Title: Internet Research - Activity 6
Course: CGS 1560 Microcomputer Operating Systems > Section: Module 6 - Operating System Installation

The tablet market is currently dominated by two mobile operating systems Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. International Data Corporation (IDC) is a research firm that publishes marketing information in the field of technology. They have recently published data in regard to Tablet PCs. The data and forecasts show the impact that tablets are making in our everyday lives. The following are excerpts from their press release concerning the worldwide sales of tablets:

Continued robust consumer demand, and strong expectations for the fourth quarter, has led International Data Corporation (IDC) to increase its forecast for the worldwide tablet market to 117.1 million units, up from its previous forecast of 107.4 million units for the year. In the latest forecast update of the Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, the firm also revised upward its 2013 forecast number from 142.8 million units to 165.9 million units. And by 2016 worldwide shipments should reach 261.4 million units.

In addition to increasing the unit totals for 2012, IDC also updated its taxonomy to include Windows-based slates in the Tablet Tracker. Windows tablets (which include Windows 7 tablets shipping today, and Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets shipping in the fourth quarter of 2012) are expected to grow from about 1% of the market in 2011 to 4% in 2012, on their way to 11% of the market by 2016. During those same years iOS will grow from 57.2% in 2011 to 60% in 2012, eventually slipping back to 58% by 2016; Android will slip from 38.9% to 35.3%, declining to 30.5% by 2016.

Apple has now entered the K-12 digital textbook market inking deals with three major publishers, Pearson, McGraw Hill and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The K-12 textbook market is worth over $3 billion in annual sales. Also, consider that Newsweek magazine will go digital only and others will probably soon follow. The e-Books are now more popular than they have ever been. Interactive textbooks, e-Books and e-Magazines add a new dimension to learning and entertainment.

Considering all of this, what do you see as the overall role of the tablet OS in the realm of digital publishing? Do you think that Apple’s iOS will continue to command the lion’s share of the market? What features should Apple add to enhance the iOS and maintain its market lead? What other markets are poised for “going digital” in the later part of this decade?

For this assignment, you are to create a PowerPoint presentation. You are to assume the role of an Apple Engineer giving a presentation at the first Annual Apple Design Conference. The conference has one goal and that is to inspire ideas about the direction Apples should take in the next five to ten years. It will be attended by Apple’s senior management, marketing, research and development, engineers, as well as other interested employees. Keep in mind that the PowerPoint presentation is to serve as a springboard for your ideas.

Required components of the PowerPoint presentation are listed below:

- Title slide that gives topic of the, name of the lesson, class title and number, your name, and the date
- A minimum of seven (7) slides (including the title slide and credits slide)
- Appropriate font(s) and color combinations
- At least three different appropriate layouts in addition to the title layout
- At least four appropriate imported (inserted) images
- One image may be on title slide, images on the credit slide do not count
- Images may be photos, maps, charts, or similar images
- The images must be legally obtained
- You may have no more than three slides that contain bullets or numbering
- You must use both text effects (animation) and slide transitions
- At least one instance of a video file that has been inserted into a slide
- Appropriate use of a sound file
- At least four hyperlinks, two of the hyperlinks must be interactive and in the presentation body (credits slide links do not count)
- Credits slide that lists all of the sources used to create the PowerPoint presentation with active links for website addresses
- Overall appearance that is pleasing, contains no spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors

Submit your completed essay to the assignment dropbox.