IDC: nearly 1 billion ‘smart connected devices’ shipped last year

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Zach Honig

Know that gadget you're currently using to read this article? It may be one of 916 million "smart connected devices" that shipped in 2011, with global revenue totaling some $489 billion last year. But the IDC expects that figure to jump to 1.1 billion for 2012, with a total of 1.84 billion new web-connected gadgets hitting the market in 2016. Those numbers include most devices that connect to the internet, such as tablets, smartphones and x86-compatible PCs -- the latter of which now represent 36.9 percent of the market, but will slip to a 25.1-percent share in 2016. Android's piece of the pie will grow from 29.4 percent to 31.1 percent by 2016, while iOS will make the jump from 14.6 to 17.3 percent in the same timeframe. IDC reps say that Asia will be partially responsible for increased smartphone sales, where mobile operators in China are subsidizing purchases to make devices more accessible to consumers. Do you plan to take possession of one of the 1.1 billion gadgets that IDC expects will ship this year? Jump past the break and let us know in the comments.

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IDC: nearly 1 billion 'smart connected devices' shipped last year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: Best tablets for students?

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Daniel Cooper

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from a pair of guys called Joe on opposite sides of the planet that both need a tablet-based solution for their higher education woes. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

Joe from New Zealand writes:

I'm a second-year university student with a health issue that means I can't carry round heavy textbooks. I've been looking at tablets that I can use as a replacement for textbooks and paper notes. I think I need a tablet, pen and software combo that'll let me read, edit and annotate ebooks, PDFs and PowerPoints, have a day-long battery life, display A4 sheets and a camera that can take pictures of textbook pages -- but I've only got a budget of $600. Thanks!

Joe from America writes:

I'm enrolled in a class where my professor won't post his power points and talks too fast to handwrite notes. I'd type on a laptop, but I don't wanna be that guy. Is there a physical keyboard that's silent, or an on-screen keyboard that'll work as well as a real one?

Our thoughts skipped to the solid if underwhelming ThinkPad Tablet, which has a stylus input, decent camera and eight hour battery life. If you could get it to play nicely with Thanko's Silent EX keyboard, then both Joes would be happy -- but what do we know? They asked us so we could ask you guys, share your wisdom in the comments below.

Ask Engadget: Best tablets for students? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Qualcomm loads Ice Cream Sandwich on Snapdragon S4 tablet, fills our hearts with Liquid

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Zach Honig

Qualcomm's souped-up Snapdragon S4 Liquid mobile development platform (MDP) tablet just got a major Android boost, in the form of a 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade. The maxed-out MDP tablet, which boasts such specs as an on-die LTE modem, dual 1080p cameras and more sensors than you can shake an accelerometer-powered wand at, is now running Google's latest mobile OS. During an Engadget Show visit last month, Qualcomm reps told us that the device will support Android 4.0, but we weren't expecting a port quite so soon, considering Liquid won't ship until next spring. The company says it's working "rigorously" to get ICS optimized not only for the S4, but for other Snapdragon processors as well. Click through the gallery below for an early look.

Gallery: Qualcomm S4 MDP with Android 4.0 ICS

Qualcomm loads Ice Cream Sandwich on Snapdragon S4 tablet, fills our hearts with Liquid originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZiiLabs demos Ice Cream Sandwich on its Jaguar 7 tablet, looks swift and tasty (video)

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Joe Pollicino

It's been few months since ZiiLabs introduced more hardware designs for its Jaguar line of OEM-oriented reference tablets, and now, the company has released a brief demo video of its seven-inch variant tasting Android Ice Cream Sandwich. Up until this point, we'd only seen the devices rocking Honeycomb atop Zii's ZMS-20 dual-core processor, but it appears to handle Google's latest frozen treat -- specifically Android OS version 4.0.1 -- with relative ease. The clip highlights quick transitions through a few menu interfaces, followed by a showcase of the slate's OpenGL graphics and StemCell media acceleration with decidedly smooth looking multitouch interactions. Curious to see for yourself? You'll find the whole 57 seconds of video goodness just past the break.

[Thanks, Tim]

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ZiiLabs demos Ice Cream Sandwich on its Jaguar 7 tablet, looks swift and tasty (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 06:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Domino’s Pizza Hero iPad app coaxes you to design a pie, order one shortly thereafter

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Lydia Leavitt

If the idea of pinching, zooming and tapping on your iPad is far less appealing than kneading, sprinkling and cutting, then the Domino's Pizza Hero iPad app may just be right up your alley. Putting aspiring pizza makers to the test, the game challenges players to assemble a pie as quickly as possible for points. Once you've passed levels one through five, affectionately nicknamed "Pizza School," other players will get a chance to rate your performance -- ultimately making or breaking your pizza career. If concocting virtual pies was enough to make you hungry, fear not famished souls as the app let's you order the real deal direct from your iPad -- now that's amore. Check out the gallery and video after the break.

Gallery: Domino's Pizza Hero eyes-on