Apple Sells 2M iPads in 60 Days
By Sue Marek
Sales of Apple's iPad tablet topped 2 million less than 60 days after the device went on sale in U.S. retail stores. The iPad, which made its debut April 3, is now available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. Apple said it will add nine countries in July and more throughout the year.
The iPad is proving to be more popular than many analysts estimated. In his blog, BTIG Research's Walter Piecyk said that he believes Apple will top the firm's estimates of 2.75 million in iPad sales in the second quarter. The analyst firm expects Apple to sell 2.8 million iPads in the third quarter as supply becomes less constrained, new markets are launched and content developers continue to deliver more apps to make the product more enticing.
Apple also announced that there are more than 5,000 new applications created specifically for the device. According to research firm Distimo last month, 80 percent of all iPad applications are paid applications. This compares to 73 percent of all iPhone and iPod touch applications. [FierceWireless]
Ebooks, Media Apps Top iPad Developer Efforts
By Jason Ankeny
With Apple poised to release its iPad tablet device on April 3, developer interest remains strong, with 80 percent of developers telling open-source platform provider Appcelerator they plan to build iPad applications within the next year. Among more than 1,000 developers surveyed by Appcelerator, 53 percent said their overall interest in iPad as a development platform is "very strong," behind only iPhone and Android--by comparison, just 12 percent expressed similar interest in the rival Amazon Kindle ebook platform. Ebooks, entertainment and media applications, business apps, healthcare apps and education apps lead as likely candidates for forthcoming iPad software projects.
Appcelerator notes that interest in Android is also surging--in January, 68 percent of developers expressed interest in writing Android apps, compared to 86 percent proclaiming similar desire to build for iPhone, but Android interest has since jumped to 81 percent, with iPhone edging up to 87 percent. In addition, developer support for BlackBerry increased from 21 percent in January to 43 percent in March, while interest in Microsoft's Windows Phone leaped from 13 percent to 34 during the same timeframe--Appcelerator credits the renewed interest to recent improvements to both platforms.
Interest in rival operating systems is waning, however. In January, 17 percent of developers expressed support for Palm's webOS, but that number has now slipped to 14 percent, due in large part to Palm's recent financial woes. Sixteen percent of developers remain interested in Symbian, trailed by Meego at 12 percent.[FierceMobileContent]
Sling Media targets iPad with HD mobile video app
By Jason Ankeny
Placeshifting technology developer Sling Media confirmed it is working on a new HD version of its SlingPlayer Mobile video application for Apple's forthcoming iPad tablet device, promising an improved viewing experience optimized for larger screens. "When it makes a noticeable difference in quality, we will definitely provide higher resolution streaming," Sling Media mobile product marketing manager Dave Eyler tells Zatz Not Funny.
"The iPad is a good example of a device where we are hard at work on this, but unfortunately it won't be there at the April launch." Eyler adds that Sling is "actively moving" towards the H.264 video compression standard for its upcoming Android OS application, while its planned Windows Phone 7 app will run on Microsoft's Silverlight framework.
SlingPlayer Mobile enables users to stream live and recorded television content from their home entertainment system to their smartphone. Sling Media first issued SlingPlayer Mobile for Apple's iPhone in May 2009, but the $29.99 app was the subject of considerable debate because it did not include 3G support--although Apple operator partner AT&T took the fall for the controversy that followed, contending 3G streaming would consume too much network capacity, Sling said the service was WiFi-only at Apple's request. In early February 2010, AT&T announced it would support SlingPlayer Mobile across its 3G network following a series of tests, and Apple approved the application for sale in its App Store days later. [FierceMobileContent]
iPad as Versatile Content Device
Many potential users willing to pay for content
The launch of the iPad has advertisers and publishers excited about the possibilities of presenting their content on a bigger, shinier iPhone but also wondering whether consumers will warm to a device that defies easy categorization.
According to data from comScore, consumers are well aware of Apple’s tablet, with just as many saying they have heard of the iPad as Amazon’s Kindle. The iPad beat out all other e-readers when it came to purchase intent.
That could be because Internet users are also turned on to the fact that iPads are more versatile devices that can do much more than present black-and-white text. Asked what they would do with an iPad if they had one, respondents were more likely to think of Web browsing, e-mail and listening to music than reading.
Relatively few respondents said they would download apps for the device. However, the larger screen size of the iPad would make for easier traditional Web browsing, possibly alleviating some of the need for native apps.
With or without apps, many Internet users told comScore they would pony up for content specially formatted for e-readers, including 68% of 25- to 34-year-olds and 59% of 35- to 44-year-olds. Owners of iPhones or iPod touches were more likely than average to say they would pay for newspaper and magazine content on e-readers, at 52% versus 22%.
“The tablet and e-reader market is developing at a breakneck pace right now, and Apple’s entry into the market is sure to accelerate mainstream consumer adoption,” said Serge Matta, comScore executive vice president, in a statement. “These devices have the potential to be incredibly disruptive to the way consumers currently access digital content.
“Our research suggests that not only will a variety of markets be impacted by the introduction of these devices but also that there are substantial opportunities for those in the digital content ecosystem,” Mr. Matta said. [eMarketer]
Apple Unveils Tablet, Dubbed iPad, Starting at $500
By Phil Goldstein
Apple's worst-kept secret is finally out in the open.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the company's breathlessly anticipated new tablet device, called the iPad, at a media event in San Francisco. The device, which looks like a larger version of the iPod touch, will come with both WiFi and 3G wireless data from AT&T. There is a microphone on the device, but no cellular voice component. Users will be able to surf the Web, check email and watch videos on the iPad, among other features.
Hailing the device as something that could bridge the gap between laptops and smartphones, Jobs said the iPad is "so much more intimate than a laptop, so much more capable than a smartphone."
Jobs said there will be two 3G data plans from AT&T available for the iPad: $14.99 per month for 250 MB and an unlimited data plan for $29.99 per month. The services will be prepaid, allowing users to cancel at any time, and will include access to AT&T's WiFi network. Users can activate the wireless service directly on the device.
A WiFi-only version of the iPad will be available in two months, while the WiFi/3G version will be available in three months. A physical keyboard will be available separately.
The WiFi-only devices will be sold for $499 for a 16 GB model, $599 for 32 GB and $699 for 64 GB. The 3G models will run at $629 for the 16 GB model, $729 for the 32 GB and $829 for 64 GB version. Jobs said the company would detail international 3G carrier deals by June or July. The device is fully unlocked and supports GSM micro-SIM cards.
The iPad has a 9.7-inch capacitive, fingerprint-resistant touchscreen display, is 0.5 inches thick, weighs 1.5 lbs. and sports a 1 GHz processor built by Apple. The device has built-in speakers and a microphone, but no camera, and can get up 10 hours of battery life when surfing the Web on WiFi. The iPad syncs to PCs and Macs like iPhones do, and users can upload photos, videos and contacts in much the same way as they do for the iPhone.
Jobs said the device will have built-in access to Apple's App Store, and will be able to run iPhone apps out of the box. Additionally, it will have access to iTunes and a new store, called iBooks, which will deliver ebooks from from major publishers. The device also allows users to use iWork, Apple's desktop software. Individual iWork applications will be sold for $9.99 each.
"The question has arisen lately: Is there room for a third category of device in the middle, something that's between a laptop and smartphone," Jobs said. "Those devices are going to have to be far better at doing some key tasks. What kind of tasks? Well, things like browsing the Web, doing e-mail, enjoying and sharing photographs, watching videos, playing games."
Some analysts were skeptical of the market for such a device. "My question is how big of a market this is, and it's probably reasonably big," Michael Yoshikami, an analyst at YCMNet Advisors, told Bloomberg. "I'm still getting my hands around how many people are going to want something of this size.
"Others questioned whether or not the iPad could lure potential netbook buyers. "Apple might still be right that there is meaningful demand for a device that resides between the phone and the laptop, but if they are, the iPad-- despite its beauty and impressiveness as a feat of hardware and software engineering--isn't it," Forrester Research analyst Charles Golvin said. "The significant discount on 3G connectivity versus netbooks won't be enough to sway the majority of pending netbook buyers, especially considering the price premium for a well-equipped and always-on version of the iPad."
Mark Lowenstein, the managing director of Mobile Ecosystem, said there appears to be no value-added services from the wireless connectivity, other than its role as a "pipe." "The structure is actually more like the Nexus One (minus the subsidy/ contract option) than the iPhone, and shows that wireless operators are now running two businesses: a full-service retail business with their own stamp on devices, the user experience, content, and applications," he said, "and a wholesale business, where there will be myriad devices connected to their networks, each with a distinct business model."
Apple introduced the iPad two days after its posted a record quarterly profit. Apple shares were up $2.94 to $208.88 per share in late-afternoon trading. [FierceWireless]
Pictures and Specs: Apple's iPad
Pictures and Specs: Apple's iPad
Source: Apple
Pictures and Specs: Apple's iPad
--Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
TV and Video
--Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Composite A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable
Mail attachment support
--Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)
Languages
--Language support for English, French, German, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian
Source: Apple
Pictures and Specs: Apple's iPad
Battery and Power
Input and Output
External buttons and controls
Mac system requirements
--Internet access
Source: Apple
Four Million Media Tablets in 2010 Will Rise to 57 Million in 2015
The high-profile launch by Apple last week of its long-rumored iPad tablet computing device highlights the real start of a new market segment for media tablets that according to analysts at ABI Research will see four million units shipped this year. By 2015, shipments are forecast to reach about 57 million annually.
“Apple’s iPad is not the first media tablet,” says senior analyst Jeff Orr. “But it does help define this new device category. The main focus of media tablets is entertainment. A tablet will not replace a laptop, netbook or mobile phone, but will remain an additional premium or luxury product for wealthy industrialized markets for at least several years.”
ABI Research defines media tablets as having a touch-screen interface, 5-11 inches in size, with Wi-Fi Internet connectivity and video and gaming capabilities. Other features are available in some media tablets.
A number of other tablets were announced at the International CES 2010. Players in this new field fall into two camps: traditional computer vendors such as Lenovo, HP, and Asus; and a number of new, smaller vendors such as ICD and Notion Ink. The vendors in the latter category are often quite small and little known, and they see this market as an entry-point. Apple is one part of the mix, says Orr, and will probably be a fairly sizeable player.
“The biggest challenge faced by the media tablet category is how they will reach the market and generate awareness among potential buyers,” Orr believes. “New entrants to this market are at a disadvantage since they lack the retail relationships and network operator agreements already built by the more mature vendors. Surprisingly, Apple may have done them a favor by raising the public profile of the whole media tablet category.” [ABI Research]
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