The Android was able to take some of the market share of the Apple iPad in the fourth quarter mainly due to the increased demand for the Amazon Kindle Fire, which allowed the Android to take 41.1 percent of the market. With the recovery of the Apple iPad in the tablet market, the share of the Android will go down to 38.4 percent for 2012 according to IHS. The Apple iPad will continue its dominance despite efforts by its competition in getting a bigger share of the market.
Apple iPad
The well-design apps, books, video, and music along with its attractive design will make the Apple iPad appealing to consumers. Apple worked on this ecosystem for a number of years and it has provided Apple a good foundation in its current dominance in the market.
For the moment, conventional media tablet like the Apple iPad are creating waves in the market although the upcoming availability of Windows 8 will result to the release of new hybrid devices and ultrabooks into the market. The hybrid devices combine a tablet with a laptop and offer users the flexibility of using a touchscreen tablet with the same power of a PC.
However the hybrid devices will not likely affect the media tablet market that much. Sales of conventional media tablets like the Apple iPad are expected to reach around 197 million next year compared to around 8 million for the PC tablets.
This year will see tablet sales reaching 126 million units, most of which will be the Apple iPad.
