What Does Google Inc (GOOG) Have Up Its Sleeve?

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has been much talked about lately as we get into the dog days of summer. While Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has talked about released devices in the fall (though we have heard rumors about summer releases, like this one), Google is trying to get the upper hand on device releases and show its latest and greatest devices before the hype around Apple ramps up at the autumnal equinox.

There has been much anticipation about the latest editions of the Nexus devices, and the latest iteration of the Android operating system by Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), and the latest discussion now is focused on October. In fact, October 5th is the specific date, which is believed to be the date that Google will unveil its new Nexus smartphone, the Nexus 5, which would also run on the new Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie operating system – the OS that has been discussed for months. It is believed by some rumors that this new device would be announced sometime next month.

What can we tell you about this new Nexus 5? Well, as the name might suggest, the number indicates that it is a larger version of the Nexus 4 smartphone, and it is expected to boast a 5.2-inch full HD display – putting it barely in the megaPhone (“phablet”) space – and have a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor under the hood. The smartphone is expected to house a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 2MP front-facing lens, a 2,700mAh battery, 3 GB of RAM and apparently LTE capability and perhaps the thinnest bezels in the market to accommodate the HD resolution, the screen size and the overall desire for continued portability.

And it usually takes new devices like the Nexus 5 to inspire Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) to release its latest operating system, which of course would be the much-anticipated Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie.  A couple of new features that have been consistently rumored include a Guest Mode so that a user can loan the phone to another person without fear of losing important personal information or files; plus a partitioning feature with profiles so a user can separate personal and work profiles on the phone – something similar to the technology that Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) has had in place on its BlackBerry devices for several years.

What is your take? Do you think Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) can maintain its Android market share with the Nexus 5?

How do you think investors like fund manager Julian Robertson (see his full equity portfolio) will see this device as it competes with a fellow Android device, the Samsung Galaxy S4? Will the Key Lime Pie event level the playing field for the Nexus? Give us your feedback in the comments section below.

DISCLOSURE: None