Google unveils orb-like, USA-made Nexus Q streaming device

Élyse Betters | Jun 27 2012 - 10:43 am PT

Google executives are now on-stage at Google I/O to unveil the Nexus Q—an orb-like, social streaming-media device with a $299 price tag.

It is notably made in the United States and acts as a bridge for Android devices by streaming Google Play Music, Google Play Movies and TV, and YouTube to “the biggest speakers and screen in the house.” Anyone nearby can use an Android device to control what is playing through the Nexus Q.

It touts a 4.6-inch diameter and weighs only 2 pounds. It also features a rotating top dome volume control with a capacitive touch sensor. The Nexus Q comes equipped with a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU, SGX540 graphics core, 1GB LPDDR RAM, and 16GB NAND flash memory. It even runs a version of Android 4.0, while boasting slots for Micro HDMI, TOSLink Optical audio, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, Micro AB USB, and Banana jack speaker outputs. The Nexus Q supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, and NFC capabilities.

Google’s streaming device is available for pre-order at Google Play today, but it will not ship for another two to three weeks.

The 2012 Google I/O Developers Conference starts today at the Moscone Center West in San Francisco, Calif., with events continuing until June 29 at 4:30 p.m. PST.

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