Google Nexus 7

[Mitlov]

On the plus side, I don't doubt for a second that its software runs better than the Kindle Fire's. And it's got a front-facing webcam for video chats (no rear-facing webcam for taking photos though). And a Tegra 3.

On the negative, Google has made clear that it's built specifically around the Google Play store. And does ANYBODY want to buy media from the Google Play store?

The tablet, which Google says is "built specifically for Google Play,"...When Google showed the device, it made special note of the fact that the user's content collection is front and center, much like on the Kindle Fire. When demonstrating the magazine viewing experience, a Google employee was able to swipe through a pile of magazines, and a "view text" link would reflow a visible article into a formation that is "optimized for reading." The tablet will also have a "new recommendation engine" for content that will show users content tailored to their tastes.

Google officially reveals $199 7″ quad-core Nexus 7 tablet with Android 4.1 | Ars Technica

[Mi An]

On the negative, Google has made clear that it's built specifically around the Google Play store. And does ANYBODY want to buy media from the Google Play store?

I'm not clear on how that's a negative? Even if folks prefer other retail outlets for books or movies, there's no requirement they get them from Play. Indeed, go to the play app store, and you'll find the competitor's app waiting for you. Netflix, Amazon, B&N, Hulu, zinio etc etc etc. The recommendation widgets aren't baked onto your homescreen. Use them or don't. Even your homescreen isn't forced. Use whatever launcher you like.

Now maybe the extra features you can use if you like Play aren't a positive for everyone, but where is the negative?

[Mitlov]

I had gotten the impression from the previews I've read that it was locked into the Play store the way the Fire is locked into the Amazon store. If you can still buy anything you want from any source, then it's not a downside.

[Adama D. Brown]

I had gotten the impression from the previews I've read that it was locked into the Play store the way the Fire is locked into the Amazon store. If you can still buy anything you want from any source, then it's not a downside.

I wouldn't read too much into the previews, since nobody has gotten much hands-on time just yet. And locking it down would kind of run counter to the entire Nexus design philosophy Google has been pushing: pure Android, no customizations.

[Mi An]

They certainly took a lesson from the Fire's featuring of 1st party content, from what I saw. But if they changed their app store policy to exclude competitors, if they reversed their lifelong commitment to allowing you to install from 3rd parties (allowing you to install, say, the Amazon App Store) with relative ease, the internet would explode in a fiery ball of betrayed fanboy fury.

[Hook]

They certainly took a lesson from the Fire's featuring of 1st party content, from what I saw. But if they changed their app store policy to exclude competitors, if they reversed their lifelong commitment to allowing you to install from 3rd parties (allowing you to install, say, the Amazon App Store) with relative ease, the internet would explode in a fiery ball of betrayed fanboy fury.

That only happens when the fanboys eat too many beans. ;-)

[Mitlov]

the internet would explode in a fiery ball of betrayed fanboy fury.

...doesn't that describe the normal state of the internet?

[Mi An]

...doesn't that describe the normal state of the internet?

I think the normal state of the internet is a boiling cauldron of fanboy fury. But that's just me. An explosion is something else entirely, and yes, perhaps sometimes it's precipitated by Taco Bell, as Hook posits, rather than betrayal. 0.o

I figure if it's still possible to read and post on brighthand, Google hasn't banned kindleware from Play yet.

[LandSurveyor]

A couple of observations:

First, Seven inch tablets and 5 inch smartphones are, at least in my mind, going to create some uncertainty in some people about what they should buy next. With shared data plans coming, I can see someone looking at the offerings and having to make a decision between a larger smartphone and a combo of a smaller (but still larger than the phone) tablet plus a simple voice phone. I'm pretty much doing that now and find it quite workable even if it means more load in my pockets.

Second, although books are quite workable on small screens, going way back to Palm Reader, etc., magazines are quite something else. If my experience with Zinio is normal, it's frustrating on a 10-inch screen, much less a 7. Quite similar to my experience with CAD on small computer screens, one must pan and zoom constantly. In fact, I just emailed them and had my subscriptions cancelled. I will revert to paper mags until they work out some sort of reflow that is sensitive to device screen size AND adjusts text sizes to comfortable levels.

I don't think tablets have really found their niche yet, which is odd since they are really just large PDAs.

I'm glad Google is persisting with pure Android devices minus crapware though.

[Mi An]

I don't know how new it is, but when they were showing off the n7, it could reflow any article on the fly out of the traditional magazine format and into a very tailored format. I assume that's a general jelly bean feature, or a general google magazine app feature or something. I'll try and keep a lookout for video of that happening for ya.

Edit: the audio sync is off on this video, but you can see the reflow happen at least at aronud 44:35ish. Also, if anyone knows how to make embedded videos obey deep time links, let me know.