Tag Archives: googl

Android tablets to pass Apple iPad installed base this year

Android tablets will reach the “tipping point” this year with their installed base surpassing that of Apple’s iPad, ABI Research predicted Friday. Google (GOOGL) Android-based tablets will have a “watershed” year in 2014, ABI analyst Jeff Orr said in a press release. Active users of Android slates from Samsung, Lenovo and others will top the number using Apple ‘s (AAPL) category-defining iPad tablet for the first time, he said. Shipments of branded tablets are likely to exceed 200 million units, worth more than $85 billion this year, ABI said. A significant portion of those shipments will be from smaller manufacturers in China and Taiwan coming out with next-generation Android tablets during the second half of the year, ABI said.

Google I/O View: Lollipop Preps Android Wearables

At a conference next week for developers who use Android software, Google (GOOGL) will counter Apple’s recent rollout of health and home automation products, Pacific Crest Securities speculated in a research report. The Google I/O conference is slated for Wednesday and Thursday. “The most likely focus of (Wednesday’s) keynote will be Android and wearable and smart home devices,” wrote Pacific Crest analyst Evan Wilson. “Another iteration of

Soda-flavored ‘Candy Crush’ sequel aims to hook users

After getting millions of people hooked on its mobile puzzle game “Candy Crush Saga,” King Digital Entertainment (KING) is preparing to start dealing a follow-up, “Candy Crush Soda Saga,” which it hopes will be just as addicting. King  (KING)  soft-launched the new smartphone game last week on Google (GOOGL) Play for Android devices in four countries: Canada, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands. The game debuted earlier than many had expected and is forecast for a more complete rollout in the third quarter, Pacific Crest Securities analyst Evan Wilson said in a note Tuesday. A version for Apple (AAPL) iOS devices is expected in the second half of the year. The game play of “Candy Crush Soda Saga” doesn’t differ much from that of the earlier game, making it more of a “sister title” than a sequel, Wilson said. As such, “Soda” isn’t expected to drive much incremental growth in total players, he said. But it could keep the current user base happy and occupied.