We’ve heard rumblings of Google bringing a $99 version of its incredibly popular Nexus 7 tablet to market. A while back, we reported that Google and ASUS were working together to make this tablet a reality. A new report from Digitimes claims that Google is, in fact, working on a $99 Nexus 7, but ASUS is not part of the equation this time.
According to the rumor, Google is working with Taiwan-based Quanta Computer to bring this tablet to market, possibly by the end of this year. ASUS is the company behind the original Nexus 7 tablet lines, including the rumored 32GB model that could be announced very soon. It seems odd that Google would break away from the original manufacturer of its tablet, but if ASUS did not feel they could create a device to meet that low price, Google may have had to turn elsewhere.
All that is known as far as specs on this new tablet is that it will feature a single-core ARM processor developed by China-based WonderMedia Technologies. It will also feature a HUVA TN panel made by Taiwan-based HannStar Display. According to the report, ASUS has made it very clear that they have nothing to do with this tablet, if it exists at all.
Quanta Computer declined to comment on the existence of this tablet, which neither proves or disproves its existence, but is interesting none-the-less. Only time will tell if Google is actually going to make this happen, but if they do, it could be a big deal for the tablet market. We will keep you posted as more develops on this story.
[via Digitimes]
There’s another $99 tablet that launched this week and is actually good – The Novo 7 Legend – and it’s a dual core – in the US it’s available at a site called TabletSprint – definately worth checking out — good company – Ainol Electronics makes it and they received “runner up” status at CNET/ CES 2012 for “Best Tablet of the Year” — Ainol also has two new Hi-Res 10 Inch tablets coming out soon, a Dual Core for $209 and a Quad Core with a 1920×1200 Liquid Crystal display (like Apple’s Retina screen) for around $275 –WOW- the only site that seems to offer them right now in the US is TabletSprint —