Slashdot Mirror
Google Delays Nexus Q Launch, Pre-Orders Get It Free
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.'"
is it too late to preorder?
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.
Where has Apple said anything about the Nexus Q?
This is a smart move on Google's part. The device was very strange.
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.
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.
an idiot with free hardware, apparently.
"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
the Nexus Qcat?
No wifi, less space than a Nomad....lame.
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
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