Google unveils Nexus 7 tablet

1
Google unveils Nexus 7 tablet
2
Google Inc will sell its first tablet from
mid-July for 199, hoping to replicate its
smartphone success in a hotly contested market
now dominated by Amazon.com Inc's Kindle Fire and
Apple Inc's iPad.By taking a greater role in the
tablet market, Google hopes to ensure that its
various online services remain front-and-center
to consumers amid a changing technology landscape
in which tablets by Apple and Amazon are
increasingly becoming gateways ...
3
Google's maiden entry in the tablet market, which
will also see the advent of Microsoft Corp's
Surface this year, could also help accelerate
development of tablet-specific applications for
its Android operating software -- a key factor
that has helped popularize Apple's iPad, analysts
say.
4
The "Nexus 7" tablet, built by and co-branded
with Taiwan's Asus, was one of several gadgets
unveiled at its annual developers' conference on
Wednesday, as the Internet search and advertising
leader dips its toe into the intensively
competitive consumer arena.The announcement of
the new tablet comes a month after Google
acquired its own hardware-making capabilities
with the 12.5 billion acquisition of smartphone
maker Motorola Mobility
5
Google co-founder Sergey Brin demonstrated Google
Glass, a futuristic-looking eye-glass-computer
that can live-stream events, record, and perform
computing tasks. The device will be available to
U.S.-based developers early next year for
1,500.And it unveiled the Nexus Q - a 300
device with a built-in amplifier that lets users
stream content from Android devices onto their
TVs.
6
Analysts consider the Fire a window into
Amazon.com's trove of online content rather than
an iPad rival, given the 499 that Apple asks for
a device with a "retina" display that far
outstrips it in terms of resolution.Google can
similarly use the Nexus 7 to connect to its own
online offerings, which include YouTube and
Google Play, the name of its online store where
it sells digital music, movies and games
7
"Nexus 7 is an ideal device for reading books.
The form factor and weight are just right," said
Chris Yerga, Google director of engineering for
Android.Google said it will offer buyers of the
Nexus 7 a 25 credit to spend at the Google Play
store and it showed off several media-centric
capabilities, such as a new magazine reading app.
8
"They all but called it a Kindle Fire killer.
They're clearly gunning for that No. 2 spot
behind Apple's iPad that is currently occupied by
Kindle," said Altimeter Group analyst Chris
Silva. "But the con is they do not yet have a
footprint in people's minds and wallets as the
go-to place to purchase and consume media."
9
An attendee uses Google Map on a Google Nexus 7
tablet during Google I/O 2012 Conference at
Moscone Center in San Francisco, California June
27, 2012.
10
Attendees interact with a Google Nexus 7 tablet
during Google I/O 2012. Google Inc unveiled its
first tablet PC on Wednesday, as the Internet
company looks to replicate its smartphone success
in a tablet market where it faces stiff
competition from Apple Inc, Microsoft and Amazon.
The "Nexus 7" tablet, built and co-branded in
partnership with hardware maker Asus, will be
priced starting at 199.
11
Vic Gundotra, director of product management of
Google, demonstrates Google on the Nexus 7
tablet during Google I/O 2012 at Moscone Center
in San Francisco, California June 27, 2012.
12
Article yahoo news Photos Stephen Lam/Reuters