Apple's iPad outmuscled its Android-powered tablet computer rivalsin early 2012, in a global market suffering from post-holidayhangover, a survey showed Thursday. Global shipments of tablet devices and e-readers slumped 38.4percent in the first three months of 2012 to 17.4 million, comparedwith a fourth quarter pumped up by the holiday gift-giving season,according to research firm IDC. But year-over-year, tablet sales were up a whopping 120 percent, ina market shifting away from desktop and laptop computers. "Apple reasserted its dominance in the market this quarter, drivinghuge shipment totals at a time when all but a few Android vendorssaw their numbers drop precipitously after posting big gains duringthe holiday buying season," said Tom Mainelli of IDC. "Apple's move to position the iPad as an all-purpose tablet,instead of just a content consumption device, is resonating withconsumers as well as educational and commercial buyers. And itsdecision to keep a lower-priced iPad 2 in the market after itlaunched the new iPad in March seems to be paying off as well." Apple shipped 11.8 million iPads during the quarter, down from 15.4million units in the fourth quarter of 2011, as its worldwide sharerose to 68 percent from 54.7 percent. Amazon saw a precipitous drop to four percent of the market,compared with 16.8 percent in the fourth quarter, and slipped tothird place overall. Samsung jumped ahead of Amazon to second place overall while Lenovovaulted into the number four spot, followed by Barnes & Noble'sNook at number five. Although total Android shipments were down sharply in the quarter,IDC said it sees a rebound with companies such as Samsung andLenovo beginning to gain traction with new products. "It seems some of the mainstream Android vendors are finallybeginning to grasp a fact that Amazon, B&N, and Pandigital figuredout early on: Namely, to compete in the media tablet market withApple, they must offer their products at notably lower pricepoints," Mainelli said. "We expect a new, larger-screened device from Amazon at a typicallyaggressive price point, and Google will enter the market with aninexpensive, co-branded ASUS tablet designed to compete directly onprice with Amazon's Kindle Fire." The impact of Microsoft Windows 8- and Windows RT-based tablets,which are widely expected to ship into the market by the fourthquarter, is not yet clear, IDC said. "The worldwide tablet market is entering a new phase in the secondhalf of 2012 that will undoubtedly reshape the competitivelandscape," said IDC's Bob O'Donnell. "While Apple will continue to sit comfortably on the top for now,the battle for the next several positions is going to be fierce.Throw in Ultrabooks, the launch of Windows 8, and a few surpriseproduct launches, and you have all the makings of an incredible2012 holiday shopping season.". The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Timing Belt Pulleys , China Cogged V Belt, and more. For more , please visit Motor V Belt today!
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