Google Delays Nexus Q Launch, Pre-Orders Get It Free

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Google Delays Nexus Q Launch, Pre-Orders Get It Free

Posted by Soulskill on Tuesday July 31, 2012 @10:40AM from the now-you-wish-you-ordered-one dept.

MBCook writes "After a mixed reaction from the press, Google will be delaying the launch of the Nexus Q. People who pre-ordered will receive the current version of the device for free. 'When we announced Nexus Q at Google I/O, we gave away devices to attendees for an early preview. The industrial design and hardware were met with great enthusiasm. We also heard initial feedback from users that they want Nexus Q to do even more than it does today. In response, we have decided to postpone the consumer launch of Nexus Q while we work on making it even better.'"

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preorder by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 10:43 · Score: 5, Funny

is it too late to preorder?
1. Re:preorder by ronocdh · 2012-07-31 11:26 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Honest question: could you really not tell that AC was joking?
2. Re:preorder by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 11:38 · Score: 1
  
  That "whoosh" you just heard was the stampede of people pre-ordering a spot in your "How To Miss The Obvious" seminars.
3. Re:preorder by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 12:20 · Score: 0
  
  I was thinking it, and not joking, so how could I tell that someone else was when asking the same thing?
4. Re:preorder by martin-boundary · 2012-07-31 21:55 · Score: 1
  
  is it too late to preorder?
  
  I'm waiting for the prequel to come out, and I'm preordering then.
Twins! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 10:47 · Score: 0

Hardware wise it's similar to the Beagleboard. Awkward wise, the Boxee Box.
1. Re:Twins! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 10:58 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Yeah, most reports are that they're scrubbing the launch because the reviews have been pretty bad.
  It only does Google content out of the Play store and YouTube videos. You have to use a second screen device as a remote. It was going to be $300.
  They botched it and they know it. I won't be surprised if they tack on some software to play other content and release it just to get them off the shelves... but they really need to be working on the next attempt.
2. Re:Twins! by exomondo · 2012-07-31 11:06 · Score: 2
  
  Yeah, most reports are that they're scrubbing the launch because the reviews have been pretty bad.
  It only does Google content out of the Play store and YouTube videos. You have to use a second screen device as a remote. It was going to be $300.
  I agree, it just doesn't do enough out of the box. Though hopefully getting the current iteration into the hands of devs will yield some actual usefulness when the device does ship to consumers even if Google don't change much between now and then. Hopefully they add DLNA natively (it would nice, though highly unlikely, to have AirPlay too).
3. Re:Twins! by Sark666 · 2012-07-31 11:33 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Even with revisions I kind of want this product to fail. I recently purchased a nexus 7 which is a fantastic tablet but the earlier prototype had an sd slot and hdmi port. I suspect as others do, these features were taken out not as a cost cutting measure, but to steer you towards the Q.
  If users have a nexus 7 with hdmi out most would say good enough and be happy with that. The nexus Q has more ports for audiophiles but the vast majority will be happy simply using hdmi to the hd display and then to whatever audio system they have for that.
  And with hdmi, I could browse the web on a large screen, run games, apps etc. With this it's just stream content from your play purchases (no local content) and oh you can have a friend come over and queue (queue get it? see how smart they are?) their content that they have from the play store.
  So it's pluses are neat queuing functionality and additional audio ports
  it's cons are: no local content. can't run games, apps to your tv. and it's 300 bucks.
  Scratch that. I don't kind of want it to fail, I hope it bombs. Reason being if it's a success less and less tablets will have hdmi in the future.
  Again the nexus 7 is an amazing tablet, I just wish I had the version that wasn't downgraded for the validity of this device.
4. Re:Twins! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 13:52 · Score: 0
  
  Couldn't you just root the thing, install an aftermarket ROM and do whatever you want with it?
5. Re:Twins! by cynyr · 2012-07-31 14:37 · Score: 1
  
  I'd love one if it could become my android tablet/phone controled media box that would pass the wife test.
  It needs DLNA, netflix, hulu plus, amazon VoD, pandora, slacker, etc etc etc and I need to be able to control them fram any android device in the house.
  It would be neat to be able to play angry birds/etc on it using the tablet as a touchscreen as well. I bet my kids would get a kick out of that.
  
  --
  All of the above was encrypted with a Quad ROT-13 method. Unauthorized decryption is in violation of the DMCA.
6. Re:Twins! by ccguy · 2012-07-31 15:02 · Score: 2
  
  It only does Google content out of the Play store and YouTube videos.
  
  And only if you are in the US. If you are somewhere else the Nexus Q android application *will not be available* to download to your android device, period. And even if you manage to download it by cheating, the youtube application won't display the icon to 'play on Q'.
  
  We complain about DVD and blu-ray zones all the time, but this is even worse. With a blu-ray at least if you take the player with you you can play your media everyone, but with this you are fucked. You can't use the Nexus Q *at all*, even to stream a fucking youtube video you just uploaded yourself.
7. Re:Twins! by jmerlin · 2012-07-31 15:07 · Score: 1
  
  I disagree. When I read more about the Q, I was confident that it would fail. Why? You don't create a general purpose computer, put Android on it, and market it to a bunch of tech enthusiasts when you only give the YouTube and Google Play apps the capability to render to the screen. That's a completely broken model, ESPECIALLY for the target audience. Bad idea.
  
  That said, this device is quite capable. Sure, you have annoyances about input issues, but that can be solved if the platform is opened by third-party controllers/remotes. If you'll recall, the Ouya is just a little box that runs Android. If they remove all the red tape in this device and open it up to developers, it can easily eat the entire market that Ouya would've had, long before Ouya's official launch, AND it can still support all the awesome stuff Google wanted to put on it.
  
  The Q has the potential to be awesome. Google just has to let go of their fears of it being used for piracy and open the device. Then we'll see something pretty awesome.
8. Re:Twins! by Cajun+Hell · 2012-07-31 16:01 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Google just has to let go of their fears of it being used for piracy and open the device.
  Just reading about the [lack of] capabilities of the device, it was clear what Google's concern was, and ultimately what is going to drive the company to evil. In 5 years, when we talk about what went wrong with Google so that they became the next Apple, my next paragraph is what we're going to be talking about.
  It's not piracy. It's anything that doesn't involve looking at Google ads. That's the only explanation for the otherwise-capable device's shocking crippledness. They want you to use their streaming services, but that's not anything that anyone wants. Only lock-in will get people to use that stuff, so they're trying lock-in, without even disguising it with some stupid pretense.
  
  --
  "Believe me!" -- Donald Trump
Between the lines by wbr1 · 2012-07-31 10:53 · Score: 2, Interesting

In response, we have decided to postpone the consumer launch of Nexus Q while we work on making it even better.
"In response to learning of possible patent litigation from Apple, et. al., we have decided to delay the launch of the Nexus Q while we cover our asses and try to remove the infringing bits."
There, I fixed that for you.

--
Silence is a state of mime.
1. Re:Between the lines by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 10:58 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Patent law sure promotes the Progress of Science and useful Arts, doesn't it!
2. Re:Between the lines by Tr3vin · 2012-07-31 11:01 · Score: 2
  
  More than likely it is to add some GoogleTV functionality. It is pretty limited as it is. Merging the bits that it currently has into GoogleTV would make a lot of sense. It is a fully functional android device already, so this shouldn't be too difficult.
3. Re:Between the lines by MBCook · 2012-07-31 11:01 · Score: 5, Insightful
  Where has Apple said anything about the Nexus Q?
  This is a smart move on Google's part. The device was very strange.
  
  While the hardware was better, it was $300. An Apple TV is $100 and you can get a Roku for $50-$60.
  
  It had no remote, you had to own an Android phone. The Apple TV's remote isn't very good, but at least it exists.
  
  The stereo amplifier was an odd decision. Peopler either already have an amp, or they don't have speakers. What's the point of having an amp that connects to my TV to play video if I can't direct the TV's sound through the amp?
  
  Google doesn't have much content right now. They can show other people's content (Hulu, Amazon, Netflix), but a Roku does that at 1/5th the price.
  
  It would be possible to play games on it... but it has no remote/controller. I guess you could buy a bluetooth one.
  
  They could make a pretty interesting device out of it. AirPlay is a fantastic feature, I'd love to see Google come up with features like that to extend your Android device. But as announced, it seemed like final hardware designed for a vision that was still in the alpha stage, with no real software ("Let's just stick Android on it!"). I think it says a lot that since that was announced the Ouya was announced at $100, can do most everything the Q can, costs 1/3rd as much, and has had a ton of interest. Google missed the mark, and they're smart to fix it instead of launching it to die in the market.
  --
  Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
4. Re:Between the lines by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 11:02 · Score: 0
  
  Can this blatant trolling be modded down please? Please? Don't let me down, Slashdot.
5. Re:Between the lines by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 11:26 · Score: 0
  
  I modded it funny. Because it is.
6. Re:Between the lines by wbr1 · 2012-07-31 11:27 · Score: 1
  
  Chillout people, perhaps should have added /sarcasm to my post.
  /.'s understanding of humor keeps decreasing. I blame CmdrTaco.
  
  --
  Silence is a state of mime.
7. Re:Between the lines by 93+Escort+Wagon · 2012-07-31 11:53 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  "In response to learning of possible patent litigation from Apple, et. al., we have decided to delay the launch of the Nexus Q while we cover our asses and try to remove the infringing bits."
  Wouldn't the Q first have to be able to - oh, I don't know - actually do something USEFUL before it could infringe on anything?
  As it is, I imagine the folks at Apple, Roku, Boxee, et. al were too busy laughing after the Q's announcement to think about suing anyone.
  
  --
  #DeleteChrome
8. Re:Between the lines by thedarknite · 2012-07-31 12:13 · Score: 1
  
  If they were to package it with a wireless game controller then it would be a be a viable game system as well
  
  --
  A game has objectives and is competitive, anything else is just play
9. Re:Between the lines by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 13:13 · Score: 0
  
  You mean like trying different approaches to solving a problem... like this little work of fiction unintentionally portrayed?
10. Re:Between the lines by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 13:47 · Score: 0
  
  "In response to realizing that the next leg down of the Greater Depression is about to occur, we decided to horde cash instead."
  There, I fixed that for you
11. Re:Between the lines by MrDoh! · 2012-07-31 14:23 · Score: 1
  
  That's it I'm sure. With the ouya gaming box thingy, then this really should have been a gaming box too. Nexus (G)amer.
  
  --
  Waiting for an amusing sig.
12. Re:Between the lines by Cajun+Hell · 2012-07-31 16:06 · Score: 1
  
  It had no remote, you had to own an Android phone
  To be fair, you wouldn't have had to use an Android phone; you'd have to use an Android device. Think cheapest commodity hardware, running free software. Right now that's under $100 and before too long it will be under $40. "Remotes" are on the cusp of obsolescence, to be replaced by "smartremotes."
  But yeah, $300 was way too much for a neato "smartamp" and the weird Google services lock-in made it not really even good for that kind of job.
  
  --
  "Believe me!" -- Donald Trump
13. Re:Between the lines by bkk_diesel · 2012-07-31 16:20 · Score: 1
  
  And the best part? They're GIVING the device away for FREE to people who pre-ordered. That might just make me a bit more inclined to pre-order from Google in the future. This is a great advertisement for making an early commitment to any Google device. Inherent in any pre-order is some risk. They've just done a pretty good job of making that risk look smaller to future early adopters.
14. Re:Between the lines by itsdapead · 2012-07-31 20:03 · Score: 2
  
  "In response to learning of possible patent litigation from Apple, et. al., we have decided to delay the launch of the Nexus Q while we cover our asses and try to remove the infringing bits."
  Whu? Have Apple finally been granted a patent on "selling a product for 3x the cost of competing products"?
  
  --
  In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.
15. Re:Between the lines by Richard_at_work · 2012-07-31 20:03 · Score: 1
  
  The entire smartphone field has exploded over the past 6 years, so yeah, it does promote progress - unless you look at the past decade with a very blinkered view and skew it to fit your own conclusions...
16. Re:Between the lines by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 21:53 · Score: 0
  
  As it turns out, not only has Apple patented rectangles, but they've patented spheres as well. Hooray!
17. Re:Between the lines by AmazingRuss · 2012-08-01 01:27 · Score: 1
  
  Preorder, and if nobody likes it, you get one free!
18. Re:Between the lines by n7ytd · 2012-08-01 03:58 · Score: 1
  
  It had no remote, you had to own an Android phone
  To be fair, you wouldn't have had to use an Android phone; you'd have to use an Android device. Think cheapest commodity hardware, running free software. Right now that's under $100 and before too long it will be under $40. "Remotes" are on the cusp of obsolescence, to be replaced by "smartremotes."
  But yeah, $300 was way too much for a neato "smartamp" and the weird Google services lock-in made it not really even good for that kind of job.
  Not just any Android device, you have to have something running Jellybean, which means exactly one device, so far.
19. Re:Between the lines by n7ytd · 2012-08-01 04:01 · Score: 1
  
  The stereo amplifier was an odd decision. Peopler either already have an amp, or they don't have speakers. What's the point of having an amp that connects to my TV to play video if I can't direct the TV's sound through the amp?
  A very odd decision, especially at the 25W power level. 25W is slightly better than the built-in speakers on the TV, but completely inadequate for audiophiles who would care about having separate speakers from their TV.
20. Re:Between the lines by BenLeeImp · 2012-08-01 05:32 · Score: 1
  
  https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_Q?id=nexus_q
  "Phone or Tablet running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or higher with access to Google Play"
  So pretty much anything running Android at this point.
21. Re:Between the lines by n7ytd · 2012-08-01 07:22 · Score: 1
  
  https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_Q?id=nexus_q
  "Phone or Tablet running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or higher with access to Google Play"
  So pretty much anything running Android at this point.
  Ah. Thanks for the correction.
Wish I were a pre-orderer by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 11:00 · Score: 0

Those two guys are very lucky!
1. Re:Wish I were a pre-orderer by MickyTheIdiot · 2012-07-31 11:04 · Score: 1
  
  I'm one of them.
2. Re:Wish I were a pre-orderer by MickyTheIdiot · 2012-07-31 11:37 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  an idiot with free hardware, apparently.
Re:Just like Microsoft? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 11:07 · Score: 1

Yeah, 'cause that's just what the Nexus Q is, numbnuts. An iPad killer. Derp.
Chillout by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 11:12 · Score: 0

Can this blatant trolling be modded down please? Please? Don't let me down, Slashdot.
Oh relax, he's obviously taking the piss, don't get so emotional over it. If you really thought it was a serious troll then you wouldn't have even replied to it (unless you are an idiot) because that's exactly the point of trolling.
Re:Just like Microsoft? by headhot · 2012-07-31 11:25 · Score: 2

That because the don't give out release dates until the product is finished and being manufactured in mass quantities.
Re:Just like Microsoft? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 11:26 · Score: 0

Hat;em? No, I do not enjoy putting hats on large multinational companies, you bald headed bastards!
Vaporware, Google style? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 11:28 · Score: 0, Interesting

Will it ever deliver?
1. Re:Vaporware, Google style? by Newander · 2012-08-01 01:58 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, they're going to deliver them for free.
  
  --
  Jesus saves and takes half damage.
Kudos to Google by 93+Escort+Wagon · 2012-07-31 11:38 · Score: 2

... for realizing the Q was a big old ball of fail.
Seriously, what were they smoking that led them to think the $300 Q was going to receive any real-world reception other than general laughter?

--
#DeleteChrome
Will they work on making it better... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 11:38 · Score: 0

by not making it in the US at all?
What is in this thing... by __Paul__ · 2012-07-31 11:42 · Score: 0

...that makes it worth $300 anyway? No screen, only 16Gb storage ... it doesn't seem like an overly complicated device.

--
worldmobilenet.com -- World Prepaid Wireless Internet plans
1. Re:What is in this thing... by tlhIngan · 2012-07-31 17:20 · Score: 1
  
  ...that makes it worth $300 anyway? No screen, only 16Gb storage ... it doesn't seem like an overly complicated device.
  It was probably a bunch of people pulling it in various ways treating it as a pet project without realizing the practicalities of it.
  First - it only pulls from the internet. You queue up stuff on your Android device to it, but the content must exist "in the cloud". E.g., YouTube, Google Music, etc. You could not stream video from your personal device to it, or from your home content server. It has to be in the cloud.
  Heck, an Android device with an *AppleTV* is more useful - there are various Android apps that can stream local content to it, for 1/3rd the price.
  The other thing was, they decided to manufacture in the US. The problem was they did not optimize for domestic manufacturing. Looking at the tear-apart, and there are plenty of things you would NOT do in the US. If I had to guess, they were going ot manufacture in China, then someone decided it would be cool to manufacture in the US as-is, without re-doing the design-for-manufacture stage to optimize it. The build was complex already, and while probably acceptable for Chinese manufacture, it's not something you'd want to build in the US - too complex, requiring too much manual labor to put together (== expensive).
  Finally, no one really understood what it was *for*. I paid $300, I got what? A ball that plays music, OK, but not any kind of music... Phone, I understand. tablet, I undrestand. Media streamer/player, I understand. This... not so much.
  I suppose it's like a ChromeBox or something - something that costs way too much for what it does and lacks what a lot of competing devices also do.
2. Re:What is in this thing... by tomofumi · 2012-07-31 19:18 · Score: 1
  
  Because it is made in USA...that added up the cost...
3. Re:What is in this thing... by tlhIngan · 2012-08-01 03:10 · Score: 1
  
  Because it is made in USA...that added up the cost...
  Partially.
  It was made in the USA, from a manufacturing design for China. If you take a design to manufacture something in China and move it ot the USA, it's going to cost way to omuch. Instead, you have to iterate and optimize the design for domestic manufacture - understanding what the robots can do and ensuring your assembly and build process will work within those limitations so you employ as few human hands as possible (it's a dull, boring job that fall into the same range of jobs as janitor, housemaid, unskilled laborer, farm picker, etc).
Re:Between the lines it says Ouya by rjejr · 2012-07-31 12:00 · Score: 1

Thanks for that Ouya reference. The first I've heard of it and now I think I need to contribute $99 to get a hold of one. Q is overpriced. Google TV was way overpriced. Maybe Google thinks it's name holds as much cache as Sony used too?
Maybe they should just call it by jforr · 2012-07-31 12:02 · Score: 4, Funny

the Nexus Qcat?
I agree by Overzeetop · 2012-07-31 12:11 · Score: 5, Funny

No wifi, less space than a Nomad....lame.

--
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
1. Re:I agree by JWW · 2012-07-31 13:18 · Score: 1
  
  +1 internets for you sir.
Merge With Ouya by SinGunner · 2012-07-31 12:14 · Score: 2

They need to buy out the people behind the Ouya system and incorporate that and make it $100. All Ouya has is money anyways. Roku is close to offering this already, now that they offer games. Google needs to control this out of the gate instead of diving in late in the game like they usually do. Android-powered, web-connected TV interface that supports gaming. KIS,S
Learn by example. by godel_56 · 2012-07-31 13:26 · Score: 1

Microsoft should do the same with Windows 8. :)
Sony Rolly! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 13:57 · Score: 0

Remember the rolly by Sony? Another example of "wtf" being applied to a speaker. But at least it dances.
When can I get a Nexus 6? by bigtrike · 2012-07-31 15:16 · Score: 1

Who cares about the Nexus Q, I want a Nexus 6.
1. Re:When can I get a Nexus 6? by itsdapead · 2012-07-31 19:48 · Score: 1
  
  Who cares about the Nexus Q, I want a Nexus 6.
  The Nexus 6 would be great if it wasn't for the ridiculous built-in obsolescence. A few years and then all the content you've collected vanishes, like tears in rain.
  
  --
  In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.
Doesn't matter by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-31 18:44 · Score: 0

This was going to be DOA anyways.
Making it better by sl4shd0rk · 2012-08-01 01:28 · Score: 1

If Google really wants a win in the TV streaming arena, they need to make the Q stream Netflix, Amazon and Hulu. None of the current offerings out there can do it. You need a different one for each service which is idiotic and based in marketing politics.
If Google ends up with "just another box" streaming MP3s, youtube, and Google TV it's just fail waiting for the fail boat on fail island. People will use their phone or tablet for that before plunking down $300 bills.

--
Join the Slashcott! Feb 10 thru Feb 17!
Cool by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-01 02:21 · Score: 0

Thank for info!
seo
Will the next one be round? by lordofthechia · 2012-08-01 03:03 · Score: 1

I hope they reintroduce it with the same shape... With the Nexus Q and the Boxee Box I'm one pyramid shaped device away from recreating the old EA logo on my TV stand!

--
Georgia Tech, the leader in Chia(tm) technology.
Ahhh yeaah by XrayJunkie · 2012-08-01 18:26 · Score: 1

" postpone the consumer launch of Nexus Q while we work on making it even better.'"
should be
" postpone the consumer launch of Nexus Q to fix critical bugs"