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?

Continue

America’s Top 10 Favorite Beers

According to the recently released 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend Rankings, there is a new batch of brews with stronger brand equity, customer connections and buzz.

24/7 Wall St. examined the report, identifying the 10 beers with the strongest brands.

We included dollar sales, change in dollar sales from one year ago and case sales. We also included the average price per case over the latest 52-week period in the United

States provided by SymphonyIRI Group, a Chicago-based market research firm. The group looked at sales at supermarkets, drugstores, gas/convenience stores and mass market retailers, but excluding Walmart, club stores and liquor stores.

The beer brands with the greatest strength are largely more expensive brews. Nine of the 10 are among the most expensive beers out of the country’s 20 best-selling beers. American consumers also are spending more on these beers. Dollar sales of every beer on the list has increased from one year prior.

The beers with the most powerful brands are just as varied as beer drinkers’ tastes. They differ greatly in style and originate from five different countries. They also have a range of founding dates, extending from 1759 to 1995. This illustrates that an established brand does not necessarily mean a strong brand.

#10: Corona Extra

 

• Dollar sales: $995,750,100


• Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +8.81%


• Case sales: 33,653,220


• Avg. price per case: $29.59

Corona has been Mexico’s best-selling beer since 1935. It was not until 1979 that the beer was imported to the U.S. Corona sells for a higher average price per case than many domestic beers, at $29.59, yet it is still very popular among American consumers. In the 52 weeks ended April 15, 2012, Corona Extra was among the best-selling beers by quantity, and it ranked even higher for dollar sales. According to Grupo Modelo, Corona is “undoubtedly” the best-selling Mexican beer in the world.Via: investorplace.com

#9: HeinekenDollar sales: $592,768,800

• Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +4.86%


• Case sales: 19,681,860


• Avg. price per case: $30.12

Heineken has been brewed in Amsterdam since 1873. It was introduced in the United States in 1933, after Prohibition was lifted. Today, the beer is one of the country’s most popular, and its brand is one of the strongest. Heineken is one of the more expensive brands in the U.S., selling for an average of more than $30 per case. This price has helped the company make almost $600 million in the 52 weeks ending April 15. Via: investorplace.com

#8: Beck’s

 

• Dollar sales: $73,672,420


• Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +2.67%


• Case sales: 2,656,154


• Avg. price per case: $27.74

Beck’s sales are significantly lower than fellow European brew Heineken’s. Beck’s dollar sales were about one-eighth that of Heineken in the 52 weeks ending April 15. Its case sales were slightly more than one-eighth the number of cases Heineken sold over that same period. Despite these relatively low sales, the Beck’s brand is stronger than Heineken’s in the eyes of Americans. Via: investorplace.com

#7: Modelo Especial

 

• Dollar sales: $355,914,800


• Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +22.63%


• Case sales: 13,948,820


• Avg. price per case: $25.52

Modelo Especial was not available in the U.S. until 1990, more than 20 years after the introduction of fellow Mexican beer Corona. No doubt, Corona Extra’s sales of $1 billion in the 52 weeks ending April 15 are much higher than Modelo Especial’s $356 million, but Modelo is quickly growing in popularity. Already it has a stronger brand, and compared to one year ago, sales have increased more than 22% — among the largest increases for any brand.Via: investorplace.com

#6: Samuel Adams Lager

 

• Dollar sales: $240,251,900


• Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +6.02%


• Case sales: 7,710,278


• Avg. price per case: $31.16

Boston Beer Company (NYSE:SAM), the maker of Samuel Adams, is tied with Yuengling as the largest American-owned brewer, ranked by barrels shipped in 2011. The company is considered an American craft brewer — defined as relatively small, independent and traditional — by the Brewers Association. Samuel Adams Lager is fairly expensive, with an average price tag of more than $31 per case. Compared to other popular beers, Samuel Adams ranks significantly higher in dollar sales compared to case sales. Via: investorplace.com

#5: Guinness Stout

 

• Dollar sales: $93,183,030


• Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +16.46%


• Case sales: 2,617,600


• Avg. price per case: $35.60

Guinness, which started in 1759 in Dublin, is the oldest brewer on this list. Yet it is still gaining popularity in the U.S. Over the past year, the beer’s maker, Diageo (NYSE:DEO), sold 2.6 million cases of Guinness Stout in the country, an increase of more than 16% from the year prior. The beer is also the most expensive among popular brands, costing an average $35.60 per case. Via: investorplace.com

#4: Newcastle Brown Ale

 

• Dollar sales: $84,891,020


• Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +6.48%


• Case sales: 2,673,008


• Avg. price per case: $31.76

Newcastle Brown Ale, which is brewed by Heineken, has rather low sales in the U.S. compared to other popular brands. Yet, it is experiencing significant growth. Newcastle sold 2.67 million cases in the U.S. in the 52 weeks ended April 15, an increase of approximately 7% from the year before. Newcastle is also one of the most expensive popular beer brands, costing an average of $31.76 per case.Via: investorplace.com

#3: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

 

• Dollar sales: $146,656,300


• Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +15.71%


• Case sales: 4,513,378


• Avg. price per case: $32.36

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., based in California, has only been around since 1979. The company’s most popular beer — Sierra Nevada Pale Ale — already has among the strongest brands in the U.S. Dollar sales for the beer increased nearly 16% in the 52 weeks ended April 15, compared to the year before. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is also the second-most expensive brew among popular brands, costing $32.36 per case. Via: investorplace.com

#2: Blue Moon

• Dollar sales: $225,747,800


• Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +26.46%


• Case sales: 7,370,705


• Avg. price per case: $30.63

Launched in 1995, Blue Moon is the youngest brand on this list. Dollar sales of the beer, which is produced by MillerCoors, had the second-largest increase in the 52 weeks ended April 15, compared to the prior year, increasing by approximately 26.5%. Blue Moon is also one of the more expensive popular beers, with each case costing an average of $30.63.Via: investorplace.com

#1: Yuengling Traditional Lager

• Dollar sales: $206,266,200


• Change in dollar sales from a year ago: +36.55%


• Case sales: 9,465,673


• Avg. price per case: $21.79

Yuengling is America’s oldest brewing company in the U.S., having been founded in 1829. It also has the strongest brand. This brand’s strength appears to be helping sales immensely. Yuengling is tied with the Boston Beer Company for being the largest American-owned brewer by measure of barrels shipped in 2011. On top of this, the company is becoming even more popular still. For the 52 weeks that ended April 15, 2012, Yuengling had the largest increase in dollar sales in the U.S. from the year before, growing by more than 36%. Yuengling, however, is significantly less expensive than the other brands on this list.

Via: investorplace.com

America’s Top 10 Favorite Beers

Continue

A 750-hp Isetta powered by a blown Chevy V-8 is just one of some 200 microcars being sold by America’s foremost collector later this month

It’s easy to like a Ferrari, or a Corvette or any given muscle car. It’s far harder to explain what makes a 20-hp three-wheeler not big enough to hold a typical high school lineman worth preserving. Yet one man’s two-decade quest to build the world’s largest collection of microcars has made him a hero among enthusiasts — and in two weeks, he’s putting his entire 200-vehicle fleet on the auction block.

Bruce Weiner made his fortune in the candy business, successfully reviving once dormant names like Dubble Bubble and selling his company to Tootsie Roll in 2004. That business grew out of a fascination with old machinery of any stripe, from watches to arcade games. Starting in the early 1990s, Weiner says he was captivated by the subculture of microcars — vehicles born mostly in Europe and Japan following World War II, when shortages of steel, rubber and consumer cash made tiny cars powered by scooter or motorcycle engines a necessity for families.

Weiner says chasing microcars offered far more satisfaction to him than kicking the tires on some Ferrari, because it required traveling the world to seek out like-minded collectors; in many cases, only a few copies of any given model were ever built, making it possible to own an entire production run. And the people who kept them were often less interested in top dollar sales than making sure their cherished car was going to an owner who cared. “The thrill of microcars,” Weiner says, “is that the size of your checkbook alone doesn’t determine whether you can acquire them.”

That said, a few of the cars and pieces of memorabilia RM Auctions will sell on Feb. 15 and 16 will still command a plus-sized price, thanks to Weiner’s meticulous research and restorations. This rose-colored F.M.R. Tiger, a four-wheel variation of the Messerschmitt three-wheeler, was one of a few offered as a “sport” edition that could reach 60 mph in 28 seconds, and could fetch up to $150,000.

Many of the cars are the only ones of their kind that exist, or like the Voisin Biscooter and BMW Isetta pickup, are factory prototypes. And while most date to pre-1965, a few modern editions have snuck through the gate, namely the Whattadrag, a recreation of a Hot Wheels toy mating a 1958 BMW Isetta with a 750-hp Chevy big block engine and dragstrip-sized rear wheel.

Although many of cars in Weiner’s collection will be offered at prices below $30,000, the sale could fetch more than $10 million — money Weiner says he will use to collect something else that catches his eye.

Via Autos.yahoo.com

A 750-hp Isetta powered by a blown Chevy V-8 is just one of some 200 microcars being sold by America’s foremost collector later this month

Continue

A 750-hp Isetta powered by a blown Chevy V-8 is just one of some 200 microcars being sold by America’s foremost collector later this month

It’s easy to like a Ferrari, or a Corvette or any given muscle car. It’s far harder to explain what makes a 20-hp three-wheeler not big enough to hold a typical high school lineman worth preserving. Yet one man’s two-decade quest to build the world’s largest collection of microcars has made him a hero among enthusiasts — and in two weeks, he’s putting his entire 200-vehicle fleet on the auction block.

Bruce Weiner made his fortune in the candy business, successfully reviving once dormant names like Dubble Bubble and selling his company to Tootsie Roll in 2004. That business grew out of a fascination with old machinery of any stripe, from watches to arcade games. Starting in the early 1990s, Weiner says he was captivated by the subculture of microcars — vehicles born mostly in Europe and Japan following World War II, when shortages of steel, rubber and consumer cash made tiny cars powered by scooter or motorcycle engines a necessity for families.

Weiner says chasing microcars offered far more satisfaction to him than kicking the tires on some Ferrari, because it required traveling the world to seek out like-minded collectors; in many cases, only a few copies of any given model were ever built, making it possible to own an entire production run. And the people who kept them were often less interested in top dollar sales than making sure their cherished car was going to an owner who cared. “The thrill of microcars,” Weiner says, “is that the size of your checkbook alone doesn’t determine whether you can acquire them.”

That said, a few of the cars and pieces of memorabilia RM Auctions will sell on Feb. 15 and 16 will still command a plus-sized price, thanks to Weiner’s meticulous research and restorations. This rose-colored F.M.R. Tiger, a four-wheel variation of the Messerschmitt three-wheeler, was one of a few offered as a “sport” edition that could reach 60 mph in 28 seconds, and could fetch up to $150,000.

Many of the cars are the only ones of their kind that exist, or like the Voisin Biscooter and BMW Isetta pickup, are factory prototypes. And while most date to pre-1965, a few modern editions have snuck through the gate, namely the Whattadrag, a recreation of a Hot Wheels toy mating a 1958 BMW Isetta with a 750-hp Chevy big block engine and dragstrip-sized rear wheel.

Although many of cars in Weiner’s collection will be offered at prices below $30,000, the sale could fetch more than $10 million — money Weiner says he will use to collect something else that catches his eye.

Via Autos.yahoo.com

A 750-hp Isetta powered by a blown Chevy V-8 is just one of some 200 microcars being sold by America’s foremost collector later this month

Continue