Google Nexus Q Release Date Delayed, Those Who Pre-Ordered Will Get Free 'Preview' Device

By Kukil Bora | August 01 2012 2:29 AM

Google's Nexus Q, the spherical black media device that played a big role in the Google I/O keynote in June, is apparently off to a shaky start. The company announced Tuesday that the launch of the Nexus Q had definitely been delayed as it was still working on the device for further improvements.

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At its I/O Conference for developers in San Francisco, Google unveiled a new Android operating system called "Jelly Bean," a brand-new tablet from Google called the Nexus 7, and even gave a demonstration and pre-order information for its highly-anticipated, high-tech headgear, also known as Project Glass. But one of the strange unveilings at I/O was the orb-shaped hub known as the Nexus Q, which was Google's response to the Apple TV.

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Google said in an email sent to customers who pre-ordered the Nexus Q that the "industrial design and hardware were met with great enthusiasm," but in response to "initial feedback from users that they want Nexus Q to do even more than it does today," the company decided to holdup the customer launch of the device in an effort to make it "even better."

However, those customers who pre-ordered the Nexus Q will be receiving what Google called a "preview" version of the device for free. While it's still unclear whether or not these preview devices would be upgradable eventually, Google said that it would send out the devices to pre-order customers "soon," who will receive a notification and tracking number from Google Play when it ships.

The Nexus Q order page on Google Play has currently been taken down, leaving customers with a note saying the device "is coming soon."

The Nexus Q launch delay is very significant due to the fact that the device is key to Google's high-stakes competition with rivals like Apple, Microsoft and Amazon to control the living room, says a New York Times report.

"The Q is also crucial to Google's fledgling efforts to connect home devices to the Internet through an initiative called Android@Home. For example, Google eventually wants Internet-connected refrigerators to order eggs automatically when the supply is low," says the report.

As noted by The Verge, the Nexus Q got lukewarm initial reviews from its critics, especially because of "its premium price tag and minimal feature set."

Priced at $299 thanks to its highly-publicized U.S.-based manufacture, the Nexus Q can only play music, movies and TV shows from YouTube and Google Play's limited collection. It can be controlled only from Android devices and it doesn't have its own user interface.

Although Google hasn't provided any details regarding the upcoming improvements for the device, the changes are expected to come mainly on the software side.