It is no secret that Apple dominates the tablet computer market segment while the overall industry suffers due to lack of demand. In the last few months many major companies are cutting their forecasts and not manufacturing a large tablet offering. Companies Acer continue to slash their inventory because of the lack of market demand. The industry as a whole is disappointed with the competitiveness of Android and ARM based devices to combat the Apple iPad and iOS.
Intel and Microsoft are jointly hoping that Windows 8 as a mobile based platform will lure vendors out of the stagnant performance of ARM processors and the Google Android operating system. The companies have announced that they will be making a 5W low powered CPU processor to be paired with Windows 8 mobile operating system in 2012. Not only is the new CPU low power, but also cost effective for vendor partners.
Many companies in tablet PC realm are becoming frustrated with many hardware and software bugs found in Google Android 3.0 and 3.1. I have found that Android has tremendous value to companies looking for a operating system with little strings attached and easily licensed. For the end user it pales in comparison to the Apple iOS and more particularly the iPad. There is simply MORE variety and many companies are phasing out support for the Blackberry QNX operating system to develop Apple applications full time. In order for Android to be relevant they have to police the application store to insure quality content and offer more incentives for established developers to craft applications directly. Google can introduce eBook and Movie rental services all they want, but if the apps are sub-par it is hard for the OS to compete.
Enter Microsoft and their upcoming Windows 8 operating system, with more PC apps and games then anyone. It could be the carrot at the end of the stick that many companies can use to motivate a fickle donkey to plod forward into 2012.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
