RealClear Summary
Posted On July 06, 2012
Google's Nexus Q is a distinctive looking digital media player capable of streaming music from Google Play and videos from YouTube. The Q connects via Wi-Fi and is controlled through an Android phone or tablet running Gingerbread or higher. It does not store files locally, nor does it stream them directly from a phone, but instead uses Google Play - a cloud music player - as a music library.
The back panel has a micro HDMI port, an Ethernet port, an optical audio output and four banana-plug ports for high-end speakers. In fact, unlike other media players on the market, the Q has 25-watt amplifier and is capable of delivering higher quality audio (provided you have the hardware).
Yet, as many reviewers noted, for $299 the Q is very limited: no access to services like Pandora, no user-interface outside of Android phones and tablets, and software that has been universally panned as buggy. The Q does have one novel feature going for it: other Android users can upload playlists to the Q and combine music from Google Play accounts into a single "party" mix.
Is that worth $300?
Reviews Sources
Google's Nexus Q is a good-looking media hub, but its meager app selection and reliance on Android devices don't come close to justifying its high price.
The Nexus Q's striking, orblike hardware can't outweigh the extreme limitations of this Android-only, Google-only media streamer.
The Nexus Q is an absolutely gorgeous looking device, and one that'll be sought after long after it's been left for dead by Google in the future. But know this: that's a long, long...
Should you buy it? No. Well, if 320kbps is just what you like, you have all of your music on Google Play, a fast internet connection, and $300 doesn't sound like much money for you,...
With so many buggy features and functionality gaps, the biggest question about the Nexus Q is who it's intended for. Other boxes on the market offer more functionality at lower price...
Google is obviously taking shots at Apple and their iOS and Apple TV solution. That said, the Nexus Q is a whopping $299 (through the Google Play store).That's a lot to pay for a...
So, who will buy this thing? Android nerds. Developers truly excited about hardware design, platform extensibility and embedded software. The types of people who will immediately hook...
It won't take you long to join the chorus of critics who've tried out the Q and had the same reaction: "What the - ?"
In its current form the software is too buggy to make it worth using at all, much less shelling out $300 for.If you're looking for something to stream video, there are other options...
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