14 DAY TRIAL // The Google Nexus 8 tablet has been in the rumor mill for some time now. And the latest information we had seemed to pin-point the tablet would arrive with a screen larger than originally expected, an 8.9-inch one to be more exact.
Now recent information coming from Asian sources reported by DigiTimes report Google has partnered up with HTC for the manufacturing of the next-gen tablet.
HTC has been said before to be working with Google on this particular endeavor and this new report seems to cement the theory that the search giant won’t be using ASUS’ services, like in the past.
Since Google is thinking of adopting a new design for the Nexus 8, the company has considered optimal to switch partners after working with ASUS for the first generations of Nexus 7 tablets.
Google has been courting HTC for the first-generation Nexus 7, but the Taiwanese company was focused mostly on pushing its smartphones business and was not interested in entering the tablet domain.
Things have apparently changed, as HTC has recognized the need to penetrate the slate market as well. The Nexus 8 is expected to make an appearance on the market in Q3 2014.
Anyway, Google isn't so aggressive in its tablet strategy anymore and sources familiar with the matter claim the tech giant has already succeeded in bringing its line of Nexus tablets into the spotlight with previous generations.
That’s the reason some market watchers believe the Nexus 8 might be the last tablet Google ends up releasing.
Earlier reports claimed the Nexus 8 tablet would be priced with a pretty high price-tag that would revolve around the $299 / €214 margin.
Rumors about the Nexus 8 being a high-end tablet endeavor coming with a 2K display have been circling for some time now, so most likely that’s what we’re going to see when the slate arrives this summer.
Since the previous Nexus 7 tablets were launched onto the market in summer, soon after the Google I/O conference, the Nexus 8 might be following the same routine. However, Asian sources claim something different, saying the search giant is more likely to pull the veil off the new slate during its next I/O event scheduled in June.
But that’s not all. Word on the street has it the Nexus 8 might arrive with the latest Android 4.5 OS onboard. Or at least Google is going to present the new version of the OS at the same event with the Nexus 8.