Apple has four fifths of North American tablets

Apple had a full 80 percent of the North American tablet market this past spring, Strategy Analytics said in a study Tuesday. Out of the 7.5 million tablets that went to both the US and Canada, six million were iPads. The rest was carved up between Motorola, RIM, Samsung, and other competitors, most of whom used Android.

Senior Analyst Alex Spektor argued that it wasn't just Apple's publicity but its knacks for interfaces and content. Android tablets have few major content sources and have only just recently been getting services such as Netflix, HTC's Watch, or Samsung's Media Hub.

Company Director Neil Mawston for these reasons saw Amazon standing a chance with the Kindle Fire tablet. Amazon still had to provide good hardware and a competitive price, but it had a reputation, content, and commercial reach that few outside of Apple had, he said.

Recent tips surrounding the Kindle Fire, which may be unveiled tomorrow, have had it partly shying away from competition from the iPad. It may cost no more than $300 and use a heavily customized version of Android 2.1 that would mostly serve to feed books and movies through Prime subscriptions as well as a controlled set of apps. Amazon may still end up outpacing its Android competitors simply by creating a genuinely distinct experience and focusing on prices and content over raw performance.

Apple's share is smaller worldwide, in part as Europe and Southeast Asia are much friendlier to competitors like Samsung.

By Electronista Staff

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