Editorial: Amazon and Google are undermining mobile pricing, and that may hurt everyone (updated)

Google Nexus 10 and Nexus 7

See the end of the editorial for an important update.

When Google unveiled the Nexus 4, Nexus 10 and a refreshed Nexus 7 in October, the moment was arguably the crescendo of a change in the Android ecosystem that had been building ever since Amazon's Kindle Fire first braved the marketplace in 2011. Along with a widely expanded Amazon lineup that includes multiple Kindle Fire HD models and a price-cut tweak to the original Fire, two of the largest players in the mobile world now have top-to-bottom device businesses built around selling at break-even prices and recouping their money through content. That might sound good on the surface, but it's a bad omen for competitors that genuinely can't respond in kind -- and it could erode some of the values of diversity and innovation that we're supposed to hold dear as technology fans.

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Editorial: Amazon and Google are undermining mobile pricing, and that may hurt everyone (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Late 2012 iPad carries new PowerVR SGX 554MP4 graphics, muscles ahead in video speed

iPad 4thgeneration found carrying new PowerVR SGX 554MP4 graphics, muscles ahead of all comers

It's well established that the A6X chip in the fourth-generation iPad is about twice as fast as its predecessor in pure number crunching, but how about those reportedly doubled graphics amid some increasingly fierce competition? Thanks to some help from Kishonti, AnandTech has learned that Apple may still have an ace up its sleeve. The new tablet carries a new, quad-core PowerVR SGX554MP4 with twice the raw potential as the already quick 543MP4 graphics in the A5X. While that doesn't always lead to a literal doubling of 3D performance, it unambiguously puts the new new iPad on top in GLBenchmark, with even the imminent Nexus 10's new Mali-T604 video left in the middle of a large pack. We're somewhat surprised when the Samsung-made Nexus is using a brand new chip architecture that many had thought would represent a fundamental leap in speed. Visuals aren't the only factors in buying tablets, so take the results with the appropriate grains of salt; if gaming or sheer responsiveness matters most, however, there's now a clear frontrunner.

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Late 2012 iPad carries new PowerVR SGX 554MP4 graphics, muscles ahead in video speed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexus 10 review

DNP Nexus 10 review

When Google unleashed the Nexus 7 upon us earlier this summer we were caught completely off-guard. A $200 tablet that was legitimately good in every regard? It was unheard of at the time, and even five months later it's still a really nice slate. Now it has a big brother, the Nexus 10, this time coming courtesy of Samsung. At $399 it arrives with less fanfare and a higher price, but it also comes with a very distinctive selling point: a stratospherically high resolution.

This 10.1-inch panel has an eye-watering 2,560 x 1,600 resolution -- the very same as the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display but in a much smaller package. Is Google's second reference tablet the ultimate Android 10-incher at a bargain price, or is it simply another big tablet with a lot of pixels? Your answer awaits after the break.

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Nexus 10 review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Nexus 10 hands-on (video)

Nexus 10 handson

The Samsung-made Nexus 10 just landed in our hands, and we had a little time to take it for a spin. It's no secret that this particular tablet is ready for some serious hand-to-hand combat against the iPad, possessing a rather stunning set of components and solid build quality. First, let's go over the laundry list of specs. The Nexus 10 has a dual-core 1.7GHz dual-core Exynos 5250 under the hood -- these are Cortex-A15 processors -- as well as a Mali T604 GPU and 2GB RAM. There's little doubt in our minds that this is more than sufficient to please power users, especially now that we've had some time to see how incredibly speedy everything is. We were even more impressed than we had anticipated, as the tablet features some of the most detailed and smoothest graphics we've seen.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that the Nexus 10 offers a 2,560 x 1,600 display, which equates to just over 300ppi. For comparison, the new iPad packs a 2,048 x 1,536 panel for a pixel density of 264. Numbers are just numbers, of course, but the "True RGB Real Stripe PLS" screen is definitely one of the nicest we've gazed upon. Pixelation was nearly non-existent, viewing angles were great and colors were amazingly vibrant. It's also supported with Gorilla Glass 2.

There's plenty to say and see, so check out our gallery below and head past the break for a video and more impressions.

Continue reading Google Nexus 10 hands-on (video)

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Google Nexus 10 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexus 10 vs. the competition: fight!

Nexus 10 vs the competition fight!

Google undoubtedly upset the tablet market almost overnight with the Nexus 10: that record-setting 2,560 x 1,600 resolution, Exynos 5 Dual, Android 4.2 and all-important $399 starting price just tilted price-performance balance in a different direction than we'd seen even a week ago. But how does it stack up against its competition? We've included full details of the devices in a chart after the break; initial appearances suggest that pure performance hounds may like the Nexus 10 the most, although it doesn't have the most diverse options for cellular data or storage. We'll know the real tale of the tape once the Nexus 10 reaches our hands.

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Nexus 10 vs. the competition: fight! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google’s refreshed Nexus 7 on sale now, Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 sign-up pages go live

Google's refreshed Nexus 7 on sale now, Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 signup pages go live

Remember the 8GB Nexus 7? So long, old friend. The 16GB Nexus 7 has now taken center stage in Google's Play Store, with $199 netting you a slate that's currently boasting a "now shipping" status. Those willing to fork out $249 can get a 32GB model (also listed as "In Stock"), while $299 provides access to a GSM-enabled 32GB model that'll hop onto cellular networks -- unfortunately, that one's listed as "coming soon." Those hoping to keep themselves informed about the incoming Nexus 4 smartphone and Nexus 10 tablet can visit the source link in order to register for email updates, with shipments expected to begin in many nations on November 13th.

Continue reading Google's refreshed Nexus 7 on sale now, Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 sign-up pages go live

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Google's refreshed Nexus 7 on sale now, Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 sign-up pages go live originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google’s Nexus 10: 2,560 x 1,600, 300 ppi display and Android 4.2, shipping November 13th $399

Google announces Nexus 10 tablet with 2,560 x 1,500, 300 ppi display and Android 42, shipping November 13th for $399

Weather? What weather? Google has announced the Nexus 10, a Samsung-made 10.05-inch tablet that appears to share a lot of DNA with the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. Android chief Andy Rubin revealed that the device will be packing a 2,560 x 1,600 display, promising a pixel density of 300 ppi. Google has also indicated that the Nexus 10 will crank out nine hours of continuous video playback and 500 hours of standby on its 9,000mAh lithium polymer battery. Of course, no new tablet would be complete without a new operating system, and while we'll still be calling it Jelly Bean, it's now been bumped all the way up to Android 4.2.

The official specifications match those that were leaked late last week, and inside the device is a dual-core, Cortex A15-based 1.7 GHz Samsung Exynos 5250 CPU. In addition, there's a Mali T604 GPU, stereo speakers, 2GB of RAM, NFC, 802.11 b/g/n (MIMO + HT40) WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, with front-and rear NFC (Android beam) radios. 'Round back you'll find a 5-megapixel main camera and a 1.9-megapixel forward-facing shooter. Weighing 603 grams, it's 8.9mm thick and offers microUSB, Pogo Pin, microHDMI and the standard 3.5mm headphone jack. It'll be available from November 13th on Google Play in the US, UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan -- with the 16GB edition costing $399 (£319 in the UK) and the 32GB version setting you back $499 (£389).

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Google's Nexus 10: 2,560 x 1,600, 300 ppi display and Android 4.2, shipping November 13th $399 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google postpones October 29th event over Hurricane Sandy worries

Google scrubs October 29th event over Hurricane Sandy worries

We hope you weren't basing your calendar around Google's big Android event on October 29th. The company has confirmed to us that it's postponing the event to an as yet undetermined point in the future due to Hurricane Sandy, whose East coast arrival will follow so closely before the New York City gaterhing that Google isn't willing to take the chance on its big day. If you're experiencing a sense of déja vu, you're not alone -- Google delayed last year's event revealing the Galaxy Nexus out of respect for the late Steve Jobs. While it's not what we'd call an auspicious start to Google's holiday launches, we can at least hope for an abundance of riches when the company is ready once again. The full statement waits below.

"We are canceling our Monday morning event in New York due to Hurricane Sandy. We will let you know our plans as soon as we know more."

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Google postpones October 29th event over Hurricane Sandy worries originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 13:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Nexus 10 leaks: Android 4.2, 1.7GHz Exynos 5250, 2,560 x 1,600 resolution (update: video)

Google Nexus 10 leaks Android 42, Exynos 5250 17GHz, 2,560 x 1,600 resolution

Unless we're looking at one of the most elaborately photographed fakes in the world, this is the Nexus 10. With the Nexus 7 apparently going over quite well at just $199, it was only ever a matter of time before the Nexus family expanded to house a 10-incher. With Google's own Vic Gundotra posting images from a unit that he's using at some exotic locale, it seems that another unit has slipped beneath the camera at BriefMobile. The site has managed to apprehend one of the 10.1-inch slates, and in turn has discovered quite the bounty of information.

Internally, there's (reportedly) a dual-core, Cortex-A15-based 1.7GHz Samsung Exynos 5250, a Mali-T604 GPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (though no microSD expansion slot), a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, NFC / WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 and a Super AMOLED panel with a drool-worthy 2,560 x 1,600 screen resolution -- yeah, that's well into "Retina" territory at 298.9 pixels per inch. You may recognize that Exynos 5250 from Google's recently released $249 Chromebook, but here, it's being used to push Android 4.2. Those hungry for more can visit the source link, but don't go in hoping to extract an asking price.

Update: Well, if the pictures weren't enough, BriefMobile has just popped a five-second long video of the device, which you can glance at after the break. Don't get too excited, however, as it's merely just someone going from the home screen into Chrome.

Continue reading Google Nexus 10 leaks: Android 4.2, 1.7GHz Exynos 5250, 2,560 x 1,600 resolution (update: video)

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Google Nexus 10 leaks: Android 4.2, 1.7GHz Exynos 5250, 2,560 x 1,600 resolution (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vic Gundotra posts Nexus 10 photos to Google +

Vic Gundotra posts Nexus 10 photos to Google

If anyone is going to get their hands on new Nexus hardware first, it's going to be Google top-brass. So when photos from Senior Vice President of Engineering, Vic Gundotra, show up on his Google + with "Nexus 10" in the details, we pay attention. The pictures show some idyllic scenes from the beach, but what we're all interested in is the EXIF data. So, 2,046 by 1,536 you say? That's 3-megapixel by our calculations, which may not be the true original resolution of the image of course. With a big Google event just around the corner, though, we imagine we won't have to wait long to find out more.

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Vic Gundotra posts Nexus 10 photos to Google + originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 08:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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