Google unveils Nexus 7 tablet

Google has showcased a new-generation, slimmer Nexus 7 tablet that the internet search company hopes will expand its presence in consumer hardware, and ensure that its online services remain front-and-centre on mobile devices, The Guardian reported.

The latest Nexus 7, featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a higher display resolution, will go on sale in the US on 30 July priced at $229 (£149) for a basic version with 16 gigabytes of storage. The original year-old tablet started at $199 for an 8 gigabyte version.


Sundar Pichai, head of Android and Chrome software, said on the sidelines of an event to launch the tablet that the Google would make a profit off the new product. The first-generation Nexus 7, which marked its initial foray into mobile electronics, was financially a break-even product for the company, analysts have said.


"The new Nexus 7 is designed so that it's profitable for all the people involved. Retailers, us, everyone included," Pichai said.
Also on Wednesday, Google revived an earlier attempt to get into online video streaming with the introduction of the "Chromecast" – a two-inch $35 dongle that will plug into the back of televisions and let users stream YouTube and Netflix videos via their smartphones.