Tablets vs. PCs, Google Android vs. Apple iOS: Which Will Emerge?

Technology analysts have observed that tablets may overtake desktop PCs in 2013. The leading tablet is still Apple’s iPad and we may see a spike in global tablet sales in the range of 130 million units next year. Some see this as an indication that the global demand for desktop PCs is nearing a rapid decline.

The demand for tablets has increased at a very sharp rate. In 2011, the global sales for tablets were pegged at 60 million units, with 40 million units coming from Apple. In 2012, this number ballooned to 95 million units due to the technological advances of tablets such as Apple’s Retina Display iPad. This feature shows images with breathtaking clarity with the help of thousands of pixels.

Steve Jobs and the Emergence of the Tablet

Tablets became more popular with the help of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs who introduced the iPad in 2010 with much fanfare. It has become more valuable when it incorporated traditional PC functions within the tablet. The sales of tablets have developed side by side with the smartphone market.

To help consumers understand the market shift from PCs to tablets, Steve Jobs compared it to the transition from truck vehicles to urban cars. Jobs noted that there was an early need for trucks because most of the customers were farmers. With the development of cities and concrete pavements, the needs of people shifted to cars especially those with features such as automatic transition and power steering.

Jobs then compared the desktop PCs to the trucks because these vehicles still represent a small market of enthusiasts. But the majority has preferred the mobile capabilities of tablets because most people nowadays are on the go.

To further increase the value of its tablets, Apple calls this present period as the “post-PC era” because of the dominance of the iPad. Even Apple has conceded that the iPad has outsold its own brand of desktop computers Macs. In the last quarter, there were three times more iPads sold than Macs.

Apple has subtly included iPad sales in the category of PCs and this has enabled them to leapfrog HP to become the world’s foremost PC vendor.

Even with the success of tablets, it’s still early to conclude that people will abandon their desktop units for the mobile capabilities of tablets. Apple is still enjoying much success with its iMac as an all-in-one desktop PC solution. Laptops will remain an important segment of mobile markets.

Still in spite of this, tablet sales will see a spike against laptop sales in 2016, according to the research company NPD.  Figures from NPD indicate that the 121 million tablets reported in 2012 can balloon to 416 million units at the onset of 2017.  During this same period, it is estimated that laptop sales will only have around 393 million units.

Tablet sales will mostly come from North America, Western Europe and Japan and this will comprise 66% of 2012 global sales. Presently, Apple’s iPad dominates the tablet industry with competition from Microsoft’s Surface and Google’s Nexus 7. Via: therichest.org

Google’s Android Taking a Bite off Apple

Apple has not only dominated the industry of tablets and desktop computers; they have also ventured into the territory of smartphones. However, Apple’s smartphone operating system iOS faces more stiff competition with the success of Google’s Android operating system. Android is a popular OS that powers four out of ten smartphones. Android has also overtaken Apple in the app store of most downloaded apps. This is quite an advantage considering that Apple has 459,589 applications compared to 319,161 from Android.

There are more Android phones right now compared to Apple iPhones. Google also allows technological freedom with the development of its applications unlike Apple who closely monitors everything done to its applications.

Not giving up without a fight, Apple has also revealed the Apple iOS 6 this 2012. It incorporates the popular voice-activated virtual assistant Siri, Facebook integration and an independent maps solution to rival Google Maps.

A key conflict point for the battle between Android and the iOS is its online browsing capabilities. It comes down to a match-up between the web browsers Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari.

Google Chrome can effortlessly synchronize tabs, bookmarks and browsing history to Android phones. Safari has also announced a new offline mode to save web pages for later viewing. Safari has also caught up with the photo uploading interface of Google Chrome to keep the competition fair between the two web browsers.

Apple’s iPhone 4S is the biggest bet of Apple in the battle of the smartphones. It has secured a big chunk of the pie as far as sales are concerned. While many Apple fans impatiently waited for the arrival of the iOS 6, this has enabled the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S3 to gain a market advantage over the iPhone 4S.

Siri has always been one of the greatest advantages of the Apple iPhone 4S. Google’s Android has been hard at work to counter this with S Voice (for Samsung Galaxy S3) that gives mobile users the ability to launch applications with the power of the voice. Apple has easily countered this.

Cloud technology is another interesting development in the competition between Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. Both providers have an automatic cloud storage system for photos. Google has Google+ Instant Upload while Apple has iCloud.

Google+ Instant Upload compiles all photos in a private album that can be shared to friends; this can be best experienced in the social network Google+. On the other hand, Apple recently announced Shared Photo Streams. It allows users to choose specific people who can have access to a photo album. Live updates can also be shared through these specific users.

But the biggest move Apple has created to break away from Android is to create an independent maps solution that will compete with Google Maps. For many years, Google Maps has been the sole resource when it comes to live satellite maps. Apple can now compete on an even level when it comes to mobile maps. Via: therichest.org

Tablets vs. PCs, Google Android vs. Apple iOS: Which Will Emerge?

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Top 10 Technology Bans

Check out the top 10 technology bans that somehow significantly affected the way the world works. Here goes!

10. Apple’s Sexy Apps

 

Such applications would have taken the notion of AppleCare to a whole new level. In February of 2010, Apple formally banned applications that were deemed too coarse and lascivious from its iTunes store. Among the applications considered out of bounds was iBoobs; it allowed users to toggle through wobbling bosoms on display. Techies saw the move as a sign that Apple would maintain a heavy hand in regulating its marketplace.

9. Google Street View

Technology is advancing at an enormous pace no doubt, and with the compilation of street maps into a single application would have been a tremendous improvement in GPS systems and related technologies, but due to privacy related issues, the governments of both Greece and Austria banned Google from deploying its street-level cars in the countries. The ban took place in May of 2009 and is pushback against Google’s interfering eyes.

8. Music-Free Marathons

You might have experienced the feeling of not having your iPod when you set out for a long journey, now imagine ‘running’ 26 miles on a track without listening to music. In the year 2007, USA Track & Field, the governing body for running and race walking, banned headphones and portable audio players at its official races. The measure was meant for the runners’ safety.

7. Cell Phones in Cuba

When Fidel Castro figured out how to legitimately hand over the reins of authority to his younger brother Raúl on February 24 of 2008, it would have been against the law for Fidel to inform his brother through a mobile phone. Over the span of his half-a-century rule, Fidel aggressively protected the restrictions he placed on Cuba’s 11 million citizens which included ban on owning a cellphone. He said these were essential sacrifices in the “battle of ideas” against the enemy i.e. United States.

6. Israel Blocks the iPad

Israel is home to some of the most advanced technologies in the world, but its gadget geeks exuded for two weeks in April, 2010, when Tel Aviv banned the use of iPad on Israeli soil. During enactment of the law, any passenger landing in the country with the gadget would have it seized and made to pay $12 a day storage fee. State authorities claimed that the Wi-Fi functions of the iPad matched the U.S. standards, not the European ones in effect in Israel, and therefore posed a potential danger to the country’s military frequencies — an assertion with modest proof. The ban was lifted on April 25.

5. Colleges Ban Napster

Thirty-four percent of U.S. colleges and universities have banned the music file trading program Napster for Internet users surfing over campus servers. As students return to campus from summer vacations, college administrators wrestle with the legal and ethical questions surrounding the controversial program from Napster Inc. and its ban.

4. Laser Pointers

You must have noticed your university professor giving lectures using PowerPoint and using laser pointer to emphasize something which demanded greater attention. You could have one on your key chain and confuse your boss in a budget meeting. You could point to the constellation Orion with it or you could point it at your kids. You could even use one to ward off bears while camping. Or you could shoot the laser at a soccer goalie in the eye during a World Cup qualifier (Saudi Arabia vs. South Korea, 2008) or possibly point it at passing planes. In the year 2008, Australia and most of Europe banned the use of laser pointers.

3. The Great Firewall of China

The paragraph is taken from Time Magazine.

“China has more Internet addicts than most countries have people, and its leadership knows full well the power of the Web. A government white paper in June hailed the Internet as “a crystallization of all human wisdom” but, in typical Beijing speak, reminded the world that “within Chinese territory, the Internet is under the jurisdiction of Chinese sovereignty. The Internet sovereignty of China should be respected and protected.” What this alludes to is the vast, often mysterious set of blocks and bans the authoritarian government has imposed, sometimes relaxed and then reimposed on whole swaths of the online world.”

2. Pakistan Bans Facebook

Being a part of  the Muslim community, it is a very unhealthy act to disrespect someone’s creed and religion. Islam is one of the major religions of the world and over the past few years, many different religious communities have tried to make fun of the Muslim community via Facebook, due to which Facebook was banned (temporarily) in compliance with orders from the highest court of the country.

 1. UAE, Saudi Arabia Ban the BlackBerry

The United Arab Emirates blocked sending e-mails, access to the internet, and delivering instant messages among Blackberry users in 2010.  Saudi Arabia followed suit. Both nations were unhappy that they are unable to monitor such communications. This is because the Blackberry handsets automatically send the encrypted data to computer servers outside the two countries. Abdulrahman Mazi, a board member of the state-controlled Saudi Telecom, has admitted that the decision is intended to put pressure on Blackberry’s Canadian owner, Research in Motion (RIM), to release data from users’ communications “when needed”. The UAE’s telecoms regulator, TRA, said the lack of compliance with local laws raised “judicial, social and national security concerns”.

Source: Realitypod.com

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Top 10 Macbook Concept Designs

Apple is known for its continuous innovations, and all of their new products and upgrades at some point or another start out with a concept design. Here are 10 of Apple’s best Macbook concept designs.

1. Macbook Water

This element inspired device is called the iFluid idea Macbook Water. The iFluid device has less booting time than a cellphone and is used by pouring fluid on a flat surface to start the machine and to shut it down simply wipe the fluid off the surface.

2. Macbook 3D

With 3D technology being developed and marketed in television sets, the technology on your computer screen isn’t that far of leap. That paired with a hinge-less spine design, this Macbook design may take the market by storm someday soon.

3. Apple Mac-Tribook

Working to fix the ever present screen space problem notebook users have, the triBook has two additional screens, increasing the total screen space to 21”. This allows for more multi-tasking, but despite its increased efficiency it is gamers who are most excited by this new design concept.

4. Foldable Macbook Touch

The first flexible Macbook ever has an OLED touchscreen, meaning you can fold the screen to half is size for easier maneuvering or unfold it for large screen work.

5. Virtual Macbook Air

This concept design is more of a redesign as a lighter MacBook Air. This MacBook air features a virtual keyboard and two useable touchscreens, making the need for a mouse, well, unnecessary. The virtual keyboard is created by a small laser projector displaying on a flat laptop. This is a slimmer, and sexier, version.

6. Digi-Roll Macbook

This Macbook concept design increases your laptop’s portability that features an in-between configuration, theoretically giving quick email browsing possible. The straps double as USB plug-ins and the Macbook has a detachable webcam for use on your Macbook or that you can wear on your wrist!

7. Transparent Macbook

Ever get tired of looking from your computer screen to your television while doing work? That is a problem of the past! With a transparent laptop screen you can now watch your television screen through you laptop screen.

8. Macbook Mini

Less than half the size of any Macbook yet in production, this Macbook is a convenient portable concept design. This Macbook includes two mock-ups for a foldable or sliding trackpad for when you aren’t using the keyboard.

9. Macbook with Optimus Maximus

Combining the Apple OLED technology with Optimus Maximus would create a customizable look for heavy computer users.

10. Macbook Folder

An ultra slim e-folder equipped with a touch screen display, a large-button keyboard, two built-in speakers, Mac OS, Bluetooth and wireless LAN, this Macbook is less innovative than any of the other concept designs on this list. However, it may be one of the most likely concepts to be realized in the near future.

Apple’s innovations seem to know no bounds, and these concept designs certainly push the limits of the imagination, let alone the chance of production. It will be interesting to see which of these concepts come to life in the years to come.

Source:gizmocrazed.com

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15 Coolest accessories for iPad mini

Wirelessly listen to music or watch films on your iPad mini. Beats Wireless Headphones delivers quality, clear sound while giving you freedom to move from up to 9.1 metres away without a cord and if you don’t want to go wireless, it also works with a plug in cable.

 

#14 Kensington PowerBolt™ Micro Car Charger

Charge you iPad mini while driving with the Kensington PowerBolt that plugs into your car lighter! You will need a ‘Apple Lightning 9-pin to 30-pin Adapter’, mentioned further along in this gallery.

 

#13 Bose® SoundDock® Series II Digital Music System

With the ‘Lightning to USB Camera Adapter’ you can have quality sound with the Bose® SoundDock® Series II through the iPad mini and a additionally it will charge the iPad mini as it plays. The remote controls power, volume and track seek.

 

#12 Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air

The software, Airplay is included on the iPad mini and allows for wireless connection to the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air speakers with amazing ease and quality sound. It gets 4 out of 5 stars with 161 reviews on the Apple Store website.

#11 Square Credit Card Reader: A Revolutionary Tool for Merchants

The Credit Card Reader connects to the iPad mini as it also does with the iPhone and standard iPads. It connect into the headphone jack and allows anyone to accept credit cards payments.

 

#10 ZAGGkeys FLEX: Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard & Stand

The Bluetooth capacity on the iPad Mini works with this adaptable and portable keyboard as it does with the larger iPads. The Smart Stand doubles as a keyboard cover and has a built-in rechargeable battery making it perfect for traveling.

 

#9 HiLO Lens for the iPad mini Camera

Inventor, Mark Hampton has made the first iPhone & iPad right angle lens and he claims that, “Yes, the HiLO Lens works with the iPad mini too.” Modern digital cameras often have a swivel/flip screen, the HiLO Lens extends your iPad mini camera in a similar way.

 

#8 WiFi Body Scale by Withings

The Body Scale is a fitness coach that helps you to stay motivated with staying fit. It connects to the iPad mini through wifi and automatically records your weight and measurements like: weight, BMI, fat and lean muscle mass. Free downloads are available through iTunes which make viewing all your weight data collected by the scale easy.

#7 Contour+2 Video Camera

The iPad mini works wirelessly via Bluetooth as a viewfinder while recording with the Contour+2. Together they work in concert to make capturing video images a breeze. The camera shots quality 1080p HD video and has a waterproof case. Use your iPad Mini to start/stop camera recording, preview shot, and adjust camera settings.

 

#6 iPad Mini Portfolio Case

Look smart with this iPad Mini padded portfolio case featuring PU Leather – it looks like leather but is more durable for daily use. It has an interior velvet lining and can be used in multiple angles for typing, movie watching, etc.

 

#5 iPad mini Hot Pink GUMSHELL™ CASE & COVER

We love this simple and bright case cover made of soft TPU material for a non-slip grip. The protective case gives you easy access to all controls, ports and camera.

 

#4 DoubleTake iPad Mini Case Marware

The Marware DoubleTake iPad mini case has an automatic sleep/wake lid that folds to stand the device for hands-free viewing. It also has protective speaker grills and allows access to all ports, buttons and speakers.

#3 Apple Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader

The Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader is for downloading photos and videos from your digital camera to your iPad mini. This makes sharing your images so easy!

 

#2 Apple Lightning 9-pin to 30-pin Adapter

This adapter is the most important accessory your money can buy for the iPad mini right now. It lets you connect devices with a Lightning connector (9-pin) to many of your 30-pin accessories. It supports analog audio output, USB audio, as well as syncing and charging.

 

#1 Lightning to USB Camera Adapter

The Lightning to USB Camera Adapter makes it easy to download photos and videos directly from your digital camera to your iPad mini. After you connect the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, your iPad mini automatically opens the Photos app and viola you’re ready to share photos!

 

15 Coolest accessories for iPad mini

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Top 10 Gadgets Of 2012

2012 has been an exciting year in the world of technology; there has been so much innovation from mobile, automobile, photo, video, sound, and even home appliances. It has been tough to see what stands out the most while more and more keeps being introduced but these are gadgets that have shown to be unique and with great quality.

10. ifrogz Boost Speaker

This amazing little device is described as a NearField Audio™ speaker. Simply set media device on the top of the speaker while external speakers are in use and the Boost magically amplifies the sound.

Availability:

ifrogz website (Link)

Price:

$39.99

9. Samsung Super OLED TV

The TV is produced from a single pane of glass and powered by a dual-core chipset that allows users to run multiple apps simultaneously and open multiple pages on the tabbed web browser. With each OLED pixel made up of self-emitting RGB sub-pixels laid directly on the display panel, there’s no need for a backlight or a color filter resulting in improved contrast, wide viewing angles, and superior black and white levels when compared to LCD displays.

Availability:

No release details available yet, should be set by late 2012.

Price:

No pricing has been available yet.

8. Roku Streaming Stick

Meet the Roku Streaming Stick. The easiest way to take your Roku Ready HDTV, Blu-ray player or other device and make it Streaming Smart. No extra set-top box, no additional wires, and no hidden fees. Plug the Streaming Stick into the MHL port of your Roku Ready device for a totally integrated Roku streaming experience. It has built-in WiFi, processor, memory and software, so you simply connect it to your wireless network and control it with your TV remote.

Availability:

Roku (Link)

Price:

No official pricing yet but said to be under $100.

7. Brammo Empulse

The Integrated Electric Transmission (IET™) – IET™ is a mechatronic propulsion unit that emulates the feeling and performance of a traditional internal combustion engine, with a specially developed electric motor, clutch and gear shift, that enables the 2012 Empulse to accelerate hard from the line up to a high top speed, something that is just not possible to achieve with a single ratio electric motorcycle. The 2012 Empulse is also the world’s first production electric motorcycle to feature water cooling.

Availability:

Available for pre-order at Brammo’s Online Store (Link)

Price:

$17,000 – $19,000

6. Nest – The Learning Thermostat

The Nest Learning Thermostat programs itself in a week and turns itself down when you’re away. Nest helps you understand how your home uses energy so you can save more. You can log in to your Nest Web app or smartphone app on-the-go to adjust the temperature at home.

Availability:

Nest Online Store (Link)

Price:

$249 plus $119 for installation.

5. Apple iPhone 5

It is Apple’s next-gen iPhone and is confirmed to be the fastest and thinnest smartphone on the market today. It has a Retina display 4-inch screen with true 16:9 ratio for great widescreen viewing. The anodized aluminum backing is looks great and protects the phone’s glass touchscreen like a dream.

Availability:

Available from multiple global carriers, retailers, and Apple’s Online Store (Link)

Price:

$199, $299, or $399 on 2-year contract

4. Lytro Light Field Camera

The Lytro camera is small, light, and stunning. The Lytro Light Field Camera boasts an 8X optical zoom lens with a constant f/2 aperture, capturing maximum light across the entire zoom range. Extruded anodized aluminum structural skin. Center of gravity shutter button. Intuitive multi-touch screen. And less than eight ounces. Since you’ll capture the color, intensity, and direction of all the light, you can experience the first major light field capability – focusing after the fact.

Availability:

Lytro’s Online Store (Link)

Price:

$399 – $499

3. Pebble E-Paper Watch

Pebble is the first watch built for the 21st century. It’s infinitely customizable, with beautiful downloadable watch-faces and useful internet-connected apps. Pebble connects to iPhone and Android smartphones using Bluetooth, alerting you with a silent vibration to incoming calls, emails and messages. Pebble can change instantly, thanks to its brilliant, outdoor-readable electronic-paper (e-paper) display.

Availability:

Pre-Order from Pebble’s Online Store, to be fulfilled once its backers have been rewarded. (Link)

Price:

$150

2. Makerbot Replicator

Weighing a bit over 30lbs, personalized manufacturing using a MakerBot Replicator™ opens up a world of innovation, customization and creativity. Create your own 3D designs or download one of the thousands of models from Thingiverse.com, and turn your ideas into real, physical objects.

Availability:

Makerbot’s Online Site and will ship in about a week. (Link)

Price:

$1749 – $1999

1. MWE Emperor 200

Hand built to your requirements, the Emperor 200 is the ultimate computer workstation with several exclusive features such as touch screen control center, air filtering system, light therapy, electric powered leather seat, up to 3 x 27″ LED screens and a breathtaking sound!

Availability:

You can buy one by emailing the nearest shipping location found at MWE’s site (Link)

Price:

$49,150

Source: gizmocrazed.com

Top 10 Gadgets Of 2012

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Are you ready for the iWatch? Apple"s next big thing?

Earlier this month, rumors surfaced that Apple was toying with concepts for a “smart watch.” While reports remain mostly unconfirmed, a patent application from Apple earlier this week did outline a device with a flexible screen that could be worn on wrists.

The rumors sparked a frenzy of questions that Apple has yet to provide any concrete answers to, but that hasn’t stopped an Apple fan from developing an entire commercial around the mysterious product.

Are you ready for the iWatch? Apple"s next big thing?

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