Google Nexus Q

[jstaebell]

"The first social streaming media player" -- I don't think so! Just a couple of years behind Boxee...

At $299, I'm not impressed. It's got some nice features, but I don't see any advantages to the Boxee. Yes, it's got a built-in amp, but so what? I'm going to hook it up to a real amplifier anyway. What do you think?

https://play.google.com/store/device...ils?id=nexus_q

[tronbrain]

Guess what? Google wants to make entertainment more social. Gee, what a surprise.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0...t-more-social/

In other words, Google wants their new device to do what Boxee has been doing for four years now. How original.

And they want to do it with a device that's shaped like a sphere, with the bottom cut-off. Get it?

[tronbrain]

"The first social streaming media player" -- I don't think so! Just a couple of years behind Boxee...

At $299, I'm not impressed. It's got some nice features, but I don't see any advantages to the Boxee. Yes, it's got a built-in amp, but so what? I'm going to hook it up to a real amplifier anyway. What do you think?

https://play.google.com/store/device...ils?id=nexus_q

The advantage is that Google will be putting considerable resources into development of the platform. That it runs on Android is already a big plus. It could be a serious contender.

[jstaebell]

The advantage is that Google will be putting considerable resources into development of the platform. That it runs on Android is already a big plus. It could be a serious contender.

Perhaps. There's lots of projects that Google has abandoned too. I disagree about running on Android being an advantage; the consumer doesn't care what it runs on. In fact, from what I read, it seems like it only works if you have another Android device running; i.e. it won't work stand-alone, which is a major drawback to becoming a widely accepted consumer device. I'm not trying to bash Google here, because I love Google! But I'm really not impressed with at least this initial release of Q. I think Boxee is far superior, from what I've read. I also have to laugh at all the trolls on the forum who think Boxee Box should be priced at $99; if I were a Boxee product manager, I'd look at the Q pricing and raise the price of the next version of the Boxee Box!

[tronbrain]

Perhaps. There's lots of projects that Google has abandoned too. I disagree about running on Android being an advantage; the consumer doesn't care what it runs on. In fact, from what I read, it seems like it only works if you have another Android device running; i.e. it won't work stand-alone, which is a major drawback to becoming a widely accepted consumer device. I'm not trying to bash Google here, because I love Google! But I'm really not impressed with at least this initial release of Q. I think Boxee is far superior, from what I've read. I also have to laugh at all the trolls on the forum who think Boxee Box should be priced at $99; if I were a Boxee product manager, I'd look at the Q pricing and raise the price of the next version of the Boxee Box!

I don't see this device as bringing anything new to the game. Basically, it's a copy of the Boxee Box and its iPad app. But because it's Google, people will take an interest.

Boxee does need to roll out an Android version of its app.

Running Android is an advantage because of all the apps that are already available for it, and the ease of writing new ones.

This Nexus Q is priced too high, as was the Google TV. I doubt the device can be successful at $299.

And this is a cloud-based device, so no streaming of local media. For me, that's a non-starter.

[AminB]

I see it as a device to push their Cloud service and Google Play.
[ like; ATV w/ iTunes and mobileMe ]

[soundoftheground]

I don't see this device as bringing anything new to the game. Basically, it's a copy of the Boxee Box and its iPad app. But because it's Google, people will take an interest.

Boxee does need to roll out an Android version of its app.

Running Android is an advantage because of all the apps that are already available for it, and the ease of writing new ones.

This Nexus Q is priced too high, as was the Google TV. I doubt the device can be successful at $299.

And this is a cloud-based device, so no streaming of local media. For me, that's a non-starter.

agreed that running android is an advantage and also that it's priced too high, however google was pretty open with the 'hackability' of it and understanding devs will want to see what else they can do with it. with the huge number of android devs and open source nature of it i'm hoping to see someone out there turn it into a nice local media device as well.

[smallclone]

This is worth about £25 in my opinion. Competely limited content / apps / usability.

[twistybox]

It offers an integrated low-power amp over what Roku already sells starting at $50. This product is probably more of a showcase than a serious retail effort. Google just don't have a successful retail track record and I can see this thing not making it past the end of the year. I'm doubtful their 7" tablet will make it to next spring either.

[jstaebell]

Here's another review: http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/28/31...st-impressions

It doesn't stream local files like Boxee does. Even though it's based on Android, it doesn't (yet) have apps, so it doesn't even run Pandora or Spotify. The review mentions buffering issues. I'll be keeping my Boxee Box!