A tiny NASA satellite mapped Earth’s atmospheric ice

A tiny NASA satellite mapped Earth’s atmospheric ice - Last May, NASA launched a small, bread loaf-sized satellite into orbit around Earth. Dubbed IceCube, the satellite's mission was to measure cloud ice in our planet's atmosphere -- a challenging task that researchers have previously only been able to...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

iPad Remains World's Most Popular Tablet as Apple Outsold Samsung and Amazon Combined Last Year

iPad Remains World's Most Popular Tablet as Apple Outsold Samsung and Amazon Combined Last Year - iPad remains the world's most popular tablet by a significant margin, having outsold competing devices from rivals Samsung and Amazon combined last year, according to data shared by research firm IDC today.


Apple sold a total of 43.8 million iPad units in 2017, as confirmed by its quarterly earnings results, while IDC estimates that Samsung and Amazon shipped 24.9 million and 16.7 million tablets respectively on the year. The combined Samsung-Amazon total of 41.6 million tablets is 2.2 million lower than iPad sales.

Apple captured a 26.8 percent share of the tablet market in 2017, meaning that roughly one in every four tablets sold last year was an iPad. Apple's tablet market share rose 2.5 percentage points year-on-year.


Last week, Apple reported revenue of $5.8 billion from iPad sales in the fourth quarter of 2017, representing growth of six percent compared to the year-ago quarter. Apple's average selling price of an iPad was $445, up slightly from $423 in year-ago quarter, suggesting more higher-priced iPad Pro sales.

Apple's growth in iPad sales, albeit relatively flat, contrasted with the overall tablet market's 6.5 percent decline in shipments in 2017 compared to 2016. iPad has been the world's most popular tablet since shortly after it launched.

Shifting focus to this year, Apple is rumored to launch at least one new iPad Pro model with slimmer bezels, no home button, and Face ID. We haven't heard much about the lower-cost 9.7-inch iPad and iPad mini, but each could certainly receive a routine speed bump this year among other upgrades as well.

Related Roundups: iPad Pro, iPad mini 4 (2015), iPad (2017)

Tag: IDC

Buyer's Guide: 10.5" iPad Pro (Neutral), iPad Mini (Don't Buy), 12.9" iPad Pro (Neutral), iPad (Don't Buy)

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(Via MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors.)

First look: Occipital Structure sensor iPad attachment aims to simplify, add precision to room and object 3D scanning

First look: Occipital Structure sensor iPad attachment aims to simplify, add precision to room and object 3D scanning -

At the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, Occipital showed off its Structure mobile depth sensor that attaches to the back of an iPad to capture a 3D model of whatever is in front of it, including small and large objects, and the overall layout of a room -- and AppleInsider just got one to try out.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Amazon’s Whole Foods buy may usher in the store of the future - CNET

Amazon’s Whole Foods buy may usher in the store of the future - CNET - Big changes may someday be coming to Whole Foods, including delivery drones, no checkout lines and (gasp) lower prices.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Verizon's first LTE-only handset is an LG flip phone

Verizon's first LTE-only handset is an LG flip phone - When Verizon finished rolling out its LTE network for calls, it became apparent that it also plans to drop its CDMA phone service altogether. Now, the carrier has begun offering its first LTE-only handset to subscribers, and it's obviously an attempt...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Our 12 Favorite Laptops, From MacBooks to Chromebooks

Our 12 Favorite Laptops, From MacBooks to Chromebooks - If you're looking to buy a laptop, we're here to make your decision easier.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

'Satan's fidget spinner' gets grounded by the TSA - CNET

'Satan's fidget spinner' gets grounded by the TSA - CNET - Normal fidget spinners are permitted on planes, but this deadly looking item was forbidden from flying the skies, friendly or otherwise.

(Via CNET News.com.)