When predictions on Tablets become true...

Remember my previous post "Tablets are very nice devices, but still gadgets" last December.

Well Since, Apple has released their iPad 2 and have made a huge success, with 1 million devices sold on first week-end (see article from Reuters for example) and a total of 2.5 million devices for March. One analayst was finally coming to a good conclusion when writting "company's [Apple] rivals are likely to have a tough time attracting customers"

Two things happened:
1. Apple did very well anticipate on the launch of competing tablets and new the flaws of its first version that would have made consumers eventually change to competitors. iPad 2 virtually fixed most important ones (video for example).


2. Apple was thus, again, first on the market and grabbed all those savvy consumers who are willing to spend extra on this gadget (because I still call it a gadget). The price was a very important, and wise, decision.


Indeed, there are only so many consumers willing to spend $499 bucks or higher on a tablet. Once iPad is out, well, not many consumers left for the competitors.

Last news about the lack of success of first line competing product Motorola Xoom really confirms this analysis. They barely made it to 100,000 devices so far; and while there's no consensus yet on that, some analysts are quite disappointed by this.

Then another thing is about to happen: Samsung is about to drop the price of its Galaxy Tab to $350 USD on April 10th according to this source. That's a smart move, but they will have to do massive advertisment on this to ensure that price does become a compelling argument vs. the iPad 2!!

It's true that they have managed to sell 2 Million devices in Q4 2010, versus 7.3 for the iPad 1 (which is behind, technologically, from the Tab!!), which is quite a nice performance comparetively (to the Xoom for example).

Indeed, many tablets are currently selling below that price, I'm thinking Archos, ViewSonic, etc; how about the sales of those?


As far as I'm concerned, the market size is still much more limited than one could think; and unless they really go beyond a mere entertainment gadget with a business application approach, well, it will still be a niche market. But a market of wealthy people (or people willign to spend big bucks, true).

So people, be more creative, think "outside the box", tablets can be used for other things than watching movies and surfing on the web....

The Samsung Tab

Among the big buzz nowadays around mobile devices, is the Samsung Tab. Below is the first TV-ad about it, really worth watching.

Now I won't go over a full review of the product as TechCrunch has a very, very nice section on its site dedicated to this device.

Checkout the site here.

I had the chance to personally test it few weeks ago, not in depth but still, here's my pitch on why would you buy a Samsung Tab instead of an iPhone. There are loads of reviews, most compare technical features, but when you buy and use a mobile, what really matters is the experience you get, right?

1) Positive - The format is definitely interesting. It's a true "mobile" device, that you can put in your pocket (OK, you would need some large pocket, but any suite / jacket / coat should do!); while the iPad is a "portable" device for which you need a bag.

2) Equal - The "touch" feeling, for me it's the same as iPad. I didn't make side to side comparison but having extensively used iPad as well, don't notice a difference. It's fluid, reactive, well, what you would expect.

3) Equal- Graphically as well (lightness, contrast), pretty much looks like iPad to me as well; but I'm sure you can find technical differences if you want, but consumer wise, no difference

4) Positive - it's Android. So besides the iPad with iOS, the competitors use their own OS or MS. Windows. Android is pretty light, launches pretty fast (as fast as iPad).

Negative - But what will probably make the difference is availability of content for this device. On the model I've tried, there were mostly the Android Market and honestly, I'm not personally fond of this yet compared to the App Store. The quality is really not homogeneous and I would certainly not want to have a trojan installed on my Samsung Tab (as there are loads of it on Android Market). Need to see also what Samsung will make out of Samsung App, we certainly have big expectations! Since I'm not too fond about reading books on electronic device, won't make a comment on that, but what they propose surely looks compelling.

Great features:

- Micro SD Cards!! ++++

- Phone calls ++++, yes, it's also a phone!! (includes video calls)

- True, full web experience (..hum.. flash yes!!!)

- GPS included (augmented reality, etc)

Now what will really make a difference, it's the PRICE!! Different rumours, different prices. If they are more or less in line with iPad's price, it will be a tough sell. If they are cheaper, it will definitely be very, very attractive; starting with myself. I have an iPhone though, but navigating on the web with it is still a bit painfull.

So let's see at what price they will sell it! My guess: hight at the beginning, but will slowly decrease in price as sales won't pick up as expected. But with recent experience from very well performing iPhone competitor Galaxy S, I'm really expecting Samsung to make something very good out of this device! We will know very soon as it's to be released in Europe mid-September!!

Links: Samsung Tab's official site - IFA page on Samsung Tab -

The Android "wave" against the iPhone

Gartner recently published sales of smartphone devices by manufacturer, but also by OS (read full article). But as everyone else does, they only publish Q2 2010 and compare it to Q2 2009.

Stats are nice, it's also nice to see the progression of some and decrease of others, but what we, readers, expect most from those companies is to highlight what really makes sense.

So I did it for them.

Where's the real battle right now in terms of AppStore / smart phones: it's a "fight" between Apple and Android, even though one could say we're comparing pears and apples, but we don't. Apple's iPhone is one environment (iPhone, iTune, iPad, etc.), and Android is its nearest competitor when it comes to mobile content / mobile entertainement (and derived, mobile advertising....!!!), even if manufacturered by several competing companies.

So here it is, the compiled stats from Gartner (even if from one report to another, figures reported for a given quarter vary a bit, which is definitely not serious for such a company, I can illustrate on demand!):

Of course Q3 figures will show interesting with
- Sales of iPhone 4, apparently over 3 million devices sold in just 1 month as of July 16th (as reported by engadget.com here)
-Still roaring sales of Android powered devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S reporting selling 1 million handsets in 45 days (source) as of today.

So of course, with this huge Android "wave" (yes, it's a reference to the declared dead Google Wave project), we really understand publishers concerns over Android Marketplace (see post about article from Digital Chocolate - click here). It's definitely something to take into consideration in the mobile content / advertising business!

So the question for all actors in the field is: are you ready for this?


Gartner Sources:
Q1 2010 - http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1372013
2008-2009: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1306513
Q3 2009: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1224645        
Q2 2009: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1126812
Q1 2009: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=985912