The Day of the Tablet and the Beginning of the End for Microsoft

Yes, yes, I know, Windows and Office are not the only things Microsoft produces. But they are the products that give it as good as a monopoly (for the more purist econ geeks out there, at minimum they’ve got significant pricing power). And thus they’re the products where the really decent profit margins come from.

This is, I think, going to change in the years to come:  (Source: Tim Worstall, Forbes)

Microsoft Office 15 Begins Technical Preview: Tablet Readiness Questioned

As Microsoft readies its Office 15 suite (expected late 2012 or 2013) many wonder if the launch timeline hints to the arrival of Windows 8 tablets.

Office 15 is also expected to have some Metro-style enhancements for Windows 8 tablets, but Microsoft hasn't commented on that, nor has the company said whether Office 15 will support Windows 8 on ARM devices.

Even if Office 15 includes tablet support, timing could be an issue, as Business Insider's Matt Rosoff points out. Device makers want to launch Windows 8 tablets in the second half of 2012, but Office 15 may not be ready until very late in the year or early next year, judging by the timing of Technical Previews for earlier versions of office. ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley backs up this notion, with her unnamed sources saying that Microsoft is trying to release Office 15 by year-end. (Source: Jared Newman, PCWorld)

Amazon Already Dominating Android Tablet Market

Three months ago, online retailing giant Amazon didn't even sell a tablet computer, but today the firm controls a stunning 40 percent of the market for Android-based tablets, according to one market analyst. But whichever numbers you choose to believe, one thing is certain: With its lowball pricing, Amazon is sure to capture serious market share in this nascent market with its Kindle Fire device. And that's bad news for high-priced luxury items like Apple's iPad.

IPad Use Causes Neck Pain, Study Says

Users of the iPad, or any other tablet, are at high risk of developing neck discomfort, according to study done by the Harvard School of Public Health. The problem comes from the way people position themselves when using the devices, especially when doing so for a long period of time.

"If you think about your position when you are hunched over looking down, your head is hanging out over space, so you are using your neck muscles to support the weight," said lead writer of the Harvard study Jack Dennerlein. (Source: Joe Arico, MobileMedia)

Netflix tops 800+ devices, tablets overtake PC viewing

Hastings also talked about the growing importance of tablets, which are especially interesting as a mobile device to Netflix because most people use them via Wi-Fi, so video viewing doesn’t collide with carriers’ data caps. And people are using their iPads, Kindle Fires and Android slates a lot for watching Netflix: “We do see people enjoying a lot more of their viewing on tablets relative to the PC,” Hastings said. That’s significant, because PCs used to account for close to 20 percent of all Netflix traffic just a few months ago. (Source: Janko Roettgers, Gigaom)

Android 4.0 Tablets Coming for Under $250

Inexpensive tablets with screen sizes up to 10 inches and Google's new Android 4.0 OS will soon become available at prices ranging from US$100 to $250. The prices are a breakthrough for users looking to get Android 4.0, code-named Ice Cream Sandwich, on tablets, which have so far been equipped with Android 2.x or Android 3.x. Some of the sub-$250 tablets run on smartphone processors and may lack the processing power of Apple's iPad 2 or Asus' Eee Pad Transformer Prime. But with cameras, high-definition video capabilities and HDMI ports, these devices could provide good value to budget buyers. (Source: Agam Shah, IDG News)