TabletConnect Hits One Year

Can't believe its been one year since our very first post (7/15/10).  I am actually surprised that we survived a full year. Initially, this blog was launched as a short term project but has grown to be successful.  Thanks to you!  As long as our readers continue to visit our blog, we will continue to do what we do: provide independent reviews; provide news & information on tablets.

TabletConnect has accomplished a lot in the past year:

• We have reviewed 6 different tablets.
• We launched a FaceBook page.
• We started a Twitter account.
• We have made viewing our blog mobile-friendly.
• We launched our first Android Tablet giveaway contest which is currently under way. 
• We are redesigned our blog along with a new logo that you help picked.

     Whether you hate them or love them, the Apple iPad was the reason I started this blog.  When the iPad was launched in April 2010, no one expected it to be very successful nor create a new demand for tablets.  Once companies saw how successful the iPad was, all major companies announced they were going to launch their own tablet.  Tablets did not appear out of nowhere.  China was producing cheap tablets running Google's Android long before the iPad although quality is poor.  Microsoft tried to introduce tablet PC's back in 2001.  Archos was producing tablets since 2009 but were called portable media devices.  Nonetheless, manufacturers wanted a piece of the pie (Apple was selling millions of units).  It was not until seven months later that the first "iPad killers" were launched.  Velocity Micro and Samsung introduce their first tablets.  Unfortunately, Velocity Micro introduced a tablet that had a weak processor and a poor screen, two of the most important factors in a tablet.  Samsung introduced its Galaxy Tab which had mixed reviews.  During this time, Barnes & Noble launched an eReader running Android.  With the developer community, the Nook Color was hacked and became a fully functional Android tablet.  Archos launched their next generation of tablets (primarily the 70 & 101 although there were other smaller screen size devices).  Those tablets were decent especially for the price.  Throughout this time, Google stressed that Android was designed for a smartphone and not a tablet.  However, they were working on the next Android version specifically designed for a tablet (Android 3.0 or Honeycomb).  It was not until almost a year after Apple introduced its first iPad that the Motorola Xoom would be the first tablet to run Android 3.0.  It was a device that seemed rush although it is a decent but powerful tablet.  RIM introduced their own tablet which is an excellent device except for limited apps, no native email client or calendar plus the fact that most companies' IT departments have disabled the Bridge feature which makes the device useless for business consumption.  Soon Samsung launched Galaxy Tab 10.1 with several other manufacturers introducing their tablet running Android 3.0. 

     So what does the future hold for tablets?  Right now, we have almost every consumer electronic and computer company launching/have launched their own version of a tablet.  I predict by mid to late next year, many of those companies will have exited the market.  What we are seeing is classic economic powers at work.  A company launched a successful device that has created high demand for tablets.  Seeing how many units Apple has sold, all these companies are launching a tablet in hopes to capitalize on this tablet demand.  However, natural market forces will separate the winners from the losers.  Those companies that launch a unique quality but affordable tablet will do OK.  I believe Apple will continue to dominate this field just like they dominated the portable media device (iPod) market.  Apple will lose market share but will continue to remain #1.  Apple has launched the second generation of their iPad while everyone is launching their first generation.  Unless Apple does something dramatic stupid, they will continue to dominate this field.  As to who will be Apple's strongest competitor, that is a tough one.  I do not have an answer.  I do believe that tablets running Android will fill in the number 2 slot as the preferred Operating System.  RIM and HP will not be able to overtake Google with their own OS.  The market will certainly look different year.

     Thank you to all our readers.  Please continue to visit our blog, read over reviews and tell all your family and friends about us.  Unlike other tech blogs or websites, we focus exclusively on tablets.  Our reviews are independent and fair.


Mike A.
Editor