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Feature Story
Media Tablets: The Next 'Big' Screens?
Breaking Tablets' Capacity Ceiling with Seagate's GoFlex SatelliteTM Wireless Storage
With limited capacities of up to 64GB internal storage, how do we maximize the potential of media tablets as today's choice entertainment device on-the-go?
| Why it Matters? |
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The media tablet device is fast gaining popularity globally, with an estimate of 38 million units to be shipped by end 2012. |
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Tablets are the vital new screens for video consumption, as well as becoming personal interaction devices for video-centric social networking and applications. |
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Regardless of the brand they purchased, nearly 70% of tablet owners consider memory a key feature in the device. |
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Internal tablet storage capacities are just not enough. Users have to pick and choose what content they want on their tablets and delete when they want additional content. |
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Seagate's GoFlex Satellite™ 500GB Wireless Storage, which acts like a mini media hub, streams different media content over Wi-Fi simultaneously – without any need for Internet connection. Capable of providing hours of entertainment for up to three connections, GoFlex Satellite™ is the perfect companion to consumers' mobile devices. |
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Explosive Growth Potential of Tablets
The media tablet device is fast gaining popularity around the world. In a recent forecast on worldwide shipment, industry analyst firm, IDC, estimates that about 28 million units will be shipped in 2011 alone, and close to 38 million units by end 2012 (see Figure 1).
Source: IDC Worldwide Media Tablet Forecast Update, Sep'10.
Popular Tablet Usage Patterns
In a separate industry research by In-Stat, the results showed that 1-in-2 tablets owners in the US are viewing both feature-length movies and TV shows on the device. The research firm observes that tablets are not only becoming vital new screens for video consumption, but are also functioning as personal interaction devices for video-centric social networking and applications.
"Tablets, in particular, have become a primary video device, both inside and outside the home," says Keith Nissen, Research Director. "By 2015, our research projects that 65% of the US population will own a smartphone and/or tablet. As these devices become a centre-point for video engagement and consumption, content providers, device manufacturers, and operators need to support a multiscreen usage model that reflects social interaction, screen interaction, personalisation, and mobility."
iPads dominate the tablet market today, according to In-Stat. Over 75% of tablet owners bought an iPad, while more than 40% of future tablet purchasers are planning to buy one. The typical tablet purchaser tends to skew towards older, 50-year old male, although the iPad buyer/user is most likely to be a younger male.
In-Stat also observes a potential shift in tablet usage patterns over the next few years. The top three usages for current tablet owners are web browsing, email, reading e-books, with 26% of tablet time being spent on multimedia consumption. This usage pattern is likely to be replaced by email, personal information management, and multimedia consumption for future tablet owners. It is interesting to note that future users are likely to spend close to 43% of tablet time on multimedia consumption.
Regardless of the brand they purchased, nearly 70% of tablet owners consider memory a key feature in the device, according to In-Stat (see Figure 2).
Source: In-Stat Tablet forecast, Dec'10.
Internal Storage: Limitation for Tablet Devices
Online digital video distribution has made it easier for consumers to access more content, on more devices, and in more places, than ever before. This increase in access has made content more ubiquitous – but just as important, are the questions of how and on what devices consumers are accessing this content, as well as the storage capacities of these devices.
Limited internal storage capacity (typically 16GB, 32GB or 64GB) is the Achilles' heel for the versatile tablets. A tablet routinely requires the use of a desktop or laptop as a base device for uploading music, video, photos, documents, and other media. Most users thus have to resort to carry only a fraction of the PC's data on their tablets.
"For many users, the internal tablet storage capacities are just not enough. Users have to pick and choose what content they want on their tablets and delete when they want additional content," says Liz Conner, senior research analyst, storage systems and personal storage at IDC.
Digital media today requires large storage. For instance, ten movies stored in 1080i format without compression, menus and bonus material is approximately 200GB to 225GB; a library of 500 songs in 128 kbps format consumes about 2GB of storage; while a collection of 500 photos in 4-megapixel format takes up about 1GB, according to calculations form NAS file management system.
No doubt there are apps that allow tablets to access files that are stored in the cloud like Dropbox, but these require an Internet connection, and access can be slow.
GoFlex Satellite™: The Wireless Storage Solution
The increasing usage of tablets and other Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices for anytime, anywhere video consumption and entertainment has necessitated a new wireless storage solution, such as the Seagate GoFlex Satellite 500GB mobile wireless storage. This solution offers users an easy way to share their content with friends and family, and the flexibility of carrying their entire media library in their back pocket. With up to 4-hour battery life, GoFlex Satellite syncs all the media and documents on a PC or Mac for easy on-the-go access on any iPad, Android tablet or smartphone.
Designed to work with tablets that do not come with USB ports, GoFlex Satellite streams content to the tablets over a special, local Wi-Fi network – without any need for Internet connection. Like a mini hub, GoFlex Satellite streams different media over Wi-Fi simultaneously to up to three tablets and smartphones. Imagine this: Long road trips
with young children in tow can now be made more enjoyable while they access their favourite HD movie on their individual tablet; Or on campus, file-sharing among friends
can be simplified without having to huddle over a screen to watch the latest music video or to review a school project.
The perfect companion to consumers' mobile devices, GoFlex Satellite mobile wireless storage is capable of providing hours of entertainment anytime, anywhere.
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