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Microsoft Adds iPhone To $200-Up Apple Device Trade-In Program
Comparing Microsoft's Surface Tablet PCs To The iPad
Android Ecosystem Passes Apple's iPad In Tablet Sales Race
What's Left For The Macintosh In A Post-PC iOS World?
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition Available in the U.S. Oct. 10
Microsoft Adds iPhone To $200-Up Apple Device Trade-In Program
In a deal originally offered only to iPad 2 - 4 owners, Microsoft will now also give you a minimum $200 gift card you can use towards the purchase of a Surface, Surface Pro, or other products at the Microsoft store in exchange for your gently used iPhone 4S or iPhone 5.
Valid from September 27, 2013 until November 3, 2013, the offer is available in select Microsoft retail stores in US (including Puerto Rico) and Canada; Not valid online.The offer is only valid for the exchange of listed iPhone and iPad products, no exceptions. To be eligible for trade-in, device should include power cord, if available, and device cannot be password protected. Microsoft Store gift-card value will be equal to trade-in value, and is subject to Microsoft's discretion and manager approval.
All trade-ins are final. Recycle for Rewards program provided by CExchange, LLC. and other terms and conditions may apply. See store associate for details. Not valid on prior orders or purchases; cannot be transferred or otherwise redeemed for cash. Limit 1 per customer.
For full details, see:
http://goo.gl/RwDXMc
Comparing Microsoft's Surface Tablet PCs To The iPad
CNET's Brooke Crothers notes that Microsoft's Surface Pro 2 is bigger, thicker, and heavier than the iPad, and more expensive too, but then it's note really a tablet, but a protable PC in tablet clothing. Crothers cites Microsoft's Surface boss Panos Panay explaining that Surface Pro is not a table, but rather a decent portable computer that runs all your favorite Windows applications. On the other handt the thinner, lighter Surface RT is a tablet, but doesn't run all those Windows apps (with a few exceptions, like Office RT), while a vast number of iOS appls will run on any iPad model. And Crothers observes that it's going to get worse for Microsoft with new iPads on the horizon packing Apple's 64-bit A7 chip.
For the full report visit here:
http://goo.gl/JDpiQb
Android Ecosystem Passes Apple's iPad In Tablet Sales Race
Market intelligence firm ABI Research reports that a shift in leadership is now upon the tablet mobile computing market. At the year’s mid-point ABI Research has identified a trio of events signaling that Apple’s iPad family of products has passed the sales lead baton to the Android ecosystem. During the second quarter of 2013, the number of Android-powered tablets surpassed iOS-based slates for the first time, tablet-related hardware revenues reached parity, and perhaps most importantly, the average selling price (ASP) of iPads is rapidly approaching the market average.
Overall shipments in the quarter dropped 17% sequentially while growing 23% year-over-year for the same quarterly period. “Smaller 7-inch class tablets are finally the majority of shipments,” says ABI senior practice director Jeff Orr. “The 7.9-inch iPad mini represented about 60% of total iPad shipments and 49% of iPad-related device revenues in the quarter.” Tablet shipments in the second quarter of 2013 achieved revenues of $12.7 billion. For the first time, iPad represented only 50% of worldwide end-user revenues. Apple split the market with all other branded vendors at $6.3 billion in the quarter.
Similarly, the change in the vendor landscape can be seen through the ASP of tablets. In the past year, iPad ASPs dropped 17% while the rest of market increased 17%. The iPad drop is primarily attributed to the introduction and volume shift to the smaller iPad mini. Apple still remains top of the pack in tablets, though its lineup has been matched and bested by competitors. “Twelve months is a long time for the peak lifecycle of a contemporary tablet. To remain a leader, Apple must continue to innovate and address real-world market needs,” adds Orr.
These “Media Tablets and eReaders” Market Data findings are part of ABI Research’s Media Tablets, Ultrabooks and eReaders Research Service, which includes Research Analyses, Market Data, Presentations, Competitive Assessments, and Insights on technologies shaping the future of the mobile device industry.
ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit:
http://www.abiresearch.com
or call +1.516.624.2500
What's Left For The Macintosh In A Post-PC iOS World?
In a long think piece, Appleinsider's Daniel Eran Dilger notes that "2013 was a rough fiscal year for the Mac. observing that for the past six years, Apple's MAcintosh personal computer business has been vastly overshadowed by its sales of Post-PC mobile devices. So he asks, "What future is left for the Mac?"
Dilger notes that for six and a half years (26 consecutive quarters) prior to last year’s holiday season (Q1 2013), Apple’s Mac sales had been outpacing the growth of the global PC market, but in 2012, PC sales began dramatically retracting for the first time since the dotcom collapse in 2001, and while Apple had theretofore remained impervious to this contracting demand, it was forced to report a significant decrease in Mac sales for the December 2012 quarter, with Macs sales continuing flat year-over-year in the March quarter and retracting again in the June quarter, albeit that PC sales in general have fallen so precipitously that "Apple’s own stagnant growth looks veritably radiant in comparison to the clammy grey death-face of the general PC business."
So, says Dilger, "Should Apple go mobile? Is it time for Apple to give up on the Macintosh and plant both feet into the Post-PC future? Not necessarily, he contends, noting that at last Spring's Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference, the company pointed out that its Mac installed base has grown to 72 million, a 100 percent increase from five years ago, while the PC market has only grown 18 percent over that same period, and stopped growing at all a couple of years ago, and Apple is earning nearly as much from its Mac platform as Microsoft is from Windows. He further observes that the only other companies with PC operating systems are giving them away, and likely any of them would like to be in Apple’s position of taking in nearly a billion every year on OS upgrades on top of the company’s industry leading hardware profits, and while the PC competition has been diligently copying Apple hardware, they haven’t been able to clone is the reason why so many people buy Apple's hardware.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://goo.gl/Gav7vL
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition Available in the U.S. Oct. 10
Samsung Electronics America, Inc. has announced the Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition tablet will be available in the U.S. beginning Oct. 10. Pre-orders began being accepted at midnight ET Sept. 27.
"Last year's launch of the Galaxy Note 10.1 introduced the integration of S Pen capabilities to the tablet category and created a new experience for consumers," says Travis Merrill, vice president of tablet marketing at Samsung Electronics America. "We continue to evolve the Galaxy Note experience with the new Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition. With premium software features and a sophisticated design, we're delivering an exceptional and even more engaging tablet experience."
With improved S Pen capabilities, display and updated Multi-Window functionality, the new Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition delivers what Samsung calls "an intelligent tablet experience". The Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition has been refined with a textured and stitched back cover that is both stylish and makes the device more comfortable to hold. With an overall smaller size and lighter weight, the new Galaxy Note tablet has smaller bezels and a thinner profile, without sacrificing screen size.
"The Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition builds on Samsung's innovative tablet foundation," says Nanda Ramachandran, vice president of emerging business at Samsung Telecommunications America. "With its advanced functionality and expanded features, the Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition offers a best- in-class tablet experience that enables new conveniences to empower users to excel in everyday tasks."
Display Quality and Multitasking
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition features a large "Super Clear" LCD display that is clained to offer brighter colors and more lifelike graphics. The 2,560 x 1,600 pixel WQXGA display contains over 4 million pixels, offering a "dynamic viewing experience." To complement the high-resolution display, Samsung introduces a new magazine-style user interface called "My Magazine," that allows users to organize the latest news, social feeds and localized content in an easy-to-use, personalized dashboard.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 is powered by an Exynos 5420 quad-core processor and 3GB RAM, and supports HD graphics for gamers. Enhanced multitasking allows users to seamlessly use two different applications side-by-side and easily drag and drop content from one window to another - a major advantage Android has over Apple's iOS. Moreover, certain apps, such as YouTube and Internet, can now be activated simultaneously in both windows.
Enhanced Suite of S Pen Features
The Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition comes equipped with an updated S Pen that Samsung says provides a more responsive, productive and overall efficient tablet experience. The enhanced S Pen also introduces several shortcuts and productivity tools at consumers' fingertips, including:
• Air Command provides instant access to S Pen features, including Action Memo, Scrapbooker, Screen Write, S Finder and Pen Window all in a hover and click of the button on the S Pen from any point on the screen.
• Action Memo gives users a quick way to take a note and link that note to a direct action, instantly perform a task, such as searching the Internet or emailing a contact.
• Scrapbooker capabilities let users organize interesting content with the S Pen and place it into individualized scrapbooks. This feature affords users an easy and functional way to use the S Pen to grab and store videos, photos and clips from Web pages that are linkable back to the original online source. With Scrapbooker, users keep all boards private and then easily choose which content to share.
• Screen Write lets users easily take a screen capture and edit the shot.
• S Finder allows users to search the entire device, including handwritten notes and settings, connected accounts and the web through key words or handwritten symbols.
• Pen Window enhances productivity with a stroke of the S Pen. The feature lets users draw a window on screen using the S Pen, which opens a selection of applications, and then minimize it to hover on any screen as the user interface is navigated; such as for opening a calculator on top of a spreadsheet or quickly setting an alarm.
• S Note enhancements include a more intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Users still have the ability to use the S Pen to take handwritten notes, or use handwriting-to-text, with access to both note files and notepads. With Easy Chart, hand-drawn data can be instantly transformed into more formal charts and graphs.
Content and Services
Samsung is partnering with leading news, productivity and entertainment sources to provide over $600 in bundled content for the Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition. With Galaxy Perks, consumers have access to popular applications and services, including three months free of Hulu Plus and SiriusXM, and one year of free Boingo Hotspot access. The Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition also comes pre-loaded with 50GB of Dropbox free for two years, one year subscription to Bloomberg Businessweek and a 12 week subscription to The New York Times. For more information on Galaxy Perks, visit:
http://www.samsung.com/us/galaxyperks
A redesigned Twitter application, with limited exclusivity to the Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition, features S-Pen integration and Multi-Window capabilities for a unique Twitter tablet experience.
In addition, the Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition will include a Samsung Apps widget, which offers users additional content, optimized for the new 10.1-inch tablet and other Samsung devices. The new tablet is also equipped with Samsung's IR remote capability and WatchON, a search and recommendation service that makes finding TV shows and on-demand video content faster, easier and more personalized, as the hub of the living room.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition is Wi-Fi-enabled and available in 16 and 32GB variations with an additional 64GB of storage available via microSD card expansion. The device comes in two color options, Jet Black and Classic White. The Galaxy Note 10.1 – 2014 Edition will retail for $ 549.99 and $599.99 for the 16 and 32GB versions, respectively, and will be available for purchase at Samsung Experience Shops at Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile specialty stores, BestBuy.com, Amazon, PC Richard & Son, Fry's, Tiger Direct, Walmart, Samsung.com and other retailers, with pre-orders beginning at select retailers now being accepted.
For more information, visit:
http://www.samsung.com
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