Archive for Tablet computing

RB | January 24, 2012
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Tablet Info

The Tablet PC has long been a pet project for Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who showed the first Tablet PC prototype in 2000 at Comdex. Mr. Gates described the device, which featured input via stylus only, as an evolutionary step in PC functionality and usability. For the next ten years leading up to CEO Steve Ballmer‘s introduction of the new “slates”, which support Windows 7 touchscreen features, the company has tried to make the Tablet catch-on but with little success according to PCWorld.

Microsoft Office Coming To iPad Next Year – Report

Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft may be bringing Office to the iPad next year, according to a report in The Daily. The report cites unnamed sources, and says that Microsoft (MSFT) will also update its version of Office for the Mac next year.

On a business level, it might make sense the Apple (AAPL) iPad is making inroads into enterprise, and having some sort of Office client available for it would let Microsoft earn at least some money from these Apple invaders. It would also help make sure that Office 365 the company’s cloud-based business services would work on the iPad according to the BusinessInsider,

Microsoft might even do this at the risk of driving some enterprise customers to stick with iPads instead of adopting Windows 8 tablets. After all, Office and related back-end products has been driving Microsoft’s growth for the last year, while Windows sales have been pretty stagnant (I wrote about Office’s profitability here).

The BusinessInsider points out that Microsoft has NEVER released Office for the Mac in the same year (or before) Office for Windows. Microsoft is building Office 15 for Windows. It’s going to be a ton of work to revamp it to work with the Windows 8 tablet interface, or risk having it relegated to traditional PCs only (and having one less reason for customers to choose Windows 8 tablets). The Mac version of Office almost always comes a year after the Windows version. It COULD be different this time, but that would require a diversion of resources to a minority platform (the Mac still has less than 5% market share for personal computers).

Microsoft said through a spokesperson: “We already deliver Office on multiple platforms and devices and are committed to expanding in the future, but have nothing further to share today.”

BI says that expanding Office to the iPad is not crazy.

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Dell Streak Discontinued

DellThe Dell Streak 7 won’t even get to turn one year old. The BusinessInsider noted that Dell (DELL) is pulling the plug on its unremarkable tablet, as indicated on its site.

This is only shortly after discontinuing the Dell Streak 5 as well.

BI recalled Walt Mossberg‘s February 2011 AllThingsD review of the tablet, he sums it all up with one sentence: “I found the compromises Dell made to get to that low price make it impossible for me to recommend the Streak 7.”

rb-

I wrote about hardware companies abandoning the tablet market in 2012 here. Does this move make Dell a market leader?

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Proof That The PC Is Dying

PC is dyingThe BusinessInsider noted this excellent chart from Horace Dediu @asymco as proof that the PC is dying a slow, painful death. Mr. Dediu’s chart shows PC sales, including Google (GOOG) Android and Apple (AAPL) iOS devices, from the dawn of time to today.

As you can see, PC sales have started to go flat. Based on recent numbers from last quarter, they may have already hit their peak.

Meanwhile, Macs are gaining steady momentum while Android and iOS devices are blowing up.

One thing BI thinks could break the trend are all those fancy new Ultrabooks displayed at CES. Those could give PC sales a major boost considering how cheap and efficient they are.

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Apple Sues Chinese Outfit for Heresy

Steve Jobs Apple (AAPL) is suing a Chinese company for making graven idols of its founder Steve Jobs reports TechEye. Chinese company In Icons created an “eerily realistic” 12-inch action figure of Steve Jobs. TechEye says the model comes with the clothes and accessories such as the black faux turtleneck, blue jeans and sneakers. It was being sold in a box that looks like Walter Isaacson‘s “Steve Jobs” biography cover, and comes with a chair, a “One More Thing…” backdrop, as well as two red apples, including one with a bite in it.

Apple sees this an affront and has told In Icons that using Apple’s logo or products, or Jobs’ name or appearance, is a “criminal offence.” The article points out that the Pope and Elvis have similar deals on their merchandise.

But it is clear that its threat is going nowhere In Icons is not giving up.

Tandy Cheung, the entrepreneur behind In Icons told TechEye said that he was an Apple fanboy and a lot of people like him who want to have Jobs’ action figure. Cheung spoke with several lawyers from Hong Kong who told him that he wasn’t in violation unless he decided to brand any of his designs with Apple products or logos. He told IB Times that Steve Jobs was not an actor, he’s just a celebrity. There is no copyright protection for a normal person. Steve Jobs is not a product.

BuzzFeed updates that the promo pics from toy company In Icons might suggest that the late Apple co-founder comes with cool accessories, but alas. For $99 all you get is the black turtleneck-clad 12” action figure, no assembly required. Due for U.S. release in late February.

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RB | December 15, 2011
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Tablet Info

In case there was any doubt that mobile devices are the real deal, here are some stats from Digby. Globally, 80% of consumers have used computers to access the Web within the previous seven days. Sixty percent used their mobile devices to do so. 25% of US mobile web users only access the web from their mobile phones.

Angry Birds know where you live

Angry Birds75% of the public may be giving away their physical location when downloading smartphone applications, according to mobile security vendor AdaptiveMobile. 69% of smartphone users say such privacy breaches are unacceptable, yet Help Net Security reports that 75% fail to read the terms and conditions, which include access to data such as their physical location.

“Consumers are outraged that their data may not be secure but are unwilling to protect themselves,” AdaptiveMobile VP of Handset Security, Ciaran Bradley says in the article. “We are downloading more apps than ever before, but people are unaware that their location and other information can be harvested by applications.”

AdaptiveMobile research has shown that common applications including Angry Birds, Jaws and Paper Toss have access to information including location co-ordinates and owner’s name, which can be shared with up to 17 different external domains including advertisers.

“Consumers and the wider mobile industry need to become savvier about the information which is shared by apps,” Mike Hawkes, Chairman of The Mobile Data Association told Help Net Security. “It is becoming commonplace that personal information is shared with advertisers and developers.”

Mr. Bradley told Help Net Security that iPhone users are the most careless, with 65% completely unaware that free applications may compromise their privacy. Windows Phone users are more responsible, with 29% promising to stop downloading free applications if they had any doubt that their personal information was not safe. Windows Phone users are generally cautious, 95% of them are ‘quite’ or ‘very’ concerned about privacy infringements.

“If we are to slow the rise in cybercrime, consumers need to become more aware of the need for phone security” concluded Mr. Bradley. “Not only will this frustrate hackers and other cyber criminals, but also ensure that consumers can have a safe mobile experience.”

rb-

I wrote about mobile apps stealing PII here and here.

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Cisco’s Tablets Are Doing So Well, They’re Planning At Least Two More Models For Next Year

CiscoThe Cisco Cius tablet for enterprises, sounded like a hard sell when Cisco introduced it. But the company is apparently proving experts wrong, including me (I wrote about the Cius here and here) because Cisco‘s (CSCO) tablets are doing well enough that the company plans to release two new form factors next year, including a 10-inch version according to the BusinessInsider

Product manager Chuck Fontana told the BusinessInsider that 1,000 companies have already bought the tablet, He wouldn’t share device unit sales, but some deployments are in the hundreds, and one company plans to buy 1,500 for its sales force. The tablets are sold as part of a broader communications package, and include Cisco’s teleconferencing and collaboration services.

But underneath they’re straight Google (GOOG) Android tablets, and can run any Android app. To prevent employees from downloading malware-infested or low-quality apps, Cisco has rolled out a custom app store called AppHQ, where every app is vetted.

The BusinessInsider says the Cius is an interesting demonstration of how the relative openness of Android versus iOS is helping it gain traction in surprising places. Cisco didn’t go to quite the lengths that Amazon (AMZN) did with the Kindle Fire, where it basically forked Android and created a custom OS. But Android is open enough that Cisco could build its own app store and ship it with its own apps front and center.

That couldn’t have worked with the iPad, where Apple (AAPL) controls the experience.

So would Cisco consider offering a Windows tablet instead once Microsoft (MSFT) Windows 8 comes out?  “No,” said Fontana, “we’re not looking to do anything from a Windows perspective. Our core approach remains on Android.”

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People Are Losing Interest In The Microsoft Tablet, And It’s Not Even Out Yet

Microsoft Apple‘s (AAPL) iPad has already taken about 11% of the PC market, and by the time Microsoft (MSFT) and its partners get around to releasing a real competitor next year, it may be too late according to a new study from Forrester Research (FORR) in the BusinessInsider.

Near the beginning of 2011 according to the article Forrester surveyed 3,835 consumers who were considering buying a tablet. When asked which operating system they’d like on it, 48% said Windows, well ahead of iOS (16%) and Google’s (GOOG) Android (9%). The second most popular choice was “undecided” with 16%.

In September, Forrester asked the same question of a different group of 2,229 consumers. This time, iOS came in number one with 28% of the vote. Windows had only 25%, and Android was at 18%. A whole 24% were still undecided.

Overall, interest in Windows tablets dropped 21 percentage points in six months.

The BusinessInsider says the study is probably a bit skewed, but says the data shows a real perception shift: consumers are thinking of tablets more like smartphones, and less like PCs. That perception could carry through to the next time they’re thinking of buying a new computing device.

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RB | September 27, 2011
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Tablet Info

Mobile computing Morgan Stanley predicts (PDF) that by the end of 2020 10 billion mobile internet devices will be in use, up from 2 billion today. they also says that enterprise adoption is more widespread than expected. Two-thirds of the CIO’s surveyed expect either to buy tablets for some of their employees or allow employee-owned tablets on their networks within one year. The investment house also says that tablets will be viewed as content creation devices. They found 20% of tablet owners use the device to create or edit files regularly.and believe the rate of introduction of new mobile applications and faster processors could increase these figures over time.

People Have No Clue How To Use iPad Apps

ConfusediPad readers are skimming and can’t remember what they’ve read according to Nielsen Norman Group, BussinessInsider points out the report which finds that many big name iPad apps are too difficult to use, and should abide by one standard for gestures, tapping, etc.

Nielsen gave 16 study participants access to the NPR app, the Flipboard app, The Daily app, and the Amazon app, among others for two months, to see how they reacted and what they attempted to swipe, pinch, and tap.

According to Nielsen, most consumer’s are confused because every app has a different navigation scheme, and look different than their website counterparts. People had a lot of trouble in specific situations, because from one app to another, performing simple tasks like search, scrolling, or shopping, can be completely different.

In the midst of all their hard findings, Nielsen makes suggestions for app-makers to make their apps more intuitive and ergonomic for users. Nielsen suggests:

  • Always have a back button.
  • Content should look the same in portrait or landscape navigation.
  • Apps should take less than 20 seconds to download initial content.
  • Stick to a solid format for your website and tablet app.

Fring 4-way Group Video Chat Lands on iPad 2

fringThere is now a good reason for iPad 2 owners to use their front and rear cameras. AppScout says that Fring is the first app that brings group video chat to the Apple (AAPL) iPad 2.

Fring is a competitor to Skype and Qik that offers free 1-1 video chat over smartphones, but with the added bonus of free cross-platform 4-way live video chat. You can chat over Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G. AppScout predicts this feature along makes Fring a force to be reckoned with. Instead of waiting on its competitors to bring video chat to the iPad, Fring stepped up to deliver group video chat to the iPad. AppScout states that for now is the ONLY iPad-specific video chat app.

All the same features that are available for iPhone, iPod Touch, Google’s (GOOG) Android and Nokia (NOK) devices are available on the iPad as well. Additional features include FringOut that lets you call ANY phone number using low-cost Fring credits.

USB Hub Allows Simultaneous Syncing of 49 iPads

Datamation Systems Datamation Systems has released a desktop station that allows simultaneous syncing for up to 49 Apple (AAPL) iPads or other USB devices. The DS-IP-49-SYNC changes the way information is managed and distributed. The device acts as a fully powered USB hub for 49 devices. Using a Mac, it can sync with iTunes or other software capable of addressing USB devices. The system will work with Microsoft (MSFT) Windows, Linux and Mac computers but could have some software limitations with a non-Mac host.

The device is a syncing device which will provide a “trickle charge” for iPads, not as a fast-charge device. A single station in a tech center or IT department can quickly sync 49 devices which permits more practical centralized management control in technology deployments and maintenance. (rb- Something that Apple still does not get)

Foxconn Exported 48 Billion From Shenzhen In 2010

Foxconn Technology Group ChinaTechNews reports that Foxconn Technology Group (2038) says that in 2010, the company’s export value from its Shenzhen processing and trade enterprise reached $48 billion, a year-on-year increase of 50%.

According to ChinaTechNews nearly half of the world’s top branded computers are made by Foxconn. The company also makes mobile phone for Nokia (NOK) and Motorola (MMI) (GOOG); it makes playstations, laptops, and LCD TVs for Sony (SNE); and it makes iPods, iPhones and iPads for Apple (AAPL).

The article goes on to say that the Foxconn Shenzhen Longhua campus has become the manufacturing base for the latest technology products, including smartphones and tablet computers; and the volume and speed of shipments from this plant influence the prices in the global IT market.

Foxconn boasted new technology breakthroughs during the past year. In 2010, Foxconn applied for 16,000 global patents and 7,000 were approved; and it applied for 6,000 patents on Chinese mainland and nearly 3,000 got approved. (rb- And still the idiots politicians in Washington are still messing around with another budget extension.)

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RB | July 28, 2011
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Tablet Notes

portable computingTablet adoption is reportedly outpacing the take-up rates of smartphones, computers, mp3 players, or game consoles. Adoption is underway in a variety of sectors beyond the consumer segment, into retail, industrial, education and business. The demands for mobility and real-time access to data are driving the tablet market.   Sales are expected to exceed 147 million by 2015.

Microsoft: It’s Not Too Late To Win In Tablets

MicrosoftThe financial geniuses at Citi (C) that brought us the housing bubble also believe that Microsoft (MSFT) can still win the tablets wars. The BusinessInsider cites a report by Citi that says despite being late into the market Microsoft can become “#2 behind iPad” for these reasons:

Tablets are too expensive – Citi notes gadgets need to fall below $300 before they really take off. Until they reach that cost, Microsoft has time to reach people who haven’t jumped on the iPad bandwagon.

Android tablets are not very good – Citi believes that Android tablets won’t take off like Google’s (GOOG) Android Smartphones.

Android faces legal challenges – Android tablet makers are already facing a bunch of intellectual property suits from Apple (AAPL), Nokia (NOK), Oracle (ORCL), and Microsoft. Citi thinks Microsoft is hoping for royalties of $7.50 to $12.50 per unit. That would erase some of the cost-advantage of shipping Android.

Apps – Microsoft has an army of 6 million .NET developers who could start developing touch-optimized apps for Windows tablets. Plus, Citi says Microsoft can make Office an exclusive for its tablet and exploit its Xbox business to offer exclusive big-ticket games.

Enterprise – IT departments already know how to deploy, update, and push apps out to Windows PCs, so a Windows-based tablets should be easier to deal with than other tablets. Microsoft will also probably make Office an exclusive to its tablets, and could create a technology where a tablet can “extend” a PC by giving them access to locally stored files. Citi does note that the “bring your own device” trend might favor the iPad instead, but this trend is still in early days and not proven.

Citi predicts that about 75 million tablets will ship in 2013, and that Microsoft will have “meaningful share” of those.

GigaTrust Brings Enterprise Rights Management To Apple’s iPhone And iPad

GigaTrust GigaTrust, a publisher of Enterprise Rights Management (ERM) content protection software that enhance and extend Microsoft (MSFT) Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS) announced the release of the GigaTrust for iPhone and iPad mobile devices. The product consists of a client and “Mobility Server” that enables persistent content protection for the Apple (AAPL) iPhone and iPad equivalent to that provided by GigaTrust for the Research In Motion’s (RIMM) BlackBerry smartphone and Windows Desktop according to DarkReading.

Reportedly GigaTrust for iPhone and iPad protects content at rest, in transit, and in use, allowing users to securely deliver and persistently protect emails while they are being read on the device. Additionally, iPhone and iPad users can apply GigaTrust protection to outgoing emails and email responses.

Mobile Security: The Great Misconception

Smartphone SecurityResearch from Kaspersky Lab shows that many users feel more secure using mobile devices than PC’s to surf the Internet and that most consider the risk of losing personal data higher on computers than on their mobile devices. The report noted by ITnewsLink says there has been a recent increase in the number of attacks on mobile operating systems like Google’s (GOOG) Android and Apple’s (AAPL) iOS, and experts expect to see considerably more in the future. Despite this, users in the Kaspersky Lab survey feel more secure accessing the Internet via a mobile device.

In the survey users consider the risk of losing personal data lower on a mobile device than on a PC – despite the fact that around a fifth of all smartphone users have already experienced the loss or theft of a mobile device. The majority of users reported they store personal data, such as photos, emails or contact details, on their moblies. Around one-third also save login information, such as PIN codes or passwords, for services on their mobile devices, demonstrating a large gap between secure reality and user perception

Next! Turns Your iPad into a Real Productivity Tool

Left Turn LabsAppScout says Next! For iPad is proof that the iPad can do work The app is a getting-things-done (GTD) styled app that will help keep your projects organized, keep your tasks from overwhelming you, and keep you moving towards your goal.

Next! can help you organize your to-dos and projects. AppScout says it doesn’t have the same features as a project management suite like Microsoft Project, it’s perfect for those projects that are essentially a long series of tasks to be completed with due dates and dependencies for each of them.

You can take notes, store documents relevant to your project and tag items that you want to review with others, all from your iPad. Next! will even serve as a light document management system, giving you a central place for all of your project associated documents, images, and files that you’ll need to refer to as you do the work.

Since the app follows the GTD philosophy it allows you to create action lists based on when the tasks will be completed as opposed to an arbitrary priority list. Your tasks can be adjusted as they get nearer or come into focus. You also get overall project status and health bars that show how far you’ve progressed towards completing your tasks and how closely you’re tracking to your schedule.

Next! is available in the iTunes App Store for the introductory price of $9.99.

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RB | July 19, 2011
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Most Firms Don’t Know Why They Use iPads

Portable ComputingDespite the widespread success of the Apple (AAPL) iPad more than half of companies lack a clear iPad tablet strategy according to a recent survey by Dimensional Research. CNET’s Stephen Shankland points out the survey which found that “Most participants, 51 percent, indicated that they did not have a clearly articulated strategy,”

Apple ComputersThe survey of 448 businesses found that:

  • 22% have already deployed tablets.
  • 22% plan to do so this year
  • 24% plan to next year
  • 20% have no plans to deploy tablets

Dimensional Research polled the firms on whose tablet they intend to deploy and Research in Motionfound:

Ann All at ITBusinessEdge.com says the survey is an affirmation that the BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) trend is not hype, 41% of survey respondents said individual employees were using tablets they had purchased themselves.

The research firm also found that 82% of firms will use tablets to complement, and not replace, laptops. This fact is not lost on IT Pro’s. 42% of IT staff said business stakeholders do not understand the need for more development like new front pages specifically for the iPad.

Many of the companies I’ve spoken with seem to discover multiple use cases they hadn’t imagined for tablets when they begin putting them into users’ hands. And new applications continue to emerge all the time.

What do you think?

What tablet has your firm deployed?

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