More Nexus 7 details leak ahead of reveal

With just four days until Google's annual developers conference gets underway, further details have emerged about what is expected to be one of the event's stars -- the second generation Nexus 7 tablet.

Nexus-7-Tablet-Photo-AFP

With just four days until Google's annual developers conference gets underway, further details have emerged about what is expected to be one of the event's stars -- the second generation Nexus 7 tablet.

Although Google is yet to officially confirm or deny that it is to showcase a new tablet at the Google I/O developer conference, enough information has already leaked via well-placed sources, manufacturing partners and supply chain businesses to be quite confident that not only is a refreshed seven-inch tablet set to be announced, but that it will run a Qualcomm processor and support 4G LTE superfast mobile internet.

KGI Securities Ming-Chi Kuo, whose relationships with Asian suppliers is second to none claims in a note, seen by Apple Insider, to have further information as to what to expect from the next tablet. He has confirmed earlier reports that the display will be bumped up to full HD (1980x1200 pixels), while the bezel will be reduced to make the device slightly smaller and possibly thinner too.

It will run Android 4.3 out of the box, not Android version 5.0 -- which looks like it has been put on hold for the time being. However, what will be coming to the tablet is a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera (the original Nexus 7 had no rear-facing camera at all) and wireless charging so that the battery can be topped up simply by sitting it on an induction plate, rather than by having to plug it directly into a power socket.

Most interestingly of all, however, is the price. Kuo is the latest to claim that despite a raft of hardware and feature improvements that the Nexus 7 will retail for $199. All of which should help Google maintain its position at the top of the Android tablet pile. Though nowhere near as popular as the iPad, the Nexus 7 has been a sizable hit since it launched in June 2011 and although Google never publishes actual sales figures, most research firms place it as the best-selling non-Apple tablet with estimated sales of roughly 1 million units a month.

One thing that won't be making its debut at the upcoming event is the Google Wallet card. Back in November 2012, the company accidentally announced it was developing a physical payment card that could be programmed, via a smartphone, to replicate any payment card in a user's physical wallet, as well as a card to be used in conjunction with the Google Wallet service. According to All Things D, the physical card has been scrapped at the last minute. However, updates to the Google Wallet platform, such as loyalty card support, is expected to be showcased for the first time in San Francisco next week as part of Google's keynote address.