The Telegraph reports that Google is set to launch its own Nexus tablet in California today. According to the report, the 7-inch Google-branded Nexus will cost $199, and, says the Telegraph, shows that Google is admitting that it has failed to dent the iPad’s popularity, and the same goes for Microsoft with its Surface tablet, with the Telegraph saying that both companies have decided that the only way that they can even attempt to compete with Apple’s dominance is to try and have successful tablets of their own. They want people to see and use their tablet operating systems, so they have resorted to making their own devices in order to show them off, as they know that the other tablets that have been using them (or will be using them, in the case of Windows 8, which isn’t out yet) haven’t been able to come close to the sort of user stats that Apple has for its iOS with the iPad.

Update: The Nexus 7 has been confirmed by Google, The Next Web reports that it will be a 7-inch device running Android 4.1, with a Tegra 3 quad-core chip. The Next Web says that it is more likely to be in competition with the Kindle Fire than the iPad.

Source: Google tablet: an admission of failure against the Apple iPad - Telegraph

Google Announces Nexus 7 tablet, 7″, quad-core, Android 4.1, $199 available today - The Next Web

Have to hand it to google on this one. They have made a real Android tablet that should be reachable in price for most anyone looking to enter the tablet world. I would imagine this will destroy the Kindle Fire since it is running full Android. I will be interested to see how Apple reacts in possibly releasing the iPad mini. Also, glad we saw a firm price and spec list, hint hint microsoft. Maybe since the Nexus 7 will not be a direct competitor with the iPad and Surface we will finally see some real specs from Microsoft.