Google Nexus Q Media Streamer: First Impressions, Part 1

First things first. This is going to be a two-part first look at the Google Nexus Q media streamer for the simple reason that I am not yet able to stream media to the preview hardware handed out at Google I/O.

Why? Because while Google's Nexus Q web site says you can control the device with a Nexus Q app that will run on any Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) smartphone or tablet, it turns out that the app right now only runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), which also was previewed at Google's developer conference. Google's PDF user guide explains that support for earlier Android devices won't be available until the Nexus Q actually ships to consumers, which Google says will be "soon" --- two to three weeks.

It's interesting, by the way, that the Q itself is based on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). It's downright weird that Google has limited its market to Android device owners, and its functionality to playing music you own or have bought from Google Play; YouTube videos, and movies and TV shows you've bought or rented, also from inside . Even Apple didn't hobble Apple TV thusly.

I had planned to use a couple of older Android phones for my test run (I wanted to verify that several Android users can, if authorized, contribute to a playlist) so I don't at this writing have a Jelly Bean device. I'll update this post once I do, but in the meantime I can share a few impressions based on the setup I was able to complete.

Out-Appling Apple

Unboxing the Q, I couldn't help feeling like Google was trying to out-Apple Apple in its packaging and presentation. You get the same minimalist approach, only in black instead of white. Here's the box, once you remove the sleeve.

After you open the black seals (there's a second one on the back of the box), you see the flat bottom of a Magic 8 Ball-sized black sphere--and nothing else.

As with Apple's products, the rest of the box's contents are concealed until you lift a cardboard tab. But there isn't much more to find--just a charging cable and a quick start guide on a single cardboard square.

The guide basically explains your cabling options (the Q connects to analog or digital audio systems, or to a TV via a mini-HDMI cable); directs you to download the Nexus Q app from the Google Play Store; and provides a URL to visit for additional help. Honestly, it makes Apple's printed manuals look like War and Peace--but I'm not sure less is more in this case. I wound up seeking guidance by clicking through much of the FAQs on the Nexus web site.

Anyway, here's a photo showing the ports on the back of the Nexus Q.

Note by the way, that the Nexus Q doesn't come with A/V or ethernet cables (the ethernet hookup is for those who'd prefer a wired network to Wi-Fi for media streaming)--you must bring your own. That's pretty cheesy pricing for a gizmo that Google expects to sell for $299--and don't forget, it doesn't come with a remote control, either.

I'm also disappointed that the Neus Q doesn't support 5GHz Wi-Fi -- at this point, I feel a streaming media product should support dual-band 802.11n wireless because in neighborhoods with multiple 2.4GHz networks, you really need the additional bandwidth of the 5GHz spectrum

Swivel Up the Volume

At a full two pounds, the Q is surprisingly heavy for its 4-inch diameter. And when you lift it from the box, you also realize that it's not a one-piece sphere: the top half or so is a swiveling dome. The Nexus Q site says swiveling lets you raise or lower audio volume on whatever the Q is streaming without having to use the phone or tablet app; tapping the dome can mute audio (this is something I'll test).

I connected the Q to my HDTV using a mini-HDMI cable, to a HomePlug AV powerline switch using an ethernet cable, and to a power strip with the one cable that did come in the package. Immediately, the edge of the Q's swiveling section lit up in blue--the specs says there are 32 perimeter RGB LEDs, and they apparently can change colors and pulsate based on the music you play (looking forward to seeing that!).

A single LED in the middle of the dome also lit up, looking like a blue dot (it's a mute indicator). My TV, meanwhile, displayed a black screen; at the top, the word for welcome in several languages cycled through, and the URL of the support side appeared in smaller letters at the bottom.

When I positioned the Q right in front of the display, a blue outline similar to the shape defined by the Q's LED lighting appeared in the middle of the display. Here's what it all looked like.

While I found the blue lights interesting as a design statement, I also found them somewhat distracting, even without a TV show on the big screen. I'm going to look into whether users can opt to turn off the lights, among other things. Stay tuned.