Google Inc. on Monday unveiled a large-format tablet computer to compete against the original iPad as part of a revamped line of its Nexus devices, and touted a new music service for Europe.
Google said on its blog that its Nexus 10, a rival to the market-leading iPad, will be "the highest-resolution tablet on the planet" and will offer settings for multiple user accounts.
The Nexus 10 appears to be the firm's entry into the 10-inch-screen tablet market pioneered by Apple Inc. (IW 500/9), which last week unveiled a smaller 7-inch iPad mini to be sold alongside its 10-inch original iPad.
Mountain View, Calif.-based Google also said it will be selling its Nexus 7, which has a 7-inch screen, with mobile access for GSM networks worldwide.
And Google unveiled its Nexus 4, a smartphone with a 4.7-inch screen manufactured with South Korea's LG Display Co. (IW 1000/199).
"A Nexus device is much more than simply a phone or tablet. It's your connection to the best of Google -- all of your stuff and entertainment, everywhere you go with no hassle," Andy Rubin, Google senior vice president, mobile and digital content, wrote in a blog post.
"Now you have three new Nexus devices, a new improved version of [Android operating system] Jelly Bean and more entertainment than ever before -- all available in Google Play. The playground is open."
Google said the music offerings on Google Play, the firm's online store, will be launched in Europe on Nov. 13, with a new feature to allow music in a customer's online collection to be automatically uploaded to the cloud. It will be offered in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
"We'll scan your music collection and any song we match against the Google Play catalog will be automatically added to your online library without needing to upload it, saving you time," Google said.
"This will be available in Europe at launch on Nov. 13 and is coming to the U.S. soon after. This will all be for free -- free storage of your music, free matching, free syncing across your devices and free listening."
Google had scheduled a news conference in New York for the announcement but canceled the event due to Hurricane Sandy.
The entry-level Nexus 10 will be sold at $399, or about $100 less than the least-expensive iPad, starting Nov. 13 in the United States, Britain, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan.
Nexus 7, which was launched earlier this year, is available in the same countries, and the version with mobile data will go on sale Nov. 13 in those countries except for Japan.
Nexus 4 will be offered in the United States through T-Mobile and unlocked in Britain, Australia, France, Germany, Spain and Canada.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012
