Title: Google unveils Nexus 7 tablet
1Google unveils Nexus 7 tablet
2Google 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 Incs Kindle Fire and
Apple Incs 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 ...
3Googles maiden entry in the tablet market which
will also see the advent of Microsoft Corps
Surface this year could also help accelerate
development of tablet-specific applications for
its Android operating software -- a key factor
that has helped popularize Apples iPad analysts
say.
4The Nexus 7 tablet built by and co-branded
with Taiwans 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
5Google 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
1500.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.
6Analysts consider the Fire a window into
Amazon.coms 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
7Nexus 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.
8They all but called it a Kindle Fire killer.
Theyre clearly gunning for that No. 2 spot
behind Apples 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 peoples minds and wallets as the
go-to place to purchase and consume media.
9An 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.
10Attendees 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.
11Vic 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.
12Article yahoo news Photos Stephen Lam/Reuters