Meet the players
A fierce battle is about to begin and new battle lines are being drawn - as the world's biggest tech superpowers fight for dominance in the mobile/tablet arena this autumn. Let us guide you through the key players in this battle of attrition:
Google not only have their own Nexus 7 tablet but the Android ecosystem continues to grow, and with huge support from the likes of Samsung and Amazon they are a formidable foe.
Microsoft look set to enter the crowded tablet market with their own Surface device - and with both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 on the verge of availability the Seattle giants could scatter its competitors playing pieces far and wide.
Apple too is set to unleash the newest addition in their iPhone arsenal and look to fire a rocket up Google's trousers by launching their own mini tablet.
Windows Phone 8
Team: Microsoft
In the wake of Samsung/Applegate - rival platforms (like Windows Phone) may benefit from Samsung's pain. The Seattle Times has gone so far to say that 'manufacturers building on Android may turn to Microsoft's Windows Phone platform to avoid a similar legal battle with Apple.'
Nokia will seek to build on their already healthy relationship with the Windows Phone platform, but we'll also see new entries from Samsung (interesting), HTC (a safe pair of hands), and rising-star Huawei. Intriguingly- we may also see a 4G Windows Phone 8 device if these whispers are confirmed to have merit.
As we know from Microsoft's previous Windows Phone 8 reveal - we can expect to see dual-core as well as quad-core devices put in an appearance. The high-end phones will have a high-definition 720p screen. There are also two new screen resolutions for vivid, sharper images (at 1280x768 and 1280x720).
Nokia Phi and Arrow
Team: Microsoft
The rumour mill has been working itself into a frenzy with talk of two upcoming Windows Phone 8 devices from the Finnish manufacturer - the Nokia Phi and Nokia Arrow. Of course these are just codenames and not a great deal is known about the new mystery devices.
Mobile analyst Eldar Murtazin reckons we can expect the Phi to debut with a 4.7-inch OLED screen - and would act as the spiritual successor to Nokia' Lumia 800 [pictured] and 900 devices. We don't have to wait long to find out - MSN UK received an invite for a joint Nokia/Microsoft launch event in New York for 5 September. The big question is have Microsoft/Nokia done enough to usurp the mighty iPhone this time around?
iPhone 5
Team: Apple
At this stage in the game we don't care what it's called - but we do know that Apple's latest flagship mobile is set to be unveiled on 12 September (with general availability following on 21 September).
If rumours are true the new iPhone will be the first Apple handset to buck the trend and replace the standard 3.5-inch screen with a dazzling 4-inch Retina display. This iPhone will be the last to benefit from the wisdom of the late Steve Jobs. Before Jobs sadly lost his battle with cancer, he was believed to have been active in the development of the next iPhone proper.
Samsung Galaxy S II Plus and Galaxy S III Mini
Team: Google
Samsung DID release a Galaxy S Plus so we wouldn't be surprised if we don't see Samsung re-entering the mobile fray this autumn. Despite the South Korean's latest - the Galaxy S III - still fresh from a May release, this hasn't stopped telecoms enthusiast site SamMobile from speculating on a Mini follow-up: 'The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini will try to fight the Apple iPhone 4S with a 5 megapixel camera, dual-core processor and 4.0' Super AMOLED screen with WVGA resolution.'
Samsung's Plus model will sport a WVGA display and a poweful 1.5GHz CPU (the original S II was clocked at an equally respectable 1.2GHz) but the update would certainly be a welcome boost to what is still a beautiful and very capable little handset. (Renders of the rumoured handset can be seen on the website of the Chilean network VTR).
iPad mini
Team: Apple
Apple blog site Macotakara is reporting that an iPad insider has confirmed the name. Here's what we know: the iPad mini will utilise a 7-inch display (compared to its bigger brother which measures in at a full 9.7inches), it will also boast a smaller and lighter frame. Price-wise it will come in below the third-generation iPad, making it more affordable and likely to appeal to a broader audience.
When can we expect to see more of this curious beast? Some sources originally cited a September announcement (to match the iPhone 5), but bloggers and industry experts instead reckon Apple will reveal more about the mini during a separate event sometime in October.
Will a seven-inch iPad unseat the (current) king of small tablets - Google's Nexus 7, or even Amazon's own Kindle Fire?
Amazon Kindle Fire 2
Team: Google
Now this is an interesting one... Could Amazon be on the verge of announcing a successor to the original Kindle Fire? Amazon have organised a press event for 6 September that could be used to introduce a sequel to Amazon's debut tablet/e-reader.
To-date the Kindle Fire has yet to take its first steps outside of its US homeland - if a follow-up was announced we'd hope it would also signal the start of a global rollout.
The original Kindle Fire [pictured] incorporated a 7-inch screen, Android operating system and access to the company's own Kindle e-book store. A new 7-inch model would place it in contention with the iPad mini and Google's Nexus 7, whereas a larger 10-inch beast will see it do battle with Apple, Samsung's Tab 2 10.1 and now Microsoft with their Surface.
Google Nexus 7
Team: Google
On paper the Nexus 7 isn't a direct competitor to Apple's third-generation iPad - but if early sales figures are anything to go by (shops selling out all of their stock) then Apple should see this ASUS device as credible competition. And Apple are clearly set to do something about it with the introduction of iPad mini...
The light, affordable and super-portable Google Nexus 7 opts for a smaller 7-inch TFT LCD with 1280 x 800 resolution. It packs either 8 or 16GB of internal storage and operates a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, so more than capable of tussling with the other boys in the playground.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1
Team: Google
With all and sundry readying their iPad killers - with the updated Galaxy Tab 2 it seems as though Samsung are setting their sights a little lower... The Tab 2 builds on the solid foundations laid by its predecessor, but spec-wise guns for Apple's iPad 2 instead of bagging the ultimate prize - Apple's third-generation iPad.
Spec-wise the new Tab offers a 1280x800 WXGA 10.1-inch display, dual-core 1GHz processor, and 16GB onboard storage (although annoyingly we believe that Samsung are offering 8GB and 32GB options available outside the UK).
Microsoft Surface
Team: Microsoft
Microsoft are attempting to match Apple blow-for-blow.
The Surface looks beautiful with each tablet benefitting from 'VaporMg' magnesium construction and built-in kickstand. You thought the 64GB iPad was big? The Windows 8 Pro model will be available in a huge 128GB configuration, that's surely enough for the biggest of appetites. Screen-wise Microsoft's family of Surface tablets utilise a 10.6-inch widescreen ClearType display that deliver bold and punchy colours against the Retina Display found in Apple's newest iPads. And if you're worried about apps - the Microsoft Store will include apps also found on the Windows Phone 8 platform.
We're curious whether the introduction of Microsoft's Surface will cause in-fighting amongst its partners - Acer, clearly worried, has commented: 'If Microsoft ... is going to do hardware business, what should we do?'
Samsung's unnamed Windows 8 tablet
Team: Microsoft
We can expect Samsung's new Windows 8 tablet-come-laptop to face-off against the likes of Dell, Asus, Lenovo, Acer and Microsoft's own Surface tablet.
Samsung have treated us to a fleeting glimpse of their first Windows 8 tablet (proper) with a snappy 37 second video - watch the video now on Facebook. We can see the new device is fashionably constructed and sports a metallic bezel. The Windows 8 tablet will also make use of their innovative S-Pen technology and stylus (otherwise found on their Note range of tablets).
Samsung Series 7 and Series 5 all-in-one
Team: Microsoft
The Series 7 and Series 5 are both Windows 8 PCs - and both are models designed to cater for the US market specifically.
Samsung's Series 7 is the beefier of the two (and comes in two flavours) - with consumers being able to choose between 23-inch and 27-inch models respectively. The 27-incher will run an Intel Core i7 CPU which is backed by dedicated AMD Radeon 7850M graphics and 8GB RAM. Whilst the 23-inch model opts for an i5 processor, onboard Intel Graphics and a reduction in RAM to 6GB.
The 7's little brother - Series 5 - comprises of a humble 21.5-inch display, Intel Core i3 processor and 4GB RAM.
No comments:
Post a Comment