NPD: Tablets expected to surpass notebooks by 2016

Research firm NDP DisplaySearch foresees tablets surpassing notebooks in terms of sales and popularity by 2016. The report states, "Tablet PCs, such as Apple’s iPad, are expected to be the growth driver for the mobile PC market over the next few years. Tablet shipments will surpass notebook shipments in 2016, according to the latest NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Mobile PC Shipment and Forecast Report. Overall mobile PC shipments will grow from 347M units in 2012 to over 809M units by 2017.

The report adds that , "while notebook PC shipments are expected to increase from 208M units in 2012 to 393M units by 2017, tablet PC shipments are expected to grow from 121M units to 416M units in this period, for a compound annual growth rate of 28%."

We are really nearing the post-PC era where notebooks are becoming less necessary because many of their features and functions will be available on tablets. It is no wonder that the leading technology companies all have a stakein the tablet market and that Microsoft and Google have even gone as far as making their own tablet devices to cover segments where Apple's iPad isn't openly competing.

Source: NDP DisplaySearch

New firmware coming to Canon 7D in August

Canon's popular 7D DSLR is getting a whole new bunch of functionality upgrades com August when a new version of the firmware will be made available. The free upgrade will increase buffer capacify to 25 RAW images, add In-Camera RAW processing and a bevy of advanced shooting options that should improve still and video capture. Hit jump for the press release from Canon.

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Apple creates separate Podcasts App for iOS

Apple has created a standalone Podcasts app for iOS users. Formerly a segment of the iPod app in iOS, the new Podcasts app is an easier  way to discover, subscribe to, and play your favorite podcasts on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Explore hundreds of thousands of free audio and video podcasts from the Podcasts Catalog, and play the most popular podcasts, organized for you by topic, with the all-new Top Stations feature. Best feature so far is a sleep function for those of us who like to listen to podcasts before nodding off. Hit jump for the full feature set.

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Seido offers Active cases for Samsung Galaxy S III

Now that the Samsung Galaxy S III is available in Canada, many users will want to get cases to protect the thin, yet somewhat slippery Android superphone. Seido is one of the companies that's already come out with a variety of cases for the new phone. Their US $ 29.99 Active case is a light yet protective dual-layer case that involves a rubber membrane and a tough exoskeleton to better absorb the impact of drops and resist scratches.  They also feature an Active case with a metal Kickstand.