Google Inc (GOOG): What Might We Learn at July 24 Presser?

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is certainly not one to let a disappointing  earnings report slow down its progress. Even if the company has missed a couple of times recently, instead of once every couple of years. Google has been in the rumor mill quite a bit lately regarding new devices, which might be more a by-product of the vacuum left behind by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) not launching any new devices until the fall. Google has seemed to be the natural fit to fill that void. (Any big surprise here?)

One of the rumors that had swirled for several weeks has been the new incarnation of the Nexus 7 tablet, which had been so popular for Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) went against late CEO Steve Jobs’ prior assertion and produced an iPad Mini in order to compete and try to cut off some of Google’s market share in that segment. And it did seem Credit: android-logo-white by incredibleguyto work.

Now, though, it seems that Google will have an opportunity to get a head start on Apple this time around, as the Nexus 7 has been discussed for a while now as if its release was imminent, while talk of an Apple iPad Mini 2 coming out was potentially not happening until just before the holiday shopping season, at the earliest. (Though recent news  spoke of a delay into 2014.)

In that backdrop, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) announced a press event for Wednesday, July 24, at which there is much rampant talk that this will be the official launch event for the second-generation Nexus 7 tablet, which is reportedly being made by Asus.

What has been leaked so far about the device is that it will have a QUALCOMM, Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) Snapdragon processor, 4 gigabytes of RAM, a 5-megapixel camera and will supposedly run on the new Android 4.3 operating system, according to our friends at Digital Spy. The latest word is that Best Buy is reportedly posting a $229 retail price for a 16-GB model and a July 30 release date.

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)  is also expected to release a 32GB model for $269 according to Best Buy.   Some analysts are predicting that Google may sell as many as 8 million of these suckers, which may put the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad Mini 2 in a position to have to outshine that whenever it gets released. What are your thoughts?

Do you see the Nexus 7.2 being a strong seller by itself, or does there need to be some serious innovation to move the needle for Google? If you are an investor like fund manager George Soros (see his full equity portfolio), what sales number would you expect out of this new Nexus 7 to feel  bullish? Let us know your feedback in the comments section below.

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