Update: Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The ability to share photos by tapping two phones together and a faster way to search content are promised in an upcoming version of Google's Android operating system for mobile devices.

Google Inc. previewed the version, called Jelly Bean, at a conference in San Francisco for computer programmers.

Google says there are a million new Android devices activated daily, up from 400,000 a year ago. Google says there's particularly fast growth in emerging markets such as Brazil and India.

During the conference in San Francisco for computer programmers, Google is also expected to unveil a small tablet computer bearing Google's brand. Like Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle Fire, the Google tablet is believed to have a 7-inch screen, measured diagonally -- smaller than the iPad's nearly 10-inch display.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

A small tablet computer bearing Google's brand is expected Wednesday.

If speculation about the long-rumored device pans out, the Google tablet is likely be seen more of a threat to Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle Fire than Apple Inc.'s top-selling iPad. More details should emerge Wednesday during a conference in San Francisco.

Like the Kindle Fire, the Google tablet is believed to have a 7-inch screen, measured diagonally -- smaller than the iPad's nearly 10-inch display. If it's the smaller size, Google Inc.'s tablet probably would be in the same price range as the Kindle Fire, which sells for $199.

A Google expansion into the tablet market would bring another imposing entrant into what is already a battle of tech heavyweights. Last week, Microsoft Corp. announced its own tablet, Surface.