Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Space Industry and Business News .




INTERNET SPACE
Android surging in global tablet market: survey
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) April 28, 2014


Microsoft sets original TV shows for Xbox One
San Francisco (AFP) April 28, 2014 - Microsoft in June will begin airing original television shows on Xbox consoles as it continues a quest to anchor the boxes at the heart of home entertainment.

Xbox Originals programs ranging from dramas and comedies to documentaries and live events will air with interactive features taking advantage of video game console capabilities, according to Microsoft.

"Microsoft has a long and rich legacy in the content business," executive vice president of Xbox Entertainment Studios Jordan Levin said in a release.

"Games have been part of our DNA for at least the last 15 years, and creating original TV content is a logical next step in our evolution."

Hollywood talent enlisted to help create programs includes star directors Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott, who were involved with separate projects based on exclusive Xbox blockbuster science fiction battle franchise "Halo."

The roster of original shows included a series about international street soccer and a documentary about a search for a trove of vintage Atari computer games dumped long ago in a landfill in a US desert.

Microsoft said that original programs are intended as incentive for people to make Xbox consoles preferred "all-in-one" entertainment devices.

Microsoft late last year launched a new generation Xbox One console touted as a home entertainment hub that goes far beyond games.

The beefed-up hardware is powered by software that allows for instant switching between games, television, and Internet browsing. Microsoft-owned Skype was also integrated for online group video calls.

Kinect motion and sound sensing accessories accompanying the consoles recognize users; respond instantly to commands spoken in natural language, and even detect a person's pulse.

Microsoft said this month that it has sold more than five million Xbox One consoles since they were launched in November.

The news came a day after video game competitor Sony said it had sold more than seven million of its latest-generation PlayStation 4 consoles that debuted in mid-November.

Sony's numbers refer to sales to consumers while Microsoft's involve sales to retailers.

A new game, "Titanfall," which Microsoft was counting on to boost sales of the new Xbox, was the world's hottest-selling game in March, according to industry tracker NPD Group.

"Titanfall" involves a futuristic galaxy torn by fighting between elite fighter pilots and huge, heavily armed titans.

The Google Android platform extended its dominance over Apple in the tablet market in early 2014, a research firm said Monday.

Strategy Analytics said Android grabbed 65.8 percent of global tablet sales in the first quarter, up from 53 percent a year ago.

Apple meanwhile saw iPad sales slump and its market share tumbled to 28.4 percent from 40.3 percent a year earlier, the survey showed.

Global tablet sales in the quarter were up 19 percent at 57.6 million units, the market research firm said.

"Android continues to make steady progress and now commands two-thirds of the tablet market share," said Peter King, analyst at Strategy Analytics.

While Apple ignited the tablet market with its first iPads, it has now lost its dominance to Android in the same manner as the iPhone has seen its share eroded in the smartphone market.

The report said iPad sales were down 16 percent from the same period a year ago.

"We believe that the disappointing performance in the early part of the calendar year is because Apple has changed its product release cycle to the holiday timeframe," King said.

He added that Apple "will likely lose share over the next several months to refreshed Android products, but we believe Apple will win back meaningful high-end market share during the final months of the calendar year."

Android sales totaled some 38 million in the period to Apple's 25.6 million, the report said.

The survey also found a steady market share for tablets using Microsoft Windows.

Windows tablet sales rose to 3.4 million from 2.8 million a year earlier, keeping a steady market share of 5.8 percent, according to Strategy Analytics.

"There may be an uptick in Windows following Microsoft's decision to offer Windows for free for sub nine-inch devices," the report noted.

"We may see a new batch of eight-inch Windows-based tablets with reduced prices; they will still not be as inexpensive as Android, but it will enable them to be more competitive and appealing to a wider audience."

But the researchers said a dearth of apps continues to be a problem for Microsoft, "with seemingly little incentive for developers to work on the platform."

rl/jm

APPLE INC

GOOGLE

MICROSOFT

.


Related Links
Satellite-based Internet technologies






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








INTERNET SPACE
Carnegie Mellon system lets iPad users explore data with their fingers
Pittsburgh PA (SPX) Apr 27, 2014
Spreadsheets may have been the original killer app for personal computers, but data tables don't play to the strengths of multi-touch devices such as tablets. So researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a visualization approach that allows people to explore complex data with their fingers. Called Kinetica, this proof-of-concept system for the Apple iPad converts tabular dat ... read more


INTERNET SPACE
Big data poses great challenges and opportunities for databases

Ames Lab researchers see rare-earth-like magnetic properties in iron

Mantis Shrimp Stronger than Airplanes

Birds adapting to long-term radiation exposure at Chernobyl

INTERNET SPACE
Radio terminals for MUOS satellite communications have testing facility

High Gain Amplifiers for Commercial and Military Radar Released by Pasternack

Tactical radios tested with MUOS waveform

Harris supplying more communications terminals to Navy

INTERNET SPACE
SpaceX sues US Air Force over satellite contracts

Vega for third Arianespace mission, carrying Earth observation spacecraft

Launcher build-up begins for Arianespace's fifth Ariane 5 mission to orbit an ATV

45th Space Wing supports third SpaceX Launch for ISS Resupply mission

INTERNET SPACE
Russia eyes building Glonass stations in 36 countries

Turn your satnav ideas into business

Russia's GLONASS Fully Restored After System Failure

World's First Satellite Communicator with Built-In Navigation

INTERNET SPACE
Malaysia to lead probe into ill-fated MH70: minister

Obama vows support for Malaysia over MH370

B-2 bomber upgrade moves forward

Partners, customers sought for Zephyr aircraft program

INTERNET SPACE
Stanford bioengineers create circuit board modeled on the human brain

Progress made in developing nanoscale electronics

Piezotronics and piezo-phototronics leading to unprecedented active electronics and optoelectronics

Superconducting Qubit Array Points the Way to Quantum Computers

INTERNET SPACE
NASA Sees Earth From Orbit In 2013

France helps Peru with first optical satellite

Kazakh EO satellite to be launched into orbit

Google online maps go back in time

INTERNET SPACE
China toughens environment law to target polluters

The result of slow degradation

MEPs back plans to slash use of plastic shopping bags

Oil company blamed for toxic tap water in China: Xinhua




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.