Google Nexus 7

google-nexus-7

The Google Nexus 7 is a tablet device designed, developed, and manufactured by Google in combination with Asus. It was the first tablet to ship with “Jelly Bean” (Android version 4.1) and is the first tablet in the Google Nexus series. Design work began in January 2012 and mass production started in May 2012. It was officially released in the United States on July 13, 2012. It has been both a critical and commercial success, selling 4.5 million units in 2012.

Key Information

The Google Nexus 7 offers a full Android experience. It features the stock Android operating system without any wireless carrier or manufacturer modifications that are present in other Android devices. It is the first device to be shipped with Google’s Android version 4.1, which is a huge upgrade from version 4.0. This includes changes to the homescreen, and software improvements to the camera and notifications bar. It is also the first device to incorporate Google Chrome as the standard web browser. It offers Google Now, which is an intelligent personal assistant similar to Apple’s Siri. It comes with many default applications, including YouTube, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps, and Google+. The front-facing camera is designed for face to face chats on applications like Skype and Google+. The Compass Mode offers the chance to view panoramic views of street-level photographs, and Google Maps’ Business Photos offer 360 degree images inside various businesses. The tablet can be purchased on Amazon, which is about $80 cheaper than the list price. It can also be found on eBay. According to the Google Play site, the Nexus 7 is no longer available for sale through Google.

Tech Specs

The Google Nexus 7 is 7.81 inches in height, 4.72 inches in width, and 0.41 inches thick. It has a 7 inch screen diagonally with 1280×800 pixel resolution. It weighs 11.99 ounces. It offers 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage and 1 GB RAM, although it does not have a memory slot. It has a 1.2MP front-facing camera which is excellent for applications like Skype. The Nexus 7 has a non-removable Li-Ion 4325 mAh battery which lasts for up to 10 hours with medium to heavy usage. The display is an LED-backlit IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors and multi-touch capability.

Pros

  • The price is excellent compared to other tablets, with the 8 GB model costing around $200 and the 16 GB model costing $250
  • The screen is excellent, and makes for an excellent e-reader (tablet has access to all the e-reader apps in the Google Play Store)
  • 1.3GHz Tegra 3 processor; offers an extremely quick performance and is excellent for video gaming – it is one of the fastest Android tablets available
  • It is lightweight (12 ounces), and is comfortable and easy to hold, which makes it excellent for reading and watching movies
  • Android Beam, which allows users to send files to other tablets (including photos, maps, and web pages) by touching the two devices together
  • Has an excellent build quality with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass

Cons

  • The biggest negative of the Nexus 7 is the limited memory and the lack of a memory card slot
  • No HDMI or MHL, which prevents Nexus 7 from connecting to a TV to play games or watch movies
  • The design is plain and ordinary
  • Lack of Apps – while there are many apps available in the Android Market (over 600 000), there are only a few apps that were designed for tablets with top of the line hardware
  • Homescreen does not have a landscape mode
  • The content is consumption oriented – the lack of ports and memory expansion makes the Nexus 7 more of a content consuming device as opposed to a content creating device – it is designed for users to purchase items from the Google Play store