shipments

Analysts turn negative on Windows 8 prospects

Windows 8 got pummeled today by analysts, who cited it as a major factor in tepid PC growth.

The launch of a new Microsoft operating system rarely, if ever, goes smoothly. But Windows 8 is having an especially bumpy takeoff.

The first reason Deutsche Bank listed today for cutting its PC estimates this quarter was a "lackluster initial uptake of Windows 8," in a research note from analyst Chris Whitmore.

After citing the impact of amorphous factors like "macro weakness" and the "fiscal cliff," Whitmore continues.

As in past cycles we expect the introduction … Read more

Worldwide smartphone user base hits 1 billion

The smartphone industry has reached an important milestone.

During the third quarter, the total installed base for smartphones worldwide hit 1.04 billion, jumping from the 959 million smartphones in use during the second quarter, research firm Strategy Analytics announced today. Just a year ago, the total worldwide smartphone installed base was 708 million.

It took 16 years for smartphones to reach the 1 billion mark. The Nokia Communicator, a device that first launched in 1996, is widely viewed as the first smartphone to hit store shelves. Since then, a host of smartphone makers have jumped into the fray.

"… Read more

PC market much worse than expected, says analyst

The PC industry fared worse than anticipated last quarter and will continue to face rough waters ahead, according to J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz.

In an investor's note out today, Moskowitz noted that Gartner saw a drop in PC shipments last quarter of 8.3 percent from a year ago and an increase of only 2.5 percent from the second quarter. Those results trailed Gartner's estimates of a decline of just 2.1 percent from a year ago and growth of 9.4 percent from the previous quarter.

"While investors had been preparing for a … Read more

Kindle Paperwhite on backorder until November

Although Amazon started shipping pre-ordered Kindle Paperwhite devices this week, customers who order one today will have to wait a month or more for the e-reader to ship.

The backlog for the Kindle Paperwhite e-reader shipments has grown to 4 to 6 weeks, according to the product's listing on Amazon.

Once again, Amazon says the delay is "due to popular demand."

Amazon unveiled the Kindle Paperwhite device earlier this month as one of its trio of new tablets. The device is Amazon's first self-illuminating e-ink reader.

Just last week, the delay was three weeks for new … Read more

Demand for 7-inch tablets increases swiftly, report says

Apparently, it's a good time for Apple's rumored iPad Mini to hit the market.

Though Apple's 9-inch-screen iPad is still king of the tablet market, the demand for smaller, 7-inch screen models from other brands is growing quickly this year, analytics firm IHS reported today.

The combined demand for tablets, big or small, is projected to reach 126.6 million units shipped for 2012, an increase of 56 percent from last year's 82.1 million, according IHS. LG Display and Samsung remained the main suppliers of tablets displays -- they make the liquid crystal display panels … Read more

Total Android shipments since 2008 to hit 1 billion mark

Android device shipments are poised to pass the 1 billion unit mark in 2013, according to projections by IHS.

IHS said that global unit shipments of Android phones will be 451 million in 2013, up from 357 million in 2012. Cumulative shipments by the end of 2013 will be 1.1 billion since the first Android device shipped in 2008.

For comparison, Apple's cumulative iPhone shipments will be 527 million in 2013 and hit the 1 billion mark in 2015.

Android's growth is largely attributed to its partner network, which consists of Samsung, HTC, Motorola, LG, ZTE and … Read more

Lenovo makes $141 million as its PCs close in on HP

Lenovo is on fire.

The PC maker today reported sales of $8 billion during its fiscal quarter that ended June 30, up 35 percent from the $5.9 billion it generated during the same period last year. Lenovo's profit hit $141 million, up from the $108 million it posted in the fiscal first quarter of 2011.

Lenovo's strong performance comes on the back of its soaring PC shipments. The company's notebook shipments rose 27 percent in the fiscal first quarter, helping it to hit a record 15.4 percent market share in that market. On the desktop … Read more

Apple dominates tablet market in Q2 with 70 percent share

Apple's iPad is proving extremely difficult to catch.

According to data released today by research firm IHS iSuppli, Apple nabbed 69.6 percent of the tablet market in the second quarter on 17 million shipments worldwide. Samsung, its arch-nemesis, came in second place with 9.2 percent share on 2.3 million tablet shipments. Amazon and Asus took the third and fourth spots with 4.2 percent and 2.8 percent share, respectively.

"Apple is making all the right moves to rebuild its dominant position in the tablet space," Rhoda Alexander, director for tablet and monitor research … Read more

Amazon reportedly delivers Lockers service to San Francisco

Amazon Lockers, the e-retail giant's answer to Best Buy's in-store pickup, appears to be expanding on the West Coast.

Amazon has quietly started placing lockers in the San Francisco Bay area, The Wall Street Journal is reporting today. The company hasn't yet said how many Lockers sites it has opened, but the rollout indicates its seriousness in giving customers another option for getting their hands on purchased products.

Amazon Lockers launched last year as part of a concerted effort on the e-retail company's part to offer a quasi-in-store pickup service, similar to those offered at Best … Read more