Google Nexus 7 tablet

[haven]

It looks very much like Google will market an Android tablet under the Nexus brand this Summer, just as the company does today for smart phones. Asus showed a machine like this at CES, but has not brought it to market.

Now that Google owns phone and tablet maker Motorola Mobility, I expect we'll see more Nexus branded products.

[haven]

The Google I/O Conference for Android developers is just hours away. Most pundits are saying
a Google-branded 7 inch tablet and the next version of Android OS will be introduced at the show.

Expected specifications for the new tablet include
-- name will be the Google Nexus Tablet
-- tablet made by Asus for Google
-- screen will be 7 inch, 1280x800 IPS color LCD, multi-touch enabled
-- processor will be nVidia Tegra 3, quad-core and running at 1.3 GHz
-- 1 GB RAM, 8 or 16 GB flash storage
-- OS will be Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
-- micro SD and micro HDMI slots, maybe micro USB
-- WiFi and Bluetooth only, no data service by cell phone carrier
-- 1.2 MP front camera for video chat, no rear camera
-- NFC radio, linked to Google Wallet app
-- maybe GPS chip for navigation << correct
-- Battery big enough for 9 hours

Pricing expected to be $199 for the 8 GB, $249 for the 16 GB model.
Tablet to be available through Google website at first.

We'll know soon how many of these predictions are correct. If the Nexus tablet has most of these features, then there's really no reason to buy the current version of Amazon Kindle Fire tablet or a Barnes and Noble Nook Color.

In the 7 inch tablet market today, Samsung offers a $250 model called the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. It doesn't have as nice a screen as the Nexus is expected to have, it has a 1 GHz dual core processor, and it costs $50 more than the comparable Nexus model. The Samsung does have an interesting infra-red emitter, which can be used to remotely control TV, DVD player and so on.

Acer has shown a 7 inch tablet called the A110 with quad core processor and similar specs to those listed above, but with an inferior screen. The A110 is expected to cost less than $200 when it's introduced later this year.

Amazon is expected to announce an upgraded version of the Fire in July. Barnes and Noble, which is now a partner with Microsoft, may produce a new tablet that runs Windows 8 RT. But RT is not expected until October.

[haven]

The announcement is official -- the tablet is called Nexus 7, and has most of the features listed in the previous post. GPS is in, but HDMI and micro SD are out. I guess Google wants you to stream video to your TV via Bluetooth or WiFi.

Learn more, and order the Nexus 7 online here https://play.google.com/store/device...id=nexus_7_8gb
Tablets ordered now will include a $25 credit for the Google Play store, plus some free extras, including a copy of the Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon movie. The tablet is due to ship in 2-3 weeks.

[gahi]

Everything looks great, except for the lack of the front facing camera. But I think this paired with BCNav, and the new google earth will be a sweet combo for offroad gps. I own the galaxy nexus phone, and so far I havnt even come close to using up the memory. So the missing sd slot is OK in my world. I dont store movies though.

$200 is a lot less than I bought my Garmin for 6 mos ago.

[haven]

Here's a feature comparison for three tablets with 7 inch displays that cost less than $250:
Nexus 7, the Amazon Kindle Fire, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0
http://www.netbooknews.com/51195/goo...n-kindle-fire/

[Carlyle]

Looks like the Nexus 16 gig will be my next purchase. Something to replace my Kindle, Sony reader and Dodge factory GPS. I'll need to find a Ram mount for it then.

[Carlyle]

This has the potential be be a great navigation system.

[evldave]

I just put in a pre-order for this. Says 2-3 weeks for delivery, I'm curious if it will actually show up on time

This will be replacing my hacked B&N Nook...same general size and both run android. I run BCN + Torque in the truck when I use it for overlanding. I'll load everything up on the Nexus7 and do a review/comparison once I get it.

and there will be an overland-ready Nook for sale in the for-sale section in a few weeks

[evldave]

It looks very much like Google will market an Android tablet under the Nexus brand this Summer, just as the company does today for smart phones. Likely specifications include

-- manufactured by Asus
-- running Android 4.1, aka Jelly Bean
-- powered by nVidia Tegra four core processor
-- 1280 x 800 color LCD touchscreen
-- target price less than $250, maybe only $199
-- to keep price down, no GPS chip
.... This would be OK as long as you can attach an external GPS by Bluetooth
-- to keep price down, WiFi only, no 3G or 4G data service
-- to keep price down, 16 GB storage, 1 GB RAM

Asus showed a machine like this at CES, but has not brought it to market.

Now that Google owns phone and tablet maker Motorola Mobility, I expect we'll see more Nexus branded products.

Nexus7 website says it has a GPS chip...I'm curious to see how well it works...

[haven]

The Nexus 7 reviews are starting to be posted. They like it!

http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/29/31...nexus-7-review

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6054/g...-7-mini-review

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2406552,00.asp

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/28/nexus-7-review/

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/06/nexus-7-review/