Raj Agrawal

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Is google really trying to make a profit with Nexus 7?

July 3, 2012 by Raj Agrawal 1 Comment

Google unveiled a new tablet late last month called the Nexus 7. Now there are plenty of affordable Android tablets in the market and most of them lack at the hardware or the software end. But, Nexus 7 is special. This first ever tablet from Google promises great set of features at a surprisingly low price, which is too good to be true. Google isn’t exactly popular for being a money-leecher; they aren’t popular for being generous either. This leads me to question Google’s intentions. Is profit really on their minds, or is it something much more strategic than that?

Google Nexus 7
Google Nexus 7

The Nexus 7 comes packed with a quad core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and a 12 core GPU, which effectively makes the device capable of using 16 cores at a time. It has a 7 inch screen with a display resolution of 1200 * 800 pixels, and features a Gorilla glass laden LCD display. On the memory side, it has 1 GB of Ram, and up to 16 GB of hard disk space. And front facing 1.3 megapixel camera, with no camera on the back panel. 

It comes loaded with the latest version of Google’s flagship Android OS, called Jellybean. Jellybean comes with a lot of new improvements over ICS, which includes Google Now, a revolutionary new platform for searching and user interaction which goes beyond Voice search and AI. It also has a lot of new tweaks such as Google’s “Project Butter” initiative, which makes scrolling much smoother, almost “buttery”, and the OS much more responsive as a whole. It’s clear that with all of these bells and whistles, that this is a top tier tablet intended to compete with the best out there.

Now here’s the real deal. The tablet is priced at just 199$ for the 8 GB version, and 249$ for the 16 GB version. In case you do not find this surprising, let me remind you that the Kindle Fire, Amazon’s goliath in the tablet space, sells for the same price, but cannot hold a candle to the specs Google are offering with the Nexus 7. The Kindle Fire is a tablet with very limited capabilities and actually justifies the comparatively cheap price tag. The iPad though, now that’s a different story. But even so, in terms of features, the Nexus 7 probably goes neck to neck with Apple’s A-sexual lovechild. One may say it even trumps the mighty beast.

nexus 7 vs kindle fire
Image credit – PCMag.com

Which brings us to the main point of discussion, why price so cheaply? If you ask me, I say it’s a ploy. None of the Android tablets have really made an impact which they were expected to make, mainly due to the stiff competition from Apple, and Amazon. And what do you do when the competition starts getting heavy on you? You try and neutralize the competition. By pricing the Nexus 7 as much as the Kindle Fire, Google has ensured one thing; if there is a question between which Tablet to opt for, the price being a factor, it’s a no-brainer. Google hands down has the best tablet around. They want to hit Amazon, and hit them hard.

But won’t this affect the current lineup of Android tablets too? Most Android tablets out there may feature similar specs but are very highly priced. As such, won’t Google be harming its own partners? Well yes and no. Even though the current generation of Android tablets will become obsolete, it will pave the way for future tablets to follow Google footsteps in the pursuit of making better tablets at around the same price range. Brilliant strategy in my opinion.

kindle-ipad3-nexus7

You can call this transition as rebooting of a brand. If one strategy does not work for a long time, start over. If Google is able to capitalize on the market as they will be hoping with this bold move, then we might see a new era of cheap, high performing tablets in no time. For the customer, it’s a major win, which is all that matters.

Filed Under: Consumer Technology Tagged With: Android, apple, google, nexus, Tegra

Tablet Wars – iPad vs Surface vs Nexus 7

June 29, 2012 by Omkar Jadhav 2 Comments

With the long history and availability of tablets in the market, none of them have been potent enough to rival the Apple’s iPad. Market statistics prove it. While, this is not just about the hardware and software richness, it’s more about convincing and winning the mass consumers. A long list of tablets have come and failed. They were somehow flawed with either features and/or design. Hence, they have been unsuccessful in convincing the mass consumer market. This year we might witness a major change with the announcement of Microsoft’s Surface tablets and Google’s Nexus 7 tablet. The 2 recently announced tablets have plenty of sensible features to offer you’ve always wanted to see in a tablet. Read more as I talk about how each of the 3 major tablets might ably win the mass consumer market.

ios-vs-andriod-windows
iOS vs Android vs Windows

Why Apple iPad has been winning

Apple’s vast eco-system of apps has yet to be matched by any other software company. Though Android has achieved a rapid growth in their apps collection it hasn’t yet surpassed their rival’s offerings. Also Apple’s notable hardware and software integration along with finesse in hardware design has been able to create a far superior user experience that has yet to be rivaled. This self-sustaining ecosystem comprising of iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, platform specific apps, operating systems and their cross platform integration has been the thriving force behind this market reach.

Strengths – App Store, Presence in Smartphone, Notebook and Desktop Markets, Build quality and design, Wide range of Accessories, commendable hardware and software integration.

How Microsoft’s Surface can win

Surface showed some amazing never-seen-before features that no other tablet could pull off this gracefully. A full desktop PC experience in a package which is slim and handy, has only been embodied by Microsoft’s Surface yet. It is just a tablet, but with capabilities surpassing those of other tablets, notebooks and most PCs. Does it really perform as good? This is yet to been seen. Windows already has a vast eco-system with over 1billion PCs from tablets – desktop computers – laptops – ATMs all over the globe. With Surface as a productivity device can attract and complement a considerable portion of this existing customer base. By offering options such as high speed USB ports, SD card slots, video out ports, touch & type keyboard covers and many unmatched functions Microsoft can outsmart its competitors with its Surface range of products. Eventually, the price and the entire product package is what will determine the magnitude of its success.

Strengths – Full Desktop Capabilities, Kickstand, Touch/Type Keyboard, Windows 8, Well-established Windows Eco-system, Premium Design.

How Google’s Nexus 7 can win

Google with its latest tablet innovation Nexus 7 has pitched an unexpected product. Priced just at $199 and $249 (8GB,16GB), falling in the same category as a Kindle Fire($199) and boasting specs unmatched by any other tablet in that price segment or even in higher price segments. It boasts a 7″ 1280×800 HD display, along with a Tegra 3 chipset with a Quad-Core CPU and a 12 core GPU, front facing camera 1.2MP, Wi-Fi bluetooth, NFC, gyroscope, accelerometer battery packing up to 9hours of video playback and 300hours of standby time and weighing just 340gms. With this amazing feature rich high end tablet priced at a mass market level Google has another chance, though this time by its new partner ASUS and not by Samsung – the biggest hardware partner of Google whose efforts in tablet segment haven’t had much of an impact. Google with its Android has already cast its imprint in the world of smartphones with its apps based eco-system falling second in position to Apple’s. With this tablet as its centre stage to showcase its content from Google Play in the tablet market, Google now has the ability to capture a significant share in the tablet market just like it has in the smartphone market.

Strengths – Low Competitive Pricing, CPU and GPU powerhouse, Google Play Store, Wide presence in smartphone market. 

nexus-7-surface-ipad


All of the above tablets offered by the respective manufacturers have their own unique way of delivering the desired user experience through their own well established eco-system. Whether these new products will be able to expand their respective company’s eco-system or will their eco-system sustain them in this iPad dominated tablet market, is to be seen.

Filed Under: Consumer Technology Tagged With: apple, google, microsoft, Mobility Market, nexus, Tegra

The Best Trailers Of E3 2012

June 11, 2012 by Raj Agrawal 1 Comment

E3 2012 was a mixed bag. While it failed to provide a substantial number of new game announcements (which is always the case), it did give us plenty of awesome game trailers. Game developers are getting better at enhancing the cinematic aspect of their games, and it is evident from some of the trailers which have been showcased. So lets take a look at the best trailers on offer at this year’s E3, in no particular order.

Assassins Creed 3

This game already has me hyped, but the trailer took it to another level. Past AC games have concentrated on the battle versus the templars, but the third installment in the series adds liberation, freedom, independence, and other war related themes to the mix to make the scale even more epic. The scenes where our protagonist charges forward as his countrymen are retreating gives you that adrenaline rush, and when his war comrades get inspired by his acts, the feeling (similar to the one in Braveheart and 300) is chilling to the bone. Assassins Creed 2 was my favorite Assassins Creed game, and if AC3 turns out to be as good, i’ll be disappointed. I expect much more from it, and it looks like it might deliver.


Beyond: Two Souls

The Last of Us is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games of year. The talented team at Naughty Dog studios plan to take the survival genre to the next level, and we can’t wait to have a go at it. But that wasn’t all Sony had to offer this year. Quantic Dreams, creators of the critically acclaimed Heavy Rain, give us Beyond: Two Souls, another epic story which might set the adventure genre on fire. With facial animations that even put L.A. Noire to shame, this game has blown everyone away at E3, and will definitely compete with The Last of Us for the title of the most anticipated game of the year.


Watch Dogs

This game was revealed as a shock surprise at this years E3, and already has everyone’s hype meter going bonkers. Think of one computer that can control an entire city, and one man that has the power to control this computer. Sounds like an awesome disaster in the making, and we cannot wait to play as the man who can control it all. With graphics to rival the best out there, Ubisoft seem to have another winner on their hand.


Far Cry 3

Insanity. Many whack movies try to personify it. Many of those movies, like Ichi the killer, have personified it successfully. But i haven’t come across a single game that has managed to successfully integrate it into its story, the only notable exception being, well, nothing! As such, Far Cry 3 looks like it might change everything. Instead of focusing solely on gunplay, this time around Ubisoft is trying to up the ante and really deliver madness served on a Dvd. And if the game is as good as the trailer, then Vaas might be edged in our memories forever as the first truly insane videogame villian.


Tomb Raider

We thought Lara Croft was done for. A perfect example of overusing a brand, the tomb raider games were really beginning to suck. Enter Crystal Dynamics, and we have at least two tomb raider games in recent times that we can happily tag as being actually good. Now they’re coming up with another game, and this time, it’s where it all began. The new Tomb Raider already has everybody in awe, and the new E3 trailer, named crossroads, takes my anticipation to almost strenuous levels. Whether it will deliver or not is a thing for the future. But one thing is for sure, it is a treat for the eyes.

Filed Under: Gameology Tagged With: far cry, Tegra, watch dogs

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