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The most remarkable thing about Google’s Nexus 7 tablet can’t be found on its spec sheet. It won’t show up in any benchmark, and it has nothing to do with that zippy new operating system. If you want to know the true significance of the Nexus 7, all you need to look at is the price tag. More »

Just in case you still think that Google is a software company, what happened earlier yesterday morning has debunked that myth once and for all. I know, Google has churned out Google-branded smartphones in the past, where those were manufactured by HTC first, followed by Samsung as part of the Nexus range. However, what you have here this time around would be a hardware that was built right in the bowels of Google’s headquarters itself – resulting in this rounded beauty known as the Nexus Q.

Just what is the Nexus Q? It is a sphere, basically, but that does not mean it is down and out for the count. Do not despise small beginnings, literally with the Nexus Q. The Nexus Q is said to be the focal point of Android as well as Google Play, allowing one to stream not only music, but video straight into your home. You will be able to control it using an Android-powered smartphone or a similar tablet.

As mentioned earlier, this was specially designed and engineered by the team over at Google. The Nexus Q is tiny enough not to look out of place in just about any home, where the main purpose of it is to be plugged into the best speakers and TVs around your home. Touted to be the first ever social streaming device, similar to a cloud connected jukebox, it allows everyone who drops by your place to basically brings their own personal music collection to the party. First out in the US, you will be able to place a pre-order for the Nexus Q from Google Play for $299 a pop. Shipping commences sometime from the middle of next month onwards. Of course, other territories will also be on the receiving end of the Nexus Q, but we will just have to wait for an official announcement on the release dates.

Just what other kind of hardware specifications does the Nexus Q carry? We are looking at connectivity options that include Optical audio (S/PDIF), Ethernet, micro HDMI, and microUSB. You will find the same kind of processing power as the Galaxy Nexus, and the entire device tips the scales at just 2 pounds. The rotating top dome functions as a volume control, and it is rounded off by 1GB RAM and 16GB of internal memory, all running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

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[ Google gives birth to the Nexus Q copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

What is the Q? Well, it’s a ball… a ball that plays music. And videos. And it also lights up. It’s what Google is calling it a “social streaming device” but what’s most important is that this is finally the realization of the Android@Home standard that was unveiled last year. While the styling is what’ll immediately grab you, it’s the functionality that Google thinks will rock your living room. Join us after the break for our first impressions of this category-defying device.

Continue reading Nexus Q social streaming device hands-on

Nexus Q social streaming device hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some of the mystery has been taken out of it, but Google has officially taken the wraps off of the Nexus 7, its first reference-grade tablet. The 7-inch slate is the first and currently only device shipping with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and takes advantage of its optimization for smaller tablet screens, magazines and movies — it’s also the first to ship with a finished Chrome for Android. Like what was widely suspected, the tablet is built by ASUS (shades of Eee Pad MeMO ME370T, anyone?) and mostly draws our attention in terms of what we get for the money: that quad-core Tegra 3, 1.2-megapixel front camera, NFC and 1280 x 800, IPS-based LCD are traits we’d normally look for in a pricier tablet. How much pricier, you ask? Google is asking just $199 for a dainty 8GB model and $249 for a 16GB version — that’s a lot of speed for the money, especially with a $25 Google Play credit and a slew of bundled content. There’s no SD card slot, however. We’ll test the Nexus 7 as soon as we can, but you can swing by Google Play (and possibly local stores) to order one in Australia, Canada, the UK and the US with a mid-July shipping window.

Check out our full coverage of Google I/O 2012’s opening keynote at our event hub!

Continue reading Google makes the Nexus 7 tablet official: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and a $199 price (video)

Google makes the Nexus 7 tablet official: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and a $199 price (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 13:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Didn’t think Google was just going to announce a tablet at I/O, did you? The company will also be showing off a mysterious Nexus Q device. Google say it’s a social streamer that’ll hook up to your speakers and television and pipe content from the cloud, sporting a very cool design to boot. Droid-Life first discovered the reference to the Nexus Q on the Play Store, and now all the details along with an introduction video has emerged.

The Nexus Q streams music, video, and YouTube from Google’s various content services. In addition, it allows users to create their own social playlists to send to the streamer and to share amongst friends. Not only that, but the device serves as a 25-watt amplifier, so you can plug in your own speakers and get some improved audio from the black orb.

The device is running Ice Cream Sandwich, and comes with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. WiFI b/g/n, Bluetooth, and NFC are all onboard, and it can be controlled via a capactive touch sensor found on the front. You’ll need an Android phone or tablet connected to the same WiFI network as the Nexus Q to control everything, and it’ll set you back $299. The Play Store indicates that it’ll start shipping in two to three weeks.

[via The Verge]

Google Nexus Q brings media streaming to the home for $299 is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
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