Apple started 2010 with a bang, when it answered months of speculation with the unveiling of its 9.7-inch iPad near the end of January. Released in April, the iPad enjoyed a spectacular sales run and a spate of imitators, as rival manufacturers began introducing their own tablets into the market. Apple followed the iPad with the iPhone 4, the latest version of its popular smartphone, although the latters device release was marred by reported issues with the exposed antenna rim. And as the year came to a close, Apple reinforced its dedication to mobile devices with the MacBook Air, which emphasized the companys increased focus on lighter, slimmer, and lower-power devices. The iPad quickly seized 95.5 percent of the consumer tablet market, according to analyst reports, and the iPhone continues to dominate the smartphone space. But the company nonetheless finds itself locked in increased competition with Google, whose Android operating system has seen rapid adoption in both the smartphone and tablet spaces. In addition, Apple also faces vigorous competition in the mobility arena from Research In Motions BlackBerry franchise and Microsofts new Windows Phone 7. Whether Apple can maintain its market leads in the face of all that is the question for 2011. – …