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Google turns focus to 8-inch tablet market

The sources pointed out that Google's Nexus 8 reportedly may adopt Intel's Bay Trail-T platform

Seeing its second-generation Nexus 7 demand has been impacted by competitors' low-price 7-inch tablets, Google is planning to turn its focus to the 8-inch model market in mid-2014, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

Because most 7-inch Android tablets have already seen their price drop below NT$5,000 (US$166), the second-generation Nexus 7, which is priced starting at US$229, is seeing that its demand is weaker than expected, especially compared to the first-generation model's six million unit shipments, the sources noted.

The sources pointed out that Google's Nexus 8 reportedly may adopt Intel's Bay Trail-T platform, but Qualcomm is still striving for related orders. As for Google's R&D partner for the new Nexus 8, Asustek Computer is currently having the best chance.

Because Asustek has already established a close relationship with Google and has advantages in product design and component purchasing, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Lenovo are unlikely to be able to take the orders away easily. More Nexus 8 details are expected to be revealed after February, the sources added.

http://digitimes.com/news/a20140120PD216.html