Google Nexus Q - Top 5 Features We Love

By Akansha Srivastava | Jun 29, 2012 10:35 AM EDT

Previous image Enlarge Close Next image

Share This Story

On the first day of Google I/O developer's conference, with the launch of the new tablet and next version of OS, the attendees also witnessed the unwrapping of an unusual device. Google unveiled, what they dubbed as 'world's first social streaming media player' - Nexus Q. What will it do? Nexus Q will allow users to stream their favorite entertainment directly from the cloud to their living room.

The device is small ball-shaped, Android-based computer that is permanently dialed into a user's Google cloud content. As far as specs are concerned the Nexus Q is powered by an OMAP4460 (dual ARM Cortex-A9 CPUs and SGX540 GPU) has 1GB of RAM and 16GB of NAND flash memory. It runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and has a 24W class D amplifier with 12.5 watts per channel.

Connectors and ports include micro HDMI (type D), TOSLink Optical audio (S/PDIF), 10/100BASE-T Ethernet (RJ45), Micro AB USB (for service and support), Banana jack speaker outputs. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC. It draws 25 watts and takes "just a few minutes to set up out of the box," according to Google.

The Nexus Q can be pre-ordered from Google's Play Store for $299 and will ship sometime in July.

How it works?

The Nexus Q acts as an amplifier and allows users to plug in additional speakers to it. The device also has a touch sensor that will offer users to mute the currently playing audio/video by just touching the device.

Apart from this, the device will work syncing with Android devices including smartphone and tablet, which serves as a remote control basically.

Right now, the only device that works with Nexus Q is the latest Nexus 7 tablet from Google and Asus that was also made available at Wednesday's event.

Future Jellybean-based devices will also work with the streaming media player and so will tablets and handsets running earlier versions of Android, according to Google.

However, Google didn't say whether any third party or non-Android devices will ever be able to work with the Nexus Q.

Here are top 5 things we love about the new player device by Google:

Design: The 4.6-inch sphere is an innovation by the search engine giant to capture the living room buffs as it weighs only 923 grams and has an in-built audiophile-grade amplifier, so that the users can hook up to the speakers, or use an optical or HDMI cable to connect Nexus Q to their AV receiver or HDTV. It also has 32 LEDs that ring Nexus Q shift and change color in tune to your music.

Simple Interface: The Nexus Q has a simple remote control interface that allows users to queue up music, play movies, or search the Internet through the device. One can attach as many Nexus Q remote controls as your network will carry, according to Google.

A Social Device: The Nexus Q will let the users collaborate with friends through their Android phone or tablet to put together music and video playlists. Not only can you easily access all of the movies, music, and TV shows stored in your cloud, but any friends that come and visit your house can join in on the action. It's best to think of this feature as Turntable.fm meets Apple TV. The users and their friends can play social playlists, can see the queue update in real time and add songs and albums of their own, directly.

Media Connectivity: The Nexus Q pulls the content from Google Play simply by tapping the Android device to the Nexus Q, and it has plenty of outputs for streaming music, including optical digital audio, as well as 1080p video for televisions. It can also play videos from YouTube.

Android Option: Concerning the current market situation, there are more different Android devices out there than Apple devices. And the Apple TV is only accessible with the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. However, the Nexus Q can work with any Android device, either smartphone or tablet, as long as it's running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. In this way, more consumers will get to use the option of the new Android media hub.