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Google’s Nexus Q, the futuristic-looking, globe-shaped media streaming device that the company introduced June 27 along with the Nexus 7 tablet, is not shipping on the schedule the company originally planned.
In fact, the ship schedule has been postponed indefinitely. Nexus Q units were supposed to start moving to customers two weeks ago.
The giant search, Web services and media device provider alerted via email customers who had pre-ordered the $299 device that it is holding off shipments “while we work on making it even better.
The email to pre-order customers said that Google received 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.
This will pay off for those who pre-ordered, however, because Google also said they will get their units free of charge. That’s one way of earning good word-of-mouth public relations.
To thank you for your early interest,” Google said, “wed like to extend the Nexus Q preview to our pre-order customers and send you a free device.
Access to Television, Movies, Music, and More
Nexus Q (pictured below right at Google I/O launch event June 27) offers users access to TV shows, movies, magazines and other content through Google Play, the companys online media store. The official name is the Nexus Q, but Google personnel just called it the Q.
The globelike, cloud-based device streams photos, audio and video from Googles cloud (and Google+) into any room in a home. In fact, guests at a Q-equipped home visiting for a party can take over control of the Q and change the music and/or movieshould the host not object.
Once it is indoctrinated into the Google cloud, the Q can be moved around to various locations in the house as needed. The company said it put a lot of time and effort into the R&D to come up with the globelike form factor. Instructions (queued-up videos, photos, music) for the Q can be handled by the new Jelly Bean 4.1-powered Nexus 7.
The device can be controlled by an Android smartphone or tablet, but the content is not streamed through those devices, but from the cloud through the Nexus Q to the home entertainment system. Around the equator, if you will, of the ball is a tiny LED band that pulses along with the music being played.