Hasta La Gadget!

Google is rolling out a string of updates today, particularly for its Nexus Q, YouTube app, and Play Movies & TV apps. So what’s exactly new with the Nexus Q app? Version 1.0.8.406084 now supports earlier system versions of Android as well as improvements to the social mix (guest mode) feature. The YouTube app, on the other hand, is now updated to support Nexus Q on Android 4.0 and above devices, as well earlier versions of Android.

This means that you can now turn your good old smartphone into a remote control to play your favorite YouTube videos on other devices. And as for the Google Play Movies & TV app, apart from a few bug fixes, the newly updated version has been tweaked to allow faster downloads. Google is also addressing a reported playback failure on some LG devices with the update. The updates aren’t that huge, but these baby steps will eventually turn into giant leaps in the long run – hopefully.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Nexus Q stock sold out, Nexus Q in stock at the Google Play Store,

The Nexus Q media streamer might not have generated the same kind of mania as the Nexus 7 tablet, but it’s still good news that Google is now shipping its mysteriously social orb. Google Play has the Q in stock and expects new US orders to arrive on doorsteps within the next three to five days. We’re not expecting the kind of runaway sales of the $299 hub that have made the more utilitarian Nexus 7 hard to find, but anyone who spends a lot of their leisure time in the Google media ecosystem might appreciate the integration. Alas, that made-in-the-USA design still isn’t available outside of the USA, so those in other countries will have to make do with alternatives.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Nexus Q starts shipping in earnest from Google Play, social streaming reaches our doors in five days originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 18:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Nexus Q hacks are coming fast and furious now, and inching closer to true usefulness with each one. The latest is easily the most exciting — a port of full-blown CyanogenMod 9 and XBMC for Android. While the hack was the work of the actual CM team, the Q is not an officially supported device. There are still plenty of quirks and bugs to iron out, but WiFi and Bluetooth are both up and running. If you’ve got one of the expertly crafted magnesium spheres, there’s nothing stopping you from blessing it with a little custom ROM love. Just know that there’s still lots of work to do, especially on the XBMC for Android front which is still very much in the experimental stage. To see CM9 in action check out the video after the break and hit up the more coverage link for install instructions.

Continue reading Nexus Q hacked to run CM9 and XBMC, inches closer to usefulness

Filed under: Software

Nexus Q hacked to run CM9 and XBMC, inches closer to usefulness originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After a brief respite to recover from last week’s hot dog and homemade ice cream comas, our tablet mag is back in action. Getting our e-publication affairs back in order, Brian Heater sits down with Levar Burton to chat about Reading Rainbow, a new iPad app and Star Trek gadgetry. Hitting on another bit of childhood nostalgia for many of us at Engadget HQ, Alexis Santos drops by NASA’s Launch Control Center (LCC) for a tour after more than three decades of operation. On the review front, we roll up our sleeves and put both the Nexus Q and the Samsung Series 9 through the wringer while offering some in-depth impressions. “Eyes-On” takes a peek at the Google booty offered to I/O attendees, “Hands-On” our latest gadget outings and Gaikai’s founder admits his reliance on the PowerPoint gods in the Q&A. Don’t take our word for it. Snag your copy of the e-magazine with a few clicks on the download links that follow.

Distro Issue 48 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter

Filed under: Announcements

Distro Issue 48 arrives with the Nexus Q, Levar Burton and more originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, that first round of Nexus Q hacks? Impressive in terms of turn around time, not so much when functionality is your primary metric. But, a couple of weeks with the gorgeous, if questionably useful device, has started to produce some truly exciting results. The one that has our tinkering fingers itching most, puts a launcher and apps right at your finger tips… well, mouse pointer. The hack is hardly for the meek but, if you’re already in possession of a Nexus Q, we’re sure pushing a few .apks via adb won’t unsettle you too much. The solution is far from perfect, but the Android foundation is able to recognize keyboards and mice it seems without issue. What really makes this a great hack, of course, is the ability to install apps like Netflix and Angry Birds finally freeing the Q from its arguably artificial shackles. If you’re looking for something a little less involved (and decidedly less cool) there’s also QRemote, an .apk you can push to your Q that lets you control it via a web browser. It doesn’t expose any additional functionality, but at least it lets you skip tracks from your PC or other non-Jelly Bean device. You can see both in action after the break, and all the relevant files and accompanying instructions live at the source links.

Continue reading Nexus Q hacked to launch apps, gets remote control web app

Filed under: Software

Nexus Q hacked to launch apps, gets remote control web app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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