The new holygrail
Muthu Ramadoss
The new holygrail
The consumer electronics industry is looking to tablets and smartphones to revolutionise growth and the way we communicate
A new generation of smartphones, tablet computers, 3D products and hi-tech gadgets are arriving smaller and thinner but with more exciting functions and multitasking features.
Mobile internet devices are expected to become a growth engine for consumer electronics globally. Sales are estimated at over US$1 trillion this year, up 5% from $993 billion in 2010, said the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) in collaboration with market researcher GFK.
Sales of tablet computers reached $39 billion in 2011, and the figure is expected to see double-digit growth this year.
Morgan Stanley foresees tablet shipments could reach 100 million units this year.
The market value for mobile accessories is expected to reach $50.2 billion by 2015.
Global technology firms are competing for Apple's iPad crown by introducing innovative designs. One popular feature at the International Consumer Electronics Show 2012 in Las Vegas was tablets with notebook keyboards and longer battery life because of faster processors.
Next-generation mobile operating systems such as Google Android 4.0 and Windows 8 will likely battle for tablet supremacy this year.
Lenovo, the world's second-largest PC maker, showcased its new tablet, IdeaTab S2, featuring a 10-inch display and lightweight keyboard with 20 hours of battery life.
Toshiba's Excite X10 tablet is the world's thinnest tablet at only 7.7 millimetres. Sony's tablet P is foldable with two 5.5-inch screens.
Razer, the gaming peripheral company, showed a prototype of its first gaming tablet featuring dual controllers.
WikiPad has a glass-free 3D tablet featuring an attachable video game controller to enhance the gaming experience.
The Korean firm Illuminus offered its T9 tablet, which it claims to be the world's first Near Field Communication tablet.
Polaroid, an instant photography pioneer, also entered the tablet market.
Even One Laptop Per Child Foundation (OLPC), a non-profit organisation that offered the world's first low-cost notebooks for the needy, is jumping into the tablet market.
Its XO 3.0 tablet is charged with a solar panel.
The growth of tablets pressured notebook makers and led to ultrabooks, thinner and lighter notebooks on par with Apple's MacBook Air.
J.P. Morgan research indicated Windows-based ultrabooks would fall below $800 this year, reaching $7 billion in value.
Intel Microelectronics is expected to introduce over 70 ultrabook models this year priced below US$1,000.
4G smartphones equipped with Android were the fad this year. Leading handset makers Sony and Motorola will lead the charge.
BlackBerry's Torch 9810 will feature 4G and voice-activated searches. Nokia's Lumia 900 has similar features while LG offered the Connect 4G model.
Samsung introduced the 4G Galaxy Note and Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD, while Huawei offered iAscend P1 S, claiming to be the world's thinnest smartphone at 6.68 mm.
4G or long-term evolution (LTE) technology is the international standard because it enables high bandwidth consumption including voice-over-IP, video conferencing, file-sharing and multiplayer online gaming. Thailand is still waiting for its national telecom body to issue 3G licences.
CEA research showed about half of consumers surveyed expect to do more online video conferencing, sharing photos and social networking over the next two years.
Behringer, a leading manufacturer of musical instruments, unveiled its tablet-based iAxe Guitar, an electronic controller or user interface for the iPad that sits snugly inside the body of a guitar. It claims to bridge the gap between games such as Guitar Hero and a real guitar.
Blue Microphones of the US offered Spark Digital, the world's first studio-grade condenser microphone, offering both USB and iPad connectivity plus a wide range of recording apps like GarageBand.
Casio has a Bluetooth smart G-Shock watch that can alert users of incoming calls, SMS, or emails sent to a smartphone.
ePawn of France introduced ePawn Arena, a 26-inch screen with real-time object-tracking technology that interfaces with smartphones, tablets and PCs.
It enables gamers to use real-world game pieces with their online and mobile games.
take care,
Muthu Ramadoss.
http://linkedin.com/in/tellibitz