Demand for touch-based technology has led to the sharp rise in tablet sales. Traditionally, tablets were used for checking email, but now tablets are becoming more of a “catch all” tool. Even though the Apple iPad’s 10-inch form factor has dominated the market, tablet manufacturers are now developing smaller devices like the Nexus 7 and iPad mini to gain more share in the tablet market.
In October, Tablet Publishing and Onswipe found that US mobile web users used larger screens to check their email (49%) compared to 30% on mini tablets. In addition, HIS iSuppli speculates that almost 17 million 7-inch tablets will ship globally this year, with 34 million predicted to ship in 2013. In the future, advertisers will have a new form factor to consider in responsive design.
