Classic, minimalist design is present in Finland's everyday life. Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) has honored this tradition by designing stylish mobile phones and smartphones. Now, in the midst of the tablet revolution, it is designing its own tablet.
Marko Ahtisaari, who was appointed executive vice president of design and a member of the Nokia Leadership Team on Feb. 1, said in an interview with the Finnish business magazine Kauppalehti Optio that he is spending one-third of his time developing a Windows 8 tablet.
Ahtisaari said he intends to get people to lift their heads from their devices. In other words, this tablet will be based on voice recognition. If Nokia made this feature highly efficient, it would be a key turning point in the competition with the iPad.
The Nokia tablet is expected to use Microsoft Windows 8 software. In November of last year, Digital Trends reported that Paul Amsellem, head of Nokia France, had told the newspaper Les Echos about the upcoming Nokia Windows 8 tablet. This means Nokia has been thinking about and planning this move for a while. It’s about time the company entered the tablet market.
Nokia could unveil this tablet in September at Nokia World 2012, which is being held for the first time in Nokia's homeland of Finland. That would make sense for several reasons. For example, Microsoft is going to announce its Windows 8 operating system in September or October, so announcing Nokia’s tablet almost simultaneously would be perfect timing. Hannu Rauhala, an analyst at Pohjola Bank who follows Nokia, says a 10-inch Windows 8 on ARM (WoA) tablet, equipped with Qualcomm processors, could be in the market in November.
The Windows 8 tablet market is going to be interesting to watch just before Christmas. Some vendors, such as Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and Asustek Computer, are planning to launch Windows 8 tablets in October, according to Taiwanese supply chain vendors. Companies such as Samsung Electronics, Sony, and Toshiba are expected to launch WoA tablets in early 2013.
Helsinki is the World Design Capital 2012, and Nokia is one of the World Design Capital 2012 partners. I can’t think of a better place for its first tablet announcement. The tablet is expected to be competitive with the new iPad, adding a new dimension to the tablet wars. Nokia’s tablet could also place itself first among Windows 8 tablets.
In September, I will be reporting directly from Nokia World 2012 -- the first such event to be held in Finland.
What other thing could it be if it's not a tablet? :D
With the apps we might have a good surprise. About the feautures, it's like I told t.alex just in one comment below.
I dare to say that consumers who have iPads or a Mac and an iPhone are not going to change to anything Microsoft, therefore, no Nokia tablet for them. I would be really surprised if a an Apple consumer purchases a Nokia Windows 8 tablet, especially for the Windows part of it.
Consumers who already have or are planning to purchase an Android tablet or upcoming Microsift 8 tablet may have a preference for a Nokia tablet due to the long history of high-quality hardware at not an awfully expensive price. I doubt a Nokia tablet would have a tag price of $500.
The known and confirmed features of this tablet are the ones I mentioned in the blog, other than that, Nokia has not officially made any other tablet announcement. We have to wait a little more. I assume there is such mystery because the other Windows 8 tablets are going to come out to the market about the same time.
This is the first time I am going to a Nokia World; I wanted to know about the experience. It's always been talked about as something really big and exciting. We'll see. I might be going to the UK for a little while in early September, if you are around we could have an EBN coffee.
It may have a reasonable price tag I suppose as Nokia knows very well how to do high-quality hardware good price for the consumers. Microsoft does not seem to push for something innovative - this is what we have felt so far.
Why tablet not something else? Are there unique features integrated that would probably attract consumers more than Apple iOS or Android OS? Windows OS still a force to reckon with though. I presumed nothing special, i may be wrong but wating to see Nokia launchs it come September or October.
Nokia Tablet can rival iPad and Android tablets if and only if there is an EXTREME RIDICULOUS PRICE TAGS as well absolute different apps.
"My opinion is that consumers will lump these products into two categories: the Apple iOS and others. That's where Nokia will end up at least for the near future."
Indeed, quite possible. Now, within the "others" category, would you give preference to a Nokia product rather than chosing any of the others? And why or why not?
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
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Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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