iPad web browsing overtakes Android

Apple's iPad now accounts for more monthly web browser traffic than all Android-based mobile devices put together, according to data from Net Applications. Despite only being on the market for three months, the iPad comprised 0.17% of browser traffic tracked by Net Applications in June. In comparison Android devices represented 0.14% of web browser usage. The iPad is also outpacing the iPod Touch, which accounted for 0.12% of web browsing in June.
The iPad's share of the market has steadily risen since its launch in April. During the first two weeks after its release, the iPad accounted for the same amount of web browsing as all devices running the BlackBerry OS. After its first month on sale, the iPad hit an average 0.03% of browser traffic despite only being available in the US.
In May, when the device was launched in a further nine countries, that figure tripled to 0.09%, before almost doubling again in June. The highest single day for web use on the iPad was July 3, when it accounted for 0.35% of all browser usage.
Apple says it has already sold 3m iPads in the 10 countries where it is available. However, these figures are well below sales of the iPod Touch and combined sales of Android devices. The high web traffic is due to Apple designing the iPad for consumption of media such as books and video.
The firm has given the iPad a large screen that is suited to browsing the web and long battery life."Browser usage share on the iPad has already surpassed usage share on both the Android platform and the iPod Touch," says Net Applications. "Since Android and iPod Touch units sold vastly outnumber iPad units sold, this is an indication that the iPad is used much more frequently per user for browsing."
Recent figures from Net Applications also reveal that the iPhone OS continues to see strong growth in the mobile browsing market, accounting for 32.8% of all web usage. Symbian comprises 14% while Android's share rose to 6.24%. Java remains the leader with 40% of the market, although it is rapidly losing out to both the iPhone and Android platforms.

Source: StrategyEye

iPad to hit Australia by end of May

The device, which includes an e-reader application through its integration with Apple's iBooks online store, is being touted by some as a 'print-killer' due to its ability to deliver printed content such as books and catalogues digitally.
Apple has said it will have the devices ordered through its store in the hands of customers before 28 May, adding that it will ship its full range of iPad accessories before that date.
The iPad ranges in price in Australia from $629 to $1,049 including GST. The starting price is about 11% more than its US retail price, but cheaper than in some of the other eight countries where it will be released on 28 May. New Zealand will not have access to the device until July.
Telstra has become the first Australian carrier to offer a 3G data plan for the iPad, which starts at $20 for a gigabyte of traffic a month.
The vendor's iBooks application will be made available as a free download to Australian customers.
Apple said it has sold more than a million iPads, 12 million apps and 1.5 million e-books since the device was released in the US last month.
Printing and publishing companies such as Blue Star and Geon got their first look at the iPad at an event in Sydney last week.
Mark Mina, business development manager for mail at Geon, told ProPrint that the creation of a new marketing channel "will come at the expense of some printing".
Book printers expressed concern to ProPrint earlier this year that the iPad could increase the popularity of e-books and hurt print, while catalogue printers are also said to be under threat from the new device.

Source: ProPrint

UK: Sales woe continues for quality dailies

ALL the national quality daily newspapers recorded month-on-month and year-on-year sales falls in December.
The Independent simultaneously recorded the smallest month-on-month decline and the biggest year-on-year fall in the quality daily market last month, according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations figures published today.
In December its headline circulation included 43,854 copies on average each day distributed overseas.
The paper's circulation was 200,242, down 12.33% year on year, but only 0.43% down compared with November. Just 115,496 copies of the Independent – 58% of total circulation – were sold at full rate in the UK.
The Times remained just above the 600,000 mark – by 962 copies – with a 3.36% fall from November and a 2.33% decline year on year.
News International's quality daily distributed 23,301 copies overseas and had a full-rate UK circulation of 398,031, 66% of its headlines December sales figure.
The Daily Telegraph fell just 1.35% compared with November, from 835,497 to 824,244 copies sold each day on average. But this was a 5.64% decline year on year from 873,523 in December 2007.
The Daily Telegraph's full rate circulation in the UK was 355,394 in December – just 43% of its total sale. The paper's overseas distribution was 40,081.
The Guardian, which is published along with MediaGuardian.co.uk by Guardian News & Media, had a circulation of 343,010 in December.
This was 4.29% down compared with November and 2.95% less than December 2007. 81% of the Guardian's circulation was at full-price, the highest in the quality daily market.
The Guardian distributed 38,510 copies overseas and had a full rate circulation in the UK of 273,885.
The Financial Times recorded a circulation of 435,319 in December, 2.94% down compared with November and 2.23% down year on year.
Last month the Financial Times had a full-rate circulation in the UK of 77,205. 134,318 copies were circulated in the US, 126,071 in Europe and 39,756 in Asia.
Last month, the Guardian distributed 14,372 bulk copies – copies sold to hotels, airlines and gyms for a nominal fee and given away to customers.
The Independent's bulk sales were 35,575 in December, the Daily Telegraph distributed 98,336 across the month with the Times distributing 55,569.

Source: The Guardiaon