Google Nexus 7 tablet

[haven]

Criticisms of the Nexus 7 revolve around a couple of port omissions

-- no HDMI output
Even though Google touts the Nexus 7 as a tool for media consumption, there is no way to attach the Nexus 7 to an HD tv. There is no HDMI output port, and no support for USB Mobile High Definition Link (MHL). MHL converts USB to HDMI signal.

I guess Google wants you to stream movies to your TV from Internet cloud storage, and use a dedicated home entertainment device such as the recently announced Google Q to connect the cloud storage to the HDMI tv. Or maybe this omission is due to the fact that neither the Amazon Kindle Fire nor Barnes and Noble Nook tablets have HDMI output.

-- no SD or micro SD card slot
The Nexus 7's built-in storage is limited to 8 GB or 16 GB. There is no slot for SD card. According to Anandtech, Android 4.1 has no support for attaching an external drive by USB. The Nook does have a micro SD card.

There will be much research by the hacker community into the Nexus 7 hardware and Android 4.1 software to rectify these two omissions.

Other features left out of the Nexus 7 include no removable battery, no active digitizer (thus no stylus input) and no second camera.

[haven]

One 7 inch tablet that has the capabilities missing from the Nexus 7 is the HTC Flyer. The Flyer, announced in Fall 2010 and shipped in Spring 2011, has a slower processor and lower screen resolution than the Nexus 7. But it does have the following features:

-- HDMI output via MHL hardware (cost about $15)
-- Micro USB card slot
-- removable 4000 mAh battery
-- front and back cameras
-- digitizer for stylus input

Other Flyer specs include
-- 7" color LCD screen, 1024x600 pixels
-- 1.5GHz Qualcomm single core ARM processor
-- 1GB RAM
-- 16GB or 32GB Internal flash Storage
-- 5 Megapixel Camera rear camera
-- 1.3 Megapixel Front-facing Camera
-- GPS chip
-- Bluetooth and WiFi b/g/n

Used or Refurbished Flyers show up from time to time for less than $200. Here's a used one I found today for $159 with free shipping
http://www.cowboom.com/product/858678
and here's a factory refurbished unit for $179, shipping included
http://www.buy.com/prod/htc-flyer-7-...228259799.html

The Flyer originally shipped with Android 2.3. An update to Android 3.x was released in December 2011. No schedule for update to Android 4.x has been announced.

The Flyer is thicker and substantially heavier than the Nexus 7, making it less comfortable to hold in one hand. Not a problem if you're planning to mount it in your truck!

Most Flyers were sold as WiFi only models. A couple of USA cell phone carriers sold the Flyer with a 3G modem. US Cellular and T-Mobile sold the Flyer, and Sprint renamed it the EVO View 4G.

My guess is that HTC will announce a Flyer 2 model later this year, with updates to the processor and screen resolution. But it won't cost $200, more likely $300.

[Caoboy]

I played with the Nexus7 yesterday, my buddy already has one. It's freakin' sweet, and the potential that Google brings with it is huge.

My buddy already explained some things to me that I'm not techy enough to reiterate without obliterating, but it's pretty genius.

4.1 Jellybean also really smoothed out the GNEX too, and it's really smooth on the tablet as well. Google Now is creepy, in privacy invading way, but it's a double edged sword, as it is interesting how it learns and automatically pops up the 'cards'.

Battery life is supposed to be 9 hours of video, my buddy has not tested it yet to see what numbers he can pull.

at 250 for the 16 gig, I think it's totally worth it compared to other 7" tablets.

Think iPad smooth with the touch screen/scrolling...no lag, they are finally on par with Apple.

[slooowr6]

The Nexus 7 is so close to perfect for me. I really want to have the HDMI option. I'll be waiting for Acer Iconia A110 to come out and see how it stacks up against the Nexus 7. They are the same price similar spec but the Acer has HDMI and micro SD card support.

[haven]

The A110 is definitely interesting. It's got a GPS chip, the Tegra 3 quad core processor, HDMI and MicroSD. Drawbacks include 1024x600 screen of lower quality than the Nexus 7's IPS panel, smaller battery, and slightly thicker body.

Acer has a 10 inch model called the A210 that has a nicer 1280x800 screen, but it costs more.

If rumors are correct, we should hear about Amazon's upgrade for the Kindle Fire in two or three weeks. It will be interesting to see if Amazon's programmers have customized Android 4.0 to the level that they reworked Android 2.3 for the original Fire. It's possible that Amazon will stick to 2.3, and simply upgrade the processor for a more responsive input.

I'm thinking Barnes and Noble will introduce a new Nook this Fall, based on Windows RT.

[haven]

iFixit has torn down the Nexus 7 tablet. No real surprises under the hood, but at least it was simple to get the machine open. The 4326 mAh battery was not difficult to remove. iFixit says the device could be one mm thinner if it were glued together, like the iPad.
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nexus-7-Teardown/9623/1

In other iFixit news, the company just released an Android version of its app that shows how to disassemble electronic stuff.

[Sawyer]

Any one seen anything on the GPS that is listed in the specs yet?

[haven]

Re GPS chip, see step 16 on this page http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nexus-7-Teardown/9623/1
The Broadcom BCM4751 is used by Toshiba, Acer, Asus and other tablet manufacturers.

[haven]

http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns/News/Pages/Low-End-Google-Nexus-7-Carries-$157-BOM-Teardown-Reveals.aspx

The supply chain analysis firm ISupply says the parts to make the 8 GB Nexus 7 cost about $153. Add about $7 for assembly for a cost around $160. That leaves $40 for advertising, software development, management, shipping and other overhead expenses. Google is probably taking a small loss on each unit at the sales price of $199.95 delivered.

The 16 GB Nexus 7 costs about $10 more, but Google charges $250. So Google is probably making a small profit on the 16 GB model.

Amazon can expect to sell more copies of the next generation Kindle Fire that Google will sell of the Nexus 7. So Amazon should be able to enjoy slightly lower prices from equipment manufacturers than Google negotiated. That means the next generation of the Kindle Fire will probably have a quad core processor and 1280x800 high quality LCD touchscreen, and still cost $199.

Amazon could continue to sell the original Kindle Fire at a lower price point, like Apple does when a new iPhone or iPad model is introduced. Amazon might also offer a version of the original Kindle Fire that subsidizes a low purchase price by displaying ads.

The Kindle Fire is the best-selling Android tablet, but its numbers pale in comparison with iPad sales. So Apple is in position to really squeeze the component manufacturers for good prices. Due to Apple's cachet and the strength of the iPad app marketplace, a 7 inch iPad could command a premium price. A 7 inch iPad priced at $295 could still capture a large percentage of sales in the 7 inch market.

CEO Steve Ballmer recently said that Microsoft will compete with Apple in every possible arena. So it's possible that we could see a Surface tablet running Windows RT in the sub-$300 price range this October.

This Fall is looking to be very interesting for fans of the 7 inch tablet!

[haven]

More reviews of the Nexus 7 have surfaced (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). These are useful because they include observations after living with the tablet for a week or more.

MG Siegler: the 7 inch tablet really is a different animal than the large 10 inch models
http://techcrunch.com/2012/07/15/omg...ally-likes-it/

Kevin Tofer: Nexus 7 sets the small slate standard. Get 16 GB model if you want to download multiple movies.
http://gigaom.com/mobile/google-nexu...late-standard/