Google Debuts Its Nexus 7 Tablet: Do We Care?
If I told you your next tablet may be powered by a jelly bean, would you say I’m crazy? Would you even care? Google, for starters, is hoping you care a great deal.
The search giant’s Android tablet platform, which still struggles to gain market share in a seemingly pointless race to catch up with Apple’s wildly popular iPad, got a breath of fresh air this Wednesday at Google I/O 2012 when the much rumored Nexus tablet was unveiled (dubbed Nexus 7). This seven-inch tablet is available for pre-order now from Google Play. The 8GB model will set you back $199.99, and the 16GB model is $50 more at $249.99. The hardware is built by ASUS, and both are powered by the new Android 4.1, known on the streets as Jelly Bean (Google has an affinity for sweets-centric code names if you didn’t know).
Another Nexus-branded device was also revealed at I/O, the Nexus Q, something Google calls the “first social streaming media player.” This small, orb-shaped device can send your music and YouTube videos from your Android phone to your speakers and television, respectively, so your friends and family may enjoy as well. CNET has a full write-up on the Q if you’re interested, but back to the Nexus 7!
What about the specs? See them below to learn what you get for your money. While you read, two things should become apparent regarding Nexus 7.
- Camera: Front-facing 1.2 MP camera only
- GPS: Yes
- Memory: 1GB RAM, 8GB storage ($199.99) or 16GB ($249.99)
- Microphone: Yes
- MicroSD slot: No
- Processor: Tegra 3 quad-core processor
- Screen: 7” 1280 x 800 HD display (216 ppi),
Scratch-resistant Corning glass
- Size: 198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm
- Weight: 11.99 ounces
Those two things are:
- The tablet’s specs do not put it at parity with the new iPad, and that’s on purpose, which brings up the following point.
- The specs are more in-tune with Amazon’s Kindle Fire, probably the most known and more importantly most purchased Android-powered tablet to date.
What does this mean exactly? If Google is going after the next wave of iPad buyers, why is it pushing a Kindle Fire competitor? After giving it some thought, it would appear to be an unspoken admission that goes something like this.
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