Google to introduce low-priced Android tablet in 'coming weeks'

Posted:
in iPad edited January 2014
On the heels of the unveiling of the Microsoft Surface tablet, Google is reportedly planning to take another stab at Apple's iPad with a new, low-cost Android tablet the company is expected to introduce in the near future.

The new Android tablet will be unveiled in the "coming weeks," according to The Wall Street Journal. Citing "people familiar with the matter," the report said that the new inexpensive Android tablet has been co-developed by Google and Asustek Computer.

Google's production of its own tablet is seen as an attempt by the company to take control of its Android platform and cut down on fragmentation. The report noted that many Android devices still run older versions of Google's mobile operating system, and are held back by third-party hardware makers.

The report also said that Google has "accelerated plans" to launch a competitor to Apple's voice-driven personal assistant, Siri, currently found on the iPhone 4S and coming to the third-generation iPad with the launch of iOS 6. Further details on Google's Siri competitor were not given.

Rumors that Google and Asus have partnered to build a new tablet first cropped up in March. At the time it was said the device could be priced between $199 and $249.

Last year, Asus launched its own Transformer Prime tablet, which aimed to offer the functionality of both a touchscreen tablet as well as a traditional laptop. While the hybrid device garnered some buzz, it failed to compete with Apple's market-leading iPad.

Transformer Prime


This week's report suggests that the launch of the low-priced tablet from Google and Asus is imminent. It also comes as rumors of a so-called "iPad mini" with a 7.85-inch display and 1,024-by-768-pixel display persist, with some reports claiming Apple could launch such a device as early as this September.

Microsoft also hopes to make a splash in the tablet market later this year when it launches its own line of ARM- and Intel-based hardware branded as Surface. New devices running Windows RT were unveiled by the company on Monday and are scheduled to launch later this year, while Intel-based Surface tablets running Windows 8 are expected to launch a few months later.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 88
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Copy copy copy…
  • Reply 2 of 88
    dluxdlux Posts: 666member


    Wait- so what is Motorola? Chopped liver?

  • Reply 3 of 88
    irnchrizirnchriz Posts: 1,616member


    If you want a low cost tablet...  grab a refurbished iPad 2 from Apple.

  • Reply 4 of 88
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member
    dlux wrote: »
    Wait- so what is Motorola? Chopped liver?

    No. But the point here is that the OS maker is making the hardware, so the two can be developed together and thus hopefully better.

    Right now the OEMs have to basically port Android to their flavor and that takes time, especially since many of them have to do it several times to support each model and generation, which is why they don't do it.

    The catch is that they are doing this after the fact and the faith, at least for Android, make all ready be totally lost.
  • Reply 5 of 88
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    charlituna wrote: »
    No. But the point here is that the OS maker is making the hardware, so the two can be developed together and thus hopefully better.

    Only took them 35 years to learn that.
  • Reply 6 of 88


    So by Christmas we will have three good regular tablets (the iPad, the Surface, and the new GooglePad) and one "Pro" tablet (the Surface).


     


    This is a gadget-lover's dream!

  • Reply 7 of 88
    zbarskyzbarsky Posts: 19member


    Expect another rotten Android tablet dairy product that will be unavailable to the majority of existing Android tablets in the market.

  • Reply 8 of 88
    cronkedcronked Posts: 31member


    In the process they will be canibalizing sales of their hardware partners.  It is everyone for themselves at this point.  If you don't own an OS, you are screwed.  Google has really done a 180 since their "do no evil" days.

  • Reply 9 of 88
    cameronjcameronj Posts: 2,357member
    This is playing right into Apple's preferred business model. Let the commodity producers race to the bottom on price while Apple provides a better experience for more money.
  • Reply 10 of 88
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member


    LOL here we go again. 

  • Reply 11 of 88


    A. "Low priced"


    Meaning:


    1. no retina display ?


    2. smaller display ?


    3. standard battery with shorter life?


    4. Heavier?


    5. Clunkier looking?


     


    B. Distribution channels


    Google stores?


    Carrier stores?


    Worst Buy?


    Online?


     


    C. Apps


    Standard Android quality? Or better?


    Complete with malware?

  • Reply 12 of 88
    agramonteagramonte Posts: 345member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by cronked View Post


    In the process they will be canibalizing sales of their hardware partners.  It is everyone for themselves at this point.  If you don't own an OS, you are screwed.  Google has really done a 180 since their "do no evil" days.



     


    Android is like freelancing in NYC - if you can survive you feel you done something - you compete, even against the bosses kid. Samsung has gone after SONY and Apple - they not going to be afraid of Asus. Sharp and Frog Design have their own thing going with Android that not sure even Google can match.


     


    that "everyone for themselves" is what is making it this exciting right now.

  • Reply 13 of 88
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,092member


    Like our landfills and desk drawers aren't full enough already...

  • Reply 14 of 88

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by zbarsky View Post


    Expect another rotten Android tablet dairy product that will be unavailable to the majority of existing Android tablets in the market.



    for 200 dollars who cares? i will get one. 

  • Reply 15 of 88
    alfiejralfiejr Posts: 1,524member


    every OEM in the world can read the handwriting on the wall today: see ya later, dudes!


     


    within two years Google will stop pretending and push Motorola tablets only. ditto MS with its own Windows brand. any OEM without its own in-house OS will be out of the tablet game, permanently. only Samsung has already figured this out. HP totally missed it and threw WebOS away. Nokia sold its soul to MS and threw MeeGo away. Sony has never had a clue anyway. and Asus, HTC, et al. are just drifting, looking for a miracle.


     


    the smart guy is the one that scoops up RIM cheap, just to get QNX.

  • Reply 16 of 88
    gqbgqb Posts: 1,934member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by JerrySwitched26 View Post


    So by Christmas we will have three good regular tablets (the iPad, the Surface, and the new GooglePad) and one "Pro" tablet (the Surface).


     


    This is a gadget-lover's dream!





    Define 'Pro' for me.


    If you mean an underpowered machine (by necessity if this is to truly be a portable device) with an OS mangled to keep supporting (once again) legacy applications designed for much more powerful hardware, then I guess you'll consider Intel Win8 machines 'Pro'.


    But I think they're going to more resemble RefrigaToasters than 'Pro' machines.


    The right tool for the job.

  • Reply 17 of 88
    DaekwanDaekwan Posts: 175member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post





    Only took them 35 years to learn that.


     


    Exactly.

  • Reply 18 of 88
    gqbgqb Posts: 1,934member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Alfiejr View Post


    every OEM in the world can read the handwriting on the wall today: see ya later, dudes!


     


    within two years Google will stop pretending and push Motorola tablets only. ditto MS with its own Windows brand. any OEM without its own in-house OS will be out of the tablet game, permanently. only Samsung has already figured this out. HP totally missed it and threw WebOS away. Nokia sold its soul to MS and threw MeeGo away. Sony has never had a clue anyway. and Asus, HTC, et al. are just drifting, looking for a miracle.


     


    the smart guy is the one that scoops up RIM cheap, just to get QNX.





    You nailed it.

  • Reply 19 of 88
    tbelltbell Posts: 3,146member


    This is why I think Apple will introduce a smaller iPad that costs less. You aren't going to buy a Kindle Fire or whatever Google comes up with if you could spend $50 to $100 more and get an iPad.

     

  • Reply 20 of 88
    tbelltbell Posts: 3,146member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Alfiejr View Post


    every OEM in the world can read the handwriting on the wall today: see ya later, dudes!


     


    within two years Google will stop pretending and push Motorola tablets only. ditto MS with its own Windows brand. any OEM without its own in-house OS will be out of the tablet game, permanently. only Samsung has already figured this out. HP totally missed it and threw WebOS away. Nokia sold its soul to MS and threw MeeGo away. Sony has never had a clue anyway. and Asus, HTC, et al. are just drifting, looking for a miracle.


     


    the smart guy is the one that scoops up RIM cheap, just to get QNX.



     


     


    This is Microsoft giving HP the big middle finger for planning to go to Web OS. Web OS could have been a game changer in better hands.

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