Nexus Player is just another Q?

[chad783]

With the announcement of the Nexus Player today, it brings back memories of the Nexus Q. I like that they included the Chromecast support so now you can get rid of the $35 dongle. And I like that you can run games on it. But afraid to make the jump because on how well the Q did. What are your thoughts?

 

[Berry me a G]

I think it looks pretty nice but like you Im really curious to see some hands on reviews

 

[Bigballer]

Yeah. Google needs to stop with the standalone players. Android tv, nexus q, now this?

chromecast however is selling like hotcakes though

 

[chad783]

If these stand alone devices had the ability to broadcast local TV, I would be all over it in a heartbeat.

 

[HOBLIUM]

If these stand alone devices had the ability to broadcast local TV, I would be all over it in a heartbeat.

Rabbit ears?

 

[ejmitch]

By all accounts (and I never got to play with one) the Q was a great little device. If the NPlayer can be a ChromeCast, a Q, and be the next version Google TV (Android TV), that is very exciting. So, no.

A better question is will it have more support then GoogleTV did?

 

[ultravisitor]

By all accounts (and I never got to play with one) the Q was a great little device. If the NPlayer can be a ChromeCast, a Q, and be the next version Google TV (Android TV), that is very exciting. So, no.

Right. I wanted a Q a lot, but the problem was that it was overpriced. Way overpriced for what it was. I think $99 for the Nexus Player is much more reasonable. I'm definitely ordering one on Friday.

 

[Kramit-da-frog]

Right. I wanted a Q a lot, but the problem was that it was overpriced. Way overpriced for what it was. I think $99 for the Nexus Player is much more reasonable. I'm definitely ordering one on Friday.

Everyone seems to forget, the Q had a high end amplifier built in so that it could support real sound, not some awful sounding soundbar or the like. They made it pretty clear the price driver was that little bit of technology. Most people that enjoy decent sound though, already have a well amplified system and cheap bastards already have their soundbars, and sales reflected that so the Q faded away.

I applaud Google for testing markets with such devices though, versus trying to sell us one thing and only one thing and calling it perfect.

 

[Troy Tiscareno]

The Nexus Player is simply the Nexus/Android version of the Apple TV, though the open nature of Android means there are a lot more apps that the Nexus can use. I've been using MediaBrowser for years (similar to Plex or XBMC), because I prefer the interface and the metadata features, and I nearly bought a Roku 3 when a client for MediaBrowser was released for it, but I held off, waiting for the Android TV, and now I'm glad I did.

Of course, as I've been saying for years, Android TV needs to have Hangouts support, and I'm still hoping that it will come, though perhaps on a third-party device. I'm still surprised that a USB webcam and Hangouts support isn't an (extra-cost) option.

Still, I'll be getting a Nexus Player in the next month.

 

[ljxdaly]

I suppose this will have something akin to roku channels? Or an app drawer?

I have 2 rokus going and a Chromecast so I can wait for this to play out, but I'm definitely interested.

 

[GT500_Grad2]

I"m pretty excited about this as well. I have concerns about the hardware. I've read people saying it was lacking. Other than that I'm pleased. I love the search all sources at once platform. I know Fire TV does that as well but I hate their Fire OS. Now if Amazon gets on board and provides Prime streaming, I'll be golden. I have a feeling it's in the pipeline. Esp with the recent release of streaming on phones and tablets. I think they are missing a large market.

 

[P_Devil]

A better question is will it have more support then GoogleTV did?

That's my only hesitation at this point. I have no doubt about Google as a company but this is their fourth stab at a TV connected device. There was the Nexus Q (which was far too expensive), Google TV, Chromecast, and now Nexus Player. The Chromecast is still seeing support and that will likely continue now that they are continuing to use the protocol in Android TV but the Nexus Q was killed off rather quickly and Google TV support didn't last long. Actually, I remember seeing that Sony Blu-ray player running Google TV for $75 a year after it came out.

I am probably still going to pre-order this tomorrow morning (if I can get in) mainly because I want to try it and I want a dedicated device that can playback my Google Music library without me having to use my smartphone. Plus I want a Chromecast in my bedroom, I already have one in my living room, so the $100 price of the Nexus Player kinda puts it at an impulse buy (being $65 more than a Chromecast, something I was already going to buy).

 

[Zontmo]

I think the Nexus Player is really just a reaction to the Fire TV. Its features seem identical, straight down to the wireless voice search feature via the simple remote. IMO it'll do as well as Fire TV (which I guess is a somewhat open question), having the advantage of being purely in the Android ecosystem rather than Amazon's, but having the disadvantage of not having Amazon's marketing pushing it. I was actually surprised they didn't do more to differentiate it.

 

[theduder]

If these stand alone devices had the ability to broadcast local TV, I would be all over it in a heartbeat.

Android TV is supposed to support this. You can find a YouTube video from I/O 2014 that outlines the functionality completely.

The Nexus Player is clearly a subset of the entire Android TV functionality. I can understand the strategy though. Most prospective customers aren't ready for anything more than a streaming box. Releasing what is effectively a Fire TV also keeps the cost down.

I fully expect manufacturers like Sony and LG to make more expensive units that can do all of it.

For now though, we get the Player.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Ribs85]

Most people that enjoy decent sound though, already have a well amplified system and cheap bastards already have their soundbars, and sales reflected that so the Q faded away.

It's worse than that. The only people that were able to 'buy' the Q were I/O attendees, and even then, they got their money back but were allowed to keep the devices.

The Q never hit the shelves for the public to buy. Google shelved it before it even had a chance.

 

[JRDroid]

No. The Q had one major problem, it's price vs function. The Q could only do music and cost $350 because it had a built in amp. This does more and costs less. It will fair better than the Q.

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