[Editorial] Google's Nexus Q Vs. Google TV; What really are the differences, and Why?

[dgstorm]

One of the big news stories of today from Google I/O 2012, was Google's launch of their new "social streaming media player" the Nexus Q. This device is designed to be a media hub for all of your Google Play cloud stored digital content like movies and music. It attaches to your speakers and/or stereo system at home and allows you to stream all of your content through it, and control it with your Android phone or tablet. According to reports, it is basically a streaming media hub for the Google@Home concept (formerly announced last year as Android@Home). It can be pre-purchased for $299.99 now and will ship sometime in July.

This brings about some obvious questions. One, what really is the difference between this Nexus Q and Google TV? Two, why would Google release a product that could fairly easily be confused with one of their other products? And, three, why release it at all? Let's dig deeper into that last question first shall we... This device is basically just a sphere shaped box with some audio and video interfaces on it. Isn't that basically what a Google TV is also? The chip that is in this new device is the OMAP 6640, which is the same chip inside the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Couldn't they have worked ahead with their OEMs? They could have smashed this chip into the next Google TV device, installed the same software, and BAM! Now, the Google TV does all of these same things, broadening its appeal.

Obviously, they really are two different products. One is designed to facilitate a different TV watching experience, while the other is designed to help stream personal media content from your own cloud storage. However, these two concepts are not really mutually exclusive, and in fact they really walk hand in hand together. The marriage of the Nexus Q and Google TV would be a massive step toward a true convergence of entertainment in your living room.

Can it be that the genius Googlers never actually thought to merge these two ideas together? Perhaps you guys can come up with some reasons why Google chose to go this route and practically compete with themselves while confusing their customers at the same time, and for a whopping $300 dollar pricetag!

For more discussions check out the latest addition of GoogleTVForums.org dedicated to the Nexus Q: Nexus Q Forum

Source: GoogleTVForum.org

 

[J515OP]

Good points. $300 is pretty ridiculous for a media steamer. I don't see any appeal here and think this is DOA. Sometimes that is just how Google rolls though, not caring if their little projects go anywhere or not. You can expect this project will either die if it reaches a dead end or lead to something further down the road. Not really much here as it is though.