Software makers are re-training their attention on what Apple has proven as a sure-fire way of earning the big bucks - put together a sexy gadget and have it powered by in-house operating system and maybe a few years after, you'll be on top of the world.

Google on Wednesday has indicated that it intends to follow on the incredible success of Apple, which by employing the business model described above triumphantly romped its way this year to the pinnacle, earning the distinction as the most valuable firm in the planet.

Hosting its annual conference of computer programmers in San Francisco, the Internet giant sent clear notice that its business will not be confined on the web in the future, or at least the millions surfing the net will soon be using tools carrying the Google brand on the hardware.

The name Google will no longer be buried in the intricate codes of the Web site that users would stare at when performing web searches or beneath the platform that manages the behaviour of the apps that smartphone and tablet owners have opted to download, with the introduction of Google Nexus 7-inch tablet.

Judging from the specs and retail price provided by Google, the new hardware, which will be assembled by AsusTek Computer, the new device is obviously Google's answer to the Kindle Fire, which due to its affordability has made the Amazon gadget the most popular tablet next to iPad.

Like the Kindle Fire, Google plans to retail Nexus 7 at $199, a price that Amazon has admitted was far from the product actually delivering to the company tons of cash, such as the more than $100 billion that Apple has on its vault, which the company earned since launching its strings of million-selling gizmos.

But the online retailer was optimistic that the cheap e-reader would spur more book, music, movie and other product orders on its site, which in the past few years has been warding off serious threats by Apple's iTunes.

This week, iTunes announced the expansion of its retail reach to a number of Asian markets, underscoring the company's serious campaign of establishing full dominance in the highly competitive tech industry.

Google, in fact, has the same mindset as that of Amazon's, according to analysts, mindful that its bread and butter, the online advertising market, could be threatened soon by the ever expanding Apple ecosystem.

Sooner or later, Apple may no longer require the ubiquitous online services that Google offers and to avert such likelihood and preserve the company's profitability, it has to work harder to lure more attention, monetise on them and beef up its product system, which now mostly centres on its mobile platform Android.

That too got a makeover yesterday as Google also introduced its upgrade for the Ice Cream Sandwich - the Android 4.1 edition or Jelly Bean.

Google said Jelly Bean will debut alongside with the Nexus 7 by the second week of July with Australia and the North American getting first taste of the new products, according to The Associated Press.

Jelly Bean, according to Google, is all about smarter mobile computing experience, which will be characterised by more intuitive navigation on smartphone and tablets, more efficient media file management and faster search inquiries.

While the new Android version is a welcome addition to Google's increasing line of products, some experts said that the entry of Nexus 7 tablet could further heighten the doubts created on hardware manufacturers when the company bought Motorola Mobility.

But the company again assured that Android will remain accessible to gadget vendors and its current foray in hardware selling will merely be a segment of its diversified business, not its central focus.

That should mean Google will simply excite the Android tablet competition, much in the same manner that Microsoft is poised to following the unveiling of the new Surface tablet, which when its hits the market in Q4 will battle with other Windows 8-powered tablets bearing various brand names.