Google made tech news headlines with the recent introduction of three new products, two of which round out its new Nexus product line, a brand that puts Google squarely in the hardware business — and in Apple's crosshairs.

The slick, sleek website for Nexus seems to have that cool, clean sophistication we've come to know and love from Apple. All three of the products found there rival Apple products: the Galaxy Nexus phone, which is co-branded Google and Samsung (iPhone), Nexus 7 tablet (iPad), and the Nexus Q streaming media player (watch out, Apple TV).

But the buzz around Nexus Q has reached beyond technology alone. It has raised an intriguing issue that could be seen as either a deeper competitive strategy that pits "Made in USA" against "Made in China", or perhaps, nothing more than an expedient product solution.Continue reading...

On the eve of Google revealing its expanded Nexus family of devices and eagle-eyed observers spotted that its Nexus Q Android-powered Magic 8 Ball streaming media player is being made in the USA, The New York Times published a piece more or less suggesting Apple builds the cost of dead workers into its products.

Two days after the Grey Lady published "In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad," — subtly implying that Apple was directly responsible for a deadly explosion in a Chengdu plant — it ran another big piece: "Google Tries Something Retro: Made in the U.S.A."

The new Cold War between America and China over manufacturing will be fought by proxy brands Google and Apple. We already know whose side the New York Times is on. In the meantime, Google may have just pulled the Made-in-America wool over everyone's eyes.Continue reading...

News Corp. board approves company split, with Rupert Murdoch serving as chairman of both entities.

JPMorgan Chase may reach $9 billion in trading losses, New York Times reports.

RIM is expected to report an operating loss as missteps trip up BlackBerry brand.

Airbus plans to build first U.S. factory in Alabama.

Apple plans to overhaul iTunes to improve sharing.

Barclays hit with massive fines for rigging derivatives.

CBS to use neuroscience techniques in new show promos.Continue reading...

The Google I/O three-day annual developer event in San Francisco today kicked off with a slew of product news.

Google is expanding its Nexus sub-brand of smart products from an Android phone (with Samsung, unveiled in October) to a streaming media player and the product that garnered the most buzz today: its first tablet, Nexus 7, a 7-inch device co-developed with Asus.

Nexus 7 is a bigger challenge to Amazon's 7-inch Kindle Fire than it is to Apple's iPad. The tablet costs $199 (8GB) or $249 (16GB) and is available to purchase now, with shipping starting in July.Continue reading...