Google unveils a pair of Google-branded product additions at a low-key media event-- the 2nd generation of Nexus 7 tablet and the Chromecast, a solution to pushing online content from mobile devices to TVs.
The Asus-made Nexus 7 features the highest resolution display in a 7-inch device yet (1280x1920 at 323ppi) with a 30% wider colour gamut and 1080p video rendering, as well as stereo speakers and Fraunhofer virtual surround sound.
Inside the slimmer and lighter (by 2mm and 50g) black casing are a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 pro processor, a battery promising up to 9 hours of HD video playback and the latest Android version, Jelly Bean 4.3.
More noticeable OS additions are multiple user support (with restricted profiles), Bluetooth LE connectivity and a Google Play Games app.
Perhaps more interesting is the Chromecast, an low-cost ($35) HDMI dongle allowing users to push online content, such as YouTube videos and Netflix movies, from mobile devices to TVs. Running on a stripped down version of ChromeOS, it supports HTML5 video, audio and Flash (no local, Quicktime or Siverlight file support as yet).
In other words, so long a video runs in a Chrome browser window and is not in Quicktime the Chromecast will play it on an HDTV. The device is also cross-platform, being compatible with Android, Windows and iOS devices.
Both 2nd generation Nexus 7 and Chromecast will be available from end July 2013, at least in the US.
Go From TVs to Tablets: Everything You Love Across All Screens
