*

The Nexus 10 doesn't have 4G either -- or any mobile data, for that matter -- but it seems like a much more positive development for Android, for two simple reasons: It has a bigger, higher-resolution screen than even the latest , and it's cheaper. My take on tablets has always been that the display accounts for about two-thirds of what makes them good or bad, given that they're primarily entertainment devices at this point, and Samsung has really pushed the envelope with the Nexus 10. To put it another way, it would need to have something else very wrong with it to make it a less attractive option than the iPad, given the low price and slick display.

Then again, Android phones maintained a small but meaningful technological lead over the iPhone for months before the iPhone 5 came out, but that didn't stop Apple from selling its products by the million. It'll be important for Android developers to close the gap on iOS in terms of tablet-ready .

*

As expected, Google also refreshed the Nexus 7 lineup, adding a 32GB model and optional HSPA+ connectivity. The prices also changed -- a 16GB Nexus 7 is now $199, the 32GB Wi-Fi-only model is $249, and the 32GB with cellular data retails for $299. By comparison, a 16GB Wi-Fi-only iPad Mini is $329. Ouch.