Some of the largest players in the game are all holding scheduled press events over the course of the next seven days in an attempt to get their products and services noticed by the tech hungry public. Apple will be taking to the stage first on October 23rd to introduce us to the new miniature iPad, followed closely by Microsoft on October 25th to refresh our memories on Windows 8 and the Surface tablet. To end the month, Google will be holding their own Android event in New York that looks likely to bring some very interesting announcements, on the same day, Microsoft is holding a Windows Phone 8 launch event too.
The Nexus 7 has been fairly successful for Google and their manufacturing partners, with Android lovers and tablet aficionados loving the premium experience that the product provides with the budget price-tag which Google has slapped on it. The 8GB and 16GB variants have been in the marketplace since the original launch in June of this year, and although Google has obviously been trying to keep it under wraps, it looks like the 32GB Nexus 7 tablet will be available to purchase sooner rather than later.
Although there are only a couple of Nexus devices currently on the market from Google, that all looks set to change in the next couple of weeks or so. The rumor mill has been overloaded with speculation regarding several unspecified Nexus smartphones and tablets, including what's being labeled as the Nexus 10.
Google's Chromebook hasn’t proved to be quite popular amongst the general consumer since first being announced at last year's I/O, and the Mountain View-based outfit has just announced a new addition to the roster. Sundar Pinchai, Senior VP of Chrome and Apps, has revealed the $249 kit for release next week, while special kiosks will begin popping up over 500 of the most heavily-populated Best Buy stores across the US to give prospective consumers a taster of what's on offer.
We were expecting this announcement to pop up at some point this month, and just like clockwork, Google has sent out invites for an Android event which is going to be held in New York on October 29th.
I'm not sure whether it's down to the fast-moving nature of technology, or our insatiable requirement as tech enthusiasts to be presented as something new, but whenever a new product - hardware or software - hits the market, it seems no sooner do we become acquainted with our new bit of kit than we look ahead to what's coming up next. Thus, with Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 having begun trickling out to the Samsung-manufactured Galaxy Nexus among others, it's only fair we turn our attentions to the upcoming dose of Android - 4.2 - right?
Quite a few months ago, we learned Google could be plotting to release a bunch of Nexus branded devices this fall (as many as five), and the way rumors and speculation have been flying around with regards to a number of would-be Nexus OEMs, that forecast is looking more and more on the money. Sony is the latest company to join the rumor mill, and its supposed "Nexus X" device has now allegedly been spotted in the wild.
Users of iOS 6 will be more than aware by now that Google's powerful Maps app is no longer part of Apple's plans, with the latest iteration of the company's mobile operating system shipping with their own mapping solution in place of it. It doesn't really matter what your personal opinions are on the subject and whether you love or hate the Apple’s very own Maps app, the fact remains that competition always breeds innovation and having an official Google Maps app on the App Store can only be a good thing for iOS users.
It may not have been on the radar that much in the last few weeks due to everything that has been going on with both companies, but the differences that exist between Apple and Samsung relating to various infringements on held patents is still well and truly going on. Although, Apple has largely had the upper-hand in the dispute, a United States Court of Appeals has overturned the preliminary injunction that had earlier been placed on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus smartphone.
One of the biggest advantages of buying a Nexus smartphone / tablet is direct support from Google so you can get major updates for Android faster than other Android devices on the market. While the Motorola Photon 4G with its dual core processor and 1GB of RAM from mid 2011 isn’t even going to be updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, even the 18+ month old underpowered Nexus S recently received the update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
