Android fans, behold: Within my hands sits the long-fabled successor to Google's Nexus 7 tablet -- oh yes, the one and just Nexus 9.
The Nexus 9 is noteworthy with regard to a few reasons. 1st, from the Google Nexus gadget, meaning it's designed along with close input from Google's own Android team within order to showcase the most current (and completely unmodified) Google android software. Second -- and on a related note -- it's one of the particular first devices to operate the particular brand spankin' new Google android 5. 0 Lollipop launch. And third, it's the particular first Nexus device plus the first tablet produced by HTC in the looong time.
The Nexus 9 is on presale now from Google plus a couple of retailers with regard to $399 ($479 if a person want a 32GB design instead of the baseline 16GB). It can likely to start shipping plus appearing in stores upon November 3rd.
I'll become living with the Nexus 9 for a whilst and will possess a complete real-world review to share with a person soon. For now, listed below are the first things that will jump out at me personally as I begin to make use of the device and the particular final Lollipop software which on it:
[SEE ALSO: Hands on: Knowing Google's new Nexus 6]
1. The size
The Nexus 9 actually is an in-betweener kind of tablet. The Nexus 7 looks like an infant next to it, whilst the oft-forgotten Nexus ten looks like a slightly larger (and somewhat less refined) older brother.
At 1st use, the Nexus nine strikes me as becoming more suited to two-handed make use of, both in portrait plus landscape orientations; you actually cannot hold it comfortably within a single hand with regard to long like you may with the Nexus seven. The benefit, of program, is that you get far a lot more screen space, which will certainly undoubtedly be nice with regard to things like document function and video-watching.
The Nexus 9 together with the Asus-made Nexus 7 -- yes, people, size matters
2. The appearance plus feel
The Nexus 9 may be created by HTC, but make simply no mistake about it: This looks and feels such as a Nexus device via and through. The pill follows the same common design aesthetic we've observed with the past few of Nexus products, having a squared-off shape and soft-touch plastic back panel -- featuring a textured darkish "Nexus" logo in the particular center and never much otherwise.
It's all very minimalist and understated -- definitely not the type associated with device that's going in order to grab a lot associated with attention for its look. And you understand what? Provided the Nexus line's current history and Google's continuing focus on content more than flashy hardware, that's most likely the point.
The gadget does step things up through past Nexus tablets along with the addition of the black-colored "brushed metal" framework. It's a subtle contact, for sure, but one which makes the tablet really feel a little more high-end and advanced. The Nexus 9 offers dual front-facing stereo loudspeakers, too, complete with HTC's BoomSound audio setup. These people aren't as prominent because what you see upon HTC's own One (M8) phone -- really little slits that almost vanish into the design -- but at first pay attention, they sound pretty much good.
3. An entire new Google android
We've been talking regarding Lollipop for such a long time, yet let me tell a person: Powering up a brand new tablet with it in position really does feel such as you're experiencing a brand name new operating system. 1 that's familiar, for certain, but also one which fresh and modern, along with nary an area that will hasn't been retouched.
A person notice the updated appear from the moment a person turn the tablet upon, thanks to the brand new and improved initial set up that sports Google's brilliant Material Design motif plus makes it easier than ever in order to sign in and transfer your stuff from an additional device.
That effect bears through the entire OS; whilst past visual evolutions in order to Android always seemed in order to happen in stages, along with bits and pieces showing up in different updates, this particular one seems sweeping plus complete. It really will be an entire new Android.
We are going to not only talking a fundamental coat of paint right here, either: All of the changes include the particular introduction of slick brand new transitions and animations almost all throughout the system that will, even with just the particular first few minutes associated with exploration, help to provide an extra level associated with polish towards the experience. Style makes a huge difference within what a device will be like to utilize, and 5 minutes with Lollipop upon the Nexus 9 can make that abundantly clear.
Style aside, of course, presently there are some pretty fascinating new features in Lollipop as well as some substantial security enhancements. We'll obtain into all of that soon.
Items be taking a a lot closer look at Lollipop as well as the Nexus 9 (not to say that, ahem, some other Nexus device) over the particular coming days. Stay fine-tined for much more protection and in-depth reviews associated with both the hardware plus the Android 5. 0 software.
Believe you me personally, gang: We're just obtaining started.
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