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Earlier today Google had their quarterly earnings call in which they reported better than expected revenue. The Big G managed to rake in a cool $10.65 billion, with a net income around $2.89 billion and a $50 billion cash pile for use in acquisitions.
But it wasn’t all dollars and cents. During the earnings call, CEO Larry page might have let the cat out of the bag, confirming suspicions that Google would be releasing a low-cost, affordable Android tab for the masses. Page said during the call:
“There has been a lot of success on some lower priced tablets that run Android. Maybe not the full Google version of Android, but we definitely have a belief that there is going to be a lot of success at the lower end of the market as well, with lower priced products that will be very significant. And it’s definitely an area we think is important and are quite focused on.”
Amazon has long been one of Google’s biggest rivals and since their successful, rock-bottom priced tablet hit the market, they stuck it to Google, using Android as a base, but removing everything “Google” about the OS. Well, Google has definitely been watching, and if there’s going to be a smash hit low-cost tablet, Google want’s to make sure it carries their branding.
Current rumors are pointing towards a July release for the Nexus tablet and judging by the comments on this site, Android fans have already set their money aside to make this their next/first Android tablet (myself included).
Yeah, if I make the jump and buy an Android Tablet it’d have to be a high-resolution display Nexus branded tablet. I hope these rumors are true.
I agree. I’d be all in if they made a tablet that was easy to root and have tons of roms too. Price would also be a big factor since I don’t really “need” to have one. Especially with what most of the cost now.
Yup, exactly! Nobody “needs” a tablet. So make the price, specs, & software right for me to jump on the Tablet bandwagon & I’ll buy one.
They should be concentrated on fixing the issues with the Galaxy Nexus IMHO.
What’s wrong with it? Sent from my Gnexus
Yes, I’d like to know what’s wrong with mine too. I haven’t found anything yet. Besides maybe the fact that it’s hard to put down.
Or you should be concentrating on fixing your own issues? imho..
This will definitely be my first tablet! I like the offerings of the high end tablets but i cant justify payin that price for something thats basically only good for entertainment. Im mean its not like you could replace your laptop with this and most high end tablets cost equal to or more than laptops. Im confident Google can reduce the cost of a tablet without sacraficing a decent android experience. COME ON JULY!
You can count me in as well I already have a touchpad but a nexus tablet would go great with my Gnex
Google ADHD is showing again
Why did it took them so long to understand that the cheaper tablet market is bigger than the ipad market?
I think there is something of a dead man’s land in producing android tablets. All the makers want to have the cell carriers helping to push the devices, but the carriers insist on a onerous approval process. If google can break this connection by helping to promote a series of lower-priced WiFi-only tablets (with less UI “enhancements” too), then we consumers will have an expanding series of choices with more freedom for us, more flexibility for the makers, faster rollouts of new hardware, and faster android updates.
The one still missing piece to this puzzle is us end-users insisting on having (WiFi) tethering on our phones. With tethering and unrestricted data type usage (no blocks of VOIP, SMS replacements, torents, etc. traffic, data amounts limits being acceptable), then we can break the hold the carriers are exercising on our connected devices.
My very first tablet right there..
A low cost 10″ or larger Nexus tablet would get my attention. Though, i’m in the market for a new laptop too. I’ve held off on the tablets so far but I think it would be fun to have one. I think a new laptop would be more useful though.
Just give us what we want to hear!
Give us Barabbas!
ouch
I think google will need to work really hard on the content side of thing.
I use android for my phone, but tablet is still an ipad thing.
Google is leaving it too much to the market to pick it up.
I wish google would try to approach or reach out content providers from the following:
Government
Health/Medical
Education (Universities etc)
Creative industries (music, indie bands, movie makers etc etc)
Can’t just let the market pick themselves up here, need investment in platforms that would entice content providers to join in the google camp.
If I could manage my whole Google Play Music library and have adb commands (and all other root / unlocking related functions) on a tablet I would probably consider getting one. But as of right now, tablets are too limited for my taste and I would find myself constantly running to my laptop.
Fuck yeah Google. BRING IT! I hope they blow Amazon out of the water with the Nexus tablet. And then Amazon tries to make a better low priced tablet to counter. And then Google counters. And then Amazon again. And then other manufacturers. And so on and so forth. YAY FOR AFFORDABLE yet still effective!
Just in case any magazines / reviews hadn’t described Android as a ‘poor man’s iPad’, Google have gone out of their way to make sure that message is drilled home.
Honestly, I think Google should make sure that if they stamp their name on something, it is as good as it can be, to showcase the vanilla Android platform. Third parties can make cheap crap.
Agreed, which is why the talk of using Asus is exciting, it will show people you can nail quality and pricing at the same time.