Introducing the Nexus 7

     The Nexus 7 was announced by Google at their I/O conference back in June and is the company's first Nexus-branded Android tablet. Reviews from technology sites such as CNET, TechSpot, Wired, and TechRadar have been positive. Those who have tested the tablet praise Jelly Bean, which is the latest Android software and currently only available on the Nexus 7, as well as the value of the tablet when compared to other 7-inch models in the $199 price range. While the Nexus 7 may not be an iPad killer, it does offer a lot of features and power for its cost. Read on to discover what Google and ACER have included in the Nexus 7 to discover if the tablet is right for you.

     The Nexus 7 includes a 7-inch HD display with a resolution of 1280x800 (216 PPI). It's the first tablet to contain a 1.3 GHz Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor accompanied by a 12-core graphics chip and 1 GB of RAM. Connectivity settings for the tablet include Near Field Communication (NFC), WiFi b/g/n, and Bluetooth. There's no option to use carrier network access for a data connection, an important consideration depending on WiFi availability. The Nexus 7 has doesn't have a camera on its back to be used as a camera but does have a front-facing camera for video calling through various applications. The built-in battery has a capacity of 4325 mAh, which Google states should last users up to 8 hours. This quote is obviously going to depend heavily on a number of variables such as usage and screen brightness.

The Nexus 7 features downloadable content ranging from magazines, movies, e books, games, and music. Unfortunately the availability of this content will depend on whether you live in the U.S. 

     The tablet is available with either 8 GB or 16 GB of internal storage and is priced at $199 or $249 respectively and comes with a $25 credit for the Play Store. The Nexus 7 has no option for expandable memory so when looking at which model is right for you it's important to consider what you want to use the tablet for. Heavier users looking to load HD videos along with a large media collection will want to consider the 16 GB model, although considering the internal storage doubles for an extra $50 it may be a worthwhile investment for anyone interested in the tablet. One of the reasons that Google chose to not include expandable memory may be due to the company's interest in using its Cloud storage system. Unfortunately Cloud storage relies on connectivity to work and without WiFi you may find yourself stranded without the content you're looking for.

Google Now is just one of the improvements offered by Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The Nexus 7 is currently the only device that runs the newest version of Google's OS.

     I won't go over the OS in detail here because I've recently written about Jelly Bean as well as the new features and benefits of the update (full story here). The update has been reported to run as smoothly on the Nexus 7 as it does on the Galaxy Nexus with smooth animations and improved responsiveness. I'm currently running the OS on my Galaxy Nexus and have experienced the improvements as well as Google Now and the new voice command improvements. The difference between previous versions of Android compared to this release are night and day. Those who have used a tablet running the Honeycomb OS will be relieved to know that Jelly Bean perfects the Android experience across both tablets and phones.

Google has entered the tablet market with a strong contender when compared to other offerings in the 7-inch market. This is especially true when considering the affordable price tag.

     Some of the criticisms against the tablet include the lack of expandable memory, no dedicated camera application, some issues with contrast levels on the display, and a shortage of tablet-designed applications in the Play Store. The most alarming problem that the Nexus 7 has for users outside of the U.S. is that a lot of the content that Google is promoting isn't available. Consumers from Canada, the U.K. and Australia who purchase the tablet are going to experience a limited selection of content due to international licensing agreements. This information comes from Zack Whittaker, a writer for CNET, who says that Google didn't say when the additional content would be available for international markets (full story here).  

     The Nexus 7 is a powerful tablet that runs Google's most impressive version of Android to date. Transitions are reportedly smooth and the touch screen is easy to read and responsive. My only hesitation comes in storage concerns and possible connectivity issues when WiFi is unavailable. One possible solution to this problem could be by using your smartphone as a wireless router (if it is able to do so). This option should only be pursued on an unlimited data plan as the amount of bandwidth that would be consumed by doing this would be quite large. Nexus 7 may not be an iPad killer but it wasn't designed to be. The tablet targets the Kindle Fire and other 7-inch devices. In this respect, and in many others, it is a worthwhile investment and worth considering. If you are interested in ordering the Nexus 7 click here.