Leak shows 8.9" Nexus tablet from HTC, Google's latest stab at Apple's iPad
With Google's I/O conference set to kick off this Wednesday and showcase the company's next direction for its Android mobile platform, a new leak now shows an 8.9-inch HTC tablet that is expected to be the next premium Nexus tablet pitted against Apple's iPad lineup.
Pictures and details on the HTC "Volantis" were revealed by Android Police, which said the device is internally referred to as the "Nexus 9." The device is said to have an 8.9-inch display with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,440 pixels, a size that would place it in between Apple's 7.9-inch iPad mini, and 9.7-inch iPad Air.
Google and HTC are apparently planning for the device to be a premium-grade tablet, boasting a 64-bit Nvidia Logan processor, 2 gigabytes of RAM, and an 8-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization. The leaked information suggests the device will sell for $399 with 16 gigabytes of storage, pricing it identically with Apple's iPad mini with Retina display.
Though Google's I/O conference kicks off Wednesday, the so-called "Nexus 9" is not expected to be unveiled this week. Instead, Google is said to be holding the debut of its next-generation flagship tablet for the launch of "Android L," an anticipated update for its mobile platform.
The Nexus brand is used by Google to spotlight different hardware manufacturers within the Android ecosystem. The first Nexus tablet, the Nexus 7, debuted in July of 2012, only months before Apple would introduce its blockbuster iPad mini.
Despite a deluge of competing devices from companies like Google, Samsung and Amazon, Apple's iPad lineup remains by far the market share leader in terms of tablet sales. But growth in the overall tablet market has slowed in recent quarters, following an explosive growth period led by the debut of Apple's first iPad in 2010.
As for the Google I/O conference this week, it's widely expected that the company will focus on its new Android Wear initiative for wearable smart devices. It's also expected to take the wraps off the successor to Android 4.4 KitKat, only known for now as "Android L."
Apple unveiled its own next-generation mobile platform, iOS 8, at its Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month. iOS 8 will launch this fall, while Apple is widely rumored to enter the wearable devices market this October.
Pictures and details on the HTC "Volantis" were revealed by Android Police, which said the device is internally referred to as the "Nexus 9." The device is said to have an 8.9-inch display with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,440 pixels, a size that would place it in between Apple's 7.9-inch iPad mini, and 9.7-inch iPad Air.
Google and HTC are apparently planning for the device to be a premium-grade tablet, boasting a 64-bit Nvidia Logan processor, 2 gigabytes of RAM, and an 8-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization. The leaked information suggests the device will sell for $399 with 16 gigabytes of storage, pricing it identically with Apple's iPad mini with Retina display.
Though Google's I/O conference kicks off Wednesday, the so-called "Nexus 9" is not expected to be unveiled this week. Instead, Google is said to be holding the debut of its next-generation flagship tablet for the launch of "Android L," an anticipated update for its mobile platform.
The Nexus brand is used by Google to spotlight different hardware manufacturers within the Android ecosystem. The first Nexus tablet, the Nexus 7, debuted in July of 2012, only months before Apple would introduce its blockbuster iPad mini.
Despite a deluge of competing devices from companies like Google, Samsung and Amazon, Apple's iPad lineup remains by far the market share leader in terms of tablet sales. But growth in the overall tablet market has slowed in recent quarters, following an explosive growth period led by the debut of Apple's first iPad in 2010.
As for the Google I/O conference this week, it's widely expected that the company will focus on its new Android Wear initiative for wearable smart devices. It's also expected to take the wraps off the successor to Android 4.4 KitKat, only known for now as "Android L."
Apple unveiled its own next-generation mobile platform, iOS 8, at its Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month. iOS 8 will launch this fall, while Apple is widely rumored to enter the wearable devices market this October.
Comments
Yeah it is a slow Apple news day. Google it trying to get as much mind share as possible and AI is help with that.
That appears to be interesting, why waste the performance power battery life when the OS and Apps can not support it.
I'm sure it will be a fine tablet, but the mobile industry turned out to be all about the ecosystem. Apple has everyone beat in that department.
The others have similar app stores and music streaming, etc., but Apple is focused on their single niche market segment instead of exploring dozens of different categories and product lines like the other competitors. Apple is presenting a unified product line and ecosystem with no distractions so it is easy for consumers to grasp and embrace the concept. Very smart marketing too.
L for "Lollipop."
Because it's for suckers maybe?
Well, as this is a developers conference and a new OS version is in the cards... Why shouldn't 64-bit be on the list of new features? Totally possible, getting Android developers to support it quickly might be another story.
I'm sure it will be a fine tablet, but the mobile industry turned out to be all about the ecosystem. Apple has everyone beat in that department.
You nailed it. Apple has followed the perfect strategy. Build out an ecosystem over a decade or so, gradually, invisibly, while the entire world focuses on your cool devices (e.g. iPod in the '00s, iPhone + iPad in the '10s etc.) Because hardware is the easiest thing for the media to photo-blog about and for "analysts" to count and extrapolate for next quarter. (And, as seen in the photo above, hardware the easiest thing for wannabes to copy.)
Of course, hardware is just the tip of the iceberg. The window through which we peer into the ecosystem. Hardware is just the box the software ships in. (Which is why the occasional Asian component supplier hardware leak is probably OK with Tim Cook.) So while Apple relentlessly built up the iTunes + Music Store + App Store, competitors did the quick and easy thing: they mashed up iPod, iPhone, and iPad clones and tried to beat Apple on price. With little or no ecosystem, because the ecosystem is the big expensive long-term play.
So good luck with your Nexus, HTC. Hope you last another year in mobile. Cheers.
Perhaps L is for "losers" or "late" or "laggy"
it's the walled off apple ecosystem, not the hardware, that keeps me buying i devices these days.
Another boring and horrible Android tablet.
And what's with the 4:3?
Are they admitting that all 16:9 Android tablets suck donkey balls, like people have been saying for ages? I wonder what Fandroids have to say about that. They've been defending 16:9 forever.
Is it any wonder that Android apps look like crap? There is no standard at all.
Not very excited about this tablet.
In contrast, Android keeps selling specs, which to the vast majority of non-geek consumers mean nothing: "it has an Nvidia Logan 64-bit!".... ok? so what?
Funny, in many ways Google's approach reminds me of the approach American car makers take when comparing to the benchmark cars of the category (which are usually German): "It has more horsepower than the BMW 335i!", forgetting to tell you that it also has a shitty plastic interior, and the BMW is still faster due to better power delivery, despite having less ON PAPER.
One day, Google, you'll figure out how to sell hardware for the user experience, not the specs.. For now, stick to web services.
And also, MS Surface is 3:2 now all of a sudden.
The companies who love to copy Apple are now also moving closer to Apple's aspect ratio.
They're admitting that Apple got it right with the original iPad, and many years later, after countless failed tablets, we now see Microsoft and Google both abandoning 16:9 in their newest tablets. Coincidence?
And also, MS Surface is 3:2 now all of a sudden.
The companies who love to copy Apple are now also moving closer to Apple's aspect ratio.
They're admitting that Apple got it right with the original iPad, and many years later, after countless failed tablets, we now see Microsoft and Google both abandoning 16:9 in their newest tablets. Coincidence?
Apple copied at least nine features Android has had for years with iOS 8. The one sided copy argument got old a long time ago. Not to mention the fact that Apple was never going to go above a 3.5 inch iPhone because that was the perfect size. At what point did it not become the perfect size? Maybe we should change the name of the forum to HI for Hypocrite Insider. Everyone copies including Apple.
And also, MS Surface is 3:2 now all of a sudden.
The companies who love to copy Apple are now also moving closer to Apple's aspect ratio.
They're admitting that Apple got it right with the original iPad, and many years later, after countless failed tablets, we now see Microsoft and Google both abandoning 16:9 in their newest tablets. Coincidence?
You do realize that Apple is copying Android by making larger phones. And that iOS is incorporating not a few Android features. So ... at some point this gets old.
64 bit processors finally. Yay. (Although to be fair some smaller Android manufacturers came out with 64 bit tablets a few months ago. They weren't much to talk about though ... 7 inch deals for $150.) So it can fairly be said that the best Android can do is offer similar quality to Apple devices released 2 years ago, except without the quality or quantity of apps, security/privacy or the ecosystem. If that is what you want, fine, but it doesn't make a bit of economic sense. Seriously, you could get this, or you could get an iPad 2 for the same amount of money.
The only Android tablet that kind of makes sense is the Kindle Fire HDX, because it is a quality tablet that is actually a good bit cheaper than an old iPad. Except that even there, Fire OS is only comparable to Android 4.2, and you get no Google Play store, which means even fewer apps. Basically the Android manufacturers have done a lot better with phones than tablets.
Blasphemy. Apple does not copy anyone. Apple lives in a bubble. All features apple demonstrated about a month ago. Invented by apple. Apple invents all. Shut up fanboy.
So 64-bit is no longer a "gimmick" now that Google's tablet is using it?
Waiting to hear excuses reasons from Android fanboys.