Google Officially Discontinues Nexus 7 Tablet

An anonymous reader writes: Google's 7-inch tablet has disappeared from the Google Store, where a note in red type simply states that the device is no longer available for purchase. "The Nexus 7 was first released back in 2013, so it's fair to say it had a good run. The Android-based tablet received great reviews, but what really made it a long-term success was the fact that it was affordable and continually received updates from Google. Manufactured by Asus, the Nexus 7 was even treated to Android Lollipop, the latest version of the operating system, although not with bug-free results. The discontinuation shouldn't come as a big surprise, however, as Google pulled a similar move back in March with the Nexus 5 smartphone, not to mention the Nexus 9 tablet's release last fall."

Comments

Short-sighted post

[thisisauniqueid]

How did this make the front page? I think the OP neglected to realize that Google I/O is just around the corner. Devices are discontinued every year right before I/O (after months of steep discounts to clear stock) to make way for the new device(s) that are about to be announced.

Re:No mention of iPad in the summary?

[gstoddart]

.and are apparently unaware of third-party Android distributions for common devices

I'm not unaware of them. I'm completely fucking uninterested. There is a huge difference.

I don't want some device I have to build in a kit every couple of months. I'm beyond the point where I want to endlessly fiddle with technology. It's a waste of my time, and not something I do for fun.

I want something supported out of the box by the manufacturer, with as long of a shelf life as possible, and I don't want to enrich some corporation who feels they should give me a separate store or otherwise annoy me with non-standard stuff.

I have no interest in tracking my own CyanogemMod version, building it from a kit, hand bombing my install.

I like vanilla Android out of the box. I've seen the junk Samsung and others put on, and I have no interest in it.

But what I don't want is a device which is going to make more work for me.

Maybe the nerdy kids or the people with no lives feel some fulfillment out of endlessly fucking with their devices. But I sure as hell don't.

But I'll go back to Apple if the price points become similar. Only I'll go with a lower end device and treat it like it will only have a short lifespan. Especially if it means I know I'll have a device which isn't a pain in the ass to use.

For me technology is tools, not something to derive endless pleasure from tweaking it.

So, as usual, the open source solution of "yarg, just download this stuff, build this stuff, twiddle with this stuff" is advice that nobody else is interested in. I just want something which "just works" .. my original iPad did up to a point, and my Nexus 7 has so far.