No big comeback for the Nexus Q at Google I/O?
A refreshed and retooled iteration of the Google Nexus Q media streaming device will not make an appearance this week at Google I/O, according to reports.
The company launched the spherical device at its annual keynote in 2012, but plans were put on hold indefinitely soon after the reveal.
Google had promised that the Nexus Q would reappear, but according to reports from AllThingsD on Tuesday evening, that won't happen this. week.
The device, which offers consumers direct access to the Google Play Store's music, movies, apps and games, was treated as a big deal when it arrive at last year's Google I/O, due to its intriguing hardware design and challenge to the Apple TV set-top box.
Google had vowed to manufacture the device, which was scheduled to interact with Android phones and tablets in the United States also.
However, following criticism of the device and its planned $300 price point Google said "initial feedback from users that they want Nexus Q to do even more than it does today," and promised it was "working on making it even better."
The AllThingsD story follows reports earlier today that Google I/O will be a developer-focused conference without any big hardware launches.
New Android boss Sundar Pichai claimed the event was going to be different, without the launches of new products or a new operating system.
That seemed to rule out the appearance of any new Nexus devices and the long-awaited Android Key Lime Pie .
It could, of course, be a smokescreen. After all, it would be a little bit a little bit of surprise if this year's I/O conference without some kind of headline-making announcement.