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The Nexus 10 tablet, left, and the Nexus 4 smartphone are shown at a Google announcement in San Francisco. Jeff Chiu/AP/Press Association Images

Android gains on Apple in surging tablet sector: survey

The global appetite for tablet computers is growing faster than previously thought – and Android-powered devices are gaining on iPads – a new survey claims.

THE GLOBAL MARKET for tablet computers is growing faster than earlier estimates suggested, with Android-powered devices gaining on the market-leading iPads, a survey said Wednesday.

IDC said it boosted its forecast for global tablet sales for 2012 to 122.3 million, from 117.1 million, in large part due to demand for Android tablets and the new iPad mini.

IDC also raised its 2013 forecast number to 172.4 million, up from 165.9 million and said shipments by 2016 worldwide shipments should reach 282.7 million.

“Tablets continue to captivate consumers, and as the market shifts toward smaller, more mobile screen sizes and lower price points, we expect demand to accelerate in the fourth quarter and beyond,” said Tom Mainelli, research director for tablets at IDC.

“Android tablets are gaining traction in the market thanks to solid products from Google, Amazon, Samsung, and others. And Apple’s November iPad mini launch, along with its surprise refresh of the full-sized iPad, positions the company well for a strong holiday season.”

IDC now expects Android’s worldwide tablet share to increase to 42.7 percent for 2012 from 39.8 percent in 2011. Apple’s share is expected to slip to 53.8 percent from 56.3 percent in 2011.

“The breadth and depth of Android has taken full effect on the tablet market as it has for the smartphone space,” said Ryan Reith, an IDC analyst.

“Android tablet shipments will certainly act as the catalyst for growth in the low-cost segment in emerging markets given the platform’s low barrier to entry on manufacturing. At the same time, top-tier companies like Samsung, Lenovo, and ASUS are all launching Android tablets with comparable to premium products, but offered at much lower price points.”

IDC predicts Windows-based tablets, including new devices from Microsoft and others, will gain share from both iOS and Android, growing from one percent of the market in 2011 to 2.9 percent in 2012 and 10.2 percent in 2016.

- © AFP, 2012

Read: Samsung faces new court battle over patents, this time with Ericsson

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    Mute Cor O'Brien
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    Nov 23rd 2011, 5:25 PM

    Hi Belgium,welcome to the group of debt,take a seat,Ms Merkal will see you in a moment!

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    Mute Derek Durkin
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    Nov 23rd 2011, 3:40 PM

    Sounds a lot like Ireland especially the no government part.

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    Mute Mary Cleary
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    Nov 23rd 2011, 4:42 PM

    Where have those half elected idiots been for over 500 days? Have they not seen Ireland,Greece and Portugal imploding with similar problems? At this rate the game is well and truly up. It’s frightening to think what’s coming down the track for all Europeans. I’m innocent. Get me out of here!

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    Mute Steven C. Schulz
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    Nov 23rd 2011, 4:42 PM

    King Albert should just dissolve parliament, call a constitutional covention and rule directly in the intervening period for the sake of the Belgian people.

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    Mute Sean O'Keeffe
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    Nov 23rd 2011, 5:46 PM

    It’s frightening, given this crisis, how readily some people give up on democracy and embrace tyranny.

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    Mute Steven C. Schulz
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    Nov 23rd 2011, 8:38 PM

    Tyranny come in many forms.

    Is it not a form of tyranny to deny the people a representative government for two years because people are so entrenced in their positions?

    Sometimes an autocrat is less tyranncal than an abusive democracy, and in this case “democracy” has failed the Belgian people.

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    Mute Tim Henchin
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    Nov 23rd 2011, 10:37 PM

    Steven. The reason that there is no Belgium Govt. is that the Govt’s of the respective parts of Belgium. Flanders and Wallonia have the vast majority of powers that are required. They refuse to continue with the charade that Belgium is a functional state. They are ignoring Belgium and getting on with the business of Govt.

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    Mute Tim Henchin
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    Nov 23rd 2011, 5:08 PM

    Belgium should have been broken up 20 years ago.

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    Mute Gis Bayertz
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    Nov 23rd 2011, 5:58 PM

    Belgium should never have been created in the first place

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    Mute Tim Henchin
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    Nov 23rd 2011, 5:09 PM

    Belgium and France are the next countries to be bailed out, Spain might be there with a photo finish.

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    Mute Paul O'Brien
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    Nov 24th 2011, 9:09 AM

    Belgium is really the cultural part of the Netherlands joined to the rust-belt part of France. The two parts should re-join the states they naturally belong to (France and the Netherlands). Problem solved for both. Brussels would then become an independent city state and the capital of the new United States of Europe (since Berlin would never be accepted.) With political-economic integration, the current problems with the Euro would be over. Otherwise, it’s back to petty nationalism and fiddling around with money every time you cross one of those silly borders, with the banks making a profit every time.

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