When the Nexus 7 launched with a combination of low price and decent specs, it was just what Google needed to give Android tablets a good name. When the Nexus 10 launched with one of the best displays in the industry and stock Jelly Bean, it made a good follow up to the Nexus 7, but sales so far haven’t done the same. 

Industry analyst Benedict Evans has done some snooping around the Google Play store and came to the conclusion that only 680,000 Nexus 10s are out in customers’ hands. When compared with the almost 7 million Nexus 7s reportedly sold, that number is disappointing. When you consider that Microsoft has pushed more Surface devices than that, the number becomes even worse.

What we’re curious to know, is what Google could have done to push Nexus 10 sales? Why is it that the N10 isn’t selling as well as the Nexus 7 or other tablets?

Via: BGR

Microsoft Surface Estimated to Be Selling Better Than the Nexus 10 is a post from: Droid Life

Yesterday Microsoft unveiled their new tablet, Surface. A reimagination of the original Surface concept, Microsoft’s new tablet combines Windows 8 with a slew of ideas borrowed from multiple devices. Does Microsoft’s latest foray into the hardware space threaten Apple, Google, or Amazon?

While Microsoft hasn’t announced important details about Surface like battery life or pricing, it’s safe to say that the hardware alone is intriguing. While Surface doesn’t look like an iPad (it’s made with magnesium instead of aluminum), its keyboard cover and built in kickstand position it in both the consumer and professional space. In fact, the color options for the keyboard covers look eerily similar to Apple’s Smart Covers. Make no mistake about it – Microsoft wants to go head to head against the iPad because they know that the iPad is slowly eating computer sales left and right.

Microsoft has a key advantage over the iPad, however, in that Windows can do things that the iPad can’t. Microsoft’s success may ride not only on battery life and price, but on emphasizing those differentiating features against the iPad. If Microsoft wants to win in the tablet space, they need to take sales away from Apple, not Amazon or Google.

That leaves Amazon and Google to compete for the low end. It’s no secret that Android tablets haven’t sold well. The only marginally successful tablet compared to the iPad has been the Kindle Fire, which is free of Google services.

Based on the rumors, Google is done trying to challenge the iPad head to head and I don’t blame them. It takes a lot to challenge an incumbent in a space and Google wasn’t able to deliver. If the rumors are to be believed, Google thinks its best bet is to steal the bottom end of the market from Amazon and leave Apple the pricier side of the market.

From Google’s standpoint that makes sense. Google doesn’t make money selling hardware; Google makes money selling ads. The best way to sell ads is to get a device with Google services in front of as many people as possible. Apple, on the other hand, makes money selling hardware. If Microsoft is gunning after the iPad, that leaves space for Google to dominate the rest of the market with a cheap, powerful tablet that offers a better experience than the Fire.

At Google IO I’m expecting Google to blow the Fire away and ignore the iPad and Surface. Google needs to get their ecosystem in place before they can really challenge the iPad; taking down the Fire won’t take much. Taking down the Fire puts Google in control of Android tablets again and warns other OEMs against forking Android. If Google can control their OS and get developers to make killer Android apps, Google can go for the iPad and Surface.

Microsoft is making huge bets on the company with Windows 8 and by competing with its OEMs. Meanwhile, Google is in the process of befriending OEMs with the new Nexus program and playing the long game against Apple. Surface looks like really compelling hardware, but without pricing and killer Metro apps it will fail in the market. Microsoft has zero credibility in the tablet space. They don’t want to risk fighting for third space in tablets like they are phones.

Google has the money and the resources to play the long game with Apple. Google has a much better relationship with consumers in mobile thanks to Android. If Google can harness that relationship from Android in conjunction with Google services and hardware, they may have a shot at killing the Fire first and the iPad later.

Microsoft Surface Isn’t a Threat to Google [Opinion] is a post from: Droid Life

Yesterday afternoon or early evening (depending on where you are located), Microsoft unveiled their next big thing to the tech world, a tablet called Surface. I know, I know what you are thinking, “Just what we need, another damn tablet.” This one doesn’t look all that bad though. It comes in a couple of versions – RT and Pro. They have 10.6″ HD displays, full USB ports (2.0 on the RT, 3.0 on the Pro), run versions of Windows 8, are incredibly thin (9.3mm and 13.5mm), have a variety of storage sizes (32GB, 64GB, and 128GB), vapor protected finishes and built-in kickstands.

Along with the hardware, they have a really exciting set of accessories as well. See that picture above? It’s like a Smartcover for an iPad, only it has a touch sensitive keyboard built into it which includes a multi-touch touchpad.

We aren’t sure how much these suckers will cost, but Microsoft mentioned netbooks and low-end computers at some point in their presentation last night, so you can imagine they’ll be competitive. Overall, I’d say I came away impressed. Whether or not that means I’ll buy one is something else altogether.

What about you? Have any thoughts on Microsoft’s latest and greatest? 

Promo:

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Live Event:

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Microsoft Surface Unveiled Last Night, Have Any Thoughts on It? is a post from: Droid Life