A couple of years ago, if you’d have asked me what ‘The Nexus’ was, I’d have said it was that weird space-time rift thing that swallowed Captain Kirk in ‘Star Trek: Generations’. Further, if you had asked me what I thought about Google’s involvement in the whole thing, I’d have assumed you were on drugs and searching the ‘conspiracy nutters’ section of Youtube again.
I know Google do some pretty cutting edge stuff, but space time rifts that swallow starship Captains whole? It would have been on the news.
I would not, however, even for even a nanosecond, assume that Google, the world’s favourite search engine, would eventually start to manufacture smart phones and then tablet PCs. It just wouldn’t have occurred to me at all. But that’s exactly what has happened...
The truth is that, love ‘em or hate ‘em, mean, miserly old Microsoft have dominated computer design for so long, that nobody ever expected the mad flowering of innovation that occurred (first in mobile phones and then in portable computers), in the first decade of the 21st century. Microsoft had created the tablet PC, (an update of Alan Kay’s famous ‘Dynabook’ concept), back in 2001, but it failed fairly spectacularly and, as Microsoft licked its wounds, Apple re-designed the concept and unleashed the iPad on the world. The iPad was a huge hit and like the first sparks of life in the Pre-Cambrian oceans, brought about all manner of variations and unlikely success stories.
The vacuum left by Microsoft, whose shadow looms so large over the main computer industry as to completely dominate any/all competition, allowed numerous companies to invest in computers, many of them for the first time. Amazon.com, formerly an online book depository, had released the Kindle eReader back in 2007, but 2011’s ‘Kindle Fire’ came Internet ready and app-enabled, just like any other tablet PC. Blackberry, Motorola and more companies than I can name off of the top of my head came pouring out over the next few years and new operating systems (chief amongst them, Android) flourished.
The mighty Microsoft even adapted their latest Windows model to work on ARM processors, the kind you find in tablet PCs, instead of the tried and true Intel models, that’s how much of a game changer tablet PCs are.
So, the Google Nexus 7 (also known as the Asus Nexus 7) is the culmination of a long and winding tale, one that is showing no signs of ending anytime soon. Although a far more detailed version can be found elsewhere online, my concise Asus Nexus 7 review is that it is a class act, if a little pricey. The Asus involvement is a smart one on the part of Google, rather than rush in like they know everything, Google have let Android (a subsidiary of Google) handle the OS, while Asus have handled the hardware and Google themselves have managed the Internet functionality. Its a curious, yet powerfully effective modern synergy that will no doubt be the central feature of any other Asus Nexus 7 review you may happen to read.
Tablet PCs are still a long way away from replacing desktops, but, with tablets, smart phones and the growing number of augmented reality (AR) products out there, the future sure looks exciting. Or, in the words of the aforementioned Kirk “it sounds like fun”.
The Best Policy? The Tabtech M009s – An Honest Review
My partner is amazing. You might be sitting there thinking that your girlfriend/boyfriend is someone really special (and I’m sure they are) but mine is that extra 32 flavours of wonderful.
Lighting The Touchpaper...The Kindle Fire Spreads Like...Um, A Popular eBook Reader?
By now you will have noticed that there are a great many Kindle Fire reviews online. You will probably also have noticed that the vast majority of these Kindle Fire reviews are positive, although there are, (as always), one or two negative points raised. You’ll have walked past the billboards, accidentally clicked on the adverts, or else seen Amazon’s new baby featured on the telly. Perhaps you’re even thinking of buying one and want to know a little bit more? Well, in any case, I hope this piece will help.
