Google Introduces Nexus 7 Tablet, Starting at $199 for 8GB (Updated)

Google I/O kicked off with a keynote address Wednesday morning in San Francisco, and following the introduction of Android 4.1 "Jellybean" and Google Play updates, the search giant announced its own branded tablet, the Nexus 7.

Google took a bold leap into hardware manufacturing on Wednesday morning with the Nexus 7, the search giant's own stab at a seven-inch Android tablet which promises to go head-to-head with Apple's iPad.

Built in conjunction with Asus, the Nexus 7 features a 1280x800 HD IPS display with a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera, 1GB RAM and 4325mAh battery. The seven-inch tablet is powered by a Tegra 3 processor running Android 4.1 "Jellybean," Google's latest operating system update revealed at the I/O keynote.

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC all come standard with the Nexus 7, which is capable of playing back nine hours of HD video and 300 hours in standby. Google Play is at the front and center of the Nexus 7, with all of your cloud-based content synced to a user's Google account.

Available in an 8GB model for a Kindle Fire-busting price of $199 or a 16GB model for only $249, Nexus 7 fans can also order a $19.99 cover for the device -- although the device is only available for residents in the U.S., U.K. and Canada at this time.

We managed to order an 8GB model for $199 before the keynote even started, although the tablet will arrive in mid-July. Purchases made from the Play Store include a $25 credit for content from Google Play as well as a free movie (Transformers: Dark of the Moon) and a selection of free magazine titles.

Android 4.1 "Jellybean" includes a number of notable features including better home screen arrangement, the new "Project Butter" for improving frame rates and improved search, which now includes Google Now for using a device's search history, calendar and other apps to help find information. Android 4.1 will be available as an over-the-air update on Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S smartphones as well as the Motorola Xoom tablet in mid-July.

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