Three things you need to run and control Nexus Q:



The device itself:



First setup relying on purely WiFi, failed. On the Nexus Q app, the device failed to be paired via Bluetooth between the Q and the Nexus 7. Done reset by powering down the device, then power up, and immediately place palm over the front LED. Device enter factory reset mode by pulsating red light ring around the Q, pulsating blue when the device is in the process of resetting, and pulsating purple when the device has finished resetting.

Had to plug in via wired ethernet connection from home modem to the Nexus Q, and coupled with the factory reset, then only the Nexus Q app on the Nexus 7 recognises and detects the Q via Bluetooth. Paired nicely, and watching Youtube videos and Play Music since then. Play Movie isn't available unless using VPN.

The setup video and hands-on:



This was after the first factory reset.

In its current form, running Youtube and Play Music as its only two available functions does not make it a compelling device to keep. Device sure look nice, made of polycarbonate black top sphere that rotates to control volume, as well as NFC-touch-to-beam. Bottom half is solid metal. The Q has built-in Class D amp that will perk up any audiophile ears when listened through via speakers connected through those 4 banana plug ports. Also has optical and HDMI ports for external AV audio connections.

I'm still contemplating whether I should unlock the bootloader and root this thing. There isnt any proper way of controlling this wirelessly with controlling GUI. You can, after unlocking and rooting, connect keyboard and mouse, either wirelessly via Bluetooth or wired via powered hub, but that makes for a very non-elegant solution.

Personally, this will be a killer device for me if and only if it supports one app I use the most: Plex for Android. If I can either side load or push Plex apk via ADB shell to Plex with proper GUI elements to control Plex, I'd be happy enough to keep it. In its current form, it's not very compelling.

Ordered for manufacturing from Portenzo, for their Portenzo Alano Tesoro case.



It's the unboxing for the Alano Tesoro for the iPad, but for the Nexus 7, it's the same design albeit at a smaller Nexus 7 size.

The case will take while to manufacture since they're handmade. The case wasn't a consideration for my iPad since it's too big, but with the dimension of the Nexus 7, with this case, it will turn it to look EXACTLY like a paperback journal book. The Nexus 7 dimension and size is exactly the sice of a paperback book, and with this case, it will look exactly that. Love that antique geography map cover, and that is embossed on that cover, made of leather.

It's pricy, almost to the price of an 8GB Nexus 7, but I love my Nexus 7 so much.

Look closer.

http://shop.portenzo.com/product-p/alano_for_nexus.htm

As called by me. End of the month opening. Not asking for credit, but the news was broken by me first, not him.

As for Lowyat.net front page negativity, they can take a flying leap off the ignorant cliff for all I care. For someone catering towards providing Android provisions like these, the only thing on their mind is how they're gonna get sued or ban hammered by Google. As far as I've kept up with the news, the name "Nexus" isn't trademarked by Google. They failed at that acquiring that term for trademarking. And that Nexus symbol certainly gets those who knew about the brand, which is why it was posted on that partition. The simplest thing the store can do is do away with the design and simply named it "The Nexus Store" without the "X" in those colors.

Speaking of which, that reminds me that I have to return this Google Nexus Q of theirs back for their store opening launch day.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Aug 14 2012, 11:57 AM

DPI change invokes only one or the other UI presentation: phone or tablet. In the case of Nexus 7, it runs a hybrid of both UI depending on application. I'd rather have the flexibility of both than restricting it to one UI alone. In other word, I'd let the tablet do its thing. But that's just me.

Latest news is that distributor unable to fulfil the late August window for the Nexus 7 stock. Will most probably be middle of September. Still unknown if it'll impact the opening launch date of the Nexus Store.