Summer 2012 preview: tablets, tablets, and more tablets

Summer 2012 preview: tablets, tablets, and more tablets

The upcoming months will see plenty of new tablets introduced to the market

BY JEFFREY BAUSCH

It seems like every electronics company nowadays makes its own tablet. Apple, Microsoft, Samsung . . . the list goes on and on.

The tablet market continues to grow as more and more electronics companies release tablets. (Via: comluv.com)

With so many names out there, the rumor mill is churning at high speed now, as it is anticipated that the market is about to be flooded with several new and updated tablets over the coming months.

To make sense of all the hearsay (and no doubt put myself in a position of being wrong on more than one of the following stories I’m about to present), here’s a preview of everything that’s expected to take place over the summer.

Expect even more sizes to choose from

Manufacturers still haven’t nailed down the tablet size consumers want, so they will continue to put out different sized models until somebody gets it right.

So, with that being said, Apple’s going smaller, Amazon’s getting bigger, and Toshiba’s going off the charts with a 13-inch tablet that’ll weigh more than 2 lbs. The latter model is an interesting direction to go in, especially when you consider the popularity of the current size of the Amazon Kindle Fire / Barnes & Noble Nook tablets. But Toshiba believes there’s a market for a device this size, so once the Toshiba “Excite” — as it is called — hits the shelves, consumers will have a tablet selection ranging in size from 7 to 13 inches.

There are plenty of tablets already on the market, all of which feature many different dimensions. (Via: cnet.com)

Big moves

Following the success of Amazon and Barnes & Noble’s tablets, both of which hosted the Android operating system, the folks at Google are now throwing their hat into the ring, too, with plans to come out with their very own 7-inch tablet this summer . . . sort of. You see, the actual manufacturer of the model might be Asus, so the relationship would be somewhat similar to the one that Google already has with Samsung and its smartphones. Don't count Samsung out yet, though: the company's name is still very much in the mix on this story.

Also, in case you didn’t already know, Microsoft and Barnes & Noble have teamed up, and rumor has it that the next version of the Nook will run Windows 8.

Prices will continue to drop

The $200 price point obviously works with today’s money-strapped consumer, but manufacturers still need to make a profit, so expect them to gradually lower the prices of their tablets in an attempt to get as close to the $200 price point as possible.

Also, carriers are starting to set up combined data plans. Verizon has already taken this step, and AT&T announced it will follow suit shortly. Combined plans will allow subscribers to pay one price for data for their phone and tablet. The hope is that this will help usher in consumer acceptance of LTE service, which buyers have been pretty skeptical about accepting because they are more comfortable with WiFi, which is easily accessible and far less expensive.

A very general look at expected launch times

Now until the end of June

Amazon will launch a larger version of its Kindle Fire tablet. Rumor has it that the device will have either an 8.9-inch or 9.7-inch screen. Also rumored — the new tablet might be called “Ice.”

Amazon’s Kindle Fire will grow in size this season. (Via: pcworld.com)

The aforementioned gargantuanly-large Toshiba Excite is expected to launch during this time too. At 13.3 inches and 2.2 lbs., it will be the largest tablet on the market. The Excite will be priced at $650 for the 32GB model, run Android 4.0, and use a Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor.

The Toshiba Excite will be the biggest tablet on the market. (Via: cnet.com)

Also during this time, announcements and launches are expected for the HTC Quattro, LG Optimus Pad, Panasonic Toughpad, Lenovo IdeaTab K2, Motorola Corvair, and RIM Blackberry Playbook, according to various sources.

Late June to August

Google is expected to unveil a (supposedly) $199 tablet (that might be) called “Google Play.” Two things we do know: it will run Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) and use a Tegra 3 quad-core processor. As mentioned earlier, Asus is actually building the device, so while this is being heralded as “Google’s first official tablet”, the device will probably be co-branded.

Not much of a surprise here, but around the same time as Google’s launch, Apple will release a smaller version of its iPad, possibly called the iPad Mini. Reports are that the size will range somewhere between 7 to 7.8 inches, and the price will be between $299 and $349.

Late August to end of September

Microsoft will make a formal announcement as to what its plans are for Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets, though any actual devices won’t ship until the holiday season (see Amazon Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook sales numbers from last holiday season to understand Microsoft’s reason for waiting until this time of year).

Also expected to be clarified is what, exactly, Microsoft and Barnes & Noble are doing, and whether they intend to work together on a Nook / Windows tablet. ■

The partnership between Microsoft and Barnes & Noble could help the Nook tablet device recapture a part of the market it lost this past year. (Via: techdigest.tv)

Story via: ComputerWorld.com