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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

Google doesn't invite the media to breakfast because it just learned how to make the perfect crepe. And they certainly don't invite the media to a meal with Sundar Pichai, the head of Android and Chrome, without having some new goodies to show off.

All signs point to the breakfast with Sundar Pichai as being the official unveiling of the long-rumored Moto X, the refresh of the hugely successful Nexus 7, and an update to Android 4.3 to begin its rollout.

First off, Android 4.3. This is an incremental update to the Jelly Bean system, so don't expect anything that will knock your socks off. From what I've heard, the best things about 4.3 is more responsive touch-screen software as well as Bluetooth LE (low energy) for something like..... Google Glass? Maybe? There will also be an 'always available' option in your Wi-Fi settings in case you want to have better location data but don't necessarily want to be connected to a certain Wi-Fi access point.

As far as the Moto X is concerned, well... it's coming. There's a trove of information and rumors floating on the interwebs about this device, mainly because it's the first device to come from the Google & Motorola merger that happened a few years ago. Sure, there have been other Moto phones to emerge since then, but those devices were "already in the pipes" in the pre-purchased Motorola. Wanna know more about the Moto X? CNN has a decent write up on it. I could tell you more, but I won't because very soon you will probably be tired of hearing about it due to the fact that Google plans to spend $500 million to market the Moto X. Get ready for a massive TV and print campaign for this smartphone newcomer.

Now, on to what I am most excited about. The updated Nexus 7. Or the Nexus 7 2, or Nexus 7 HD, or whatever the official name will be. The original Nexus 7 was unveiled just over a year ago at Google I/O, and it was a success from day one. Veteran tech reporter, Walt Mossberg from AllThingsD.com, reviewed the Nexus 7 shortly after it's arrival and said: "I consider it the best Android tablet I’ve used." A year later, Google has received plenty of feedback regarding their 7 inch tablet, and have made some improvements. The first complaint I heard about the Nexus 7 was the lack of a rear camera. Complain no longer, my fellow tech compadres, as this has been rectified with a 5MP rear camera in the new version. They have also updated the display from 1280x800 to a full HD at 1920x1080. Also among the upgrades is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, which runs about 30% faster with better power management than its predecessor.

Basically, Google listened to the feedback and made the best upgrades it could while keeping the price tag in almost an 'impulse buy' category. Leaked store inventory pictures place the new Nexus 7 16GB at $229, and 32GB at $269, which is $60 cheaper than a 16GB iPad Mini.

For the better part of a month, I have had some birthday money set aside to purchase the new Nexus 7 when it becomes available, and that is certainly still the plan.


This is going to be a very long week.

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