Tablets will dominate the gadget market

With the introduction of Android 4.0 and Windows 8 on the market, tablets will become the dominant devices in the market of devices with touch screens.

Tablets with screens smaller than 10.1 inches will be the most popular gadgets on the mobile device market next year, according to DigiTimes sources. The growth driver will be not only the release of the highly anticipated iPad 3, but also the appearance of tablets based on Android 4.0 and Windows 8.

Also, according to the same sources, Sony is eager to release a new tablet compatible with its own gaming platform. Here, apparently, the integration of the tablet system with the PlayStation Network online service was meant. However, it is not entirely clear why Sony itself needs this, having recently launched a PlayStation Vita portable console in Japan.

In addition, sources claim that both Hewlett-Packard and Research in Motion, despite the failures in 2011, are going to re-enter the tablet market. At the same time, they are clearly looking back at the sales of the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet, demonstrating that the market growth will only continue next year.

Due to all these releases, the iPad may lose its dominance in the tablet market, according to internal DigiTimes sources. And we, in turn, remind you that a year ago, almost 90% of this market was occupied by Apple products.

As for numerical forecasts, according to preliminary data, global shipments of tablets in 2012 will amount to about 100 million devices. This year, the number of shipments exceeded 60 million.

Instead of concluding: despite high expectations and growth prospects, not everyone believes in the market. Acer, which distinguished itself this year with a line of decent Iconica tablets, recently announced that it will curtail the production of such devices.