By Daily Mail Reporter
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Technology giant Google has today unveiled the tablet it hopes will take on Apple's iPad.
The Nexus 7 is a 7-inch tablet built by Asus, costing $199, which will go on sale in mid July.
The firm hopes the tablet will take on Apple’s iPad, along with Microsoft’s Surface tablet which was revealed last week, and current Android tablets including Amazon’s Fire.
Future: Hugo Barra, director of product management of Google, unveils the Nexus 7 tablet today
Two versions will be available, one with 8GB of storage for $199 and a second with 16GB for $249. By comparison, Apple's new iPad, which has a larger 9.7 inch screen, costs $399 for a 16GB version.
The unveiling came on the same day that Google showed off its augmented reality glasses with an astonishing stunt at the firm’s developer conference in San Francisco.
The search giant announced a prototype of the glasses will be made available early next year.
Speaking about the launch of the Nexus 7, Google’s Hugo Barra said: 'Its always been a goal of the Nexus programme to provide the best experience. We wanted to design a best of google experience.
'The Nexus 7 is made for Google Play, your content is front and centre.'
The new device has a 1280x800 HD display, a Tegra3 quad core chip with a separate
12 core graphics processor.
Competitive: Two versions of the Nexus 7 will be available - one with 8GB of storage for $199 and a second with 16GB for $249. Apple's new iPad - which has a larger 9.7 inch screen - costs $399 for a 16GB version
It weighs 340 grams, and Google says the tablet is able to play video for nine hours on a single charge.
The firm hopes the smaller size of the Nexus 7 compared to the iPad will make it more popular.
'It has the portability of a paperback backed by cloud storage for books,' said Google’s Chris Yerga.
The search giant also revealed the Nexus Q, a small spherical computer designed to be used in the living room to stream music and films and TV shows to a TV and hifi.
Described as the ‘the first social streaming device,' the Q allows friends to control music playlists from parties from their phones, and to access all of their music, films and TV shows. The Q will go on sale in July for $299.
Google also revealed a host of improvements for users who already own Google powered phones or tablets.
The competition: Apple's latest iPad on offers a fantastic experience in the hand - put a painful one in the pocket
Google said 1M Android devices are activated every day, and they will receive the new version, depending on which phone they have, from next month.
Google also said over 600,000 Android apps are now available in its Play store, which will also begin selling films, TV shows and magazines.                          Â
SO HOW DO THEY COMPARE.......
                         Nexus 7       iPad
Price:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $199 (8GB)Â Â Â Â Â Â $399(16GB)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $249 (16GB)
Size:            7 inches             9.7 inches
Weight:      340g                   650g
Battery:       9 hours                  10 hours
The firm said the new version of its Android software, codenamed Jelly Bean, was far quicker that previous versions.
'Jellybean has a ton of improvements, we have touched every corner of Android,' said Mr Barra.
The new version introduces a number of new gestures, including the ability to ‘throw’ apps and pictures off the screen to delete them.
It also has a speech typing app similar to Apple’s dictation feature, but one capable of working when the phone does not have an internet connection. Speech was also used to search for web pages and information about topics.
A new feature called Google now is able to work out where users are and show them information - for instance, if they stand at a bus stop, it will show the next arriving bus, or show traffic information if a user if driving to work.
It can also work with a diary to warn users if they will be late, and what buses to get to arrive on time. Scores in major sports are also displayed, and Google can even work out which team you support from which searches you have made.
The Windows version of a tablet: The new Surface was unveiled by Microsoft last week
Modern: Google also revealed the Nexus Q, a small spherical computer designed to be used in the living room to stream music and films and TV shows to a TV and Hi-Fi
Google also updated Google+, its social network, adding the ability to create events on the service and an app for both Android and Apple tablets.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin today showed off the search giant’s augmented reality glasses with an astonishing stunt at the firm’s developer conference in San Francisco.
He gave skydivers the prototype glasses, which they used to broadcast a live jump over San Francisco, landing on the conference centre roof.
They then handed the glasses to stunt cyclists and abseilers who wore the priceless prototypes into the conference to gasps and cheers from the crowd.
'I’m so jazzed that actually worked,' he said.
'I’m really excited about glass from my day to day usage.'
Moving forward: Google co-founder Sergey Brin demonstrates Google's new wearable internet glasses today
Pricey: Brin also announced a prototype of the glasses will be made available early next year to developers attending the conference for $1500
He also defended the firm’s decision to keep many of the features of the glasses secret, only showing the video and picture taking capabilities.
'But why are we showing you this utility? We’ve just found it incredibly compelling. It is also one of the things we can show you.
'We are also a small team, so we we have only had so much time, and we want to involve developers.'
Brin also announced a prototype of the glasses will be made available early next year to developers attending the conference for $1500.
The firm also showed a video showing a new parent capturing their child’s development using the glasses.
'We created glass so that you can interact with a virtual world without distractions from the real world,' said Isabelle Olsson, the lead designer of the glasses.
'We position the display above your eye, so as not to block your senses. We don’t want technology to get in the way.'
The firm showed videos of the glasses being used while running, playing tennis and jumping into a pool of balls.
'We are experimenting with a lot of designs, and our latest prototype weighs less than many sunglasses.'
'Our team moments have already captured unique moments in just a couple of months. But what really excites me is how easy and seamless it is to share.'
Olsson said she had worn the glasses while visiting the dentists, and had received messages of support from friends while in the chair.
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No SD memory expansion slot, or unable to connect TV ? not going to get this
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'...I was always taught not to follow in someone else's wake, but to blaze a new trail. So far, I only see Apple doing this.'
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I was so hoping to get this tablet but the lack of an SD or micro SD memory expansion slot, HDMI out and rear facing camera has made me pass on this iteration. Hopefully there are other Tegra 3 quad core tablets on the pipelline that will have those features. The sad thing is that the life cycle of these things are getting so short they become obsolete within 2 years.
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In rip-off Britain that equates to the same figures but in pounds
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P.B, northampton, 28/6/2012 0:41 ----- Typical arrogance from one of those people who THINK they "know tech". Smart people buy technology not for a toy to fiddle with but for empowerment it gives them without having to get the manual or phone IT when they want to do something. Apple deliver that. The rest play catchup and copy.
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People saying ipad is better obviously don't know tech, but thats what apple is for, the non tech savvy who struggle with modern day devices, for educated people the nexus 7 is much better alternative has much more powerful processor and graphic capabilities then any Apple tablet and is half the price. - P.B, northampton, 27/6/2012 19:41 Much more powerful processor and graphics for what? Android tablets don't have any apps to take advantage of these components. The Android tablet app library is an absolute joke compared to what is available for the iPad. And why is this tablet better for "educated" people. Are "educated" people suddenly in the need of a half baked OS with no apps?
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- P.B, northampton Based on your comments it's seems the Nexus is for arrogant people who think they are superior to others. Dear oh dear.
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Competition is good for the consumer regardless if you're an Apple or Android fan!
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People saying ipad is better obviously don't know tech, but thats what apple is for, the non tech savvy who struggle with modern day devices, for educated people the nexus 7 is much better alternative has much more powerful processor and graphic capabilities then any Apple tablet and is half the price.
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As a mainly Apple user, I admire the Innovative approach of Google, Microsoft is too corporate but Mr Gates is a good man with his Philanthropy. Lets all celebrate any tech advance and not join the Apple v PC or Boeing v Airbus Fanboy type of arguments.
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