Apple recently completed its trio of 2012 mobile launches, adding a 7.9-inch iPad Mini along with its iPad 4 and iPhone 5 upgrades. Meanwhile, Nokia and Microsoft should edge back into the game with an impressive Nokia Lumia 920 phone, as well as Microsoft’s similarly Windows 8 powered “Surface” tablets.
The combination of the iOS announcements, Apple’s legal victory over Samsung, and the Windows 8 launch are expected by many to start reversing Android’s long-running advance. Yet as the holiday shopping season nears, Google and its Android partners have good reason to cheer.
First, Android’s base continues to grow, recently passing the 75 percent milestone in global smartphone shipments and cutting deeply into Apple’s tablet share, according to IDC. At the same time, the iPad Mini does not appear to be the Kindle Fire killer many had expected, especially considering the high $330 price.
In addition, Google has addressed its Achilles Heel — security — with major enhancements in Android 4.2. The release runs on two impressive Google-branded Nexus devices: LG’s affordable Nexus 4 phone and Samsung’s speedy, high-resolution Nexus 10.
Here’s a closer look at why team Android can expect continued good tidings for the holidays:
1. Android Smartphones Surpass 75 Percent
Although iPhone users are often surprisingly unaware of it, Android has been dominant in smartphones for years. Now, according to IDC, three out of four new smartphones run Android. Android has surpassed the 75 percent mark in 3Q global smartphone shipments, up from 57.5 percent the year before, says IDC. Apple’s share also soared, reaching 14.9 percent, but at a slower 57.3 percent growth rate.
In addition, an Oct. 30 survey from Strategy Analytics reports that 88 percent of iPhone owners in the U.S. say they are likely to buy their next phone from Apple, down from 93 percent in 2011. In Western Europe the rate dropped from 88 percent to 75 percent.
As long as Apple avoids product licensing or spins out some lower-end models, it’s doomed to grow relatively slowly. By contrast, by offering diversity and range in both price and features, Android has siphoned off RIM, Symbian, and Microsoft share at a much higher rate than Apple. It should continue to do so, except for Microsoft, which will likely start reversing its falling tide.
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.Further detail about this tracker can be found at:http://www.idc.com/tracker/showproductinfo.jsp?prod_id=37Tags: Samsung, Apple, Mobile Phone, Smartphone, IDC, tracker, Q3 2012, mobile phones, 3Q 2012, market share, galaxy, iPhone, Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Symbian, Windows Phone, Linux, 2012Q3, AnniversaryAuthor: IDCcharts powered by iCharts
2. Android Surges on Tablets
The iPad has been so far ahead of Android tablets that Apple could compete on the low end simply by discounting older iPads. That strategy looks to be in peril, having already been tested last year by Amazon’s low-cost Kindle Fire. Indeed, affordable but powerful 7-inch tablets like the Fire HD and Nexus 7 are leading the Android charge on tablets while Samsung is thriving with a range of tablets.
According to a Nov. 5 report from IDC, global shipments of Android tablets surged in the third quarter as Apple’s iPad share dropped from 59.7 percent to 50.4 percent year over year. No cumulative figure was cited for Android, but considering that RIM’s PlayBook has slid sharply and Windows 8 tablets are only now appearing, it’s likely to be well over 40 percent.
Continuing the trend set by Amazon when it upended the tablet market with the Kindle Fire, the online retailer took 9 percent of the market, boosted by the September release of the Kindle Fire HD. Asus surged to 8.6 percent, based in large part on the success of its Google-branded Nexus 7.
Yet Samsung was the biggest winner, jumping 325 percent to a second-place, 18.4 percent share, based on tablets ranging from the Galaxy Note to the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Samsung has yet to aggressively target the low-end tablet market, suggesting that Android can now win on the high end as well.
3. Apple Underwhelms with Fall Releases
Apple’s new iOS products are faster, but otherwise relatively unremarkable. To be sure, spinning off a smaller 7.9-inch iPad Mini tablet was notable, but by pricing it at $330 (16GB) to $550, Apple missed an opportunity to squelch the Fire HD and Nexus 7, which sell for $200 to $250.
People expect iPads to cost more, but $329 seems steep for a device with lower 1024 x 768 resolution and an older A5 processor instead of the faster A6 chip in the iPad 4 and iPhone 5. The well-designed Mini should do well, but it may cut into iPad 4 sales as much as it affects Android tablets.
Aside from being faster, the 9.7-inch iPad 4 hasn’t added much. Considering its pre-existing Retina display — and its much greater selection of tablet-optimized apps than Android — it remains a good value. Yet, iPads are expected to lead, not follow.
The iPhone 5 offers more improvements, including a larger screen and slimmer design, but several Android phones provide better resolution. All told, Apple’s 2012 line is business as usual, giving Android and Microsoft a chance to make gains.
4. Nexus Models Push the Envelope
With last week’s announcement of Android 4.2 (see below), Google advanced its pure Android vision with two impressive new Nexus models. LG’s Nexus 4 phone is no game changer, but at a starting price of only $299, unlocked, it brings the skin-free Nexus concept to a whole new audience.
Google’s Samsung-built Nexus 10, however, pushes the tablet market forward on many different levels. It leads the field with its 2560 x 1600 resolution, debuts the speedy, dual-core Cortex-A15 processor, and features a 9000mAH battery that lasts for over a day. Starting at a reasonable $399, the Nexus 10 is clearly the 10.1-inch tablet to beat.
By spreading the Nexus love to two manufacturers simultaneously — neither of them Motorola — Google continues to assuage Android vendors and quiet critics warning of Google over-reach. This could blunt the Android vendors’ experiments with Windows 8 devices, and diminish a potential migration to new Linux-based contenders like Tizen and Firefox OS.
5. Android 4.2 Hits Malware Where it Hurts
Android 4.2 is a modest upgrade, maintaining the same “Jelly Bean” moniker as the more significant Android 4.1. Yet, it also confronts one of Android’s biggest shortcomings: shoddy security.
Google added greatly improved ASLR randomization features in Android 4.1, but Android 4.2 offers an even more significant security upgrade with its real-time app scanner. This is essentially a native version of the malware-scanning service added to the Google Play store in February. It scans new apps for malware even when you download them from third-party stores or “sideload” them from an SD card. The opt-in service flags potentially invasive programs and prohibits the loading of serious malware. In short, it gives enterprise IT managers an extra level of comfort when judging Android security.
Other Android 4.2 enhancements include camera improvements like 360-degree photos (Photo Sphere), keyboard gesture enhancements, multi-user profiles for tablets, and Google Now updates. These changes should add to appeal of the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10. Apple will no doubt get its holiday bump, but Android is strong and getting stronger.
