1. Why so many more recent Android devices contain the term
"Nexus" in the product name?
After using CES as a platform to debut the stunning Transformer All-in-One PC and several
other top shelf products, ASUS has quietly launched a 7? tablet that may just out-Nexus 7
the Nexus 7, at least with respect to its budget price tag. As ASUS fans may be aware, the
company was responsible for engineering the Nexus 7, Google‘s flagship 7? tablet. As a
Nexus 7 owner, I have no doubt that ASUS can capably build a quality tablet at a budget
price. The MeMO Pad clocks in at $149 but makes a few sacrifices in the name of
affordability.
The Nexus 7 review hasn't stopped it, As Barron’s reported, Helstein said the continued
popularity of the iPad directly impacts Google’s costs. “Industry reports suggest that the
majority of mobile shopping was done on iOS devices (77% according to IBM Digital
Analytics), suggesting that GOOG’s TAC increased in 4Q, as eCommerce drives paid search
traffic. Increasing 4QE and ’13E TAC by 29 bps and 33 bps,” said Helfstein. The analyst
estimates Google sold 3.4 million Nexus 7 tablets in Q4 at an average price of $136. The
Nexus 7 16GB model sells for $199 at the Google Play store, though it was listed as sold out
today. A 32GB model ($249) is listed as in stock. Helfstein has a “Perform” rating on Google
shares, and a $715 price target. The stock closed Wednesday trading at $723.
The Google Nexus 10 has a dual-core ARM processor made by Samsung called an Exynos
5 Dual. It is based on the ARM Cortex-A15 architecture, but the Apple iPad 2 has a dual-core
ARM processor made by Samsung called an Apple A5 based on the ARM Cortex-A9
architecture. Google does not cite the clock speed of the processor in the Google Nexus 10
while Apple does not either. Good graphics performance is essential to maintain a slick
interface. The Apple iPad 2 has a PowerVR SGX543MP2 but the Google Nexus 10 has a
Mali-T604. In the Google Nexus 10 there is 2GB of memory and 16GB of flash storage. For
the iPad 2 Apple does not specify memory although in this writer’s review we noted it has
512MB. When the Apple iPad 2 launched it was available in 16GB and 32GB capacities but

2. is now only available as a 16GB model.
This one's a given - Apple release a new iPad every year - and in fact last year they released
two! Three if you count the iPad mini. Despite the iPad 4 only just having launched, the wait
for a new iPad might not be long, as it's rumoured that the iPad 5 might even appear early in
the year and display a slimmer, lighter form factor, more in line with the iPad mini. The iPad 4
merely got a spec boost, expect a new form factor on the iPad 5 Apple isn't likely to forget
about the iPad's little brother either and it's a pretty safe bet that we'll see the next iPad mini
launched in 2013. In fact, the first one might have only just been released but there are
already rumours about the iPad mini 2.
A Sunday evening after the world stage that is CES seems a baffling time to announce the
MeMO Pad, but if you know anyone looking for a sub-$200 tablet, this may be an option
worth exploring. In this writer’s opinion, however, he $50 step up to the Google Nexus 7 and
its quad-core Tegra 3 is worth the expenditure. The MeMO Pad will be available beginning
this month in “selected markets from authorized ASUS resellers.”
Both Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 are available in 16- and 32GB capacities, with no memory-card
slot for storage expansion. However, Google actively pushes the practice of using the cloud
for storage and streaming, with services including Google Play Movies & TV, Google Books,
Google Music, Google Magazines and more. You can also invest in a Wi-Fi-enabled hard
drive for additional storage, or take advantage of the many cloud-storage apps available in
Google Play - or anywhere else on the web, for that matter, since Android isn't locked-down
in the same way as rival mobile operating systems. We wouldn't imagine either tablet being
the ideal device on which to take digital photos, but you would look marginally less stupid
holding up the 7in Nexus 7 than the 10in Nexus 10 to capture snaps. Unfortunately, the
Nexus 7 doesn't have a rear-facing camera, so you'll have to make do with the Nexus 10 and
its 5Mp model. This is combined with an LED flash, and can take good-quality images; there
are also some tweakable settings within the camera app, such as exposure and white
balance, and you can go to town afterward. A Photo Sphere mode, new to Jelly Bean 4.2,
lets you capture 360-degree panoramas. More useful, perhaps, is the front-facing camera,
which can be used with video-chat services such as Skype, or simply to check your hair and
make-up is in place. In this regard the Nexus 10 packs a 1.9Mp snapper, which is capable of
720p video; the Nexus 7 has a lower-resolution 1.2Mp webcam, also suitable for 720p video.