'Digitimes' Floating Rumor Of Two New Nexus 7 Variations By Year End?

[Babyfacemagee]

Taiwan based 'Digitimes', a major pc and mobile technology journal has come out with a 'rumor' that Google and Asustek are hard at work on not one,  but two new versions of the Nexus 7 including a new 'thinner' $199 model featuring a TN panel from Hannstar Display and a super cheap $99 model.   Supposedly these new models would be released right at the tail end of 2012 as an attempt to combat Apple's rumored 'iPad Mini' and to keep the momentum rolling for Nexus 7 sales.   

Now a number of tech sites have commented on this report and to be honest the consensus of them is that frankly this 'rumor' is most likely hogwash.   Digitimes has a very spotty record at best of reporting accurate tech breaking news and as Android Police points out...with the Nexus 7 only out a little over 2 months, it is highly unlikely that Google would come out with a new version so soon.  They further point out that a $99 model would have to be so paired down with cheap components that Asus and Google would either not be able to offer a quality product...or if they kept the components the same they'd lose too much money on each device to make that $99 price point viable.   

Now I will throw in one long shot possibility:   If...and only if Google somehow decided to try some kind of ad revenue subsidized model...ala what Amazon does with their Kindle and Kindle Fire tablets....then it might be possible for Google to come out with a Nexus 7 for $99 and perhaps make up some of the loss with ads on the front screen.  Google afterall is the world's largest purveyor of advertising through the web but frankly I kind of doubt they would go this route.  So what do you say folks?  Do you think this rumor is true or like me do you say 'when pigs fly'?

[S.Prime]

I personally can not see Google abandoning their current marketing strategy, which provides you with a device that is affordable and yet ties you to Google offerings like Play Store and cloud services by introduction. Google has sidestepped the stigma of the Kindle Fire by allowing you to purchase from the app and content source of your choice and yet their model leads the user to make the major portion of their app and content purchases from the Play Store. I challenge you to compare your Google Play Store purchases to other sources and see if other sources exceed 10%. IMO, if Google were to introduce an advertisement subsidized device it would conflict with their current marketing strategy, so I don't look for it, until Pigs Fly.

[JayJ]

I totally agree with Prime, I can't see Google abandoning what you've achieved so far and to loose more revenue too. We know we'll see the 3G and I hope bigger storage versions but this sounds like utter rubbish.
I in no uncertain terms would never buy a device that's locked down a la Kindle or a Nexus 7 budget edition, I can't understand why anybody would want an ad infected version of the N7 just for the sake of a hundred bucks...

[fxsarge]

Another option I saw was that this was the 3g model and that 99$ is how much the phone companies would sell them for.

[bjs229]

$99?  They better get their poo together with this generation tablet before they go out and release something with less expensive components. There are already a bunch of unhappy campers with the flagship model let alone a budget, screen lifted, don't worry just hold the button down for 30 seconds and hope it starts nightmare.

[ibm650]

tn panels look awful on a small screen.