Google may tap HTC to build third-generation Nexus 8 tablet

[Shawn Knight]

Prospective Android tablet owners might want to hold on to their hard earned money a bit longer as another competitor looms on the horizon. According to a recent report from DigiTimes, Google has shunned Asus in favor of HTC for assistance in building an upcoming 8-inch Nexus tablet.

As the story goes, Google originally wanted to work with HTC to build the first generation Nexus 7 tablet but were turned away as HTC was busy with their own mobile marketing efforts. Things have since changed as HTC is no longer pushing self-branded tablets like it once was.

 

The publication also suggested that the third generation Nexus tablet could be the last from Google. The search giant has already accomplished its primary goal with the Nexus tablet line – boosting Android’s penetration in the market. As such, Nexus tablets no longer are a significant influence in the market and it may be time for Google to move on.

Sources in the upstream supply chain claim the tablet is slated (no pun intended) to debut sometime during the third quarter of this year although earlier reports suggested we may see the device make an appearance at Google’s annual I/O conference in June. DigiTimes didn’t provide any technical specifications or a target price point, unfortunately.

Of course, given the source of the story, you’d be wise to take the news with a healthy dose of salt.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/56475-google-may-tap-htc-to-build-third-generation-nexus-8-tablet.html

 

[HurpityDurp111]

I've never been a fan of HTC. My last phone was an HTC Inspire 4g. It was an epic pile of garbage. I genuinely hated every single aspect about that phone.

So unless HTC has improved much since the Inspire 4g, I see this as a bad move for Google. I'm all ears though. Can somebody tell me whether they believe this is a good move or bad move and why?

Thanks,
-Neil

 

[Jad Chaar]

Ugh not HTC! ASUS was on a roll with the Nexus 7. Too bad they havent updated the Nexus 10 yet.

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

I've never been a fan of HTC. My last phone was an HTC Inspire 4g. It was an epic pile of garbage. I genuinely hated every single aspect about that phone.

So unless HTC has improved much since the Inspire 4g, I see this as a bad move for Google. I'm all ears though. Can somebody tell me whether they believe this is a good move or bad move and why?

Thanks,
-Neil

Why HTC? Their HTC One was voted phone of the year last year at the mobile world congress and the M8 this year also has gotten better reviews than any other Android phone available. The camera app that comes on HTC phones that makes the highlight videos for you is enough to sell the phone by itself if you're someone who takes pics/videos together of events and wants to remember then in one short clip. I'm not surprised at all HTC would be picked. They're also trying their best to improve their brand (they just hired the marketing guy who branded the Galaxy line) and building a good tablet is a way to do that.

I'm bummed the Nexus line will be discontinued... then we'll be stuck with Samsung as a main tablet maker for Android.

 

[Scshadow]

I've never been a fan of HTC. My last phone was an HTC Inspire 4g. It was an epic pile of garbage. I genuinely hated every single aspect about that phone.

So unless HTC has improved much since the Inspire 4g, I see this as a bad move for Google. I'm all ears though. Can somebody tell me whether they believe this is a good move or bad move and why?

Thanks,
-Neil

I had that phone too but had a complete opposite experience with it. It felt very sturdy in my hands and the build quality seemed top notch. It had fair battery life and a good screen for its time. And although it never got upgraded past gingerbread, the ICS updates from homebrew devs always worked flawlessly to breath new life into the device. I still miss the brightness of the dual LED flash.

 

[Railman]

It is just a rumour but I suspect there may be a kernal of truth in it. If I was Google I would wish to introduce an element of competition in order to keep costs of the new Nexus to a minimum without sacrificing quality.

I have an HTC phone and I like it. A very solid phone that has survived being dropped on too many occasions. Much better quality than the Sony Ericsson brick it replaced.