When it comes to tablets, Apple is far and away the leader.
But later this year Microsoft is expected to unveil its Windows 8 tablet and, in doing so, will quickly take the lead.
In languages, that is.
That’s right. Microsoft recently announced that Windows 8 will support a whopping 105 languages (and I’m assuming this includes the new Metro interface).
This is impressive, particularly when you compare it against Apple iOS, which supports a paltry 34 languages. (Android 4.0 is at 57 languages.)
We are getting into slightly murky waters when we compare Windows 8 with iOS, because Windows 8 is for both PCs and mobile devices; Apple’s iOS is strictly for phones and tablets. But since phones and tablets are where the growth is globally, Microsoft’s investment in languages is smart and Apple’s relative frugality is short-sighted.
I’ll be curious to see how Apple responds with its updated OS later this year. And not just with its OS.