Following the launch of the Nexus 7 earlier this summer and its overwhelmingly positive reception among users, Google could once again revolutionize the sector by releasing a tablet version for just €100. This is according to several US media outlets, which suggest that the arrival of the Kindle Fire HD has presented a slight obstacle to Google's plans, forcing them to reinvent themselves to avoid losing any market share to Amazon.
It could almost be said that the Nexus 7 marked a turning point in the tablet sector. Since the arrival of Google's device, we can expect almost anything from the various brands entering the competition to attract users. After the Nexus 7 came the Kindle Fire HD , and the latest to join the fray is the Nook HD , unveiled just yesterday. While it's not entirely clear whether sales of these devices are inherently unprofitable, what seems certain is that the competition is driving up the price-to-performance ratio and propelling tablets toward becoming a mass-market device.
Now we can expect a new twist from Google, as Digitimes has reported that two new versions of the Nexus 7, with a slightly thinner design, are in the works for December 2012. One would maintain the current price of €199, while the other would launch for just €99 . This extreme strategy from Google represents a clear offensive against the Kindle Fire HD (which, for the same price, slightly improves upon some features of the Nexus 7) and especially against the iPad Mini , Apple's compact tablet that will be unveiled next month, barring any further changes to plans.
On the other hand, it seems Asus has denied the rumor , which, curiously, has only fueled suspicions instead of calming them. Android Authority , for example , is questioning what prompted the Taiwanese brand to jump so quickly to deny the information. To some extent, this argument makes sense, since rumors come and go with absolute frequency, and the companies involved rarely bother to confirm or deny them; it's part of the game that allows them to maintain media presence . Nevertheless, it's difficult to understand how Google would manage to offer such a cheap device without sacrificing too many features. We'll have to wait until the end of the year to see how it all plays out.