Tag: Nexus 9

Nexus 9 vs iPad Mini 3: Which One Got it Right?

Apple has finally unveiled the new generation iPads and iMacs. The company had earlier “accidentally” released some information about the new generation products from its stable. Seems like Apple has put some real challenge for Nexus. Both the iPad Mini 3 and the Nexus 9 are priced close to Rs. 24,000 ($400).

Now that we have the knowledge of the juicy bits of these devices that make them tick, we’d like to take them for a spec comparison.

Specs	Nexus 9	iPad Mini Retina
Display	8.9-inch QXGA	7.9?inch Retina display
Processor	2.3GHz, 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual Denver	A7 Chip
RAM	2 GB	1 GB
Storage	16/32GB	16/64/128 GB
Expandable Upto	–	–
Main Camera	8 MP	5 MP
Front Camera	1.6 MP	1.2 MP
Battery	6700 mAh	–
Operating System	Android 5.0	iOS 8.0.1

Overall, on the spec sheet, it looks like the Nexus 9 is beating Apple’s latest offering quite easily; Google and HTC together have formed a good device. Apple’s Handoff features though will be truly appreciated by the fans, and thus the device will find many takers. The features can still be up for debate, and we’ll get you the full story once these devices are available.

October 17, 2014

Tablet Spec Battle: Nexus 9 vs Galaxy Tab S vs iPad Mini vs Z3 Tablet

Tablets have in recent past gone from an aspirational device to a second fiddle to the desktop and smartphone. With more and more phones going big screen, it seems like the tablet market is being pushed back. But that hasn’t stopped the makers from introducing new generation tablets with evolved features. Tablets are also great portable multimedia devices, and the tablet market has become more interesting this year.

Google has unveiled its latest tablet offering, the Nexus 9, made in collaboration with HTC. The tablet flaunts some impressive features at a comparatively low price and is touted to give the other giants a run for their money. So we put it to test and see where the tablet stands out amongst the current players in the market.

Specs	Nexus 9	Galaxy Tab S	iPad Mini Retina	Z3 Tablet Compact
Display	8.9″ QXGA	8.4 inches WQXGA	7.9 inches	8.0 inches Full HD
Processor	2.3GHz, 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual Denver	2.3 GHz, Quad-core Snapdragon 800	1.3 GHz, Dual-core Apple A7	2.5 GHz, Quad-core Snapdragon 801
RAM	2 GB	3 GB RAM	1 GB	3 GB
Storage	16GB & 32GB	16/32 GB	16/32/64/128 GB	16 GB
Expandable Upto	–	128 GB	–	128 GB
Main Camera	8 MP	8 MP	5 MP	8.1 MP
Front Camera	1.6 MP	2.1 MP	1.2 MP	2.2 MP
Battery	6700 mAh	4900 mAh	6470 mAh	4500 mAh
Operating System	Android 5.0	Android 4.4.2	iOS 7, upgradable to iOS 8.0.2	Android 4.4.2

Nexus 9 surely flexes its muscle on paper as its specs are impressive. Though what really lacks is the absence of expandable storage. With a good display and a strong processor such as this one, expandable storage would have made it more appealing. Now that Apple is ready to launch the 3rd-gen iPad Mini tonight, we’ll get to see how Apple manages to take on Google’s native tablet. The game is still on.

October 16, 2014

Nexus 9 Goes Live, HTC Made, Steel Frame Tegra K1 Tablet

Google and HTC have finally announced the new Nexus 9 tablet. Just like the rumors, it is a 8.9 inch tablet with a Nvidia Tegra K1 chip on the inside. The Nexus 9 is superbly well made, which became evident with a few minutes of hands on time wis had with the device.

It features a stainless steel frame and robust finish, a beautiful example of HTC’s craftsmanship and also their welcome back into the tablet world. You get a 16 and 32 GB variant along with a LTE based 32 Gb variant, along with 2 GB RAM in all units.

The camera at the rear will not do 4K video because it is just an 8 MP snapper, but its a wide lens and a great module and clicks great pictures. The aperture is f 2.4 and the sensor is a BSI sensor.

For power you get a 6700 mAh battery that should last you through the day and then some. The Tegra K1 chipset has 2 x 2.4 GHz cores on 64 bit architecture. The front has a 8.9 inch display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 px giving it a 4:3 aspect ratio.

It weighs only 425 gm for the Wifi only and 436 for the LTE variant, keeping it light and extremely portable. The tablet is easily held with one hand and the back panel feels great as well.

October 15, 2014
Nexus 9 to Reportedly Feature Expandable Memory

According to Forbes, both the LTE as well as the Wi-Fi version of the Nexus 9 will have expandable storage. It is one feature that Nexus fans have repeatedly requested for and Google has not delivered in the past. It will also be the first device to run on Android L.

Forbes has revealed some of the key features of the HTC built Nexus 9, and it would be nice to see the Taiwanese manufacturer bring this feature in this widely popular device. Sources have revealed that the Nexus 9 sports an an 8.9-inch 2048×1440 display, weigh 480 gm, have a 64-bit dual-core processor, an Nvidia Kepler GPU and a 8MP rear-facing camera and 3MP front-facing camera. The 16GB version is said to cost $399 and the 32GB LTE version will retail for $499. Both devices will have expandable memory.

There are also reports of HTC’s trademark BOOM sound to be featured on Google’s next tablet including the dual front facing features, something we saw on the One M8 and Desire EYE. Along with that, there are also reports of an an origami magnetic stand case that will be available with the tablet, that can bend in any shape and fold in multiple directions.

Since the original HTC built Nexus One, no devices of the Nexus product range came with expandable storage, we’ll find out more of this long awaited feature today. So stay tuned for more updates of this highly anticipated device.

October 15, 2014
Nexus 9 to Launch Today, Will be the First Device to Run Android L

As we reported earlier, the Nexus 9, codenamed the HTC Volantis, will launch today and it will be the first device to run Android L. Apple in an another big event is expected to launch new gen iPad and iMac, however, taking the lead Google is expected to launch the new Nexus device quietly, via a blog post.

Unlike Apple, Google will apparently eschew a big press event and will instead announce the new platform and the new devices via an official blog post. The company is apparently still fine tuning Android L and it doesn’t want to have a major event for a platform that still needs some refining before its release.

According to several reports that surfaced last week, the Nexus 9 will be available for pre-order on 17th October and available to purchase on the 3rd November. Although there’s no information on when Android L will be available for other Android devices, and the pre-order and purchasing dates are subject to last minute changes. The 16GB version will cost $399 and the 32GB LTE version will retail for $499. Both devices will have expandable memory.

Various reports have also hinted that the new Nexus 9 tablet will have an 8.9-inch 2048×1440 display, weigh 480 grams, have a 64-bit dual-core processor, an Nvidia Kepler GPU and a 8MP rear-facing camera and 3MP front-facing camera. HTC and Google have also opted for a “brushed aluminum” frame, instead of an all metal design, to keep costs down.

It is also said that some popular HTC features will come with the new tablet including HTC’s boomsound and the dual front facing speakers, both of which featured on the One M8 and Desire EYE.

However, there is no word on when the Nexus 6 is going to release. According to the previous leaks, the device will feature a QHD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels (498 pixels per inch), a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, a 3,200mAh battery and Android L.

Today’s launch will put Google in direct competition with Apple as the iPhone 6 maker is widely expected to reveal its updated iPad on October 16th. Rumours have been circulating around that Apple’s event on Thursday will see the launch of a 9.7-inch ‘iPad Pro’ and possibly a refreshed version of the iPad Air. The larger tablet is likely to see the introduction of Touch ID and both will have the same A8 processor that powers the iPhone 6.

October 15, 2014
Google Reportedly Set to Unveil its New Nexus Tablet Tomorrow

This year’s Nexus offering from Google is expected to be the Nexus 9 which is said to be built by HTC. It seems like the new Nexus tablet could get an official launch before Apple releases its new iPad.

According to a report published in an online portal called Bright Side of News, Google’s Nexus 9 manufactured by HTC will launch on 15th October, just a day before Apple is slated to launch newer iPads. It was earlier said that the Android L update and the new Nexus devices could be released for the public on November 1st, but the new reports say otherwise.

The report also states that one can buy the Google/HTC Nexus 9 from 3 November, the day when Nexus 9 is expected to be up for purchase through physical retail stores. Also, the new report added that Nexus 9 will cost $399 and its the mod highly anticipated tablet of the year, apart from iPad.

It is also said that unlike previous versions of Nexus devices, the new HTC-made Nexus 9 will not be sold exclusively though Play Store and that it “should be widely available on November 3rd.” Also, that the pre-orders will begin the day the device will be announced, i.e October 15.

If the rumors are to be believed, the Nexus 9 will arrive with some amazing specifications. The tablet is reportedly packing an 8.9-inch screen with 4:3 aspect ratio, while being underpinned by Nvidia’s 64-bit Tegra K1 processor paired with 3 GB of RAM. The rumor also added that the device will come with an 8 MP primary camera with OIS and a 3 MP selfie camera.

October 14, 2014
Image of Google’s Upcoming HTC-Built Nexus 9 Tablet Leaked

After a slew of rumours regarding Google’s Nexus 9 tablet, we now have an image to see what we can expect from this new device built by HTC. Famous leakster @Upleaks, which has a track record for getting its hands on products ahead of launch dates, tweeted a picture of what appears to be the next generation Nexus tablet yesterday.

Leaked image of the new Nexus tablet, which the leakster referred as T1, features the same model number shown in earlier leaks in the past months. The new device is expected to launch this m0nth, however there is no credibility to this rumor.

T1 pic.twitter.com/yfxumLP1J7
— @upleaks (@upleaks) October 6, 2014

While it’s uncertain whether or not the product is legitimate, the photo is in line with earlier rumors about Nexus 9’s design and built. The device, which appears to be more square than other Android tablets we’ve seen, has the HTC logo at the bottom of the back casing.

It is said that Google is dropping the Nexus 8 which was expected to come after Asus built Nexus 7 in favour of Nexus 9, more likely because of its 9-inch screen. It is believed that the Nexus 9 could be the first device to get Google’s new mobile operating system Android L. Other features include a rear-camera with LED flash, a microUSB port and a possible NVIDIA Tegra K1 chip.

October 7, 2014
HTC to Return to Tablets With a New Nexus Device

Rumours about HTC-made Nexus tablet has been around since past few months. However, details about this new device were scarce until now. Recently, NVIDIA inadvertently leaked that the Taiwanese company is linking up with Google to launch the Nexus 9.

And now, Wall Street Journal has added more credibility to the report. According to the report, HTC engineers have been flying to the Googleplex in Mountain View in recent months to work on the project. The reports added that Google has choose HTC over more experienced tablet makers like Samsung to make its upcoming 9-inch Nexus tablet to avoid one single manufacturer gaining monopoly.

However, it is also pointed out that HTC has a bad tablet track-record and focuses almost exclusively on smartphones. The company have not come up with any tablet since 2011 when they launched Flyer tablet which failed miserably in the market.

Google and HTC both declined to comment on this matter, however, Google said, “Android is a vibrant ecosystem, and many of the industry players are doing very well. There’s room for many partners to do well and to innovate with Android.”

As for HTC, the Taiwanese company has been eager to gain a footing in new sectors as it loses ground in the smartphone market. The company’s executives have promised this year that they are working on fresh areas such as wearable devices. HTC had made Google’s first Nexus smartphone, the Nexus One, in 2010, but hasn’t made a device for the line since.

September 23, 2014