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IHS iSuppli predicts the 3rd generation iPad will lead to Apple retaking at least some of the global tablet market share the company lost to the Android-based competition during Q4 2011.

As a result the analyst says Apple 2012 WW tablet market share will total 61%-- up from 57% in Q4 2011, if slightly down from 62% in 2011. Apple should continue holding majority in the tablet market until 2014, when it will hold 52% share.

The total tablet market will also continue growing-- iSuppli says WW 2012 shipments are to total 124M units, growing by 90% Y-o-Y from 65M in 2011. The market should slow down in the coming years, but shipments will reach 311M by 2016.

However the market appears to be splitting into 2 halves, with the iPad on one side and the low-cost Android competition headed by the Amazon Kindle Fire. Apple has 74% of total Q4 2011 tablet market revenues, while Android tablets revenues are down by -41% Y-o-Y.

Further competition should come from Windows 8, although the OS will only appear on ARM processors sometime on 2013-- meaning Apple will continue holding on the majority of the market until 2014.

Go IHS iSuppli Tablet Market Report

Game is facing even more troubles-- the Sunday Times reports (via anonymous sources) the biggest videogame retailer in the UK is looking for a buyer, with the Rothschild bank acting as an adviser.

Meanwhile an official statement from the retailer neither confirms nor denies the speculation, instead saying the board is currently reviewing any number of solutions to resolve pending "issues."

In further Game-related news, the Independent claims US retailer GameStop (the biggest videogames retailer in the world) is interested buying all (or parts) of the Game 291-store Iberian operation.

The rumours follow news of Game closing down 43 UK retail outlets (including 12 Game stores, 6 Gamestation stores and all 25 concessions in Debenhams stores).

The biggest games publishers-- Nintendo, Capcom, Ubisoft and Electronic Arts-- are refusing to ship their latest titles to the retailer, following concerns over its creditworthiness.

Go Game Group Statement

Go Game Group Looks for Buyer, Times Reports (Bloomberg)

Go Giant May Snap 291 Game Shops (The Independent)

Go Game Closing Down Multiple UK Stores

In an announcement surprising absolutely no one, Apple pats itself on the back and unveils the 3rd iPad-- now with an iPhone 4-style Retina display, upgraded A5X SoC and "iSight" rear-facing camera.

The biggest feature, of course, is the Retina display. It handles an impressive 2048 x 1536 resolution (264 dpi), and Apple claims it has 44% more colour saturation than the iPad 2. Powering the device is the Apple A5X system-on-a-chip-- it lacks a quad-core processor (as earlier rumours suggested), but does carry x4 graphic cores. Apple claims the A5X has "four times the performance" than the Nvidia Tegra 3... but gives no mention of benchmarks used.

The rear-facing camera also get an upgrade-- the iSight camera consists of a 5MP sensor, 5-element lens, IR filter and ISP built-into the A5X chip. The same setup as the iPhone 4S, in other words. It records 1080p video and comes with image stabilisation and noise cancellation.

Connectivity comes through 4G LTE. Apple says the device has the "most wireless bands" ever, making it 3/4G ready world wide.

The iPad 3 is hitting the Apple Stores in the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and the US on March 16 2012 (Apple's biggest rollout yet), with other markets to follow afterwards.

As to other Apple announcements, iOS receives an update to version 5.1 while iTunes gets to store movie purchases (as well as music) on the cloud-- ideal for use with the new Apple TV. No, not the mythical iTV/Apple TV set... just an update on the Apple STB. Like the iPad 3, the new Apple TV will also launch on March 16 2012.

Toshiba reveals the Qosmio X870 gaming laptop-- an upgrade on previous Qosmio models with a 17.3" 3D display, powered by the "latest" Intel processors and an unspecified next-get Nvidia GPU.

The display handles 1920 x 1080 resolution and has a response time of 5ms. Storage comes through either 2TB HDD or a hybrid SSD solution and ports include x4 USB 3.0(including x2 with Toshiba Sleep-and-Charge technology) and HDMI.

The GPU handles Nvidia 3D Vision technology, with included active-shutter 3D glasses. Sound is via a Harman Kardon system with Slip Stream technology and SRS Premium Sound.

Go Toshiba Qosmio