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Thursday, October 23, 2014

Lenovo Projectors could cost Apple Market share

At the Fool

Get the complete article at TheFool.. I have clipped key statements, and adjusted the emphasis.

The last paragraph isn't directly related to THIS product, but does show the kind of market penetration a part of a common consumer electronic device can get... I like that last paragraph so I left it.


Recent comparison of the Projector Lenovo is using vs. Microvision's PicoP

Will Lenovo’s Yoga Tablet 2 Pro Kill Apple’s iPad Air 2?

Lenovo recently unveiled the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro, a 13.3-inch Android tablet with two 1.5W front-facing speakers, a 5W JBL subwoofer, and a built-in projector. The device was reportedly designed with input from Ashton Kutcher, who has been channeling Steve Jobs (whom he portrayed in Jobs) after being hired as Lenovo's spokesman and "product engineer" last year.
Apple unveiled two tablets at its iPad event on Oct. 16: the 9.7-inch iPad Air 2, which is 18% slimmer than its predecessor, and the 7.9-inch iPad Mini 3, which features Touch ID and slightly better cameras. The long-rumored iPad Pro, which could have a 12.9-inch display, was noticeably absent.
Lenovo's Yoga Tablet 2 Pro. Source: Lenovo
Comparing the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro to Apple's iPad Air 2 raises some interesting comparisons. Whereas Lenovo is storming ahead with daring designs which may or may not resonate with users, Apple's new iPads felt uninspired.
The curious business of bigger tabletsDespite Apple's troubles with the iPad, interest in other tablets isn't declining. Gartner forecasts that global tablet shipments will climb 11% year over year and hit 229 million units in 2014. While that's a disappointing drop from the 55% growth in tablet sales between 2012 and 2013, it doesn't explain why Apple's iPad sales are falling year over year.
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HP's Envy Rove. Source: HP
A 13-inch tablet, which is the size of a midsize laptop, seems to be more practical as a portable device. However, 13-inch tablets don't feel necessary when compared to lightweight 13-inch laptops or convertibles. That's probably why Lenovo added a built-in projector and impressive sound system as additional incentives, and why Apple is reluctant to launch a comparable device.
Yoga Tablet 2 Pro vs. iPad Air 2, by the numbersTo see if the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro can actually steal customers away from Apple, however, we should take a look at how their specs stack up against each other:
CPU/RAM
Battery
Weight
Cameras
Extras
Price
Apple iPad Air 2 (9.7 inch)
64-bit A8X, 2GB
10 hours
0.96 lb.(Wi-Fi)
0.98 lb.(Wi-Fi/Cellular)
8 MP rear, 1.2 MP front
Touch ID
$499 (16GB Wi-Fi) to $829 (128GB Wi-Fi/Cellular)
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro (13.3 inch)
Intel Atom Z3745, 2GB
15 hours
2.09 lbs.
8 MP rear, 1.6 MP front
Projector, subwoofer
$500 (32GB)
Source: Company websites
The Yoga Tablet 2 Pro is more than twice as heavy as the iPad Air 2, although it offers a larger screen, 50% better battery life, a better front-facing camera, and a built-in projector and subwoofer. Moreover, the $500 model offers twice as much internal storage as a comparably priced iPad Air 2. That could be enough to steal the spotlight from the iPad Air 2, which only offers incremental improvements over its predecessor.
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The takeawayThe iPad looks like it's headed down the same path as the iPod. It will be slimmed down in different colors, but demand will drop off as sales are cannibalized by other products and current users stop upgrading their devices every year.
Lenovo's Yoga Tablet 2 Pro might not wipe out the iPad Air 2, but it's certainly more innovative than anything Apple showed us on Oct. 16. If Lenovo starts to get even crazier with its designs -- such as slapping projectors and subwoofers on smaller tablets -- Apple could lose market share in tablets a lot faster than investors expect.
Apple Watch revealed: The real winner is inside
Apple recently revealed the product of its secret-development "dream team" -- Apple Watch. The secret is out, and some early viewers are claiming its everyday impact could trump the iPod, iPhone, and the iPad. In fact, ABI Research predicts 485 million of this type of device will be sold per year. But one small company makes Apple's gadget possible. And its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early-in-the-know investors. To be one of them, and see where the real money is to be made, just click here!

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