The last time we spoke about the Google Tablet project, it was understood that ASUS had been chosen to build the device and that one of Google’s primary objectives was to introduce the device around the $199 mark to compete with the popular Amazon Kindle.

Now though, new information published by The Verge reveals that Google are planning to delay the release of their tablet slightly, pushing the launch back by a few months from May to July. Furthermore, we may see a possibility where the tablet is actually priced at above the $200 mark, rather than below it – the new Apple iPad currently retails at $499 after all so Google will need to find the right balance.

What about hardware specifications though? There’s a general consensus that this device will ship with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor, but the operating system included is still up for debate. Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 is obviously a high possibility, but there are some whispers that Google could be planning to go all out and make this the world’s first device with Android 5.0 Jelly Bean.

In our opinion, that’s exactly what they need to do as well. Ice Cream Sandwich isn’t exactly brand spanking new any moment and ironically it is ASUS that first had the honor of building a tablet with the OS on via the Transformer Prime. If ASUS is really building the Google tablet and Google are looking to go on the direct offensive against Apple, then Jelly Bean is exactly the kind of ‘wow’ factor they need to entice consumers into a purchase.

There is also the possibility of Apple releasing a follow-up device to the new iPad before the end of the year, and it may be moment when the world finally sees a quad-core capable iPad for the first time. Aside from Android 5.0 Jelly Bean, we would also like to see some other unique features from Google as we would be disappointed if it turns out to be ‘just another Android tablet’ with Google branding slapped on the back.

Are you looking to pick up Google’s effort later on in the year? Do you agree with us that they need to launch it with Android 5.0 Jelly bean? What other features would you like to see in the device in order to buy it ahead of future products from ASUS, Samsung and Apple?

Schmidt made the announcement when speaking in a recent interview with an Italian newspaper, according to Slashgear. Specific details on the tablet are unknown at this point as you can imagine, but Schmidt did reveal that the device ‘would be of the highest quality’.

A six month mininum release period from now was also mentioned by the Google CEO, and it now provides all sorts of exciting questions on what exactly will the Google Nexus tablet be comprised of. One big factor for us, is the important decision on which company are going to build the device. There has been no Nexus tablet on the market yet to this day, although Google seem to favor Samsung at the moment, since the company has built the last two Nexus smartphones in the Nexus S and the Galaxy Nexus.

Motorola also deserve a mention of course since they built the Xoom tablet which was the first device to run Android 3.0 Honeycomb. However, a Google tablet release in 2012 is now likely to run the latest version of Ice Cream Sandwich, and if Google are teasing a tablet ‘of the highest quality’, they may decide to build it themselves. Imagine a pure Google Nexus tablet, running vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich on a Tegra 3 quad-core processor – it would surely send a shockwave throughout the industry, and certainly make rivals Apple take note.

Could we be finally seeing a device which would fit the often used ‘iPad killer’ tag? The Motorola XY board doesn’t appear to be up to the task, but a pure Google Nexus tablet would certainly gain our attention. Let us know your thoughts on this, and if you would be willing to buy one. Should Apple be worried?

Schmidt apparently stated that Google’s first tablet will run their Android OS, however it will feature Google’s Chrome web browser and will fully support Adobe Flash.

Also Schmidt stated that he doubts Apple or Google will “get it right” with their first tablet, however second and third generation tablets will begin to “figure it out”.

Schmidt also admitted that Google’s engineers and software teams were currently “wrestling with several parts of the project”, therefore it is very hard to say when we will finally see the launch of the Google Tablet.

Source: SlashGear