Not only did Google release Android 5.0 Lollipop, the latest version of the Android mobile operating system, the tech giant also unveiled three new Nexus products: the highly-anticipated Nexus 6 smartphone, the Nexus 9 tablet, and the Nexus Player media streaming device.
The Nexus 6 smartphone is made by Motorola and co-developed by Google. One of the things that makes the Nexus 6 unique is that it is the first smartphone to run on Android 5.0 Lollipop. And of course, it is difficult to ignore the device's aluminum frame and especially its 6-inch display screen, which comes with Quad HD 2560 by 1440 resolution, making it the biggest high-profile smartphone in recent memory (Apple's iPhone 6 Plus measures 5.5 inches while Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 has a 5.7-inch screen).
The phablet also features a 13-megapixel rear camera that has built-in optical image stabilization (OIS). It packs a Snapdragon 805 quad-core 2.7 GigaHertz processor and a 3,220 mAh battery. Other features include twin front stereo speakers, and a Turbo Charger that provides six hours of battery use with just 15 minutes of charging time.
As for the Nexus 9, this tablet is manufactured by Taiwanese phone maker HTC. The device has an 8.9-inch in-plane switching (IPS) LCD display screen that is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. Although the Nexus 9 has a metal edge, its rear side has a soft-touch quality, which might remind users of the Nexus 7 (built by Asus).
With regards to its hardware specifications, the Nexus 9 has a 64-bit Tegra K1 processor and a Kepler DX1 graphics processing unit (GPU). The tablet comes with 2 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM), and those who want to purchase the device can choose between 16-gigabyte and 32-gigabyte versions. Google has also announced that LTE- and Wi-Fi-compatible versions of the Nexus 9 will be available.
Coming in at 0.31 inches in thickness and 15 oz in weight, the Nexus 9 is more light than Apple's iPad Air. Just like the HTC One, the tablet features twin stereo speakers on the front.
Priced at $399.00, the Nexus 9 will be available for purchase beginning October 17th of this year. Along with the tablet, Google is also offering a keyboard case, which is sort of a cross between a Surface Type keyboard and an iPad Smart Cover.
Apart from unveiling a large smartphone and a tablet, Google also officially introduced the Nexus Player, which the tech giant is positioning as the first of many Android TVs (successors to the Google TV). But unlike Google TV, the Nexus Player does not come with any keyboard. Instead, it has a remote that is voice-activated and a visual graphical user interface. And because the content is synced with other Android devices, users can start viewing media on the Nexus Player and then finish on their Android smartphones or tablets. Also, the Nexus Player can work with Google Cast, which means it has the capabilities of the Chromecast dongle.
The Nexus is slated to hit stores also on October 17th for $99.00. An optional game controller will also be offered by Google to go with this Android TV.
