Introduction: The tablet computing industry is growing at an exponential rate with no signs of slowing down.

More and more hedge funds and alternative investment organisations are considering moving away from laptops and notebook computers as the popularity of the tablet continues to grow. Many hedge funds are becoming attracted to the tablet more than ever, as this new technology allows them to track down market intelligence and stay abreast of changes more efficiently via apps, as opposed to trawling through the web via laptops or desktops. Tablet apps provide hedge fund users with a tailored computing experience, as they are now able to dive right in and get the information they require instead of having to take time searching for it. This is a major advantage for hedge funds because it allows managers to focus on returns and keep a closer eye on risk and exposure. Different operating system for tablets Apple's iOS The Apple iPad, in several ways, revolutionized the tablet market, a fact evident in its strong market position. The 1Ghz dual-core A5 processor-powered device, with a 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen (and IPS technology) Multi-Touch display, runs Apple's newest operating system, the iOS 5x and sits head and shoulders above the rest of its competitors. Its successor, the much anticipated iPad 3, has much to live up to... when it does eventually release, which, according to Slashgear, should be in February, 2012. However, it could happen that Apple decides to release an upgraded version of the iPad 2 then and the iPad 3 in the fall of the year, a-la the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5. Either way, consider the iPad 3 to feature an appropriately advanced version of the current iOS 5, along with all of its now-famed 200 additional features and even a few new ones. The battle, though, could be all about the display capabilities and processing power of the new device. A DigiTimes report suggests that Apple could introduce a new dual LED lightbar technology and an upgraded A6 processor

Windows 8 Microsoft's Windows operating system is rather more synonymous with personal computers and laptops. Therefore, when the software makers enter the world of tablet computers, dominated by the Android and the iOS, hiccups are to be expected. To start with, the Windows 8 OS is a touch-optimized skin for Windows 7; it is, however, a tabletoriented product, meaning that the software will be used exclusively for tablets. While this may seem to be great news, prior problems with software compatibility suggest that different tablets running different CPUs - Intel, AMD and ARM - could create issues, even if, as is believed, the new OS provides legacy support for all apps. Importantly, Microsoft has yet to release the beta version of Windows 8 (slated for February 2012), which suggests that it may be too late to offer significant products, on a foolproof OS, in the same year. Nevertheless, an early report from PC Advisor suggests the software may just be worth the wait.

Now, as far as information on tablets running this OS is concerned, quite naturally, it is a little sketchy. There are reports that both Nokia and Asus were planning tablets built around Windows 8 and Microsoft displayed a Samsung tablet with the OS at its Build conference, on Sept. 13. Finally, there have also been reports of interest from Dell and Hewlett-Packard.

Android Google Inc.'s Android has long been the only real competitor to the iOS' dominance; in fact, it has long been the only competitor. True to form, then, the release of Apple's iOS 5 was met with that of the Android 4x, rather quirkily tagged as Ice Cream Sandwich, which took pre-existing features (from the prior build, Android 3x - Honeycomb) and added new ones, including the ability to lock data using facial recognition software, improved audio and video features and incorporation of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The key point here, however, is that as yet no tablets have actually shipped with the Ice Cream Sandwich. Those that have prior builds, like Asus' Transformer Prime (Android 3.2), will be upgradable to a 4x build but ultimately, the jury is probably still out on performance Some of other the key players in the tablet industry include 1)Apple (I-pad 2) 2)Asus( Eee Pad Transformer Prime) 3)Samsung (Galaxy Tab 8.9) 4) Motorola( Xoom 2) 5) Sony (Tablet S) 6) Acer( Iconia Tab A500) 7) HTC( Flyer) 8) Amazon( Kindle Fire)

Market Size: The evolution of the tablet PC is due to the fact that consumers want something more portable than a laptop, more powerful than a netbook, and more comfortable than a smartphone and a Tablet PC could very well fill all of those needs. In 2010, Apple iPad set off a benchmark for Tablet PC on a global scale by selling more than 15 Million units in a single year. Thus virtually compelling all other major consumer electronic manufacturers to introduce there products in the market. Worldwide Tablet PC market size in 2010 was nearly US$ 9 Billion and it is anticipated that Tablet PC unit sales will cross 100 Million Units by 2015. In 2010, US and Western Europe together holds 75% of Tablet PC unit sales share but they are gradually losing their share to China and Korea. Latin America Tablet PC unit sales and market size will keep on growing year on year but due to aggressive growth by China its market share worldwide will decline year on year. India, Australia, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and Middle East Tablet PC unit sales and market sizes will keep on increasing year on year (2010 to 2015). In this digital age Tablet PC is expected to drive massive demand for digital content and services. Telecom service provider is likely to benefit most from it in the same way as they gained from smartphone boom. This is demonstrated by the fact that sales of the 3G iPad make up as much as 40% of total iPad sales. Internet traffic and location based services will increase tremendously thus creating a market for Internet service provider. This will further create a market for online paid content industry.

Market Share: Good and bad news for Apple today: its expected to continue to dominate the tablet market through 2014, according to estimates released today by Gartner, but its market share will continue to erode over the next few years. Gartner puts Apples current market share at 73.4%, down from 83% last year. As more tablets scramble into the market, Apple is likely to lose more market share, but Gartners forecast is that Apple will remain strong with at least a 50% share of the tablet market through 2014. Beyond Apple and Android, Gartner doesnt expect any other tablet OS to gain more than a 5% market share. Speaking of Android Last month, ABI Research released a report claiming that Android has eaten into 20% of Apples market share. Gartner sees the numbers very differently, putting Androids overall market share at only 17.3%, up slightly from its 14.3% market share last year. And Gartner doesnt see Android rising much in the ranks in the near future. The research firm reduced its forecast for the Android OS by 28% from last quarters projection, and Gartner says the reduction would have been even greater save for the upcoming Amazon tablet and the success of some lower-end tablets in Asia. So far, Androids appeal in the tablet market has been constrained by high prices, weak user interface and limited tablet applications said Carolina Milanesi, research VP at Gartner, in a statement. Android is on track to 11 million tablets this year, compared to Apples 46.7 million. Android is expected to close the gap slightly over the next few years, but by 2015, Gartner still anticipates Apple to be in the lead with 148.7 million tablets sold to Androids 116.4 million. Overall this year, Gartner says that worldwide tablet sales are on track to surpass 63 million units, a 261.4% increase over last year, when 17.6 million tablets were sold. By 2015, Gartner predicts that sales will reach 326.3 million units. Most of Apple's competitors are struggling to meet Apple's prices without considerably sacrificing margins. Screen quality and processing power are the two hardware features that vendors cannot afford to compromise on, said Roberta Cozza, principal analyst at Gartner, in a statement. As many analysts have already touted, Amazon is possibly the only brand that could effectively compete with Apple, and its tablet is widely expected to debut at less than $300. Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps projects that Amazon could sell between 3-5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.