Google Android phones have been available since late 2007, but the company launched the first so-called “Google phone” by working with HTC on the Google Nexus One which launched last year. This year the Google Nexus S hit the streets through a partnership with Google And Samsung. The Nexus phones are basically state-of-the-art devices that run the latest versions of the Google Android operating system and showcase Google’s vision of what Android can do. They’re also great for developers that want to write apps for Android with the latest updates from Google and without all the other software that handset makers and wireless carriers like to throw into the mix.
Now there’s a rumor going around that Google is working on its first Nexus-branded tablet. According to Mobile Review, Google is working with LG on a Google Nexus Tablet which will run Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb. It could launch this summer or early this fall.
The device would be a reference design, and Google would likely ensure that the tablet would get software updates earlier than third party tablets, since the company wouldn’t need to wait for Motorola, HTC, Samsung, or any other company to implement the updates.
That’s about all we know about the rumored tablet for now… and it’s possible that this really is nothing more than a rumor. But as generally happy Google Nexus One smartphone owner, I kind of like the idea of a new tablet that will likewise be first in line for software updates.
Huh. I thought the Motorola Xoom was supposed to be the Honeycomb “reference” design, what with its unlocked bootloader and all.