Kindle Fire heads for second place in tablet market

 　　SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Only two weeks after its shipment, Amazon's Kindle¹ Fire has already shown the momentum² to grab the second place in global tablet computer market, research firm IHS predicted on Friday.

　　Amazon is expected to ship 3.9 million Kindle Fire tablets during the last three months of 2011, the first quarter the product goes on sale, according to preliminary projection³ from IHS.

　　The number will give Amazon a 13.8-percent share of global tablet market in the fourth quarter, surpassing the 4.8 percent held by No. 3 player Samsung, and second only to Apple's commanding 65.6 percent market share.

　　"Nearly two years after Apple Inc. rolled out the iPad, a competitor has finally developed an alternative which looks like it might have enough of Apple's secret sauce to succeed," Rhoda Alexander, senior manager of tablet and monitor research for IHS, said in a statement.

　　"Initial market response strongly suggests that Amazon, with the Kindle Fire, has found the right combination of savvy⁴ pricing, astute⁵ marketing⁶, accessible content and an appropriate business model, positioning the Kindle Fire to appeal to a brand-new set of media tablet buyers," she added.

　　IHS analysts⁷ noted⁸ that with a price tag of 199 U.S. dollars, the Kindle Fire has set a new bar for pricing, bringing the tablet within reach of a larger portion of the buying public.

　　IHS expects Kindle Fire's rapid ascent⁹ to help fuel the expansion of the entire tablet market, now predicting that 64.7 million tablets will be shipped in 2011, higher than its previous forecast of 60 million issued in August.

　　The total tablet shipment number this year will represent a 273- percent growth from 17.4 million units in 2010, said IHS, which has also increased its longer-term projection of global tablet shipment in 2015 to 287.2 million units.

1 kindle   

v.点燃，着火

参考例句：

• This wood is too wet to kindle.这木柴太湿点不着。
• A small spark was enough to kindle Lily's imagination.一星光花足以点燃莉丽的全部想象力。

2 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

3 projection   

n.发射，计划，突出部分

参考例句：

• Projection takes place with a minimum of awareness or conscious control.投射在最少的知觉或意识控制下发生。
• The projection of increases in number of house-holds is correct.对户数增加的推算是正确的。

4 savvy   

v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的

参考例句：

• She was a pretty savvy woman.她是个见过世面的漂亮女人。
• Where's your savvy?你的常识到哪里去了？

5 astute   

adj.机敏的，精明的

参考例句：

• A good leader must be an astute judge of ability.一个优秀的领导人必须善于识别人的能力。
• The criminal was very astute and well matched the detective in intelligence.这个罪犯非常狡猾，足以对付侦探的机智。

6 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 ascent   

n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高

参考例句：

• His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社会地位提高之迅速令人吃惊。
• Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按动电钮，电梯开始缓慢上升。