Google on Monday unveiled a large-format tablet computer to compete against the original iPad as part of a revamped line of its Nexus devices, and touted a new music service for Europe.

Google said on its blog that its Nexus 10, a rival to the market-leading iPad, would be "the highest resolution tablet on the planet" and would offer settings for multiple user accounts.

The Nexus 10 appeared to be the firm's entry into the 10-inch (26 centimeter) screen tablet market pioneered by Apple, which last week unveiled a smaller seven-inch iPad mini to be sold alongside its 10-inch original iPad

Google also said it would be selling its Nexus 7, which has a seven-inch screen, with mobile access for GSM networks worldwide.

And Google unveiled its Nexus 4, a smartphone with a 4.7-inch screen manufactured with South Korea's LG.

"A Nexus device is much more than simply a phone or tablet. It's your connection to the best of Google -- all of your stuff and entertainment, everywhere you go with no hassle," Google's Andy Rubin wrote in a blog post.

"Now you have three new Nexus devices, a new improved version of (Android operating system) Jelly Bean and more entertainment than ever before -- all available in Google Play. The playground is open."

Google said the music offerings on Google Play, the firm's online store, would be launched in Europe on November 13, with a new feature to allow music in a customer's online collection to be automatically uploaded to the cloud.

It will be offered in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

"We'll scan your music collection and any song we match against the Google Play catalog will be automatically added to your online library without needing to upload it, saving you time," Google said.

"This will be available in Europe at launch on November 13 and is coming to the US soon after. This will all be for free -- free storage of your music, free matching, free syncing across your devices and free listening."

Google had scheduled a news conference in New York for the announcement but canceled the event due to Hurricane Sandy.

The entry-level Nexus 10 will be sold at $399, or about $100 less than the least expensive iPad, starting November 13 in the US, Britain, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan.

Nexus 7, which was launched earlier this year, is available in the same countries, and the version with mobile data will go on sale November 13 in those countries except for Japan.

Nexus 4 will be offered in the US through T-Mobile and unlocked in Britain, Australia, France, Germany, Spain and Canada.

Google's Nexus 4 to have wireless charging
New York (UPI) Oct 29, 2012 - A leaked user's manual for Google upcoming Nexus 4 smartphone confirms the handset will feature wireless charging, U.S. tech watchers say.

The leaked quick-start manual shows an induction coil at the back of the LG-built device, which would allow it to be charged by placing it on a charging mat rather than having to plug it in, CNET reported Monday.

The manual mentions a "wireless charger" and informs Nexus 4 owners they must only "use an approved model."

The manual was spotted after LG Australia released some product pages overnight, CNET said.

The Nexus 4 is expected to include 2 gigabytes of RAM, 8 gigabytes of storage, a 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, an 8-megapixel rear camera and near-field communications for wireless payments.

Google had intended to unveil the Nexus 4 at an event in New York Monday morning but postponed the event because of approaching Hurricane Sandy.

Google did not announce a rescheduled date, saying it would do so in the near future.

Nokia to launch new Lumia model in US with Verizon
Helsinki (AFP) Oct 29, 2012 - Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia said Monday that it had chosen the second biggest US operator, Verizon Wireless, to exclusively distribute its new Lumia 822 model when it is launched this autumn.

Nokia said the new phone, designed to appeal to first-time smartphone buyers, would be available at Verizon "this autumn" but did not specify an exact date or price.

A higher-end Nokia phone, the Lumia 920, is meanwhile expected to be exclusively launched in the United States through the country's biggest operator AT&T, according to media reports.

Both launches are due in the first half of November, according to industry experts quoted in specialised media.

Verizon has some 95.9 million mobile phone subscribers, while AT&T has 100.7 million.

The success of the two models in the US, the market of reference for mobile telephony, is seen as crucial for Nokia's future as it falls behind on the smartphone market amid stiff competition from Apple's iPhone and Samsung.

In 2011, the Finnish company began phasing out its Symbian operating platform in favour of a partnership with US software maker Microsoft.