Google rumours: Nexus 7 hybrid tablet with Jelly Bean and Chrome OS on its way?

It seems inevitable that Google's $249 Nexus 7 tablet will end up being quite the Android coup. And so it should: the Nexus tab rocks a fine build thanks to Asus, gestures and tricks from Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

But our attentions have already turned to what Google is doing next. According to a patent unearthed by PatentBolt it hasn't gone unnoticed in Mountain View's big G towers that people are getting excited about devices like the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity's detachable keyboard dock and the colourful Microsoft Surface in-case QWERTYs. 

And Google has been working on a hybrid of its own: a tablet that comes bundled with a virtual keyboard and trackpad touchscreen that can be twisted and rotated to give tablet and laptop-style form factors.

The device would also be able to run more than one OS – Android Jelly Bean and Chrome OS anyone? – and the keyboard would activate or deactivate depending on how you use the tablet.

If Google does have a hybrid trick up its sleeve, we'd suggest cornering Samsung or Asus to make it before everyone gets too busy building Windows 8 machines ready for the autumn.