Google unveils Nexus 7 tablet

Google has unveiled the new Nexus 7 tablet this morning, at a special launch event labelled 'Breakfast with Sundar'.

The search giant's latest release is one they hope will directly challenge the dominance of Apple's market-leading iPad and Amazon's Kindle Fire.

As expected the 7-inch tablet, running on the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system, was officially announced in San Francisco by Sundar Pichai, a senior vice president at Google who oversees Android, Chrome and apps.

Available already for preorder at Best Buy, the device will be available at US$229.99 for a 16GB version and $269.99 for a 32GB.

Unsurprisingly the tablet boasts key features such as an HD screen with 1,920 x 1,200 resolution as well as front and rear cameras, but the unique selling point for Google is portability.

Designed 2mm thinner than the original, the company says the revamped device is relatively lighter with a more comfortable grip for users.

With a new battery life providing an extra hour of power, Google's new release is the first of what many believe will be a string of updates on both Chrome and Android, given Pichai's expertise in both.

At present though it's just the Nexus 7 tablet to admire, with updates set to come throughout the day as news develops from San Fran.

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