Consumer Reports Electronics Issue: Barnes & Noble Praise; Updated Tablet Rankings

by Holly Shoemaker

Consumer Reports Annual Electronics Issue has hit the stands. In this part one of two blogs, I have recapped the latest trends and rankings for tablets, with smartphones to follow. These are new ratings when compared to Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2012.

Tablet Buying Guidelines

• Trends – The non-profit agency says to keep looking for better screen displays at lower prices. Besides mentioning the obvious choices of the Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus, Barnes & Noble’s nine-inch Nook HD+ at $270 is described as "an even bigger game changer." The model features a retina display close to Apple's and a lower price point. At the time of print, the model was unavailable for testing.
• Still an App Gap – Apple retains its praise for its selection, quality and innovation of apps over Android. Magazines also get a special mention as many have their own apps for iPad. Barnes & Noble's appears to want to gain ground on Apple. The Nook HD+ has a more-square design, specifically designed to make magazine reading easier. Barnes & Noble also features the 100 best-selling magazines.
• Laptop-Like Tablets – While the Microsoft Surface debuted too late for testing, many tablets feature more laptop features, like Samsung’s Series 5 and Series 7 Slate models.

Tablet Rankings

In the seven-inch range, Samsung still reigns. The Galaxy Tab 7.7 ranks first with a score of 82, followed by the Pantech Element at 77. In the WiFi only category, the Toshiba Excite comes in first with a score of 80, followed by Google Nexus at 77 and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 16 GB at 77.

With little surprise, Apple remains at the top in the nine- to 12-inch category. In the WiFi plus category, the iPad scores an 85, followed by the iPad 2 at 81. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 ranks second with 83, after the iPad with the same score. Asus has many models that also make the list.

No Price War in iPad mini Debut: Amazon to Benefit

by Holly Shoemaker

As expected, Apple unveiled the iPad mini today, and with a degree of arrogance, Apple showed it had no intentions of entering into a pricing tablet war.

iPad mini Details at a Glance

• The screen is about two-thirds the size of the iPad at 7.9 inches and half the weight.
• Apple priced the iPad mini at $329, a price point that lies between the iPod Touch at $299 and the iPad 2 at $399.
• The device has two cameras, one on the front and another on the back.

Consumers may begin ordering the iPad mini on Friday, October 26, 2012.

Surprise Announcement

In another move that has already started to infuriate users, Apple made a change to its full-sized iPad, which comes only six months after its launch. It announced a new chip, called the A6X that delivers twice the CPU and graphics performance of the A5X, the processor that came out in earlier this year. The next iPad launch was not expected until March 2013. It appears that Apple wanted to steal some of Microsoft’s thunder this week as the new Surface will launch. Consumer may also order the new and improved iPad on Friday.

Concluding Thoughts 

Apple’s move seems confusing from a consumer standpoint. It had the opportunity to up the tablet war. However, Apple’s pricing keeps in line with its thinking – that consumers will pay more for an Apple product, and that the company cares more about profiting from sales of the device, rather than accessories and apps.

Apple’s arrogance could result in a win for Amazon whose expanding Kindle line has tablets and e-readers at price points that should appeal to most consumers. Apple’s stock fell after the announcement while Amazon’s shares rose 53 percent.

Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2012 Part Two: Rankings For Tablets and e-Readers

by Holly Shoemaker

Earlier in the week I discussed how Verizon topped Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2012 and summarized the guide's smartphone buying tips. For those more interested in tablets and e-readers, I have the rankings and advice for those too.

Tablet Buying Guidelines

• Portability – For those unconcerned with portability, Consumer Reports recommended buying a 10-inch screen.
• Viewing Angle – The guide recommended a wide viewing angle.
• Upgradable Operating System – Consumer Reports recommend to always look for an upgradeable OS.
• Apps – The guide encouraged consumers to opt for a tablet that offers a variety of apps as that will vary based on the OS manufacturer.

Tablet Rankings

In the six- to seven-inch range, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3G 16 GB ranked first with a score of 73, followed by the WiFi model at 71. Research in Motion (RIM) made the list with its BlackBerry PlayBook WiFi 32 GB model with a score of 67. However, it was not a recommended buy, which should come as no surprise.

In the nine- to 12-inch range, Apple comes out on top with the iPad 2 3G with a score of 83. The Samsung Galaxy tab 10.1 ranked third with a score of 78.

e-Reader Buying Guidelines

• Screen Size – The guide recommended that consumers look for a six-inch screen as that provides the best value.
• Touch Capability – The guide recommended that consumers look for an e-reader that offers this feature to allow for easy content selection.
• Network – As the guide covered a certain period of time, it discussed more 3G capability. Consumer Reports recommended skipping 3G access citing that WiFi access costs less.

e-Reader Rankings

In the six- to seven-inch range, the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch Reader ranked first with a score of 76, followed by Amazon's Kindle 3G and then the WiFi version with a score of 75. The Barnes & Noble Nook Color came in seventh with a score of 70.

iPad over IPAD Triumphs: Apple Officially Owns iPad Name

by Holly Shoemaker 

Apple’s legal battle with Proview Technology, a Chinese-based technology company, has come to end. Today, a Chinese court has confirmed that Apple has paid Proview Technology $60 million to settle the dispute over who owns the right to the iPad name.

While a lawyer for Proview said the company hoped for $400 million, Proview really had no choice but to settle. The company faces a growing amount of debt.

Overview of Dispute

Proview claimed it trademarked the IPAD, not iPad in 2001. Apple paid the company $55,000 for the name. However, the Court did not recognize the payment and ruled last year that Proview still owned the name. Proview also tried to get iPads removed from stores in China.

What Settlement Means for iPad Market

China, with a population of 1.3 million people, represents Apple’s second-largest market behind the United States. Now that both sides have removed a legal obstacle, Apple has the opportunity to bring the new iPad, or the iPad 3 for those who cannot part with the old naming convention, to China. The iPad 2 was in demand, and earlier this year China led the way in app sessions and new activations.

Concluding Thoughts

For some, $60 million may seem like a larger sum of money than Apple wanted to pay. However, for Apple, the price does not seem that high given the potential windfall that will come with selling the new iPad in China.

Let the Map App Wars Begin

by Holly Shoemaker

Apple made it official this week at is annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) that it will no longer rely on Google Maps as its default map application. At the conference, Apple unveilved its own Apple Maps. In addition, many people have said that Apple shunned Google in favor of Facebook. Apple also announced that users will soon have the ability to sign into Facebook from their iPhones.

Overview of Apple Maps

When the iOS 6 deploys this fall, users will have the ability to gather traffic information from other iOS users and turn-by-turn navigation will also be integrated into the operating system. The app also takes advantage of Siri. Apple's voice-activation assistant will provide spoken turn-by-turn directions. TomTom also announced that it will provide Apple with "maps and related information." The app will also have a flyover feature that provides 3D-drawings for all major cities. Users should be aware that the iOS 6 is only available on the following devices: iPad 2, the new iPad, the fourth-generation iPod Touch, iPhone 3 GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S.

Let the Map Wars Begin

While Google Maps will no longer be the default map app for Apple, users may still use Google Maps on their iPhones. Although, I concede that Google Maps lacks functionality for iPhone users when compared to Android ones. Therefore, it is not a complete "break up" if iPhone users still want to use Google Maps.

Despite the somewhat blow to Google, its product will remain beloved by many. In February 2012, comScore reported that 71 percent of people in the United States who looked at a map that month, did so using Google Maps. While Apple has a loyal following, Apple Maps has a lot to live up to. Users should also keep in mind that Google announced its own changes, prior to Apple's announcement. Soon, Google Map users will have the ability to use that app without an Internet connection and the company announced its own 3-D enhancements. Let the map wars begin!

New iPad Tops Consumer Reports List

by Holly Shoemaker

Consumer Reports came out with its latest ranking of tablets earlier this week. At the top of the list, is Apple’s new iPad.

Report Overview

The new iPad topped the list based on the following features:

• High-resolution screen – According to the company’s testers, the screen provides the greatest level of detail and color accuracy of all tested tablets. Based on this, Consumer Reports has said it will adjust its excellence rating to reflect its assessment of the new iPad’s screen. The retina display is also ranked the best feature by iPad owners.
•  Camera – The new iPad features a five-megapixel camera.
•  Faster Connectivity – The new iPad also ranked well because of its 4G support.
•  Battery life – While many articles discuss Consumer Reports’ initial findings about potential overheating problems when running energy-intensive games, the organization’s tests showed the iPad has a longer battery life than other tested tablets.

Some Android tablets reviewed, and recommended with a “very good” rating, included the:

• Samsung Galaxy (Wi-Fi only) – This tablet ranked one point higher than the iPad 2.
• Toshiba Excite 10LE – This tablet earned high marks for being the lightest 10.1-inch tablet. It weighs in a little over a pound.
• Pantech Element – Consumer Reports said this tablet has the longest battery life of tested eight-inch tablets. The tablet is also waterproof.