Google's annual developer conference is scheduled to begin in a couple of weeks and rumors are swirling regarding just exactly what the search giant has in store for those in attendance. Many believe a new Nexus phone, tablet, or smart watch is set to be unveiled during the two-day conference scheduled for later this month.

Particularly, the rumors surrounding the Nexus 8, Google's purported follow-up to the hugely successful Nexus 7 tablet line, exploded last week when a supposed leaked image of the new device surfaced online. The photo shows a mid-sized tablet encased in a thick, protective housing, which makes it hard to judge if indeed this is a new device or not. 

The photo was published by a Chinese website which claims the photo is "100% true." However, according to Boy Genius Report, this particular site has been known to make claims about supposed leaks which end up not being true. So take this with a grain of salt.

Google added more fuel to the fire by publishing a different photo of a yet unannounced tablet on the I/O conference's own website. The device appears to be the right size for an eight inch tablet and bears a striking resemblance to Google's highly-acclaimed Nexus 10 tablet, released in 2012. Could this be the alleged new Nexus 8 said to debut in just a few short weeks? We may just have to wait until the conference to find out, although, it is common for leaks to surface in the weeks and days leading up to the release of such an anticipated device. So stay tuned.

Another mystery surrounding the Nexus 8 is that of its manufacturer. In the past Google has partnered with almost every major player in the technology industry on its Nexus devices, including HTC, Samsung, ASUS and LG. For the past two years, Google allowed ASUS to design and build its popular Nexus 7 line; however, according to Boy Genius Report, a report surfaced earlier this year claiming that Google would be switching to HTC for the new Nexus 8. If true, this would be the first collaboration between HTC and Google since the original Nexus device, 2010's Nexus One.

Perhaps the most telling sign that the release of a new Nexus tablet is imminent is the fact that last year's Nexus 7 has seen dramatic slashes to its selling price on eBay in just the past few days. Those wishing to watch Google I/O's presentations live can do so here. The conference runs from June 25-26, 2014.