Google I/O day 1, part 2: Nexus 7
As the launch platform for Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Google announced its first tablet device at Google I/O today: the Nexus 7. The basic idea of the 7-inch device seems to be the same as the Kindle Fire – to deliver (in this case) Google’s content to consumers.
The software and integration seem to be the big story here, and hardware-wise the Nexus 7 isn’t too different from what we expected. It was manufactured in partnership with Asus, and it packs a 1280 x 800 display into a nearly buttonless form factor. Powering the show is Nvidia’s Tegra 3 quad-core SOC, with Google also highlighting the 12 dedicated GPU cores in the chip. The Tegra 3 has been paired with 1GB of RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, a gyroscope, and a 1.2MP front facing camera. The 4325mAh battery sounds plenty big, and Google says that the Nexus 7 will last for 300 hours on standby and for 8 hours of constant video playback despite only weighing about 340 grams.The software is going to be the same Android 4.1 found on the Galaxy Nexus, but with more of an emphasis on content. Widgets on the Nexus 7 will display your library of music, movies, games, and TV shows, all coming from the Google Play Store. Much more than anything else, the presenters at Google I/O focused on using the Nexus 7 as a media consumption device, demonstrating how one would go about consuming each different type of content. Magazines, TV, and movie purchases have also been added to the Play Store and the Nexus 7, and Google Currents was also highlighted as a method for reading web media.
Preorders start today at the price of $199 for the 8GB version. This price includes $25 to spend on media in the Play Store, as well as some preloaded selections such as Transformers: Dark of the Moon and some popular magazines. Orders will ship in mid-July, the same time that the Jelly Bean update lands on existing devices and the source code is released to the world. For more information, images, and specifications, just head to Google’s official Nexus 7 page through the source link below.
[Google]More Google I/O coverage:
- Google I/O day 1, part 1: Android 4.1 Jellybean
- Google lowers unlocked GSM/HSPA+ Samsung Galaxy Nexus price to $349
- Google Chrome for Android exits beta; Play Store on the web is improved, too
- Google Maps now allows for off-line map access
- Android Jelly Bean developer preview OTA image has already leaked
- Google introduces Nexus Q, a $299 social streaming device
- 9.1% of Android users just got some cool new YouTube features
- Google+ gets yet another UI overhaul, but it doesn’t suck this time
- Google Glass demoed at Google I/O, early release next year for $1,500 for developers
