14 DAY TRIAL // We've been hoping for a long time that the mythical Nexus 9 tablet will appear, and if we’re to give credit to the rumor mill, our wait is probably almost over.
The latest information claims that the HTC Nexus 9 shall finally be unveiled on October 15, which is a few hours from now. But, should we hope this turns out to be the case?
The Nexus 9 was expected to come out ever since Google’s I/O this summer, but the scenario proved to be a false one.
Since Android L is being prepped for a major roll-out, it’s only natural that Google would want to synchronize the arrival of the tablet with the launch of its latest OS. As a matter of fact, Android L is expected to make a debut on November 1. But should Google have waited?
Apple is holding a tablet event in the wake of Google's
Most likely. After launching the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Apple is not disregarding its iPad sector. The Cupertino tech giant has confirmed it is holding a lunch event on October 16, which is just a day after Google has supposedly unveiled the Nexus 9.
Cupertino is expected to launch a number of products but the main focus will be iPad Air 2. The tablet will come to refresh the original 9.7-inch Apple put out last year.
The new arrival should take advantage of a new A8 processor, M8 motion coprocessor and TouchID for fingerprint recognition. This means Apple Pay will be a viable option for the iPad Air 2.
Other details are yet to be revealed like what iOS we’re going to see on top of the tablet, but Apple might still have a few tricks up its sleeve while its new breath of air is concerned.
Should Google have chosen another date? Probably
So should Google feel threatened? It certainly should, even if the Nexus 9 is expected to be quite a tablet itself.
Numbers coming from IDC show Apple still rules supreme on the tablet market, even if its shares dropped from above 60% in the June quarter of 2012 to 26.9% this year.
Anyway, the tablet's back already appeared in a leaked photograph, showing a plasticky Nexus 5-reminiscent look which didn't get a lot of folks excited.
In the computing department, the 9-incher will boast 2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution and should arrive with an NVIDIA Tegra K1 64-bit processor on the inside (codenamed Denver). We’re also expecting the tablet to be the first of its kind to come out with the new Android L.
In theory, the tablet should prove a worthy competitor for the iPad Air 2, but with a debut fated to be overshadowed, the prognosis might be a gloomy one.
How about you? Would you choose the HTC Nexus 9 or Apple iPad Air 2?