Google refreshes Nexus line of Android devices

• Nexus 4 phone from LG has quad-core processor, wireless charging
• Nexus 7 tablet comes with 16GB of storage for $199
• Large Nexus 10 tablet ups the ante on screen resolution

Google was forced to postpone a New York City media gathering Monday as Hurricane Sandy approached, so it took to its official blog to announce its new hardware line of Android devices.

The search giant is bringing out three new Nexus-branded devices, each running Android software 4.2, the latest flavor known as Jelly Bean.

For starters there's a new Nexus 4 smartphone, which Google developed with LG. The phone has a fast quad-core processor, crisp 4.7-inch (320 ppi) display and a wireless charging feature that lets you set the phone down on a charging surface to juice it up.

On the tablet side, Google announced that you can now get a Nexus 7 with 16GB of storage for $199 or 32GB for $249. And Google added the capability of tapping into a wireless network known as HSPA+, which you can use to access mobile data. Nexus 7 with 32GB and HSPA+ mobile costs $299. Google says the device can operate on more than 200 GSM providers worldwide, including AT&T in the U.S.

Google also went larger with the Nexus 10 from Samsung, billed by Google as "the ultimate tablet for watching movies or reading magazines," thanks to a 10-inch screen with resolution of 2560-by-1600 (300ppi), or more over 4 million pixels. Google says that's the highest resolution tablet on the planet.

The company is promising up to nine hours of video playback and more than 500 hours of standby time. Nexus 10 has front-facing stereo speakers. And Google says it is sharable — through Jelly Bean, you can add multiple users and switch between them right from the lockscreen.

Google's blog says: "We believe that everyone should have quick and easy access to their own stuff — e-mail, apps, bookmarks and more. That way, everyone can have their own home screens, their own music and even their own high scores." Nexus 10 with 16GB will go for $399; 32GB for $499.

Meanwhile, as part of the latest enhancements to Jelly Bean, Google says it is bringing out a new Photo Sphere, which will let you capture images that are literally larger than life. You can take pictures, up, down and an in every direction, and create 360-degree immersive experiences that you can share on Google+ with friends and family — or for everyone to see via Google Maps. "You become your own Street View," says Hiroshi Lockheimer, vice president of Engineering for Android, referring to a clever feature in Google Maps.

Separately, Google announced new partnerships with Warner Music Group and Time Inc. for entertainment offerings in the Google Play stores.

Lockheimer says the new Nexus hardware lineup shows off three distinct product categories, "small, medium and large. We want to capture all those segments."

I had hoped to get a first-hand look at these devices in person at the Google press event that has been washed away by the storm. Stay tuned for my hands-on impressions. Most of the new devices are expected on Nov. 13.