Google has introduced a new lineup of Nexus devices powered by its latest Android 5.0 Lollipop version, which are expected to hit the market next month.
Google, the world's largest internet search company, announced a new smartphone, a tablet and a new streaming media player alongside the revamped Android software Lollipop. The launch event on Wednesday is one of the biggest in Google's history for it brings new mobile software and an entirely refreshed device lineup. While the Nexus smartphone and tablet were expected launches, Google upped the ante by introducing its first Android TV-based Nexus Player.
Google's take on the smartphone front is a supersized Nexus 6 with a 6-inch quad HD display. Wrapped in an aluminum frame, the new smartphone packs a 13-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization and HDR+. The Nexus 6 smartphone built by Motorola sports dual front-facing speakers along with a turbo charger to power its 3,220mAh battery. The high-end Nexus smartphone will be available in white or blue colors with either 32GB or 64GB storage options.
Besides the Nexus 6 smartphone, the widely rumored HTC-built Nexus 9 tablet was also unveiled on Wednesday. The new tablet sports latest features with an 8.9-inch display. It is powered by NVIDIA's Tegra K1 64-bit dual-core processor and has dual front-facing speakers. The cameras carry 8 megapixels on the rear and 1.6 megapixels on the front side of the tablet.
The Nexus 9 tablet is paired with a magnetically attached keyboard that enables seamless typing at various angles. The accessory is sold separately. The big-screen in the Nexus 9 takes full advantage of the features in Android Lollipop, such as multi-tasking. The tablet draws its power from a large 6,700mAh battery.
The two new Nexus devices will hit the stores next month. The tablet will be available for pre-orders starting Oct. 17 and available in stores, Nov. 3. Nexus 6 smartphone has no specific launch date but the sales will commence next month, Google's senior VP Sundar Pichai said in the company's official Android blog post. The unlocked version of the Nexus 6 can be ordered from Play Store for $649 while contract and installment payments can be availed via major carriers including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular, Bloomberg reported. The suggested price of the Nexus 9 tablet is $399 and the keyboard accessory will separately cost $129.
The internet search titan took the wraps off a unique streaming media player for movies, videos and music. The Nexus Player, as it is called, runs Android TV and supports Android gaming on big TV screens. It automatically syncs data for a unified experience across various devices to pick games and other content from where they were left off. The Google Cast Ready device enables streaming from Chromebook, Android or iOS smartphone and tablet to TV.
The Nexus Player will be available for pre-orders starting Oct. 17. The streaming media player will retail for $99 when available.
