Looking back at 2010, we saw how things in the gadget world turned out. 2009 was the year of the netbook and we thought it was the tablet’s time to shine in 2010 with the introduction of the Apple iPad paving the way for touch screen mobile internet devices. However, it didn’t pan out that well for other manufacturers especially those who went with Windows OS.
Apple’s iPad was a huge success despite the negative comments it got from different tech sites including ours. We thought it wouldn’t do well when it was introduced. With it having no support for Flash or USB drives and all, but we were wrong”¦ big time. It turned out to be one of the most, if not the most popular gadget of 2010. It doesn’t choose market segments. Techie people, management, field workers, senior citizens, toddlers, youngsters and everybody else will find a use for the iPad.
Competitors knew that they need to have a slice of the tablet market and where did they turn to? Android! Along with the iPad, the biggest winner of 2010 was Google’s Android. It was Android, and not Windows, that manufacturers used to compete with Apple’s iOS and Samsung led the way with its Galaxy Tab. Then there’s also Archos, Cherry Mobile, Redfox and a slew of unknown China-made Android-powered tablet PCs.
Now with Android phones, there were quite a few phones in the market to start the year but HTC wasn’t a popular brand back then. When Samsung released the first affordable Android phone in the form of Spica, it made people look but it still wasn’t enough.
With the influx of more affordable Android smartphones in the market from Cherry Mobile, LG and Sony Ericsson, it was the move that made Filipinos consider trying their hands on a different phone other than a Nokia. This further cemented Android’s place in the local mobile market.
For next year, definitely tablets would play a major role in the gadget world. Google is going to release the tablet-centric version of their Android and I’m thinking Windows Phone 7 will play a bit of a role too for tablets. However, Apple would still probably lead the way with the second coming of the iPad. I guess it’s too late for e-Book readers to make some waves here in the country.