[Google I/O 12] Google revealed Nexus 7 tablet with 7-inch Quad-core and JellyBean 4.1

Just as Google's developer conference was getting started, details of the company's rumored Nexus 7 tablet emerged. As previously reported, it is a 7-inch tablet powered by a Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor that will run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and come in 8GB ($199) and 16GB versions ($249).

The display is true HD 1280x800, so a bit better than 720p and there's a front-facing 1.2-megapixel camera and microphone for video chatting, though there's no rear-facing camera. It also has a micro USB port, GPS, near-field communication and both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. There's no mention of an SD card slot for expanding the memory, however.

Not surprisingly, it was built by Asus, the manufacturer that had already made the most headway with quad-core gamer-friendly Android tablets.

Clearly, at a starting price of $199, the Nexus 7 is positioned to compete with the similarly 7-inch Kindle Fire, rather than taking on the 9.7-inch iPad (and the 10.6-inch Surface tablet from Microsoft). And because, with all of those tablets, content seems to be the biggest incentive, Google is playing up the Play store, even granting early buyers $25 in Google Play credit and "some great free content" including "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." Even if you don't think any of the "Transformers" films is truly "great," it is nice to see Google aggressively pushing content, even adding TV shows and magazines to their lineup. Tablet buyers need a reason to buy a tablet.