According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global tablet shipments reached 57.6 million units in the first quarter of 2014. Android secured a 66 percent global share, while Apple iPad shipments were below expectations and iOS fell to 28 percent. Windows secured a 6 percent global share.

The research firm also found that Microsoft captured a niche 6 percent global tablet share in Q1 2014. There may be an uptick in Windows following Microsoft's decision to offer Windows for free for sub 9-inch devices. We may see a new batch of 8 inch Windows based Tablets with reduced prices; they will still not be as inexpensive as Android, but it will enable them to be more competitive and appealing to a wider audience. The shortage of apps continues to be a problem, with seemingly little incentive for developers to work on the platform.

Global Tablet Operating System Shipments and Market Share in Q1 2014 (preliminary)

Peter King, Director of Tablets at Strategy Analytics, said, "Global Tablet shipments reached 57.6 million units in Q1 2014, up 19 percent from 48.3 million in Q1 2013. Android continues to make steady progress and now commands two thirds of the tablet market share." King added, "Apple iOS shipments (sell-in) were 16.4 million iPads in Q1 2014 which declined 16 percent annually, but Apple claimed that due to channel inventory changes which were reduced significantly from the same period last year, sell-through only declined 3 percent. We believe that the disappointing performance in the early part of the calendar year is because Apple has changed its product release cycle to the holiday timeframe. iOS will likely lose share over the next several months to refreshed Android products, but we believe Apple will win back meaningful high-end market share during the final months of the calendar year."