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Google Nexus 7 is selling by the truck load



Google Nexus 7 is selling by the truck load

The reasonably priced Google Nexus 7 is selling strongly, with up to 1 million shifted in the third quarter of the year.

At a rock bottom price and with an impressive spec sheet, it's no surprise that the Nexus 7 has caught the eye of the humble consumer, so it's an easy win for any analyst who comes out and says it's flying off the shelves.

The latest stats come courtesy of Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray, who believes Google managed to sell between 800,000 and 1 million Nexus tablets between July and September this year.

Revenue clues

Muster took his sales estimate from Google's revenue figures, which came in at $666 million (around £415m/AU$645m) this year compared to $385 million (around £240m/AU$370m) in 2012, as the search giant hasn't launched exact sale figures for its popular Nexus 7 tablet.

Google could be about to launch a new range of Nexus 7 tablets, alongside a 10-inch Nexus tablet and the much-rumoured LG Nexus 4 at a special event on October 29, as the likes of the Amazon Kindle Fire HD and rumoured iPad Mini pile on the pressure at the budget end of the market.

All will become clear next Monday, and Google may well announce official Nexus 7 sales figures when it takes to the stage in New York.













Hands-on review: Updated: Sony NEX-6



Hands-on review: Updated: Sony NEX-6

Introduction

Updated: Now with image quality and resolution and noise and dynamic range results.

Although rumours suggested that Sony would use its full-frame Alpha a99 (and RX1) sensor in an NEX series camera, the NEX-6 has arrived sporting a 16.1 million pixel APS-C CMOS sensor.

The compact system camera is joined by a new Bionz processor and a hybrid AF system.

Sitting between the high-end NEX-7 and enthusiast level NEX-5R, the NEX-6 is aimed at traditional DSLR customers who are looking for high image quality in a much smaller body.

Sony NEX-6 review

As such, it includes an (electronic) viewfinder, and direct access dials to key camera parameters.

There's also Wi-Fi functionality, which ties into Sony's recently announced PlayMemories apps service, which allows for expansion and customisation of the camera via downloadable apps which will be available later in the year.

Sony NEX-6 review

A new 16-50mm power zoom lens has also been announced in conjunction with the NEX-6. This is roughly half the size of the standard 18-55mm kit lens which has accompanied NEX cameras until now.

With an full price of around £769/AU$1,099/US$849.99 or £899/AU$1,299/US$999.99 with the kit lens, the NEX-6 competes with cameras such as the Panasonic G5 and perhaps the Olympus OM-D.

Build quality and handling

The body and build of the NEX-6 is very similar to other cameras in the NEX series, so if you're familiar with those, you'll feel very at home here.

A good texture covers the NEX-6 which gives it an air of quality and helps with gripping the camera, especially when holding one-handed. Similarly, the grip of the camera is very well designed, allowing for good purchase on the camera.

Sony NEX-6 review

The new 16-50mm lens finally gives the NEX series a sleeker appearance. Up until now the very small body coupled with larger lens could look a little odd, so it's good to see Sony listening to feedback regarding this.

Sitting just below the NEX-7, the NEX-6 has several high-end features, which will appeal to many users.

Sony NEX-6 review

First up is the high resolution, 2.359k dot resolution electronic viewfinder, which includes an eye-sensor for automatically switching from the LCD screen to the EVF. Sony says that it has worked on the speed of switching between the two, and we found it to be very quick. That said, it also doesn't switch to the EVF too easily, which is good when you want to shoot from the hip and the camera is close to the body.

More advanced photographers will likely appreciate the new dial on the top of the camera which sits directly below the mode dial and can be used to control parameters such as aperture, when using aperture priority.

Sony NEX-6 review

A Fn button adjacent to the shutter release button can be used to access commonly used settings. The menu which is accessed from this button is fully customisable, so if you find you need quick access to one particularly function regularly, you can assign it to appear here.

Movie recording can be accessed quickly via a dedicated button, which appears angled on the back of the camera just below the mode dial. It's angled setting means it's more difficult to accidentally knock it on, without being hard to reach, and is a welcome improvement on the positioning of the NEX-7 video record button.

Sony NEX-6 review

A typical NEX menu is found on the camera, which again anyone familiar with Sony's other products in the range will be aware of. Some of the functions are frustratingly hidden away, but as things can be accessed via the Fn button, this isn't the bugbear it could be.

The new kit lens features some interesting build points. A switch on the side of the lens can be used, or if preferred, a ring at the front of the lens can be twisted in the traditional way a zoom lens is extended. This has been designed to help create a seamless transition for people used to shooting with more traditional optics. If shooting in manual mode, this zoom ring transforms into a manual focusing ring.

Sony NEX-6 review

It's difficult to fully assess the results from the camera after only spending a few hours with it, but what we have seen so far is promising.

We're used to seeing high quality images from NEX cameras, so it comes as no huge surprise to see that trend continuing with the NEX-6.

Sony NEX-6 review

The LCD screen, which tilts downwards and upwards is nice and bright, and well viewed from a variety of angles. It coped well in the lighting conditions we used it in, but it's difficult to say how well it would cope in very bright sunlight.

One particularly impressive feature is the high resolution EVF. Sony has really made leaps and bounds with its EVF technology, which it says it believes is the best solution available for consumers right now.

Sony NEX-6 review

It may take a bit of getting used to for those who are used to the optical variety, but the benefits of EVF are numerous and soon become apparent after shooting for a while.

A key beneficial aspect is being able to see a played back image straight away in the viewfinder to help determine whether an exposure has been captured the way you wanted it.

Sony NEX-6 review

Another is being able to see exactly how an image will appear, before you hit the shutter release - something which just isn't possible with an optical viewfinder.

The tilting screen is useful for shooting from awkward angles, and is also has a good viewing angle. It's difficult to say how well it performs in ultra bright light, but in the conditions we have been using it in, it has performed well.

Performance

So far we've found that the NEX-6's hybrid autofocusing does a good job of locking onto the subject quickly, although on occasion it struggles a little with objects in the far distance.

Sony NEX-6 review

Sony's new PlayMemories apps includes the ability to add different digital effects to images. Sony says that more will become available to download, which should appeal to the Instagram crowd.

Sony NEX-6 review

Although it's great that you can still adjust parameters such as aperture while using digital effects, it's a little frustrating that you can't shoot in raw format and remove the filter later in post-production.

Sony NEX-6 review

The ability to retouch images is another of the apps available on the camera. Here, basic editing, such as resizing, brightness control and contrast control is available and is a good quick option for those that don't want to spend too much time working on images at a computer.

Sony NEX-6 review

Sony NEX-6 review

Sony NEX-6 review

Sony NEX-6 review

Sony NEX-6 review

Sony NEX-6 review

Sony NEX-6 review

Image quality and resolution

As part of our image quality testing for the Sony NEX-6, we've shot our resolution chart.

If you view our crops of the resolution chart's central section at 100% (or Actual Pixels) you will see that, for example, at ISO 100 the Sony NEX-6 is capable of resolving up to around 24 (line widths per picture height x100) in its highest quality JPEG files.

For a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them, check out our full explanation of our camera testing resolution charts.

Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:

Sony NEX-6 review

Sony NEX-6 review

ISO 100, score: 24 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony NEX-6 review

ISO 200, score: 24 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony NEX-6 review

ISO 400, score: 22 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony NEX-6 review

ISO 800, score: 22 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony NEX-6 review

ISO 1600, score: 22 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony NEX-6 review

ISO 3200, score: 22 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony NEX-6 review

ISO 6400, score: 22 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony NEX-6 review

ISO 12800, score: 18 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Sony NEX-6 review

ISO 25600, score: 16 (Click here to see the full resolution image)

Noise and dynamic range

We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.

A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.

For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.

Here we compare the Sony NEX-6 with the Panasonic G5, Sony NEX-7 and Olympus E-P3.

JPEG signal to noise ratio

Sony NEX-6 review

These results show that the Sony NEX-6's JPEG files have a similar signal to noise ratio to those from the Panasonic G5, Sony NEX-7 and Olympus E-P3 at lower to middling sensitivities, but they achieve significantly better results at ISO 1600 and above.

Raw signal to noise ratio

Sony NEX-6 review

The signal to noise ratios of the TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the Sony NEX-6 are stronger than those from the other cameras at all sensitivities. The Sony NEX-7 was the next strongest performer, followed by the Olympus E-P3 and Panasonic G5.

JPEG dynamic range

Sony NEX-6 review

JPEG results for dynamic range less impressive than those for signal to noise ratio, with the Sony NEX-6 producing weaker images than the Sony NEX-7 at all sensitivity settings. It also falls below the Olympus E-P3 at lower ISOs, before overtaking it at ISO 800 and above. Its JPEGs show a greater dynamic range than the Panasonic G5's, except at ISO 200.

Raw dynamic range

Sony NEX-6 review

TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the Sony NEX-6 have a greater comparative dynamic range than the JPEG images did. The Sony NEX-6 beats all of the other cameras throughout the sensitivity range, except at ISO 200, where the Sony NEX-7 produces stronger results. The NEX-7 was the second strongest performer here, followed by the Panasonic G5, then the Olympus E-P3.

Sample images

These images are from a preproduction sample of the NEX-6 and consequently we are not allowed to publish them at full-size.

Sony NEX6 review

Sony NEX6 review

Sony NEX6 review

Sony NEX6 review

Sony NEX6 review

Sony NEX6 review

Sony NEX6 review

Sony NEX6 review

Early verdict

Sony had lots of critical success with the NEX-7, while the cameras in its NEX-5 range have always proven quite popular. Here the company is presumably looking to combine the high quality of the 7, with the popularity of the 5.

So far, we've been pretty impressed with what we've seen. The new kit lens makes the NEX-6 a much sleeker proposition, making it much closer in size to Micro Four Thirds cameras which of course use a smaller sensor.

It's clear that Sony is listening to customer feedback, and what it is producing at the moment is very interesting and looks like it could deliver to a wide range of customer bases.

Although many are still skeptical about electronic viewfinders, the device on the NEX-6 is another example of how good the Sony engineers have managed to make them in recent times.

Incorporating Wi-Fi and PlayMemories apps means that this is also a camera that can deliver that all important connectivity, and perhaps more intriguingly, the ability to expand and customise the camera further down the line.

We're really looking forward to getting our hands on a full-production version of the camera to fully assess its quality.













Internal Google video 'confirms' 32GB and 3G Nexus 7



Internal Google video 'confirms' 32GB and 3G Nexus 7

An internal video is doing the rounds at Google, showing off the new devices which will be announced at its New York event on October 29.

According to a TheNextWeb source familiar with Google's plans, the video highlights the LG Nexus 4, new Nexus 7 tablets plus a Samsung-built 10-inch Nexus slate.

The source claims that the rumours we've heard about a 32GB and 3G variant of the Google Nexus 7 are both correct – with the HSPA+ supported tablet also sporting 32GB of internal storage.

That's not all

Apparently the video also confirmed a 10-inch tablet, which is supposedly made by Samsung and codenamed Mantra, but it expected to launch under the moniker Google Nexus 10.

The Mantra tablet runs Android 4.2 and packs a 16:10 screen with a 2560 x 1600 resolution and 300ppi pixel density – which would be better than the 264ppi offering on the new iPad.

Last, but not least, the LG Nexus 4 is expected to make an appearance on October 29, and this 1.5Ghz quad-core smartphone also featured in the report, with a 4.7-inch display, 2GB if RAM, 16GB internal storage, 8MP rear camera and running Android 4.2.

Going by all the rumours, all these products could well appear on stage next Monday. TechRadar will be reporting live from the event, so stay tuned for all the latest from the world of Google.










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