Google Nexus 7 vs the iPad

It’s time for the inevitable comparison between the newest tablet on the market, the Google Nexus 7, and the dominant device in this category: the iPad. While the comparison might seem like the obvious thing to do, it’s much more sensible to compare to the Amazon Kindle Fire – and before we get too deep into the specifications on either end, you need to know: Google is in a much better position right this second than Amazon. While the Kindle Fire has been a relatively giant force on the market over this past holiday season, it’s had nothing on the iPad’s market share in the entire time it’s been on the market. As for the Nexus 7, you’ve got a beast that’s ready and willing to be a competitor for both tablets.

The Google Nexus 7 is a tiny little beast of a tablet – where the iPad is an iconic piece of machinery, the Nexus 7 seems to be a bit more of a solid set of elements pounded together with a hammer into a device that’s meant to be perfect for the several specific purposes it was made for. The Nexus 7 was made to be a device with which you download and consume media from the Google Play store – movies, television shows, music, books, and magazines – and of course games. The iPad, on the other hand, was made to be a companion for you in all situations where the iPhone is too small.

As far as a simple specs comparison, you’ve go the following. And keep in mind we’re using the 3rd Generation iPad, aka the Retina Display iPad:
Screen Size: iPad 9.7-inch 2048 x 1536 pixel LED-backlit IPS (264 ppi) / Nexus 7 7-inch 1280 x 800 pixel LED-backlit IPS (216 ppi)
Device Size: 7.31″ x 9.5″ x 0.37″ / 7.8″ x 4.72″ x 0.41″
Processor: Apple A5X / NVIDIA Tegra 3
Cameras: 5-megapixel iSight camera, VGA front-facing camera / 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera
Connectivity: AT&T and Verizon 4G LTE, Wi-fi / Wi-fi only (at the moment)
Internal Storage Size: 16, 32, 64GB / 8GB, 16GB
Battery: 11666 mAh / 4325 mAh
Media: iTunes Store / Google Play Store
Color Options: White, Black / White/Black combo, Black

Additional elements:
iPad: Bluetooth 4.0, 30-pin dock connector port, accelerometer, magnetometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, GPS, AirPlay mirroring to Apple TV.

Nexus 7: Bluetooth 4.0, MicroUSB connector port, accelerometer, magnetometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, GPS, NFC.

Both of these devices have been pushed as heroes for their respective pusher’s app and media stores, and both devices are certainly going to get their fair share of 3rd party accessory support (if they haven’t already.) The Nexus 7 has the bonus – if you can call it that – of having several hardware/software companies with vested interests in its success: Google, ASUS, and NVIDIA. The iPad, on the other hand, has quite a few 3rd party supporters, with developers aiming apps at the one device specifically as well as Apple’s attention squared solely upon it for its software.

The price is going to be a giant factor for you if you plan on heading out to purchase a tablet today. The starting price of the Nexus 7 is just $199 while the iPad, in the iteration we’re looking at here and above, starts at $499. The iPad is an iPad, and there’s no replacement for that. The Nexus 7, also, is the only Google tablet in the position that it’s in at the moment as well with the backing of three companies in the way you’re seeing this week, and having a real push from Google (as heard in the keynote today – see our I/O 2012 portal for more) for hacking.

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Have a peek at the photos and video above and below for a bit more hands-on action and be sure to let us know what you think of this battle asap! Also hit up our Android portal and Apple portal for the most awesome portal battle of all!


Google Nexus 7 vs the iPad is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Google Drive SDK version 2 supports Android and iOS apps, common file tasks

Google Drive SDK version 2 supports Android and iOS apps, common file tasks

Virtually every corner of the Google universe is being touched at Google I/O, and that now includes Google Drive. A version 2 update to the Drive SDK gives Android and iOS developers the option of building the cloud storage into their mobile apps, whether it’s downloads, uploads or on-the-spot edits. The programming interface has likewise been expanded as a whole to handle everyday file duties, such as conversions, copying and revision handling. Web-only users are taken care of with support for embedded shares and opening Google documents in any given software that will take the exportable formats. The updated Drive SDK is ready to go, with a flood of apps either coming or already here — if you want to hop on the bandwagon, just take a peek at the source link.

Google Drive SDK version 2 supports Android and iOS apps, common file tasks originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 01:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android 4.1 Jelly Bean preview download is live, probably won’t work on your Galaxy Nexus — yet (Update)

Android 41 Jelly Bean preview download is live, probably won't work on your Galaxy Nexus  yet

Google has opted to deliver Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as an OTA update to the ICS already on the Nexus phones and tablets it just handed everyone at I/O 2012, and there’s a manual download link available too. As Android Police notes, only GSM phones running the IMM330D firmware will take the update (which you probably don’t have, although a fresh phone from the initial Google Play run might work.) With this release already in the wild it’s surely only a matter of time before various third parties open it up to a wider variety of hardware. As always with early and somewhat untested software YMMV, keep an eye on those XDA Developers threads for the latest updates.

Update: Just that quickly, an SDK port has already popped up for the HTC One X. Of course, it’s described as unstable and the author has no plans to try to fix the numerous problems but if you’re desperate to see Jelly Bean you can, you just probably shouldn’t.

Update 2: And almost as quickly, a rooted version for ClockWorkMod Recovery and ROM Manager has appeared. Check the latest thread for all the details.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean preview download is live, probably won’t work on your Galaxy Nexus — yet (Update) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google I/O 2012’s second keynote is tomorrow, get your liveblog right here!

It’s hard to imagine Google managing to one-up its first keynote — skydiving into the roof of Moscone from a blimp is pretty tough act to follow — but that doesn’t mean the company is out of surprises. The second keynote of the 2012 Google I/O developer conference is tomorrow morning and we’re expecting a few updates on Chrome and then, well, even more updates on Chrome.

We’ll be liveblogging the proceedings tomorrow at this page right here. Set your bookmarks now and get ready to rock tomorrow at 10:00 am PT. To figure out what time that is locally, just look right here:

June 28, 2012 1:00 PM EDT

Google I/O 2012’s second keynote is tomorrow, get your liveblog right here! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 22:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Editorial: Engadget on Jelly Bean, Nexus Q, Nexus 7 and Project Glass

Editorial Engadget on Jelly Bean, Nexus Q, Nexus 7 and Project Glass

Phew! On the heels of big events from Apple and Microsoft, Sergey and co. got their time to shine at the Google I/O event this week in San Francisco. The show kicked off with a a keynote that featured insight into Android Jelly Bean, the unveiling of the Nexus 7 tablet and Nexus Q media streaming device, plus some seriously amazing demos of Project Glass, among others. Was the two-hour-and-change press conference enough to push Google out in front of the competition? Check out our thoughts after the break.

Continue reading Editorial: Engadget on Jelly Bean, Nexus Q, Nexus 7 and Project Glass

Editorial: Engadget on Jelly Bean, Nexus Q, Nexus 7 and Project Glass originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 21:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexus 7 guidebook appears on Google Play, teaches you how to blink, manage Google Now cards

Nexus 7 guidebook appears on Google Play, teaches you how to blink, manage Google Now cards

Trapped in that post-Google I/O funk of hurry up, pre-order and wait? Maybe this can satiate your desires: a Nexus 7 guidebook detailing the basics of Mountain View’s upcoming slate. The digital tome covers standard Android usage as well as Jelly Bean specific tips — including the OS’ dynamically resizable widgets, using Google Now cards and “blink for face unlock,” a stock Android take on Samsung’s eyelid shuttering identification tweak. Ready to read up? Check it out at the Google Play link below.

Nexus 7 guidebook appears on Google Play, teaches you how to blink, manage Google Now cards originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google teases Web Lab beta, an intersection of art, technology and the internet?

Google teases Web Lab beta, an intersection of art, technology and the internet

In case you didn’t get enough Google I/O news today, the Chrome team has just let loose a video teasing the launch of Web Lab beta. We aren’t exactly sure what the Mountain View crew is up to, but apparently, the Web Lab will be revealed through a series of experiments set to be launched later this summer. Apparently, the installations will make their debut at the London Science Museum, and from the video snippets we’ve seen, they’ll leverage the web and some custom machinery to create works of art. You don’t have to take our word for it, however, jus take a minute to see for yourself in the video after the break.

Continue reading Google teases Web Lab beta, an intersection of art, technology and the internet?

Google teases Web Lab beta, an intersection of art, technology and the internet? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  source@googlechrome (Twitter), Chrome Web Lab  | Email this | Comments

Android 4.1 SDK hands-on

Android 41 SDK in photo and video

Too lazy to download and install the brand new Android SDK yourself and don’t feel like tweaking an AVD for optimal operation? Don’t know what an AVD is? We don’t blame you, and that’s why we’re here. We fired up Jelly Bean in the Android emulator and started poking around a bit. Sadly, most of the most exciting new features — offline speech recognition, Google Now — don’t work. And we couldn’t really delve deep into the new notifications system thanks to some limitations on the SDK. We could, however, play with the new version of Maps and demo the new widget placement tweaks. Most of the UI should look familiar. In fact, the only obvious changes we noticed were the new search widget and a few tweaked buttons, like notification clearing option. You’ll also notice a new layout for the clock and date in the notification pull down. Mostly, from a aesthetic point of view, the refinements are minor, but welcome. Everything feels a little more spacious, less cramped, without becoming overly simple. Want to see it for yourself? Check out the gallery below and the video after the break.

Continue reading Android 4.1 SDK hands-on

Android 4.1 SDK hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 19:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YouTube for Android 4.0 ends buffering on your favorite videos with precaching, adds remote

YouTube for Android 40 ends buffering on your favorite videos with precaching, adds remote

As Google I/O 2012 rolls along, the YouTube team is updating its Android app to v4.0 with a load of new features, but you’ll need Android 4.0+ to take advantage of them (at least for now, see below). Available in 47 countries, the new app brings a brand new UI with support for channels that reflects the redesign rolled out on the website last year (not the circle-centric look that it is testing with a select few), and it can precache videos from your favorite channels for viewing later. All you have to do is select “preload” in the setting menu and it will pull down videos from your subscriptions and Watch Later queue when plugged in and on WiFi. To actually view them later you will still need to be online, but they’ll load instantly from the device’s storage instead of streaming.

Another new feature is integrated remote functionality to control playback on connected TVs and other devices. This apparently extends to more than just Google TV, as we’re told to “expect more updates later” on how this feature will become broadly available. If you’re not rocking the latest Android software don’t freak out yet, as the team indicates these features will come to more devices later. Developers should be excited too as there’s a slew of new YouTube APIs available, hit the source links below to check them out or download the app yourself.

YouTube for Android 4.0 ends buffering on your favorite videos with precaching, adds remote originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceYouTube Blog, YouTube API Blog, Google Play  | Email this | Comments

Google’s Andy Rubin: Nexus 7 may head to retail, but we’re not changing tablet app policies

Google's Andy Rubin Nexus 7 may head to retail, but we're not changing tablet app policies

We’ve got good news and bad news in equal measure for those pining after a Nexus 7 of their very own. If you’re reluctant to spend that much hard-earned cash at the Google Play Store, Google’s senior VP of mobile Andy Rubin has hinted to AllThingsD that the ASUS-made tablet could end up at retail stores before too long; the Play-only availability was just what Google had to mention at I/O. There could be some markup in other channels, given that Google is selling at what’s very nearly wholesale prices. The bad news? Google won’t be changing its attitude towards tablet-native apps anytime soon. Rubin sees Google Play content additions as key to driving Android tablet adoption, not the encouragement of tablet-specific app development — he’d prefer the one-size-fits-all model. We’ll see whether magazines and movie sales are enough to turn around so-so market share, but if you were hoping Rubin would address criticisms that Android tablet apps are just blown-up phone apps, you’ll have to keep waiting.

Google’s Andy Rubin: Nexus 7 may head to retail, but we’re not changing tablet app policies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAllThingsD  | Email this | Comments