New tablet to launch on latest Android version, Jellybean
Google announced its latest tablet, the Google Nexus 7, a seven inch device made by Asus and jammed with hefty technology, at its annual Google I/O Conference.
The Nexus 7 will launch with the latest Android operating system version 4.1, otherwise known as Jellybean. It includes a fat Nvidia Tegra 3 quad core processor, weights about 340 grams much like a paperback book, has a front facing camera and a strong battery.
With better integration into Google Play plus its easy to watch 1280 by 800 pixel HD screen resolution, this device seems aimed at the e-reader market, specifically Amazon's Kindle Fire which is also a seven inch tablet designed for more than just reading books.
The Nexus 7 also works more closely with Google Play, which has a new 3D app available to make reading magazines on tablets much better. Google Play now also allows users to buy TV programmes, films and magazine, versus just films previously, and the new tablet when sold in the US will come with $25 credit to spend in the app store.
David McQueen, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media, commented: 'The announcement of the Google Nexus 7 tablet is sure to ruffle a few feathers, notably its other OEM Android partners who also have seven inch Android tablets in market.
'Aimed squarely at taking on Amazon's Kindle Fire, the Nexus 7 is packed with high spec hardware, including Jelly Bean, that is claimed to offer a faster, smoother and more consistent user experience,' continued McQueen. 'In combination with a number of applications optimised for the Nexus 7, including Youtube, and some bundled content out of the box, the introductory $199 price point it is sure to bring a welcome shot in the arm for the Android platform in its effort to crack the tablet space.'
While Jan Dawson, chief telecoms analyst at Ovum, stated that Google still has issues it needs to sort out in its tablet strategy: 'The tablet is an important step forward for Google's Android tablet strategy, in that it breaks the dichotomy that exists presently between low priced, low performance devices and over priced, high spec devices. The Nexus 7 borrows heavily from the Amazon Kindle Fire in that it puts content front and centre, but it doesn't solve the biggest challenge for Android tablets; the lack of apps optimised for the larger screen size.
'At seven inches, this problem is less acute, but it doesn't solve the problem and Google said nothing about how it will address this problem. In addition, the price point likely benefits from some subsidy and therefore isn't sustainable in the long term; Google still needs to solve the fundamental problem of Android tablets, which is the lack of compelling apps and content optimised for the devices,' Dawson concluded.
McQueen added that with its differentiators, Google's Nexus 7 is positioned far enough away from the Apple iPad to enable it to grow volume and carve out significant market share, while also pulling its OEM partners along with it.
Google is taking pre-orders now and will start shipments in about two weeks time.
