Evidence of an Android tablet commissioned by Google, Nexus-style, continues to mount – if you’re not particularly picky about how you get your evidence. The latest comes from a series of domain registrations traced back to Google, all of which include the term “Google Play” or some derivation thereof. The scuttlebutt is that this indicates Google’s first-party tablet, currently expected to be a low-cost 7-inch Kindle Fire fighter, could come to market under this name.
Keep in mind there’s no direct evidence of a link behind the registrations and any hardware – aside from rumor and speculation from the likes of hardware providers and pundits, the only real indication that we’ve got is Eric Schmidt’s off-the-cuff remark about Google producing “a tablet of the highest quality” sometime this year. Not that it doesn’t make sense: Google’s used either a new or existing device to show off every new incarnation of Android thus far, and with Ice Cream Sandwich playing double duty as both a smartphone and tablet OS, the Galaxy Nexus seems like only half of the equation.
Here’s the full list of registered websites. Looks a lot like the marketing for a Kindle or Nook, no? Then again, it could just be a media-centric extension of Google Plus.
appsonplay.com
booksonplay.com
gamesonplay.com
googleplayapps.com
googleplaybooks.com
googleplaydownloads.com
googleplaygames.com
googleplaymagazines.com
googleplaymovies.com
googleplaymusic.com
googleplaynewspapers.com
googleplaynewsstand.com
googleplaytv.com
googleplayvideos.com
magazinesonplay.com
moviesonplay.com
newspapersonplay.com
tvonplay.com
Component suppliers have been more vocal than anyone about the erstwhile “Google Play”, saying that it’ll pack a 7-inch 720p screen. Production could start as early as next month for a summer debut. Pricing is up in the air, but many are guessing that Google intends to hit the sweet spot of $199, where the bulk of Android tablets are sold – currently running heavily modified versions of Gingerbread. If Google intends to set the standard for tablets as it has for high-end smartphones, consumers like us would surely be grateful. There’s been a rash of tablets like the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and the Toshiba Excite that look good on paper with the notable exception of a price tag.
[via SlashGear]
If Google can hit $199, Android tablets would explode in the market.
http://techthoughts17.blogspot.in/
Google Play is not a tablet.
As many decent tablets are in the market, there are more crappy tablets floating around. If Google is trying to hit that price tag of $199, it better not be a crappy tablet. I think the real sweet spot is higher for a “good spec’ed” tablet. I’d rather pay $250 or $300 for a tablet that is state of the art in processing RAM/ROM and screen.
Google play doesn’t make sense for a tablet, but a google service. I’m thinking that Google is going to try and replace the game console with either a GTV or a tablet/phone or all newer devices. Why not? You just need a wired/wireless controller and hdmi out on your device and you are in biz. I would buy it.
LOL looks like you were way offf! Its the new Android Market
Lol, who would have known it would be the new Market?? xD