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Posts Tagged ‘Xoom’

Consumers overwhelmingly prefer tablets to laptops as holiday gifts

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
Apple iPad3s

Apple iPad3s

When consumers were asked whether they would rather receive a tablet computer or a laptop as a holiday gift this year, an overwhelming 79 percent indicated that they would rather receive a tablet. Seventy-two percent of shoppers also indicated that they believe tablet computers will replace e-readers as gifts this year. Conducted from Oct. 18 to 26, 2011, the survey includes responses from 3,574 U.S. online shopping consumers.

When those who indicated a preference for tablets over laptops were asked to select all of the reasons why, portability and light weight appeared to be dominating factors.

Eighty-five percent of these shoppers said they preferred tablets because they are easy to carry and transport, 73 percent preferred the tablet’s light weight, 67 percent cited convenience, and another 67 percent enjoyed the touchscreen.

Sixty percent preferred the tablet’s smaller size, 56 percent said that they can use the tablet for reading on the go, 49 percent cited speed, 42 percent liked its multimedia features that are similar to a smartphone, and 41 percent cited an exceptional battery life.

Apple’s® iPad® is top-ranked tablet and e-reader

The power of the Apple brand is likely to remain in full force this holiday season. When consumers were asked which tablet they would prefer to receive as a gift this year, an astounding 83 percent said they preferred the Apple iPad or iPad 2.

This was followed by only 5 percent who said the Amazon Kindle Fire, 4 percent who said the Samsung Galaxy Tab and 2 percent who said the HPTouchPad. Other tablets, such as the Motorola Xoom, BlackBerry PlayBook, Toshiba Thrive, ASUS Eee Pad and ASUS Eee Slate, ranked lower.

The iPad was also the number-one e-reader, with 62 percent of consumers preferring it to other e-readers. Twenty-seven percent indicated a preference for the Amazon Kindle, 7 percent said the Barnes & Noble Nook, 2 percent said the Sony e-Reader, and another 2 percent selected other brands.

“Apple has experienced enormous success with its groundbreaking iPad, and our survey data confirms that enthusiasm for the brand will likely remain during the 2011 holiday shopping season,” said Graham Jones, general manager of PriceGrabber. “We expect that tablets, such as the iPad, will be a clear gift choice for many multitasking, budget-conscious consumers looking for an efficient and convenient computer at a relatively reasonable price.”

Consumers prefer the iPhone® over other smartphones

PriceGrabber’s survey data revealed that consumers’ love for Apple extends to smartphones as well. When asked which smartphone brand they would prefer to receive as a gift this holiday season, 72 percent of consumers said Apple’s iPhone. Seven percent said Samsung, 6 percent indicated that they prefer HTC, 5 percent said BlackBerry, and another 5 percent said Motorola®. Brands including T-Mobile, Sony Ericsson and Google Nexus ranked lower.

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Posted in Internet/New Media, Mobile, mobile games, smartphones, Studies, surveys, reports, Tech Culture | No Comments »

E-readers gaining, tablet growth slowing, both lag other devices, Pew says

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

PewInternetThe share of adults in the United States who own an e-book reader doubled to 12 percent in May, 2011  from 6 percent in November 2010.  E-readers, such as a Kindle or Nook, are portable devices designed to allow readers to download and read books and periodicals.

This is the first time since the Pew Internet Project began measuring e-reader use in April 2009 that ownership of this device has reached double digits among U.S. adults.

We have been using the Amazon Wi-Fi Kindle – the third iteration – since last year. In addition to the convenience of carrying hundreds of books around on a device that weighs about the same as a paperback (good-bye book bag), we listen to MP3 podcasts, old radio dramas, and audio books on the device. In a pinch, it’s Internet browser will let you check the news, Twitter, or other sites, but in black and white. Still we’re more pleased with this device than with many we use or have tested, from cell phones and tablets to PDAs and MP3 players.

We hear from those using a color Nook, or other e-readers that they are similarly pleased with their device. We’ll likely step up to one of the more advanced models at some point for the convenience of having additional features and a better browsing experience, but the e-Ink tech that lets you read even in full sunlight and doesn’t suck battery power is one feature we wouldn’t trade for color and zippy new bells and whistles.

Tablet growth slowing

Tablet computers—portable devices similar to e-readers but designed for more interactive web functions—have not seen the same level of growth in recent months.  In May 2011, 8 percent of adults report owning a tablet computer such as an iPad, Samsung Galaxy or Motorola Xoom.

This is roughly the same percentage of adults who reported owning this kind of device in January 2011 (7%), and represents just a 3 percentage-point increase in ownership since November 2010. Prior to that, tablet ownership had been climbing relatively quickly.

Personally, we find the tablets don’t meet our needs as yet. They all weight just a bit over a pound and a half, too heavy for being easily held as a reader or used as a camera. Virtual keyboards are not the best way to get any work done other than perhaps texting or light email. Still, we know folks who love their iPads and when we reviewed the Xoom, it’s advocates were not shy about sticking up for it.

We’ve said from the beginning we suspected that we did not see the utility of tablets, despite Apple’s amazing success with the iPad.

Here’s more from the Pew study:

Growth over time

These findings come from a survey conducted from April 26-May 22 among 2,277 adults ages 18 and over, including surveys in English and Spanish and on landline and cell phones. The margin of error for the sample is plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Both e-book reader and tablet computer adoption levels among U.S. adults are still well below that of other tech devices that have been on the market longer. Cell phones are far and away the most popular digital device among U.S. adults today, followed by desktop and laptop computers, DVRs, and MP3 players.

Both e-reader and tablet ownership far behind other devices

There is notable overlap in e-reader and tablet computer ownership – 3% of US adults own both devices.  Nine percent own an e-book reader but not a tablet, while 5% own a tablet computer but not an e-reader.

Three percent of all adults own both an e-reader and a tablet

Further confirming the overall trend toward adoption of mobile devices, this survey marks the first time that laptop computers are as popular as desktop computers among U.S. adults.  In November of last year, desktop ownership outpaced laptop ownership by 8 percentage points, 61 percent to 53 percent.

This changing pattern is the result of both a steady decline in the popularity of desktops and a steady increase in the popularity of laptops over time.   Laptops have already overtaken desktops in popularity among adults under age 30, and appear poised to do the same among older adults.

We know many people who have shifted to working primarily on a laptop and others who never were desktop users to any great extent. Personally, though, we prefer the large desktop keyboard and our dual screen set-up for real work. Laptops are not ergonomically ideal. We find we get both hand and back strain from working on a laptop for any length of time.

We’d be willing to bet that more incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome will surface as people do significantly more work and play on their laptops.

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Tablets to outpace e-readers by the end of the year, In-Stat says

Monday, June 20th, 2011

KindleThe growing success of tablets is leaving many to question the viability of the e-reader market’s sustainability, says market intelligence firrm In-Stat. E-readers still offer the truest reading experience and appeal most to avid readers, but a broader market of consumers are demanding multimedia functionality, like web browsing, video and gaming, in their next mobile device.

Tablets, like the Apple iPad, are optimized to deliver this kind of multifunction experience, and therefore, represent a stronger opportunity for suppliers and manufacturers alike. As a result, In-Stat (www.in-stat.com) is forecasting that tablet shipments will outpace e-reader shipments by the end of this year.

“Of the two, the tablet market is the stronger and more sustainable opportunity,” says Stephanie Ethier, Senior Analyst. “In fact, e-reader manufacturers will soon begin adding tablet-like devices to their lineups in order to take advantage of the tablet frenzy. Barnes & Noble already offers the Color Nook, which is often compared to a tablet, and Amazon, the leader in the e-reader space with its Kindle, will likely launch a tablet device later this year in an effort to compete head-to-head with the iPad.”

At TechJournal South we have tested the Xoom tablet and use a Kindle. While we understand the general users desire for more functions on a tablet-like device, those added features can come with drawbacks such as added weight, screens hard to read in the sunlight, and decreased battery life.

Personally, we prefer a dedicated e-reader, although we suspect we’ll end up with both the light, easy-to-carry Kindle-like readers and a more tablet-like device eventually. The key for us would be a device that uses an E-ink technology like the Kindle’s rather than a backlit LED screen for just reading. Also, a non-reflective screen is essential. It does seem like a good idea right now to wait until the more advanced units hit the market.

Additional market and survey data findings include:

Of the 1,000 US respondents to In-Stat’s latest end-user survey, 38% own a tablet as compared to the 26% who own an e-reader.
Fueled by low prices and continued expansion of e-book content, global e-reader shipments will reach 40 million by 2015.
Tablet shipments will outpace e-reader shipments.
The total semiconductor opportunity for tablet suppliers will reach $13.8 billion in 2015.
The total semiconductor opportunity for e-reader suppliers will reach $1.6 billion in 2015.
Over 60% of future tablet purchasers plan to buy a tablet equipped with both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity.
By 2015, 15% of all tablet shipments will go into business markets.

–Allan Maurer

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Xoom vs. iPad2: The Final Battle

Monday, April 4th, 2011
Joe Procopio

Joe Procopio

By Joe Procopio

Ian Meyer is an iOS architect and consultant. He is an expert in all things Apple and a former genius (currently just “clever”). Ian be reached on Twitter @frijole

JP: First of all, why don’t you tell the readers a little bit about yourself, and how you came to be a religious zealot at the altar of Microsoft. Sorry, I mean Apple, I’ve been getting them confused lately.

IM: I’ve been having fun with Apple gadgets since Android was just a Blackberry-killer. Since then, the iPad came out and Android morphed into a fullscreen platform, but still can’t get over those button-loving roots.

JP: So we’re looking at the iPad2 and the Xoom today, side by side. I’ll  let you go first. What’s the main reason the iPad won’t lose as much market share to the Android tablet as the iPhone has lost to the Android phone?

IM: Nobody who wants to get an iPhone is happy with an Android, and nobody who wants to get an iPad is going to be happy with anything else. I mean, have you noticed how all the iPad competitors look like iPads? What does the Xoom look like?

JP: An iPad.

IM: Exactly.

JP: But that’s on purpose.

IM: Right. Motorola knows people want the iPad, they’re just hoping they won’t notice they got something else instead.

iPad2

iPad2

JP: So you’re saying that when people notice that the Xoom outspecs the iPad2 in every entertainment aspect, including screen size, resolution, audio, and camera, they’ll weep with tears of sadness?

IM: Ultimately, what’s all that good for? How does it improve my life? I believe that if they spent less time worrying about hardware and more time worrying about software, the experience wouldn’t suck so much.

JP: So you’re saying it’s all about the apps. The device is immaterial?  I guess the iPad could have just been the Newton 2 in that case.

IM: There are still things I can do on my Newton that you can’t do on your Xoom.

JP: You’re right. I didn’t get the model with the stylus. However, that kind of illustrates my point, if I have to have one. And that’s that Apple pretty much reinvented and thus saved the concept of the tablet by educating the user on what it was supposed to be used for.

IM: You’re welcome.

xoom

Motorolla's Xoom

JP: But that’s done. Now the race is on to make the better product. And here it is. The Xoom is more than a warning shot, it blew a big hole in the boat. Is Apple going to re-do the 90s and keep everything closed to the point where they lose market share and have to fire Steve Jobs again?

IM: You mean it blew a hole like the holes those Android Market apps created in your personal information when they were stealing it? I saw a post for an Android app that will fight back against apps that steal your data. That’s awesome for you guys. I like not having to worry about that.

JP: I like being able install what I want, not what Steve tells me to.

IM: In that sense, the Android model just emulates the PC model. Anyone can create and upload apps for the Xoom. Great. Where’s the pressure to make a great piece of software? That approval process is a black cloud, yeah, but if developers create something that gets past that process, the chances are better that it will succeed.

JP: I’ve got three responses to that. 1) Yes. I totally agree that there’s never been a terrible app released to iTunes. 2) I’ve got firsthand experience that the almighty process is just slightly more than arbitrary. 3) I was actually going to say that the process is “capricious,” but that sounds like something an Apple guy would say.

IM: In that, Android is doomed to be the NC State to Apple’s UNC.

JP: Step back, Ian.

IM: Android’s customers aren’t users. Their customers are the carriers, the manufacturers and most of all, the advertisers. That’s what Google optimizes for. Let’s face it. Your phone comes from the world’s biggest advertising company.

JP: And my coffee comes from Starbucks. In the end, it comes down to the viability of the product and the experience. What happens when all these developers are creating perfect apps for a device that got left behind like Kirk Cameron?

IM: Kirk who?

JP: The 1980s. Growing Pains. Bad movies. It doesn’t matter.

IM:  There’s no question that the Xoom is competition, and probably the first serious competition. But there was competition with the iPhone and the Android phone too. And ultimately it was a good thing. I mean, you guys try so hard. It’s hard to root against you. But what are you competing for? Is it the user or is it the ad dollars?

JP: Why can’t it be both? And also, are iAds just little friendly reminders for those things you might need but aren’t thinking about right now?

IM: Well, we’re not morons, there’s a whole industry being built around these apps and advertising, and the ad side came out of the competition with Android.

JP: So wait, you know I’m not a huge fan of the term “iPhone/iPad killer.”

IM: And I actually went to NC State!

JP: Yeah. Android is the underdog in this fight in an odd Goliath versus Goliath way. The Xoom, more specifically the Xoom as the first successful instantiation of Android’s Honeycomb on the market, is the alternative. The battle lines are drawn,  but maybe this kind of bullheaded pigfighting could actually be good for both platforms?

IM: No! Wait. Maybe. It might just be a mirror of the battle around the Mac. The PC was never intended to be a Mac killer, but it was supposed to be more useful.

JP: But… you can’t deny that the Mac was set up to be a PC killer. 1984. Superbowl. Hammers. Lemmings.

IM: Ouch.

JP: Yeah, and ultimately Apple lost that battle. But… it was lose/lose because the user also lost that battle some 15 or so years later. Exhibit A: Windows ME.

IM: (uncontrollable laughter)

JP: I’m not going to lie to you. That’s when I got off the bus. But the first battle didn’t force one company to innovate against the other, they wound up innovating in two totally different directions and were marketed to two totally segmented and opposite groups.

IM: I’m Justin Long. You’re John Hodgman.

JP: Step back, Ian! But couldn’t we learn from those mistakes?

IM: Yeah. I’ve been messing with the Xoom while we’ve been talking and there are a lot of things I like. Notifications are awesome. Search integration with the web. But it still feels like a 1.0 release. Honeycomb has some cool stuff, but it doesn’t feel… finished.

JP: I get that. And that’s what I want. I want openness and access, and frankly, that’s not hard to do and it was evident even with the first of the Samsung tablets. But I also want it to deliver the finished experience that Apple puts so much detail into. The Xoom feels like that.

IM: Somewhat.

JP: Morewhat. Look, as Android embraces the reinvention of the tablet, polishes it, adds sheer processing power, specs, app integration, and the open nature of the Android market, it raises the bar for Apple to innovate…

IM: And if that causes the iPad 3 to blow the doors off …

JP: The bar is RE-raised for Android. We, you and me, Apple and Android, Justin Long and… who could be the Google guy?

IM: Zach Galifianakis! He went to NC State!

JP: Long and Zach could be friends.

IM: We could stop all this mindless Android vs. iOS garbage.

JP: Everyone wins!

IM: We’re going to Disneyworld!

JP: Yes! Can I borrow your iPad?

IM: No.

Joe Procopio heads up product engineering for sports media startup StatSheet . He also owns startup consulting firm Intrepid Company and creative network Intrepid Media . Joe and Ian just proved that any, ANY disagreement can be solved over good IPA. Joe can be reached via Twitter @jproco.

 

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Posted in Columns, Internet/New Media, Mobile, Reviewed, Tech Culture, Telecommunications | 9 Comments »