Rumour: Google Nexus tablet delayed until July

The launch date of Google’s first Android tablet to be sold directly online could be delayed until July rather than May in an effort to reduce its cost.

No official source has yet spoken about the rumours circulating around Google’s Android tactile tablet which is supposedly being designed to counter Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet.

The site The Verge has reported though that its launch has been pushed from May to July so that a few modifications can be made to reduce its price. While rumours continue to turn about a device being released for 199 dollars, or even less, the model designed by their partner Asus with a 7" display and Nvidia Tegra 3 processor (or not) is currently positioned at 249 dollars.


No Android Jelly Bean
The site talks about a Wi-Fi only tablet which runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and not the future version of Android - Jelly Bean. The tablet will be designed with Android 4.0 as an adaptation for the future version of the OS could lead to a big blow out in availability.

If they can’t counter the Kindle Fire, Google could always hope to impose themselves against the never ending rumour about a 7.85" iPad Mini which has once again been confirmed as a prototype product under development in Apple’s laboratories, but which is still not a commercial product.

Asus is looking at double branding this tablet even though it will likely be sold direct online by Google who wants to use the same sales model as the Nexus One while correcting the mistakes made with previously distributions.

Without Jelly Bean, there is a risk that certain elements which could be used to differentiate the system from other products may be missing, even with Google’s direct support. This is especially since the attractive price that Google wants to put on the device means that the technical options available to it are limited.