Googles Nexus 7 tablet discussion, reviews

[elbows]

Signs of a 3G version:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/25/nexus-7-with-north-american-3g-passes-through-the-fcc/

 

[editor]

16GB Nexus 7 now available for £169.99 with a £10 voucher lobbed in.
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/asus-google-nexus-7-tablet-pc-16-gb-15648510-pdt.html

 

[Badgers]

Come on pay-day

 

[Firky]

Some great deals there especially if Google are still doing the £25 credit thing too.

 

[editor]

The figures keep changing, but it seems that Android tablets are definitely on the rise:

Android has grabbed a 41% slice of the tablet market, according to one analyst, illustrating the success of the 7in form factor.

According to Strategy Analytics, Android-based tablets jumped from shipments of five million to more than ten million in the past three months - as the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7in started to ship.
While Apple increased its sales to 14m, its share of the market fell to 57% from 64% in the same quarter last year - although CEO Tim Cook claimed Q3 sales were held back by rumours about the now-launched iPad mini.
Read more: Android grabs 41% of tablet market | News | PC Prohttp://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/377791/android-grabs-41-of-tablet-market

 

[editor]

Here's one for you spoddy types:

As promised, Canonical has released a tool that lets you install Ubuntu Linux on the Google Nexus 7. Cleverly enough, it’s called the Ubuntu Nexus 7 installer, and it’s a relatively simple tool that you can use to install Ubuntu 12.04 on the 7 inch tablet.
http://liliputing.com/2012/10/ubuntu-installer-now-available-for-the-nexus-7.html

 

[hiccup]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/29/...-gesture-keyboard-multiple-users-photo-sphere

Android 4.2 will obviously ship with the Nexus 4 and 10, and we're assuming other Nexus devices like the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7 will receive the update in the next few weeks as well.

 

[hiccup]

Ooh, free music matching too:

http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/nexus-best-of-google-now-in-three-sizes.html

 

[editor]

There's some really interesting features in there...

 

[RaverDrew]

The resolution on that Nexus 10 (2560-by-1600) is just ridiculous

 

[skyscraper101]

This is all smashing news.

I'd like to have a feel of the Nexus 10, but I can't help but think it might feel a lot like an iPad as its the same size-ish, and we already know that doesn't feel as comfortable/portable as the Nexus 7. So, is the Nexus 10 purely a device to compete on every level with the ipad? Either way, the 32gig Nexus 7 looks like the one for me. Especially now the miracast thing in 4.2 has effectively levelled with the one thing I'd have gone for an ipad over it for: AirPlay mirroring to the TV.

What now irks me is that T-Mobile won't allow me to add another line on my account because I prepay (though they would if I was on a contract). So the ideal situation of 2 sim cards (one for my Galaxy Nexus, and the other for the Nexus 7) sharing the same data plan has just gone out of the window, and I'm loathed if I'm going to pay yet another monthly sub to them just for the benefit of having 2 sim cards. I don't get through the data allowance I already pay for as it is. So why can't I spread it over two devices. This is where giff gaff has it just right. Why can't we have a giff gaff equivalent here. *shakes fist*

 

[skyscraper101]

$25 /month for a measly 1.5Gb data only plan. They can do one.

I already pay $30 for 100 mins voice, 5Gbs data and unlimited texts. I barely go over 1GB of data. So sharing that with the Nexus would've been ideal. Bastards. I'm jus gonna have to do a lot of sim swapping/tethering which defeats the whole point of having an embedded sim slot.

 

[SW9]

just ordered the 32 gb nexus 7

 

[SW9]

Can anyone recommend a case?/???
Smashed my last one (nexus not case)

 

[Badgers]

@Firky recommend one earlier. He will be along in a minute I am sure

 

[skyscraper101]

Techcrunch bashing Google's decision not to include LTE on the Nexus 4. I don't buy it.

My non LTE galaxy nexus is already getting 3.5MBps down and 2.3MBps up on regular 4G (HSDPA+). That's perfectly good enough for video and audio. I really don't get why LTE is going to make my life any better. Do I really need mobile web pages to load so much faster? No. Google are doing the right thing, a non LTE phone is cheaper, and just as good without the superfast capacity.

 

[elbows]

Sites like that are part of the 'must have latest greatest feature' crowd, driving the pace of change and manufacturers profits by accelerating the upgrade cycle.

Certainly in the UK I think people can still buy a non-LTE device today and not regret it in a hurry.

 

[skyscraper101]

LTE just isn't enough of an incentive to make me pay through the nose to have it. In any case all the things that would most benefit from it, like video chat, streaming movies etc would eat through your data allowance so fast it'd be pointless. And in any case I usually do all that bandwidth hungry stuff from the comfort of my home. All I need out on the move is a fast enough connection to stream radio and check web pages.

Bollocks to LTE until there's a carrier who will allow unlimited data and tethering. Then, and only then, might it start to look appealing as an alternative to fixed broadband.

 

[editor]

Sites like that are part of the 'must have latest greatest feature' crowd, driving the pace of change and manufacturers profits by accelerating the upgrade cycle.

Certainly in the UK I think people can still buy a non-LTE device today and not regret it in a hurry.

Especially at the current prices. It's a high quality mid-priced device. I can't see that many folks wanting to pay huge prices for high high end connectivity when Wi-Fi/3G is perfectly adequate.

 

[skyscraper101]

Slashgear: How does Android 4.2 Jelly Bean wireless display mirroring work?

This is truly excellent stuff. Apple had the edge with AirPlay Mirroring. I definitely considered it to be one of the key things Android lacked as I'm forever hooking my laptop/phone up to the TV. Being able to just fling it over wirelessly is going to be aces. Looking forward to the new sets with Miracast built in as standard in 2013.

 

[Firky]

Can anyone recommend a case?/???
Smashed my last one (nexus not case)

They were £20 when I bought mine, for a tenner they're a bargin.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Google-Nexu...BFQK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1351543125&sr=8-3

 

[editor]

I think mine cost £9 with a stylus thrown in!

 

[Badgers]

I think mine cost £9 with a stylus thrown in!

Link

 

[editor]

Link

That was then. This is now.

 

[Badgers]

That was then. This is now.

What time is it?

 

[editor]

What time is it?

Time you gave up your dream of getting that case for £9 with a stylus thrown in.

 

[skyscraper101]

sake

 

[SW9]

thanks firky, ordered

 

[Badgers]

Where did you order the 32GB from @SW9

 

[Lemon Eddy]

Ooh, free music matching too:

http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/nexus-best-of-google-now-in-three-sizes.html

See, this is the great thing about having Apple and Google slugging it out. They both have to keep upping their game or they fall behind, so the rate of progress in smartphones and tablets is great. One of them comes out with a feature, the other has to match it and raise. Apple comes out with airplay mirroring, Google roll out Miracast support. Then Microsoft step into the fight, offering proper document editing and easily upgradeable storage.

We can argue all we like about whether the openness of Android beats the more mature app and accessory offerings of iOS, but the one thing that's a certainty is that the competition between the two is good for the end user.