Half of World's Smartphones Will Run Android by 2012, Says Gartner

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In Android market share news, analysts at Gartner are now forecasting the Google-created mobile operating system will reach 49% smartphone market share by the end of 2012, based on handset sales. By the end of this year (2011), Android will be the most popular operating system in the world, as worldwide smartphone sales reach 468 million units.

Meanwhile, iOS will remain the second largest platform through 2014, says Gartner, despite seeing slight market share decreases this year. RIM will decline, and Nokia will push Windows Phone up to the mid-tier by the end of 2012, it predicts. By 2013, Windows Phone will be the third-largest platform.

This isn't the first analyst firm to forecast that the Nokia/Microsoft partnership will have a major impact on smartphone market share. In March, IDC also said that Windows Phone would be boosted, arriving in the number two position by 2015.

Doubting the Analysts

Of course, these forecasts are not without their doubters. Both ZDNet and Engadget questioned IDC's numbers last month, and today, independent analyst Horace Dediu of asymco is questioning Gartner's.
He says that Gartner's assumption that Apple is "interested in maintaining margins rather than pursuing market share by changing its pricing strategy," contradicts statements made by Apple's COO Timothy D. Cook. He also doubts that RIM will be able to migrate from BlackBerry OS to QNX (the PlayBook OS) by 2012, as Gartner states. Finally, he doubts that the Nokia/Microsoft partnership will have that much of an effect by 2012, calling such a thing, if it was to occur, "an organizational miracle."
Dediu shared a useful chart, too, which showcases the current forecasts from various analyst firms, as well as the historical market share figures. The chart clearly shows that not all firms are on the same page when it comes to the future of the smartphone market. ABI Research, for example, sees more of a future in Samsung's Bada OS than it does in Windows Phone.

While it should be noted that Dediu is a decidedly pro-Apple analyst, he often makes more sense than some of the larger analyst firms. That said, predicting smartphone market share in an industry like this is usually a shot in the dark. Things change fast around here - long-term forecasts of any kind probably shouldn't be banked on. Jump

Galaxy S to Get Android 2.3 Gingerbread Update Very Soon

 

The Samsung Galaxy S will get an update to Android 2.3 Gingerbread as early as this month from what we hear today. No exact date has been provided, but we have been informed that we could expect the update sometime mid-April.
We can assume at the moment that the update will be for unlocked handsets not tied down to a specific contract. However, the Three network in the UK has also stated that the Galaxy S on its network will be arriving within the next couple of weeks.
The confirmation came in the form of a tweet from the official Three twitter account and read as follows:

@relentl3ss It’s expected in the next couple of weeks but we cannot confirm a date.

This was in response to a question asking about the Android 2.3 update.
The Samsung website also makes mention of 2.3, along with the April release date. Remember that Samsung isn’t the best when sticking to dates, so don’t get your hopes up too high at the moment. Jump

Newest Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

Does this list apply to you? A.) You don't want an iPad. B.) You want a tablet. C.) Ten inches is too big. D.) Seven inches is too small. If so, you might soon be in the market for a Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 ($470-$570). Powered by Android 3.0 Honeycomb and a dual-core 1GHz processor, the 8.9 features a 1280x800 8.9-inch display, HSPA+ networking, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a three-megapixel rear camera, a two-megapixel front camera, Sammy's TouchWiz UX interface — the first custom job for Android 3.0 — either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, and all the glory that comes with being the only person you know who owns an 8.9-inch tablet.

BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi. Finally Available!

 

It's the best in portability with access to a web without restrictions. It's next generation communication with amazing media capabilities. It's raw performance with incredible speed and unmatched security. It's ready for work play and everything in-between. It's the BlackBerry PlayBook - and it's everything you've been waiting for in a tablet. Pre-order now for $500. In stores April 19.

Apple makes it official! Apple Unveils Thinner, Faster iPad 2

  Apple on Wednesday finally unveiled its next-generation tablet, dubbed the iPad 2. The device is 33 percent thinner, runs a new A5 chip, and will come in white, Apple said.
The iPad 2 will start shipping on March 11 in the U.S., and on March 25 in 26 additional countries. Like the original iPad, pricing will start at $499 for the Wi-Fi-only 16GB. The 32GB Wi-Fi iPad 2 will be $599, and the 64GB will be $699. For Wi-Fi+3G, the 16GB will be $629, the 32GB will be $729, and the 64GB will be $829.
Despite taking a medical leave of absense earlier this year, Apple CEO Steve Jobs was on hand in San Francisco to unveil the new device, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. "We've been working on this product for awhile and I didn't want to miss today," Jobs said.
As expected, the iPad 2 will include a front- and rear-facing camera, and a built-in gyroscope from the iPod touch and iPhone. The rear camera supports HD up to 720p at 30 frames per second; the still camera has 5x digital zoom. The front camera is VGA.
The new device is thinner, going from 13.4 mm to 8.8mm thick. It's thinner than the iPhone 4, Jobs said. It is 9.5 inches tall and 7.31 inches wide, and weight 1.33 pounds. Jobs said that despite the smaller size, battery life will remain at 10 hours.
The iPad 2 will include a new, faster 1-GHz A5 chip from the Apple "chip wizards." The dual-core processor boasts up to 2x faster CPU performance, 9x faster graphics, and low-power consumption. "This will be the first dual-core tablet to ship in volume," Jobs siad.
Jobs also promised that the iPad 2 will ship in black and white from day one. It will also be available on both Verizon and AT&T.
On the accessory front, a $39 HDMI video-out accessory cable delivers mirrored video output up to 1080p, which works with all apps. Anything you see on an iPad screen you can see on the TV, Jobs said. There's no setup or configuration and you can charge your iPad while using it.
Jobs also unveiled a Smart Cover, which will better showcase the iPad 2. Jobs said he didn't like the original iPad cover because it covered up his pretty product and made it bulkier. The Smart Cover bends and folds around to double as a stand. It instantly wakes up the iPad when you open it and puts it to sleep when it's closed. Smart Cover magnetically grasps the screen and auto-aligns perfectly, Jobs said.
Smart Case comes in five poly colors, all $39, and five leather colors, which will retail for $69.
Apple also showed off iOS 4.3, the next version of its mobile operating system.
Jobs ribbed his competitors during the presentation, dubbing 2011 the year of the copycats. People laughed at Apple for calling the iPad "magical" and said the price was unreasonable, he said, but ask those competitors now if the price is reasonable. Apple sold 15 million iPads in 2010, bringing in $9.5 billion in revenue. That left competitors "flummoxed," Jobs said.
The App Store now has 65,000 iPad-focused apps. Competitors, meanwhile, launch with "at most," 100 apps, "and I think we are being a little generous here," Jobs said.
Jobs also confirmed that Random House books are now available via iBooks.
The announcement caps off months of speculation - from when the fabled tablet would actually appear to what new features it might contain. Most were in agreement that the device would include a front-facing camera, particularly since that feature is now available on competing devices like the Samsung Galaxy Tab and the Motorola Xoom. Others also thought a slimmer and lighter form factor was in the works. Talk about a white iPad was also in the mix.
Via PC mag