(Image source: Time)
BY ELIZABETH HAGEDORN
Google is getting back in the tablet game, announcing an updated version of its Nexus
7 set to hit shelves at the end of the month.
Here's a sneak peek of the new device. What Google's touting as "the world's highest
resolution 7-inch tablet" will cost you about $230 for 16GB. (Via Android Police)
USA Today tells us what else we can expect, writing: "The Nexus 7 is slightly thinner
than the original, includes a quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor, a 1.2 megapixel front-facing
camera and 5-megapixel rear camera."
With double the memory and an extra hour of battery life, the Nexus 7 is stacking up nicely
against Apple's iPad, Samsung's Galaxy Tab and Amazon's Kindle Fire. (Via CNET)
And while the reviews are still trickling in, iMore writes: "Sadly, the aspect ratio
doesn't look to have been improved here, but everything else looks much, much better. Combine
it with the latest version of Android, and a super-low price, and it could be hugely
attractive to the non-Apple market."
But a reviewer for Time is doubtful Google will make any real headway against its competitors
with its tablet revamp: "The original Nexus 7 was the tablet that pretty much snapped
the Android-tablet market out of its doldrums. ... The new version is unlikely to be anywhere
near as influential."
Also unveiled at Google's launch event: Android 4.3, which among its features allows parents
to control what their kids can access on their phones. (Via Android Central)
And Chromecast made its debut — a small device that allows users to watch videos on
the TV directly from their cloud. It's compatible with popular streaming services like Netflix
and Pandora, which may be enough to give Google the edge in the smart TV market. (Via Google)
As a writer at The Washington Post puts it:
"Many companies have been racing to find the best way to get content from mobile devices
to the largest screen in the house. With the features Google showed off Tuesday, that race
just got a lot more competitive."
The $35 device will be compatible with iOS and Android.