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Android surging in global tablet market: survey
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) April 28, 2014


Microsoft sets original TV shows for Xbox One
San Francisco (AFP) April 28, 2014 - Microsoft in June will begin airing original television shows on Xbox consoles as it continues a quest to anchor the boxes at the heart of home entertainment.

Xbox Originals programs ranging from dramas and comedies to documentaries and live events will air with interactive features taking advantage of video game console capabilities, according to Microsoft.

"Microsoft has a long and rich legacy in the content business," executive vice president of Xbox Entertainment Studios Jordan Levin said in a release.

"Games have been part of our DNA for at least the last 15 years, and creating original TV content is a logical next step in our evolution."

Hollywood talent enlisted to help create programs includes star directors Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott, who were involved with separate projects based on exclusive Xbox blockbuster science fiction battle franchise "Halo."

The roster of original shows included a series about international street soccer and a documentary about a search for a trove of vintage Atari computer games dumped long ago in a landfill in a US desert.

Microsoft said that original programs are intended as incentive for people to make Xbox consoles preferred "all-in-one" entertainment devices.

Microsoft late last year launched a new generation Xbox One console touted as a home entertainment hub that goes far beyond games.

The beefed-up hardware is powered by software that allows for instant switching between games, television, and Internet browsing. Microsoft-owned Skype was also integrated for online group video calls.

Kinect motion and sound sensing accessories accompanying the consoles recognize users; respond instantly to commands spoken in natural language, and even detect a person's pulse.

Microsoft said this month that it has sold more than five million Xbox One consoles since they were launched in November.

The news came a day after video game competitor Sony said it had sold more than seven million of its latest-generation PlayStation 4 consoles that debuted in mid-November.

Sony's numbers refer to sales to consumers while Microsoft's involve sales to retailers.

A new game, "Titanfall," which Microsoft was counting on to boost sales of the new Xbox, was the world's hottest-selling game in March, according to industry tracker NPD Group.

"Titanfall" involves a futuristic galaxy torn by fighting between elite fighter pilots and huge, heavily armed titans.

The Google Android platform extended its dominance over Apple in the tablet market in early 2014, a research firm said Monday.

Strategy Analytics said Android grabbed 65.8 percent of global tablet sales in the first quarter, up from 53 percent a year ago.

Apple meanwhile saw iPad sales slump and its market share tumbled to 28.4 percent from 40.3 percent a year earlier, the survey showed.

Global tablet sales in the quarter were up 19 percent at 57.6 million units, the market research firm said.

"Android continues to make steady progress and now commands two-thirds of the tablet market share," said Peter King, analyst at Strategy Analytics.

While Apple ignited the tablet market with its first iPads, it has now lost its dominance to Android in the same manner as the iPhone has seen its share eroded in the smartphone market.

The report said iPad sales were down 16 percent from the same period a year ago.

"We believe that the disappointing performance in the early part of the calendar year is because Apple has changed its product release cycle to the holiday timeframe," King said.

He added that Apple "will likely lose share over the next several months to refreshed Android products, but we believe Apple will win back meaningful high-end market share during the final months of the calendar year."

Android sales totaled some 38 million in the period to Apple's 25.6 million, the report said.

The survey also found a steady market share for tablets using Microsoft Windows.

Windows tablet sales rose to 3.4 million from 2.8 million a year earlier, keeping a steady market share of 5.8 percent, according to Strategy Analytics.

"There may be an uptick in Windows following Microsoft's decision to offer Windows for free for sub nine-inch devices," the report noted.

"We may see a new batch of eight-inch Windows-based tablets with reduced prices; they will still not be as inexpensive as Android, but it will enable them to be more competitive and appealing to a wider audience."

But the researchers said a dearth of apps continues to be a problem for Microsoft, "with seemingly little incentive for developers to work on the platform."

rl/jm

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