First unofficial CM10 build for Nexus 7 already available, seems to be working great

 

Google’s fresh new Nexus 7 Tablet comes with the latest (and some say greatest) Android version out of the box, but that hasn’t stopped independent devs having their way with the new gadget’s software. While I’m sure most regular users are more than content with Nexus 7’s Jelly Bean official build, I’ll bet there are people amongst you who are dying to try out something different too.

What better alternative than a CyanogenMod 10 port, slightly modified and supposedly working like a charm? Before getting overly excited, you should know that everybody’s favorite independent dev team hasn’t yet released an official CM 10 build for the Nexus 7 and the software package we are going to talk about in the following is an unofficial one, coming from a more obscure developer.

Winner00 is the “author” of the [AOSP][4.1.1]CM10Kang port for the Nexus 7 and, while its name might not say much to most of you, he is a senior member over at the XDA-Developers forum and has quite the expertise in dealing with such custom ROMs.
That said, we have to tell you that the CM10 software package has been very well received by XDA-Developers members, and, according to user comments, everything seems to be working smoothly. What’s great at Winner00’s port, especially considering the early release, is that it actually comes with a few notable improvements and tweaks over Nexus 7’s stock Jelly Bean version.

 

You’ll surely notice the addition of a customizable lock screen, a couple of new options for the power widget, support for USB OTG, and most importantly, the inclusion of an AOSP browser. In fact, most users are claiming it’s much faster than the default Google Chrome. Some people are also claiming that the UI interaction is smoother than stock Jelly Bean, while battery life seems to be superior as well.

Despite those software enhancements that I’m sure make this port a tempting one for any Nexus 7 adopter, we have to advise you to take precautionary methods before flashing the ROM. Its creator himself admits to have put some “experimental stuff” in it, so do make a backup of your system in case anything goes wrong. Remember that rooting your device and installing any custom ROMs on it will most likely void your warranty, so think long and hard before making that decision.
Has anyone flashed the CM10 port? Are you planning to do it? Is it worth risking your warranty for a couple of UI tweaks?

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Google Nexus 7 video tutorial series continues with “Make Yourself at Home” – how to customize the home screen

After showing Nexus 7 buyers how to perform the initial tablet setup in a short video yesterday, Google released a new mini video tutorial that unseasoned Android users should check out.
Just like last time, we’re looking at a 75-second clip that deals with creating home screens, adding widgets and apps to those home screens and organizing apps into folders according to your needs – in short, you’ll learn how to customize the tablet’s home screen.
It’s all very simple and straightforward, especially if you have owned an Android device or a mobile device before the Nexus 7. In case the Nexus 7 is the first smart device, then these videos should come in handy, although I suspect you’re going to soon learn all there is to know about the tablet, if you haven’t done so already.

We expect Google to release more Nexus 7 videos but those of you that want more advanced tips and tricks for the Nexus 7 should follow our in-depth coverage of the Jelly Bean tablet here at Android Authority.

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Google Nexus 7 sold out after “incredible demand” – where to buy the Jelly Bean tablet from?

The Google Nexus 7 Jelly Bean tablet has been officially announced at this year’s Google I/O edition, with Google taking pre-orders on the same day it unveiled the device in late June. By mid-July, the company partnered up with various electronics retailers that have also started taking pre-orders for the device.
The Nexus 7 started shipping last Friday, with customers not happy to see some of those retailers beat Google when it came to shipping pre-orders. Since then, we reported that various companies finished their first Nexus 7 allotments on the first days of sales, but the device continued to be available from Google’s own Google Play store.
In the mean time, it looks like the tablet is sold out with major retailers, according to ZDNet. Not to mention that after performing a quick check on Google Play you’ll see that the 8GB version ships in 3-5 days while the 16GB model will reach your home in 3-4 weeks.
So where should you buy a Nexus 7 tablet now? Well, you can always order from Google, but if you’d like to buy it in a physical store, here’s what you need to know regarding Nexus 7 availability from major retailers:

• GameStop – 16GB Nexus 7 is backordered. The company waits for a third allotment of pre-orders to ship in August.
• B&H – online orders accepted, but the store only has limited Nexus 7 stock.
• Office Depot – 8GB version listed as “coming soon” while the 16GB model is “out of stock.”
• Staples – 16GB version available in stores only.
• Kmart – selling only the 16GB version, which is currently “out of stock.”
• MobileCity – takes pre-orders for the 16GB version, but does not provide shipping dates.
• Sam’s Club – does not take pre-orders: “this item is out of stock for delivery.”
• Curry PC World Store – Nexus 7 is sold out at this UK retailer.

As you can see, the device is pretty much sold out with everyone, although you’re surely going to find a device from eBay and/or Craigslist if you need one right now. Google notes:

We’ve had incredible demand for our new Nexus 7 tablet and are shipping them as quickly as possible. When your device ships you will receive a notification from Google Play with a shipping tracking number.

However, the company does not translate that “incredible demand” in actual numbers and we’re certainly interested to know how many Nexus tablets the company sold. The Search giant is expected to sell 2-3 million Nexus 7 units this year, and we’re yet to hear whether the device will ship in other markets in addition to the original four: USA, Canada, Australia and UK.
Did you buy your Nexus 7 tablet yet?

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Nexus 7, a wolf in sheep’s clothing for other Android tablet makers?

The Google Nexus 7 is right now one of the most popular 7-inch tablets out there, and considering it’s a Nexus-branded device ready to offer buyers a pure Android experience, it will probably become one of the best sold tablets of the year.
Google is yet to mention sales numbers for the device that started shipping last week and which is currently sold out with certain third-party retailers, but Digitimes reports that according to “industry sources” the Search giant may ship as many as 2.5-3 million units this year.
That may not seem like an impressive number, as the tablet is only available in a limited number of markets right now, but will Google hurt its partners when it comes to overall tablet sales and profits? The Nexus 7 doesn’t, and can’t, target the iPad – Apple is expected to sell tens of millions of iPads each quarter – but instead it’s meant to compete against the Kindle Fire, a product Google can’t afford to ignore.
Amazon’s tablet became popular with the crowds because it’s an affordable device, ready to offer a good enough experience for that price, not to mention access to the company’s digital content stores.
Google has adopted the same model, selling the device at cost, hoping to prevent users from jumping ship to Amazon and have them immersed in an improved Google Play environment instead. But while Google can sell the Nexus 7 without making any profits because users would then spend more money in its digital stores, other Android makers won’t be able to enjoy the same perks.

 

And they won’t be able to come up with similarly priced devices ready to offer a similar experience. Google did say that’s plenty of room left for innovation in the tablet environment, implying that its product will not hurt tablet sales from its Android partners, but the fact is that each Nexus 7 buyer is a customer that may have chosen an Android tablet from a different OEM. At the same time, that customer may have chosen the iPad too, so having him or her purchase a Nexus 7 instead is a better alternative for Google.
But, and I’ll say this again, Apple may sell as many as 30 million iPads by the end of the year (that’s a guesstimate from my part), that’s not counting what it has already sold in the first two quarters. And Apple did not cut the price of its tablets once the Nexus 7 launched. And Apple also has its digital stores in place that can be accessed almost in full in more markets that Google Play is available in, which means Apple too can make plenty of money off of its digital offerings.
Meanwhile, other Android device makers will have to suck it up, and fight even harder for a piece of the (Android) tablet ecosystem. The same Digitimes reports that various OEMs including Samsung, Asus and Acer, have started to cut the prices of their tablet offerings in order to better adapt to the new competition from Google’s tablet:

Samsung, which enjoys a high level of brand recognition, cut slightly the prices of its tablets in order to cope with increasing competition and to pave the way for the launch of its own new models.
But for Acer and Asustek Computer, they seem to have adopted the same strategy of lowering the prices of their 10.1-inch models to the levels close to those quoted for 7-inch models by Google or other rivals in order to attract consumers.

So is the Nexus 7 a wolf in sheep’s clothing for the Android tablet ecosystem? We’ll be able to better asses that in the following months when we’ll find out more details about tablet sales from the most important players in the business.

Finally, there’s also one more negative effect of the Nexus 7 that we can’t overlook – the iPad mini. Apple was rumored since last year to be working on a 7.85-inch iOS tablet, but the company didn’t make it public. Then the Kindle Fire appeared and the Google Nexus 7 rolled out seven months later revealing that there’s a certain share of the population that’s interested in purchasing cheaper tablets – but not the very cheapest, as there are various cheap Android tablets from unrecognized brands that don’t enjoy the popularity of the Kindle Fire or Nexus 7. And that could be a good enough reason for Apple to launch its smaller iPad this fall/winter. Android tablet makers will then have to fight against the smaller tablet as well.
What tablet are you buying this year?

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Nexus 7 unboxing – how many people does it take to unbox Google’s Jelly Bean tablet? [video]

The Nexus 7 is available officially in certain markets – USA, Canada, Australia and UK – with Google and third-party retailers already shipping the device to customers that pre-ordered the device. In fact, the tablet is sold out with some of Google’s partners that already went through their initial Nexus 7 stock.
The tablet is definitely the talk of the town – we have dedicated plenty of coverage to the Nexus 7 ourselves – and the web is filled with Nexus 7-related reviews, opinions, videos and unboxings.
Today we’re looking at a hilarious montage made by a Nexus 7 fan that watched various unboxing videos from certain tech blogs, news publications and TV networks and merged them into a single unboxing video. All those videos he used have one thing in common: the box that houses the Nexus 7 is very difficult to open, and the person in charge of unboxing the device can’t take it out of the box that easily. And those people are fairly used to unboxing all sorts of gadgets for their readers.
It looks like Google made sure the Nexus 7 is stored safely inside its box and that it can’t come out of it unexpectedly. In case you thought you were the only person that had difficulty opening this particular box, especially after all the waiting for it to be shipped, then it’s probably good news to hear you were not the only one. And it’s not you that’s the “problem” it’s the box!



Have you received your Nexus 7 unit yet?

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