operating system won't catch up to Apple's iPad and iOS anytime soon.

Wayne Lam, senior analyst, competitive analysis, at IHS, spoke to CNET on Monday, in the wake of a research note about the iPad's design advantages over tablet suppliers that use Google's Android operating system.

In the note, Lam said that Android tablet manufacturers still can't match the design efficiency of Apple's iPad, due to, among other things, the fact that Apple controls both the operating system and … Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 58: Droids are selling like Hot Cakes! (Podcast)

Droids selling like hotcakes, GoogleTV's not, and we're moving! All that and more on this week's Android Atlas Weekly

News

Amazon reportedly ramping up 7- and 10-inch tablets http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20084801-251/amazon-reportedly-ramping-up-7-and-10-inch-tablets/?tag=cnetRiver

Samsung smartphone sales may outshine Apple http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-20082922-94/samsung-smartphone-sales-may-outshine-apple/?tag=cnetRiver http://awurl.com/tYihInm16

Android top mobile OS in U.S., but Apple iPhone is most popular phone http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/07/android-top-os-in-us-but-apple-iphone-is-most-popular-phone.html … Read more

Motorola Mobility CEO highlights upcoming products

Motorola Mobility Chief Executive Sanjay Jha said he is planning a healthy product lineup including a pair of tablets and two 4G LTE smartphones in the second half.

Among other products, the company is planning to introduce its much-delayed Droid Bionic in September, Jha told CNET in an interview. After an unveiling at the Consumer Electronics Show, the 4G LTE smartphone for Verizon Wireless was delayed for several months to work out the kinks of its 4G connection. In addition, it is planning at least one more 4G LTE smartphone this year.

Jha said he is planning on two tablets, … Read more

Study: Tablets powering mobile broadband growth

Tablets--largely consisting of Apple's iPad--have become the main engine of growth for mobile broadband devices, according to a study released today by IHS iSuppli.

The firm estimates that 157.9 million mobile broadband devices, which consist of products including tablets, notebooks, Netbook computers, and electronic readers, will be sold this year. That's up nearly 60 percent from the 100.1 million units sold in 2010.

The consistently high rate of growth can be traced back to the burgeoning tablet market. In particular, consumers have snapped up the iPad with increasing frequency--Apple sold 9.25 million such devices in … Read more

Windows Phone Mango RTM

Fox delays streaming TV shows on the Web, Mad Men hits Netflix streaming, and Microsoft releases the first major update to Windows Phone codenamed Mango.

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

Microsoft releases Windows Phone Mango Facebook for Businesses Fox limits web access to shows Mad Men comes to Netflix Google updating Chrome for Lion multitouch Xoom owners get 4G in Sept. Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (HD) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS HD

Xoom to get 4G hookup in September

Motorola Mobility's Xoom tablet will finally be able to access Verizon Wireless' super-fast 4G network in September.

A Verizon representative today confirmed the Xoom will be getting a 4G LTE card after months of delays. The carrier is notifying customers now. Dow Jones Newswires first reported on the upgrade.

One of the primary features touted during the unveiling of the Xoom in January was the option to move to a 4G connection. But the option was delayed as Motorola struggled with the necessary components required to get 4G access. The same problem has caused its 4G Droid Bionic smartphone … Read more

Did the iPad really lose a big chunk of share to Android?

Almost all market indicators show that the iPad continues to shut out Android rivals. But is that the whole story?

First, let's take a look at some recent headlines that seem to point to the iPad's unassailable market position:

iPad, iOS adoption heating up the business world Apple's iPad surpasses 100,000 app mark Apple's Runaway Train: 9.25 Million iPads, 20 Million iPhones sold in Q3 All the world's an iPad? Maybe Apple iPad awaits back-to-school boom

These kinds of stories (of which there are way too many to count) are not encouraging for … Read more

iPad, iOS adoption heating up the business world

Both Apple and Android have been capturing more mobile customers in the enterprise arena, but Apple's iOS has been the dominant force thanks to growing demand for the iPad, according to mobile-software provider Good Technology.

Released yesterday, Good's latest quarterly data report (PDF) found that more smartphones and tablets in general have been flooding the workplace. But Apple's iOS has led the way, grabbing 80 percent of all device activations in the enterprise seen by Good during the second quarter. That marks an increase from just less than 70 percent in the first quarter.

The iPad itself (… Read more