Google introduced streaming 'orb'

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 28 (UPI) -- Google says its entry in the streaming media arena, the $300 Nexus Q, can stream music and video to connected devices on a home network.

The black, spherical Q will serve as a hub to connect a user's home to Google Play, the company's online digital distribution portal, to stream music and video content directly from the cloud to devices in the home, AllThingsD reported Wednesday.

Powered by the Android operating system, the Q can be controlled from an Android-powered smartphone or tablet devices.

Users can use their phone or tablet to select tracks from their Google Play music libraries and add them to their playlist "queue" -- which is where the device gets its name.

Multiple users can add tracks from their separate music accounts to the same queue, creating a collaborative musical "party" atmosphere, Google said.

Designed entirely in-house by members of the Android team, the Q represents Google's intention of becoming a full hardware company to more directly compete with the Apple juggernaut and its iTunes success story.

Google is apparently hopeful it can leverage Android's significant lead in mobile market share and convince users to migrate their music to Google's cloud service and switch loyalties to a Google-centric universe, one anchored in Google hardware, Google software and Google-distributed content, AllThingsD said.