Google has debuted a $300 media player at I/O 2012 in San Francisco.
Dubbed “Nexus Q,” the Android Jelly Bean device allows users to stream music and video from Google Play, Google Drive, tablets and smartphones.
The Nexus Q – which can also double as an amplifier with external speakers – is loaded with TI’s dual-core OMAP 4460 processor, an SGX540 graphics core, 16GB of storage and 1GB of RAM.
The Nexus Q also offers dual-band WiFi and Ethernet, as well as Bluetooth and NFC support for tapping a device to the Q to exchange software and media. Of course, Q can be connected to an HDTV, a sound system, or as noted above, a set of stand-alone speakers.
The device is expected to support and highlight content from Google’s rapidly evolving ecosystem, including Play Music, Play Movies, Play TV and YouTube.
“Nexus Q streams your favorite entertainment directly from the cloud to your living room,” a Google rep wrote in an official blog post describing the new device. .. Just use the Google Play and YouTube apps on your Android phone or tablet to surf an ocean of music, TV, movies and music, and Nexus Q will play it all on the biggest speakers and screen in the house. There are no downloads, no syncing, no running out of space. Just the stuff you love – at home and out loud.”
Additional specs include:
- Micro HDMI (Type D)
- TOSLink Optical audio (S/PDIF)
- 10/100BASE-T Ethernet (RJ45)
- Micro AB USB (for service and support)
- Banana jack speaker outputs
- 25W class D amplifier (12.5 watt per channel)
The Google Nexus Q can be pre-ordered here, with shipping expected to kick off in 2-3 weeks.
