Samsung to Supply LCDs for iPad 2

Amid all of the industry speculation about the size, features and launch date for the second generation Apple iPad, one thing seems certain.  As reported in The Korea Times, Samsung will provide some 8 million LCD panels for the new device.  The display panel is the single most expensive item in a tablet computer and the whole deal is reportedly worth $500 million, with the possibility that there could be additional orders.

According to an industry executive, speaking anonymously, Apple turned to Samsung to expand its procurement channels for displays when LG display failed to keep up with an initial order.  Apple produced 16 million iPads last year and industry officials say the next model will see even bigger annual sales of around 40 million.

I would not be surprised to see that sales projection reached or even surpassed, especially if the new iPad is thinner and lighter in weight so that it feels much like a clip-board when in use.

Christmas Gifts and the Future of Books

It is Christmas Day, 2010, and all around the world people are unwrapping their Christmas gifts.  A very considerable number of these gifts will be e-readers or tablet computers.   The recipients of these gifts will, in turn, download a large number of e-books, magazines, newspapers and other products being offered for these new devices.  The New York Times took note of this phenomenon in an article titled "Christmas Gifts May Help E-books Take Root."

There seems to be little question that the growing availability of tablet and e-reader devices, coupled with the increased availability of books in electronic format on the internet, will drive a major shift in reading habits all over the world.  The local press here in Korea has taken note, as in the Chosun Ilbo article entitled "Print Publishers Find New Life Through Tablet PCs."  The embedded illustration accompanied that article (click to see a larger version).

So far, I've held off on purchasing a tablet-sized device.  Although the form factor of the iPad is appealing, I still consider it too heavy as a reader.   However, I'm sure that as costs continue to come down and these devices become lighter in weight and with more features, I'll become a user.  The question of whether I will use such a device to read books has already been answered.  In fact, the majority of books I've read in recent years, along with magazines, newspapers and academic journals, have appeared on my computer screen.   I'm sure this is true for most of you who read this blog.

More on Microsoft Monoculture and the Mobile Revolution in Korea

An article in The Korea Times yesterday highlights an important aspect of the mobile broadband revolution occurring in South Korea, namely the problems caused by the so-called "Microsoft Monoculture" that has grown up here.  Readers of this blog will know from earlier posts that I've been an observer of the heavy reliance on Microsoft and its implications for Korea.

The article notes the great popularity of both the Apple iPad, running on the Apple OS, and the new Samsung Galaxy Tab, which runs on the Android operating system.   Unfortunately, despite all of their other attractive features, the fact that these devices do not work with the older Microsoft software that has been adopted for online banking and many e-government services in Korea somewhat limits their utility.   The article correctly notes how the nearly exclusive adoption of Microsoft's Active X and public key certificates is at the heart of this problem.   Ironically, Micorosft itself has been moving away from Active X for a long time now due to security problems.   Another factor diminishing the appeal of the iPad is that it will not display many "Flash-happy" Korean websites.

The article might have gone on to note that the mobile broadband revolution involves not only Korea, but is global in scope.  Most likely, the introduction of the iPad and the Galaxy Tab signal an increasingly urgent need for South Korea to jettison its reliance on Microsoft and move more aggressively into the mobile and ubiquitous network environment of the future!

Samsung's Galaxy Tab versus Apple's iPad

Ever since Steve Jobs recent public comments about the optimal size and other characteristics of tablet computing devices, I've been thinking occasionally about this matter.  One of the reasons I have not jumped to purchase an Apple iPad is its thickness and weight.  It is just a bit to heavy in your hands to be comfortable for reading e-books, magazines, and newspapers.  Heavier, that is, than a paper newspaper or a paperback book.

The Chosun Ilbo today covered the introduction of Samsung's Galaxy Tab, the 7" tablet that Steve Jobs critized.  While it is definitely lighter in weight, its problem is that the screen size doesn't permit a natural reading of books, newspapers or magazine articles.  The Chosun Ilbo's article does note one point that I strongly agree with.  Consumers will be the ultimate judge.  In my opinion, neither Apple nor Samsung are quite there yet, in terms of the form factor for  tablet-size computers or reading devices.   I see these emerging as lightweight and very much the size of the old print media.

Samsung Takes on Apple

One of my Google alerts this morning turned up an interesting short article in Forbes with the headline "Samsung Takes on Apple."  The report noted that Samsung is hurriedly developing its own tablet computer to rival Apple's much-hyped iPad.   The report quoted the President of Samsung's mobile communications division as saying "We will respond."  Samsung reportedly has several major projects in the works, with the other major focus being to increase its dominance in the smart phone market.

I'll say!   The current revolution in mobile communication is all about bringing mobile broadband internet to consumers, whether that be via a phone-sized device, or a notepad size device.  People will use a hand held device differently than a note pad or notebook size device.  However, in general I think it is safe to assume that most people would like to have the ability to fully synchronize information and applications across all of their devices.  A notebook or even a small desktop machine is more comfortable while sitting at a desk, while a notepad device may be ideal while lecturing or conducting a tour, and the mobile-phone sized devices, of course, are the most mobile because of their size.

Samsung is right to take on Apple, because the latter company is so far leading the way in creating fast, easy and intuitive user interfaces for the mobile internet.