Nexus 7

While all eyes may be on the new Nexus 7, those with 2012 models may want to hold fire before handing over their cash for the shiny new model. AnandTech (via GigaOM) reveals that an upgrade to Android 4.3 could give the older model a whole new lease of life.

One of the common complaints late in the life of the original Nexus 7 was slow storage I/O performance, leading to an inconsistent user experience. After a fresh flash, the Nexus 7 was speedy and performant, but after months of installing applications and using the tablet, things began slowing down. This was a friction point that many hoped would be fixed in the new Nexus 7 (2013) model, which it was. There’s even more to the story though, it turns out Google has fixed that storage I/O ageing problem on all Nexus devices with the Android 4.3 update … 
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From 9to5Toys.com:

Hot on the heels of Google announcing early availability for the new Nexus 7, we’re getting our first discount on the brand new tablet. For the next two days (or until sold out), Staples is offering the 16GB version for $199 and 32GB for $239 when you enter coupon code 41178. Both deals include free shipping and tax is added where applicable. This deal is the only current discount available for the new Nexus 7.
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Yesterday, Google finally announced Android 4.3, a minor update to 4.2 that included a handful of neat features, including the ability to have more than one user profile. As time has progressed, however, a few other unannounced features have been discovered.

First, Googler Evan Rapoport posted a detailed description on Google+ about the serious enhancements the Photo Sphere team made to the functionality in Android 4.3. Rapoport says that nearly all of stitching and exposure bugs and annoyances present in Android 4.2 have been fixed in the latest update.

First, alignment and stitching are much better, giving you more level horizons and fewer errors throughout the image. While environments with lots of moving things are always challenging, scenes like the one attached here with a long flat horizon are now much better.

Second, we’ve improved exposure compensation for each individual frame, producing a beautifully exposed photo sphere. You can compare this to the previous versions that produced gray areas and inconsistent coloring in areas of high contrast (near the sun, horizons, buildings against blue sky, etc.).

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KGI’s Mingchi Kuo, an analyst with a good predictive track-record, has forecast that the Moto X will do substantially better than forecast, while the new 1080P Nexus 7 will do significantly worse.

According to our survey, 2013F shipments of Moto X, to be announced August 1, should reach 5.5mn units, up 57% from the previous forecast of 3.5mn units, including 1.5mn units in 3Q13 and 4.0mn units in 4Q13.

Kuo cited a combination of supply chain sources, the positive response from U.S. operators and Google’s planned megaspend of half a billion dollars on marketing the handset as key factors for the boost in expected numbers …
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=GZzS6BxHEns

Later this morning, Google is holding a breakfast event with Chrome/Google head Sundar Pichai where it is expected to announce the new Nexus 7 and maybe even a new “Chromecast” device. Ahead of the event, Google has just published a live stream of the press conference for those of us not able to attend.

You can watch the stream right up above, but be sure to stay tuned, as we will be bringing you everything you need to know from the event, which is set to kick off at 9:00AM PT / 12:00 PM ET. 
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Sadly, there are no more secrets left to reveal here. We’d already seen the Best Buy circular and inventory system and we knew the specs which include Android 4.3 and $230-$270 price tag for 16GB and 32GB. But now you can, well, buy them. People should start getting them before the end of the month. Unless they come sooner.

16GB: $229 | 32GB: $259

Here’s Best buy’s spec list:

Enjoy your media on the go with this Google Nexus 7 tablet, which features a 7″ 10-finger capacitive touch screen with IPS technology that simplifies navigation and delivers vibrant images. Wi-Fi makes it easy to surf the Web.

PRODUCT FEATURES

• Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system Along with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 8064 processor with a 2MB L2 cache and 1.5GHz processor speed allows you to stay connected and productive on the go.
• Built-in 802.11a/b/g/n wireless LAN Connect to the Internet without wires.
• 2GB DDR3LM memory For multitasking power.
• 7″ LCD high-definition 10-finger capacitive touch screen With IPS technology, 300 cd/m² brightness, 178° viewing angles and 1920 x 1200 resolution offers easy operation and provides crystal-clear visuals.
• Scratch-resistant glass helps guard the display against damage. Antifingerprint technology minimizes smudging for enhanced clarity.
• 16GB on-board flash memory Offers plenty of space for your music, movies, photos, apps and more.
• Adreno 320 graphics For lush images with precise detail.
• 5.0MP rear-facing and 1.2MP front-facing webcams Make it easy to video chat with loved ones.
• Micro USB 2.0 port with SlimPort For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
• Bluetooth 4.0 Easily link with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as a mobile phone or MP3 player.
• Weighs only 11.2 oz. and measures just 0.3″ thin For lightweight portability. Sensors include G-sensor, ambient light, Ecompass, gyroscope and proximity.
• Preloaded apps Include Google Search by Voice 2.1, Gmail, Google Talk, Google Maps, Google Street View, YouTube, Android Market and more.

Here’s the gallery from Best Buy:

Best Buy

It is showing up also at PC connection

Also, Droid-Life notes that it’s at Sam’s Club too.
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Update: Android Police has also just tweeted an image of the device, with the retail box in the background.

What do we have here? Ohai there, Nexus: http://t.co/GHoBzqBsMx

— Android Police (@AndroidPolice) July 24, 2013

The second generation Nexus 7 has not been Google’s best kept secret by any means, with multiple leaks basically sharing everything there is to know about the device. Now, one lucky Reddit user has supposedly gotten their hands on the device ahead of Google’s expected July 24th unveil. Details are unfortunately very scarce, however, so there’s no way to know where the Reddit user got the tablet from. More than likely, it’s from some sort of brick and mortar store that got shipments in early.

The images show the exact device we saw last week from Android Central. The box design is nearly the same as the original model, with a portion of the tablet being shown to make a “7.”

We’ll be sure to keep an eye on the Reddit thread and update with any additional information…

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+Fabio Santos is ahead of the game when it comes to weekly circulars. According to the G+ user, Best Buy’s weekly circular features this week’s big hardware announcement from Google, the new Nexus 7 tablet. The specs (1920×1200 display) and price seem right in line with what we’re hearing, but available Tuesday before Google has a chance to announce it on Wednesday? That seems a bit premature. As pointed out by  Android Central, this could be next week’s circular, putting the Best Buy release date at  June 30th.

Related articles

• Press image for next-generation Nexus 7 leaks, shows rear facing camera (9to5google.com)
• Next-gen Nexus 7 specs leak: 1.5GHz quad-core, wireless charging, SlimPort 1080p support, Android 4.3 (9to5google.com)
• Right on cue, here’s your new Nexus 7 in images and video (9to5google.com)
• Updated Nexus 7 pegged for July 24th event as stores prepare for new models (9to5google.com)
• Asus rep reads exact same specs (except late July release) for next Nexus 7 as previous KGI report…coincidence? (9to5google.com)
• Deal: Google Nexus 7 Android tablet 16GB: $149, 32GB $169 (9to5google.com)

In what has been a crazy day for Nexus 7 successor leaks, Android Central has just posted a gallery of images of what it believes is the next Nexus tablet. The report claims that the device will again be manufactured by ASUS and come in 16GB and 32GB models.

The tablet features two cameras, a 1.2MP shooter on the front and a 5MP rear facer, made by Chicony.

As far as specs go, the Nexus 7 v2 is listed as having a Qualcomm APQ8064 motherboard with a Snapdragon S4 pro processor. The device is also said to have a whopping 4GB of DDR3L RAM, though Android Central notes that these specs may not be final. The tablet will also supposedly feature stereo speakers. These specs are exactly the same as what KGI analyst Mingchi Kuo predicted way back in May of this year.

Design wise, the device features a look similar to the original model. The volume rocker and power button are on the left hand side, while the microUSB port is on the bottom. It appears to be relatively thick for a 7-inch tablet and is made out of what looks like a rubber material….
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Hot on the heels of Google sending press invites for a July 24th event this morning, Engadget has obtained internal documents from OfficeMax showing that the retail giant is expecting to receive stock of the next generation Nexus 7 sometime next week. The documents indicate that the stores will receive units as early as July 20th, though we wouldn’t expect them to go up for sale until the 24th at the earliest.

It appears as if OfficeMax will continue to sell both the new Nexus 7 and the original, though it’s unclear how long that will last. Some retailers, such as Staples, are already heavily slashing the price of the original model, likely to clear shelf space for the new tablet. 
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From 9to5Toys:

Staples offers the Google Nexus 7 tablet for $179 and $199 respectively in 16GB and 32GB configurations (already a low price). Adding coupon code 20098 drops the prices $30 again to $149 and $169. 

The Nexus 7 is google’s current flagship reference device running the latest Android 4.2.2 with a 1280x800HD display, NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera, 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth and much more.
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A successor to the Nexus 7 was a no-show at Google I/O this year, but that doesn’t mean a V2.0 of the tablet isn’t coming soon. Back in May, we reported that according to a KGI analyst, Google was planning on announcing the Nexus 7 2 at I/O with a full 1900×1200 HD display, a lighter and thinner body, with a Snapdragon 600 processor, 4Ah battery and both front and rear (5MP) facing cameras. The second version of the Asus tablet was also slated to be the first device with Android 4.3 on it.

Although this is all a rumor, a curious buyer decided to ask an Asus live chat representative if they had any idea what the specs were. Despite the fact that chat representatives don’t normally have access to upcoming products, one offered up the exact same specs as above:

Interestingly enough, the spec sheet they repeated matches the same exact spec sheet that KGI reported on in May. The chat rep. also said that we should expect to see version 2 of the tablet sometime in Q2 of the year, specifically late July.

Chat representatives don’t typically know future product roadmaps, especially specs, so it’s more than possible that this chat rep. simply Googled KGI’s report and reported it back to the person they were chatting with. On the other hand, they could both line up because they are both right. We’ve contacted Asus and we’ll be sure to report back any news.

There’s no doubting that we are going to see a new Nexus tablet at some point this year, but the main question surrounds when we will see it. Now that Google I/O has come and gone, it’s even more up in the air. If a recent FCC filing discovered by Engadget is anything to go by, however, then we aren’t too far away from a launch at this point.
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There’s some noise being made about the Nexus 7 in the Hangouts video (above at 21 seconds in).  I’ve just talked to a Google rep who said, “That’s not the new Nexus 7… if hypothetically there was such a thing.”
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KGI Securities analyst Mingchi Kuo, who has been known to have accurate information regarding Apple product launches in the past, is out today with a new note that includes some surprisingly specific specs for upcoming products from Google. One of the products Kuo expects to see at Google I/O later this month is a new Nexus 7, but the note also included info on what he thinks Google has in store for the months after the event, including: an Android powered notebook, a new TV product, and even a Google smart watch.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about an Android-powered notebook over the years, and just last month Intel executives confirmed that the majority of its new sub-$200 notebooks running on its mobile Atom CPU will be Android based. However, according to Mingchi, don’t expect to see the notebooks making an appearance at I/O this year. That’s because Android 5.0 won’t be ready to show off at I/O, says Kuo, but vendors such as Samsung will apparently move first with Android 4.x powered notebooks coming within 3-4 months:

Android Book – Android Book won’t be introduced at the upcoming Google I/O as development of Android 5.0, which is targeted at NB, is incomplete. We think Android Book featuring Android.4x will be rolled out in the coming 3-4 months because some brand vendors, like Samsung (Korea), want to move first. But shipments will be limited as the current Android OS isn’t well supported for laptops.

As for Google’s rumored over-the-top TV content business, Mingchi says an Apple TV-like competitor is on the way but delays due to a change to Nvidia Tegra from TI OMAP means we likely won’t see it at I/O. Kuo also said in his note to clients today that he expects Google to launch a smart watch-like wearable device alongside Google Glass, but it apparently won’t go into mass production until next year:
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Reuters has some vague new information on the Nexus 7 successor from Google today. Rather than being available at Google I/O in May (which would have been my guess), Reuters thinks it won’t hit the mass market until July. Perhaps a limited run will be available to developers in May?

As far as specs…

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From 9to5Toys.com: