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

iGoogle personalized home page shutting down along with less popular projects

As Google prepares to rid itself of various straggler projects in order to focus on the essentials, a number of once popular properties are being shut down. iGoogle, the personalized homepage that allowed users to pick a theme and customize their news and search feeds in one page is shutting down along with Google Video, Google’s Symbian Search App (bookmark Google.com, Google advises), Google Talk Chatback and Google Mini among others. 

HTC hires Mark Woodward as president for North America

HTC's hired former AT&T and Cingular veteran to run its North American Operations. The full press release and bio is at the break.

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BlackBerry 10 Product Roadmap gives insight into RIM's future

BlackBerryOS.com has revealed a slide that seems to feature Research In Motion's product roadmap for 2012 to 2014. RIM announced last week that it would not meet its original deadline to release the first BlackBerry 10 devices in 2012 because of delays in completing the software.

 From what we can see here, two BB10 handsets,  the QWERTY keyboard sporting "Nevada" and the "London"handsets as well as the updated 4G-LTE PlayBook previously reported here. It is interesting to see that RIM also has what looks like a 10-inch tablet in the works.

What is evident is that RIM is really cutting down on their product line, which could make a difference in how they market their new devices.

Photo and source  BlackBerryOS.com