As the iPhone, Android phones, and iPad became bestselling consumer gadgets, businesses realized their Web presence needed to translate to those smaller screens. Otherwise, their websites would bear tell-tale signs of a business clueless to mobile: tiny text, tinier links, and a jumbled layout. They risked lost traffic and sales.

These days, responsive design is recommended as the gold standard. But as with most technologies in a multi-device world, it has disadvantages, and it’s not right for every business, or every application.

In a new report from BI Intelligence, we describe what responsive design is and compare it to other mobile optimization tools, analyze responsive designs pros and cons, examine data and statistics that track responsive design adoption and performance across mobile, and evaluate whether dedicated mobile websites have their place, and detail the ramifications for HTML5 development.
To access the full report, sign up for a free trial of BI Intelligence today

Here’s an overview of the main mobile optimization tools:

Mobile apps: Particularly at the beginning of the mobile boom, when some believed apps would channel virtually all mobile activity, businesses rushed to create apps. Apps may be dominant in some mobile markets like the U.S., but consumers use their mobile browsers too — and not just for casual browsing, searching and information look-ups. A great deal of e-commerce happens in the mobile Web browser, not in native apps. Not to mention: Apps are expensive. Apps are not the be-all, end-all for mobile.

Dedicated mobile websites: Some usability gurus advocate for separate mobile sites that offer a stripped-down version of its content and carry their own Web address (often with the URL that looks something like this: m.website). These mobile-only sites tend to perform very well in terms of load speeds.

Responsive design: In responsive design, the same Web code or HTML is delivered to every device, but tweaks to CSS code which determines the layout of Web pages — allow it to determine the device size and adjust layout accordingly. The website maintains the same Web address or URL regardless of what device it’s seen on. In sum: The fluid layout means that content adapts to all form factors, even smart TVs — a fast-growing source of Web traffic.

Responsive Design With Server-Side Support– This is a variant of responsive design. The difference is that the computer server that hosts the website will deliver different batches of HTML and CSS Web code depending on what device the user is on. This method solves some of responsive design’s performance issues, but requires device detection. It means a company can use responsive design and enjoy its advantages where it wants, but deploy more customized components too. It may deploy responsive elements across mobile, while keeping a more traditional fixed layout for the PC. It may even deliver customized experiences for certain device models (like a feature that only works on retina screens, etc.).

Of course, there are tons of other Android tablets now, and the Tab has evolved into Samsung’s entry-level “consumption” tablets, leaving the high end to the company’s premium Note line, which adds more features and processing power (not to mention a stylus) for people interested in “productivity” from their tablets.

The Tab, on the other hand, is all about kicking back and enjoying some good old-fashioned content. All the models include an infrared blaster for controlling your TV as well as preloaded remote-control software.

Part of the package is Samsung’s WatchON app, which displays TV content visually, letting you browse shows as if they were Pinterest pins. The search function integrates with more than just your TV’s content, surfacing shows from digital video services as well.

All three models come in white or dark brown, which Samsung calls “Gold Brown.” If you see it in the dark, you’ll think it’s black.They’re all Wi-Fi models; any carrier partnerships for 3G or 4G connectivity will come later.

Here’s the rundown on the three models:

Galaxy Tab 3 7.0
The littlest of the Tab 3 line, the 7.0 sports a 7-inch LCD with 1,024 x 600 resolution. The chip inside is a Marvell dual-core 1.2GHz processor with 1GB of RAM. There’s only 8GB of storage, but you can augment that with a microSD card. Although it’s the lightest of the three at 10.6 ounces, its 0.39 inch thickness is actually thicker than the Tab 8.0. It runs Android 4.1 and costs $199.

Galaxy Tab 3 8.0
With its 8-inch screen and ultra-thin (0.29 inch) casing, the Tab 8.0 is clearly targeting the iPad mini. At least this model runs Android 4.2, backed by a Samsung 1.5GHz dual-core Exynos processor with 1.5GB of RAM. Screen resolution is 1,280 x 800, and there’s 16GB of built in storage, plus a microSD slot. Price is $299.

Galaxy Tab 3 10.1
The daddy of the line, the Tab 10.1 is notable for being the first mainstream Android tablet to pack an Intel processor, an 1.6GHz dual-core Atom chip with 1GB of RAM. It runs Android 4.2 and has 16GB of storage, plus a microSD slot. The 10.1 is also thinner than the 7.0 — just 0.31 inch — and weighs 1.1 pounds. Like the Tab8.0, the screen resolution is 1,280 x 800, and it costs $399.

After Eight
Although Samsung is offering three models in its new Tab line, it’s clear where the focus is: The 8.0 model is the thinnest, has the best camera and has the largest pixel density. It also happens to be $30 cheaper than the iPad mini, a tablet it actually bests with a couple of specs.

Watch for reviews of the Galaxy Tab 3 devices in the coming weeks, and let us know which one you like the best in the comments.

The story says that Apple’s next iPhone, which the tech press commonly refers to as the iPhone 5S, will have a fingerprint sensor:

For this year, Apple is expected to launch two new models, widely referred to as the iPhone 5S, with new fingerprint technology…

The fingerprint sensor has been one of the most consistent rumored features of the iPhone 5S. Last year, Apple bought a company called Authentec that makes fingerprint sensors for mobile devices. That caused many to speculate fingerprint technology would make it into a future iPhone model.

Presumably, such a sensor would let you unlock your phone with your fingerprint instead of a passcode, making it tougher for thieves to break into your device.

Data from the Zumobi platform shows mobile and mobile applications users are highly engaged with advertising served. According to their Q1 numbers smartphone users engaged with ads on Zumobi’s platform for more than 6 minutes while tablet users spent just over 3 minutes with ads. You can see the full infographic here.

“In today’s digital world, consumers expect brands to deliver a relevant and personalized experience,” said Mike Baker, CEO and co-founder of DataXu. “Marketers know that a thorough understanding of their consumers can provide a significant competitive advantage in a noisy marketplace. The Consumer Index underscores that advertising is now research and digital behavioral data delivers valuable insights into the consumer lifestyle trends that can inform strategies, drive engagement, and ultimately improve marketing investment results.”

Meanwhile information out from DataXu examines how consumers are engaging across devices. Their research shows that automotive consumers, for example, are most likely to engage with Media/Entertainment or Health products online. Smartphone users, meanwhile are most likely to show interest in financial services than other categories. PC users are most likely to engage with or convert via retail channels than through automotive channels.

In the last year, in-app sales on Google Play have grown significantly. At the latest Google I/O Conference, held in San Francisco, the search engine giant confirmed that in-app sales have grown an incredible 700%.

There’s an important message for android app developers in these figures – consumers want to trial apps for free, and only when they are happy with their use are they willing to invest.

Furthermore, Google Play Subscriptions, a product launched only one year ago, have doubled in revenue in each of the last four quarters. Some of the apps using the subscription model, such as Internet radio service Pandora, are even starting to enter the top grossing list.

A key trend revealed by Google is that tablet users are 1.7 times more likely to spend money on an app compared to smartphone users.

In addition, apps that are updated to take advantage of the latest changes to the Android platform generate 2.2 times more revenue than older versions.

Google also announced several new improvements to Google Play development at the I/O Conference including beta testing and staged roll-outs, a public page for highlighting tablet-specific apps, translation services, analytics and monetization tools.

The device sports a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 8/16GB of internal storage memory (expandable to 64GB via memory cards), and a 3-megapixel camera on the back, coupled with a 1.3-megapixel one on the front.

The 7-inch screen has a 1024×600 pixel screen, which sounds awfully low by today’s standards, but the device is capable of Full HD video playback.

Samsung has stuffed all that into a 111.1 x 188.0 x 9.9mm package that weighs 302g if you choose the Wi-Fi version, or 306g for the 3G variant.

The Wi-Fi version of the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 will be available globally in May, and the 3G version will come in June. Exact pricing and availability will vary by market and will be rolled out “gradually,” Samsung claims.

Research by IgnitionOne shows that year-over-year paid search spend for tablets and smartphones are up 112% and 113%, respectively in the US.

According to details made available in a press release today, tablet users were also shown to behave differently from PC users and have higher total engagement.

“Not only are users engaging with more ads on mobile devices, they are also spending more time on marketers’ websites when they do,” said Roger Barnette, President of IgnitionOne. “This creates both opportunities and challenges as marketers adjust to the changing landscape.”