Home > Articles > Home & Office Computing > Entertainment/Gaming/Gadgets

An Early Look at the Nexus Q from a Developer's Perspective

📄 Contents

  1. What Is the Nexus Q? / What Can Users Do with the Nexus Q?
  2. What Can Developers Do with the Nexus Q? / Google Responds to Feedback
Have you joined the queue for the Nexus Q? Just what the heck is it, anyway? Google has been giving away the devices by the thousands, but as yet the Nexus Q seems to be in the middle of an identity crisis. Shane Conder and Lauren Darcey, authors of Android Wireless Application Development Volume I: Android Essentials, 3rd Edition and Android Wireless Application Development, Volume II: Advanced Topics, Third Edition, try to make this little device's uses a bit less murky.
Like this article? We recommend

The Nexus Q is a fascinating and perplexing device. Announced at Google I/O 2012 and handed out to thousands of attendees, this device has received a lot of attention despite not being publicly available at the time of this writing—and, as announced when we finished writing this article, likely not going to be available for some time. What's so special about the Nexus Q? What can users do with it? When can developers do with it? Read on!

What Is the Nexus Q?

On the hardware side, the Nexus Q is simple to describe: It's a black sphere (see Figure 1) with ports for USB, HDMI, and speakers through its amplifier. Half the sphere can be used to control volume, with a convenient "tap to mute" functionality. The internals are similar to those of contemporary high-end smartphones. That is, the Nexus Q has a dual-core ARM processor and a small amount of memory, and it runs Android 4.0.

The Google Nexus Q

The Nexus Q has been compared to many other devices. For example, it's compared to the Apple TV because it can connect to the TV via HDMI out, and it's limited to playing content from specific sources (in this case, Google Play). Supported Google content includes movie and TV rentals and purchases, music purchases, personal music uploads, and YouTube videos. While this option is similar to that of the original Apple TVs, it's more limiting than the current ones. However, that doesn't address how the Nexus Q is controlled and who can use it, which is fairly unique. It also doesn't cover the fact that the Nexus Q can be used without a TV and has a built-in speaker amp to be used as an audio player.

The Nexus Q is also compared to Google TV devices. They also run Android, so that comparison makes sense. But the Nexus Q doesn't run apps; it's really designed solely for audio and video content.

The Nexus Q is also compared to a variety of other media streaming devices, some that also have speaker amps, others with fairly limited content sources, and still others with equally high price tags. (While price is important to consumers, we're going to avoid judging the device based solely on price. If it's priced to sell lower quantities or priced to denote premium quality, then it's probably priced about right, anyway.)

So what exactly is the Nexus Q? Is it an audio player? A modern receiver of sorts? A media player for the TV? A hacker/developer toy? All are good possibilities. As we'll show in the next section, we feel that the device's closest kin may actually be the jukebox. Think about that while you read what users can do with it. If you agree or disagree, let us know!

What Can Users Do with the Nexus Q?

At this time, users can set up the Nexus Q for two purposes. In the first case, the user can connect the Nexus Q to a TV via HDMI. The marketing materials recommend that you use your best TV. (Another nod toward the device being high quality.) In this use case, the device can play music and video. Another way to use the Nexus Q is to connect it directly to two speakers and use its built-in speaker amplifier. The marketing materials recommend that these be the best speakers in your house—again, a nod toward quality and the Nexus Q being a high-end high-fidelity device.

Once the Nexus Q is connected, the interesting part begins. The Nexus Q comes with no keyboard, mouse, or remote control devices. Instead, users can tap their NFC-equipped phone (or go to Google Play and search for the Nexus Q app) to be directed to the appropriate download on Google Play. Our understanding is that once the app is installed, Bluetooth is then used to pass information about Wi-Fi access, and the device then connects and uses Wi-Fi from that point.

With your phone and the Nexus Q connected via the Nexus Q application residing on your phone, several applications running on your phone have a new option to switch their playback to the Nexus Q from the phone (or other supported Android device). YouTube, Play Music, and Play Movies & TV are included in the list of supported apps for interacting with the Nexus Q. What's interesting about this handoff between the local device and the Nexus Q is that no streaming takes place between the local device and the Nexus Q. Instead, the Nexus Q picks up from the media source where the device left off. This approach frees up the local device and saves networking resources—especially wireless resources. (Streaming content from one wireless device to another doubles the amount of data going over the air, versus streaming from a remote source. If you connect the Nexus Q to Ethernet, no wireless resources would be used for streaming the content.)

One feature of the Nexus Q that we really like is its easy "sharability." Anyone can come over, pair their Android device with the Nexus Q, and then play their Google Play content—movies they own or have rented, music they've uploaded, and so on— through your Nexus Q. The device handles all the licensing issues. If your friends can play the content on their devices, they can also play that content through your Nexus Q. Have 10 friends, each of which rented one movie for a movie weekend sprint? No problem!

In fact, that possibility hints at the next feature: The Nexus "Q" name is less of a play on James Bond and more of a play on the word queue. Each person connected to the Nexus Q can add content to the queue. Everyone connected can see the queue, change the queue, and even interrupt the queue with their own picks. Chaos or fun? Who knows! It's a true "battle of the bands." What we do know is that bringing over a movie to watch, bringing a "mix tape" or playlist, or sharing your new favorite TV show or music is quite simple with the Nexus Q setup.

Sure, you could use your headphone cable to connect to your friend's stereo, an HDMI cable to connect to someone else's TV, and many other solutions. None are quite so elegant, though. And imagine if your favorite bar installed a Nexus Q as a jukebox? Anyone could play their music. Sure, this might lead to bar brawls, what with the Nexus Q's current inability to block modifications of the queue, but what you have is a truly modern jukebox controlled by modern devices. How cool is that?

Here's the perplexing part about the Nexus Q's usefulness, though: Aside from the speaker amplifier, all of these features could easily be reproduced by using a simple Android app that would enable any Android device to act as a Q-style device. In our household, we use an old phone in one room to play music and radio streams (such as NPR) from a variety of different sources. Perhaps an app will eventually be released that could turn any device into a Nexus Q endpoint? Then it might also be more clear that the Nexus Q itself is meant to be a hi-fi device, rather than a competitor to the more capable Google TV devices. If that's actually the intention, of course.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020