Google Nexus 7 Tablet Review – Part 1
Last few years has seen the tablet landscape maturing with Apple’s iPad being the de-facto ring master but Google and Microsoft strategic entry is sure to disrupt the equilibrium and create new pricing levels /categories and more choices for buyers. It is too early but Google’s Nexus 7 is not in league of iPad although it stands out among Amazon Kindle Fire, Barnes & Noble’s Nook Color, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, RIM playbook and others 7” tablets. The recent sales numbers of approx. million pieces a month further reassure its dominance among the peers.
landscape and most major players including Microsoft (Surface brings its hardware and tablet entry), Amazon, Google and Sony are working to get their ecosystems more robust and self contained(device, content platform, app store, services and cloud). The sad part being they all are ending up as sileod walled gardens in their own right, could only wish if ever these platforms and devices can coexist and inter-operate.
Google made its tablet debut with Nexus 7 (in selected countries) in June 2012priced at $199 for 8GB and $249 for 16GB version. I have used my Nexus 7 16 GB tablet for couple of days now and below is the first impression.
5 things which I Liked in Nexus 7
- Google Now – add the rights cards and you have all the info on the finger tips
- Screen quality is good, swiping through screens is very fast and responsive
- Good battery life
- Light weight and easy to hold, can easily slide in my back pocket
- $25 voucher and bundled free content
5 things which I did not like in Nexus 7
- Missing In-built support for landscape mode
- 3G– but you can’t really complain at this price
- Quality of speakers is below par
- Power on / off is not intuitive
- No HDMI out
New Releases : Google is expected to discontinue 8 GB and launch two new Nexus 7 models that includes 32GB of memory and adds a pentaband HSPA+ radio. The new models will come with a price tag of $249 and $299 respectively, while the 16GB Nexus 7 gets price cut to $199.
Nexus 7 Software
Specifications
Display
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7 inch multi-touch capacitive LCD screen, 1200 x 800 HD backlit IPS with a respectable 216 pixels per inch
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Dimension
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198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm / 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
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Processor
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1.2 Ghz quad-core Tegra 3 processor
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Storage
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Initially introduced as 8/16 GB. Later 16/32 GB
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Memory
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1 GB of RAM
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Communications
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Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, DLNA
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Webcams
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1.2 MP forward facing camera
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Audio
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Stereo speakers / 3.5mm headphone jack
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GPS
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For navigation and location-based services; includes accelerometer, 6-axis motion sensing (gyroscope) and digital compass (magnetometer)
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Ports
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Micro USB port
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Weight
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340 grams/ 0.75 lbs
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Glass
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Corning glass, Scratch-resistant surface
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Battery Life
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4325mAh battery into the Nexus 7, about eight hours of active use
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Add On
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NFC
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Connection
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Micro USB port
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Controls
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On the right side is a power/sleep button with a two-stage volume rockers
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What’s in the Box ?
Nexus 7 32GB tablet, USB charger cable, operating instructions