Asus and Google chiefs have revealed what it was like building the brand-new Nexus 7 tablet, explaining that the 7-inch Jelly Bean tablet was built in a mere four months, and under extreme working conditions.
Asus boss Jonney Shih told AllThingsD about Google's punishing demands. "Our engineers told me it is like torture," Shih said, explaining that his team was positioned close to Google, so that work on the quad-core tablet could continue 24/7.
Forty extra team members were added to the project as it went on, with Shih saying of Google, "They ask a lot."
Asus' hard work appears to have paid off, however, as the Google Nexus 7 is shaping up to be seriously compelling tablet. The 7-inch display has a 1,280x800-pixel count, while inside there's a quad-core Tegra 3 processor.
The all-new Jelly Bean software is more reason to get excited. A new feature called Google Now gives you information pertinent to your day as it's happening. Google Now learns when you commute and gives traffic information at that time, for example, and tells you when you'll need to leave home to make a calendar appointment.
A bumped-up frame rate should make menu animations look slicker than ever, and the Nexus 7 will go on sale for the bargain-bucket price of £160 for the 8GB option.
Google's Andy Rubin acknowledged that when people buy tablets, they're more interested in software, TV shows, apps, movies and magazines than they are in hardware. The price is certainly right, so we'll have to wait and see whether Google can deliver on the digital goodies.
Will you be buying a Nexus 7? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
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Nyllo 28 June, 2012 11:13
The form factor of the Nexus 7 looks to be very similar to the Blackberry PlayBook - the best part of that tablet aside from the size and weight of it is the rubberised back - I would seriously consider opting for the 16GB model if it's in any way similar.
7" to me is the perfect size for a tablet, just light and small enough to stick in a bag and not worry about it!
anonymous 28 June, 2012 13:14
I was looking to buy the new iPad but
I am so tempted to buy this Nexus 7 specially the specifications blew me away for the price.
The camera is not that good but for serious photography I use SLR camera anyways
The bad thing is it doesn't have 3G..hmm.. :(
tomfromaardvark 29 June, 2012 09:31
Its difficult to deny that what Apple does with its iPads is impressive. i dont wanna sound like a fanboy but no one in the tablet market yet has been able to match them for slickness and genuine usefulness. Until now of course. I have an iPad and i am seriously considering replacing it with this little bad boy, it just looks so freakin awesome! and the money you would spend on a good sized iPad would get you like 3 nexus 7s!!!! that fact it doesnt have 3G is not a problem; WiFi hotspotting/tethering solves this problem!
Danny Jackson 29 June, 2012 16:21
I have already pre-ordered my Nexus 7. The fact that its got Jelly Bean and all its cool features makes it a worthwhile purchase and only £199 for 16GB (I recommend getting the 16GB as movies and stuff can fill it up fast) its a real bargain.