Hasta La Gadget!

Apple may be selling millions of iPads today but in a few years Android tablets are likely to surpass the iPad in market share, says a Wall Street analyst.

The Google designed Android operating system will be the iPad’s primary competition and newer releases of the OS coupled with choice of devices for consumers could help put Android tablets ahead of the iPad, Gene Munster, an analyst with Piper Jaffray told Business Insider.

“As in the smartphone market currently, we believe Google’s Android OS will power the stiffest competition to Apple’s iPad,” Munster wrote in a research note to his clients. “Long term, we believe Android could surpass the iPad in tablet market share due to devices from numerous manufacturers.”

The prediction is surprising because Munster is a long-time Apple watcher and in recent years has been extremely bullish about Apple’s prospects.

At least, in the smartphones category Android is surging.  More than 20 Android smartphones are available in the U.S. today. Android is now the most popular OS among people who bought a smartphone in the past six months, according to August data from The Nielsen Company. Blackberry RIM and Apple iOS are in a statistical dead heat for second place among those bought a smartphone recently.

Munster says the tablets category might see something similar. Apple launched its iPad in April and since then has sold more than three million devices. But competitors are taking on the iPad. Samsung plans to make its 7-inch Android tablet called Galaxy Tab available through all the major wireless carriers in the U.S. Dell has already released a 5-inch Android tablet called Streak and says it will introduce a 7-inch model early next year. Meanwhile, smaller companies such as ELocity have also introduced a Android tablet.

The release of Android 3.0 ‘Gingerbread’ version could accelerate the development of Android-based tablets says Munster. Android 3.0  is expected to support 1280 x 768 resolution for displays, the same as that on the iPad. That will make it easier for device makers to take the Android OS and port it on to larger displays–something LG has already indicated it will do. Last week, LG said it will hold off on creating tablets till Android 3.0 is launched–later this year or early next year.

For now, though, Apple has little to worry about. Next year, Android will make up just 26 percent  of the tablet market compared to the iPad at 57 percent, says Munster.

See Also:

• $250 Korean Android Tablet Looks Strangely Familiar
• Attack of the Pads: Tablets Take On Apple
• First Look: ELocity’s Android Tablet Makes Great Media Player
• LG Cancels Plans for Android Tablet by Year-End
• Samsung Introduces 7-Inch Tablet to Rival iPad

Photo: (laihiu/Flickr)

ZTE didn’t exactly manage to impress with its low-cost ZTE Racer Android handset, but the company’s now back with yet another Android device: the 7-inch ZTE Light tablet. Not a ton in the way of surprises here, as you might expect, but the tablet does cover all the basics with Android 2.1, WiFi and 3G connectivity, built-in GPS, an SD card slot for expansion, and a promised ten hours of battery life — along with what appears to be a custom Android skin. No word on pricing just yet, but the tablet is apparently now on display at the Beijing Exhibition and should be launching soon. Full press release is after the break.

Continue reading ZTE announces 7-inch ZTE Light Android tablet

ZTE announces 7-inch ZTE Light Android tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our biggest complaint about the variety of Archos tablets? The lack of the Android Market, of course. But while you’ve been able to sideload the Market apk on lots of these devices, there were apparently compatibility issues with Archos’ new Android 2.1 / 2.2 tablets (like the Archos 32 we reviewed just a few weeks). But fear not: ArchosFans to the rescue! A forum member successfully complied a new gApps4Archos.apk that can be easily sideloaded, and installed to give you access to all that Google app and Marketplace goodness. Obviously, we whipped out our 32 and tried it out ourselves. We did have a few issues at first — you must have the latest 1.0.70 firmware and we had to reboot a few times to successfully connect to Google’s servers — but we were finally able to log into our Gmail and download Pandora. If you’re adventurous enough to try it out for yourself, we’d suggest hitting the source link and getting to it. Oh, and feel free to let us know how it goes in the comments.

New Archos tablets get Android Market hack, works as promised originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It almost sounds too good to be true, but apparently some G2s are getting an official (if stealthy) OTA update from T-Mobile that adds the inexplicably withheld Android 2.2 native internet tethering back into the phone, along with the UMA WiFi calling T-Mobile plans to offer on all of its forthcoming Android handsets. What’s not to love? Well, so far our G2 hasn’t been offered the update, which is, like, totally unfair. Also, if you’ve been messing around with a “soft root” on your G2, you’ll probably want to hold off for now. Still, if this is legit and meant for the masses it’s a pretty major score for current and prospective G2 owners: WiFi calling is basically a beautiful dream short of a desirable handset, and of course tethering is becoming a requirement in this Android-age.

T-Mobile G2 getting an OTA update to add WiFi calling and tethering? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not stoked on Skype or FaceTime? Looks like you’ve got another option, bub. That overhauled Yahoo Messenger app we told you about 48 hours ago is now live in the App Store, offering multitasking on the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, 3G / WiFi video calling (iOS to iOS, iOS to Android or iOS to PC) and instant notifications. Users interested in making voice calls can also tap into their bucket of Yahoo Voice Phone Out minutes, but it’ll only work in America, France, Germany, Spain and Singapore at the moment. Hit that source link to get your download on, cool?

Continue reading Updated Yahoo Messenger app now live in App Store, 3G video calling bonanza awaits you

Updated Yahoo Messenger app now live in App Store, 3G video calling bonanza awaits you originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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