Hasta La Gadget!

This week the folks at the analysis group Strategy Analytics have released a report on Wireless Smartphone Strategies which let it be known that while Android still dominates the domestic market, it’s certainly slipped over the past year. And where Android has slipped, Apple’s own iOS mobile operating system has grown rather rapidly. While Android currently (in the second quarter of 2012) shows a market share of 56.3% of the Smartphone Operating System market in the USA, it had a significantly larger 60.6% share of the market in the second quarter of 2011.

While Android’s change over the year ended up being over 4 percent in total, Apple’s iOS grew from 23.2% of the market in Q2 of 2011 to 33.2% in Q2 of 2012. That’s a 10% increase, and that’s massive. BlackBerry OS was the only other operating system large enough for the group to categorize on its own with 10.5% of the market last year and 6.5% of the market this year during the same Q2 period. The rest of the market is just 4%, and just 5.7% last year – that includes Windows Phone, too.

The growth the entire market showed year over year was undeniably giant – but not in the way you’d think. Where the growth year-over-year last year (comparing to the year before that, of course) was a massive 70.1% change in the positive direction, this year’s comparison to last is a negative 5.4%. These numbers come from the total number of shipments of units (smartphones) in the United States.

Last year in the second quarter of the year, there were 25.2 million smartphones shipped – and this year that number is just 23.8 million. Of that, 13.4 million belongs to Android, 7.9 million to iOS (on the iPhone exclusively), 1.6 million to BlackBerry OS, and the rest is just 1 million for everyone else. These numbers are not exact, of course, all of them coming from the study done by Strategy Analytics, each to be considered an accurate sampling which shows the greater bulk of the situation with tried and true testing techniques.

Check out more studies by Strategy Analytics in the timeline below, and don’t forget to note the changes between the years – lots of mobile!

[via Strategy Analytics]

iPhone gains where Android loses in Q2 Strategy Analytics report is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It’s been tipped today that the next generation iPad mini (not yet announced by Apple, mind you), will be joined relatively silently by a 4th generation full-sized iPad. This new iPad, having been revealed then less than a year after the 3rd Generation iPad was revealed, will have the same smaller dock at the bottom of its body that the new iPhone has been tipped to have. It’s also been noted by a source speaking with iLounge that this iPad will have enhancements to its back-facing camera as well.

This update may come as a bit of a shock for those who just recently picked up to 2012 iPad revealed this spring, but there’s a catch. Though this 4th generation iPad is being pushed for a reveal with the iPad mini, this same source is saying that it wont be until the Spring of 2013 that the full-sized iPad 4 will be up for sale. This piece of the puzzle is one that we doubt very much, especially due to the cannibalization and destruction of sales that such a situation would create.

Above: Supposed iPhone 5 with miniature dock connector as revealed by iLounge this past weekend.

Instead we’re imagining that if such an iPad were revealed, it’d be shown off in the spring right next to the iPad mini (if it does ever exist) where both devices will be put up for sale as instantly as Apple products always are. This updated iPad is also said to have a new rear-facing microphone to aid with noise cancellation for video filming as well as video chat.

The 4th Generation iPad is said to be very likely coming with essentially the same look and feel as the 3rd Gen iPad while the battery technology inside will be once again enhanced for longer life. Of course there’s no end to the possibilities with what will pop up then for new cases and accessories as all old ones will once again be made completely obsolete – if the new mic does, in fact, exist. Of course.

Have a peek at our most recent collection of iPad mini posts to see if you can track where and when the next-generation of iPad devices will be revealed!

iPad 4 tipped to adopt mini-dock connector this year is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Yelp is a social review website that allows people to review also to things from restaurants to local businesses. The company has announced that it has updated its iOS application and says that the update is “literally filled to the brim with awesomeness.” The updated version of the app brings Yelp to version 6.0 and is available for the iPhone and iPad.

The app update brings revised pages for businesses, community insights, and the ability to complement other users for insights on businesses using the iPhone. The community insights are interesting in that you can see which businesses specific age groups like. The iPad version allows users to edit business information, photos, and hand out votes for “useful,” “funny,” or “cool” items. IPad users can also now send other users complements on their reviews.

Yelp wrote in a blog post last week about the update to its business pages, “The old design of our business pages has served us well, but it was time for a remodel. We tore it down to the studs and built it back up with an eye on aesthetics and efficiency. We think you’ll find browsing business details, photos, review highlights, reviews, and tips far more enjoyable.”

Business pages on the updated version of the app now feature “pull to view” that lets the user to view photos for the business by pulling the screen down with a thumb gesture. Last week Yelp also starting to roll out an updated version of its mobile site m.yelp.com. That updated mobile site allows the user to login to their Yelp account, register for an account, and view or create bookmarks among other things.

[via PC Mag]

Yelp iOS app update brings the awesome is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Sony unveiled last week a new addition to its market leading XDCAM HD422 line-up – the PMW-200, the only handheld camcorder in its class equipped with three 1/2 -inch Exmor CMOS sensors and full HD 4:2:2 50Mbps recording. The 1/2 -inch sensors mean the camcorder performs exceptionally well even in challenging lighting conditions.
Designed using Sony’s advanced sensor technology and decades of experience, the PMW-200 answers the industry’s desire for a 4:2:2 50Mbps camcorder that …

You need a strong stomach for this week’s best iPad apps. We’re giving you a zombie-fighting game, an anatomy reference, and more. Hope you don’t lose your lunch! More »