According to , the iPad accounted for 68.3 percent of global tablet shipments last quarter. That's up from the fourth quarter of 2012, and up 7 percent year-over-year.

In other words, Apple is pulling away from competitors such as Amazon's Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble's Nook Tablet. Those tablets got off to a strong start last holiday season, but according to Yankee Group and other analysts.

Apple's actual market share is probably even higher than Strategy Analytics lets on. Apple says it sold 17 million iPads to consumers last quarter, which is the same number Strategy Analytics uses in its report. But for all other tablet makers, the firm only counts "shipments," which includes unsold inventory on store shelves. Strategy Analytics doesn't tell us how many people have actually bought tablets running Android, Windows or other operating systems.

The outlook may seem bleak for iPad competitors, but there are a couple bright spots ahead. Google just launched its Nexus 7 tablet, and although the company hasn't released sales figures, the 7-inch tablet is in .

If the , the Nexus 7 won't just be a holiday stocking stuffer, but rather a low-cost tablet that people actually love. Apple is rumored to be planning a to compete with the Nexus 7 and its ilk, but for Android could enjoy a much-needed boost in market share.