Google Brings Out Nexus Q

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Just saw this on Google+ just a moment ago right before Vic Gundotra took the stage at Google IO.  The Nexus Q is a social streaming media player made for Google Play at home.  When you have an Android phone or tablet on your home wifi network, you and your friends can send songs to the Nexus Q and modify the playlist as it’s playing.  The Nexus Q will be available in 2-3 weeks and should be about $299.

Google Brings Out Nexus Q

Update: Some more features have come up during the keynote about the Nexus Q.  The Nexus Q will also allow multiple devices to stream simultaneously.  Similar to the Sonos, but all music streams directly from Google Play. The Nexus Q is available for pre-order now on the Google Play website.

Update 2: I thought the price for this sounded high.  However, one possible reason that the price is high for this device is that it is Made in the USA.

 

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About the Author

Joel McLaughlin
Joel is a consultant in the IT field and is located in Columbus, OH. While he loves Linux and tends to use it more than anything else, he will stoop to running closed source if it is the best tool for the job. His techno passions are Linux, Android, netbooks, GPS, podcasting and Amateur Radio.

28 Comments on "Google Brings Out Nexus Q"

  1. So it’s basically AppleTV / AirPlay with a little more flexible social features at 3 times the price. Hmm. I’m not sure I get it except to bring feature parity for Andoid users. But why is it so expensive?

    • Yes. A lot more expensive. I am not optimistic about the Nexus Q.

      • Internal amp. But not worth the extra $200 IMO

        Sent from my iPad

        • Yeah I don’t get the pricing. Really expensive for all it is.

          • Yeah – I think it’s great to bring that type of service to Android devices, but the price makes me think its going to be a non-starter unless there is some amazing hidden feature!

            • Look above…I made an update….it’s made in the US which is probably why it costs so much.

              • Not sure that’s enough to justify the cost. After all, people spend a lot of money on Chinese products at Walmart!

            • Look above…I made an update….it’s made in the US which is probably why it costs so much.

          • Yeah – I think it’s great to bring that type of service to Android devices, but the price makes me think its going to be a non-starter unless there is some amazing hidden feature!

        • Yeah I don’t get the pricing. Really expensive for all it is.

      • Internal amp. But not worth the extra $200 IMO

        Sent from my iPad

    • Yes. A lot more expensive. I am not optimistic about the Nexus Q.

  2. So it’s basically AppleTV / AirPlay with a little more flexible social features at 3 times the price. Hmm. I’m not sure I get it except to bring feature parity for Andoid users. But why is it so expensive?

  3. I will update it above, but one reason it costs so much could be: it’s MADE IN THE US!

  4. I will update it above, but one reason it costs so much could be: it’s MADE IN THE US!

  5. A ~200% ‘USA Tax’? That doesn’t make sense … and when you look at the features – it plays YouTube (what doesn’t?) and the worst-in-class Google Music and Movies … YAWN! $300 for a limited, closed POS. Um … no.
    Google has a problem – despite repeated efforts … they HAVE NO ECOSYSTEM.

  6. A ~200% ‘USA Tax’? That doesn’t make sense … and when you look at the features – it plays YouTube (what doesn’t?) and the worst-in-class Google Music and Movies … YAWN! $300 for a limited, closed POS. Um … no.
    Google has a problem – despite repeated efforts … they HAVE NO ECOSYSTEM.

    • No….they DO have an Ecosystem. Just not one you like. 😉

      They said at the keynote that it will be hack-able and since it runs Android 4.0 it can likely run Netflix and a few other streaming apps. It’s NOT closed. Far from it. It’s OPEN SOURCE Mike. All source has been released. Even the previously closed Honeycomb code is all available to anyone who wants it.

      As for the price….yeah…I don’t agree with it and I don’t want it either. For all it does, it’s WAY over priced. I’d much rather have a Sonos.

      Apple TV IS nice, but I won’t buy it because it is TRULY closed and you can ONLY work with Apple’s Ecosystem.

      • They have an ecosystem like Apple has an ebook presence … sure it exists, but … 😉

        For me I prefer Roku as I hop outside and can get Amazon and Netflix and Hulu and so on. Like I said, reports have the Q as ‘Google Only’ on launch.

        • We’ll see. It won’t be long. I surely don’t think that this is going to be a success nor will it be the last TV device.

        • We’ll see. It won’t be long. I surely don’t think that this is going to be a success nor will it be the last TV device.

      • They have an ecosystem like Apple has an ebook presence … sure it exists, but … 😉

        For me I prefer Roku as I hop outside and can get Amazon and Netflix and Hulu and so on. Like I said, reports have the Q as ‘Google Only’ on launch.

      • I would disagree with you to a degree. I can take some of what I buy (music mostly) in the Apple ecosystem and use it on other devices and I can buy things in other ecosystems (like the MS Marketplace) and it automatically syncs into iTunes and works on my other devices. So no – it is not a TRULY closed ecosystem.

        Additionally, the fact that it is often easier to Jailbreak Apple devices than root Android devices makes me have to disagree with that assessment. Apple is designed as a closed system, and Android is designed as a (mostly) open system, but neither is truly or completely one or the other. We need to stop flagging that dead horse because ultimately the consumers don’t really care about that point anyway – they just want the stuff to work.

        • Francis Scardino | June 28, 2012 at 9:26 am |

          Chris,not to digress too much but Rooting an Android device is pretty much 1 click these days. Furthermore it is now supported by a few MFG’s and they give you the tools to do it. (even though they claim warranty voiding which is also negotiable)

          Arguing that Android is an open ecosystem is like debating politics, it’s all to no end. The truth is that you could rightfully say that its the MOST open of all OS’s and leave it at that. Google made the Q hack friendly, they stated it in the keynote which is the ONLY company to even say those words.

          The Q looks cool but is not for me. I agree with the rest of you that the product is too expensive for what it has to offer. I do however very much appreciate that it is made in the US, even if at quite a cost.

          • Well my only point is that Jailbreaking is easy and the whole issue keeps getting flagged and it should stop since consumers don’t really care and MOST don’t jailbreak or root their devices. Its a non-issue for consumers, yet it keeps getting brought up.

            Forgetting the geo-political and economic issues of producing goods in the states vs elsewhere in the world, the “made in the USA” things is still not a big thing for consumers (although it could be argued that it should be). Bottom line – people like cheap and that will generally win over the “made at home” argument. That’s been proven time and time again.

            • Francis Scardino | June 29, 2012 at 8:29 am |

              very true about jailbreaking but thats not so much the case hear. If a company puts out a product and claims it to be “hackable” , is that really considered jailbreaking if the door is already open? It sounds officially supported where most other cases is not. I think this was more of an argument that Google wants you to mess with it, regardless of how many people choose to or not. Not that most people will but it certainly does not hurt to have that option. IMO that’s as open as open gets in this day and age. Instead of saying only do what we create for you, they are saying create from it what you want and share it. That’s my take on it.

    • No….they DO have an Ecosystem. Just not one you like. 😉

      They said at the keynote that it will be hack-able and since it runs Android 4.0 it can likely run Netflix and a few other streaming apps. It’s NOT closed. Far from it. It’s OPEN SOURCE Mike. All source has been released. Even the previously closed Honeycomb code is all available to anyone who wants it.

      As for the price….yeah…I don’t agree with it and I don’t want it either. For all it does, it’s WAY over priced. I’d much rather have a Sonos.

      Apple TV IS nice, but I won’t buy it because it is TRULY closed and you can ONLY work with Apple’s Ecosystem.

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