Google has big dreams with hardware as it takes on Apple on its home court

Jun 28, 2013 07:33 GMT  ·  By

Google has dabbled with hardware a few times, but not always with the best results. The Chromebook Pixel is a great device, while the Nexus Q never made it to market. However, the company certainly isn't stopping.

In fact, it's planning a trio of Android-powered devices to tackle some of the more niche markets. According to the Wall Street Journal, Google is working on an Android game console, a smartwatch, and a new Nexus Q.

There already are several Android game consoles on the market. Ouya, the best known, recently hit stores. Ouya is running Android, but with a custom interface fit for large TVs and controller input. Still, there are rough edges due to Android's mobile roots.

But the biggest problem it has is that most Android games are designed with small devices and touch input in mind, not widescreen TVs and controllers. Google putting together an official Android console may change that.

Of course, once Google is in the living room, the console could become a media hub, perfect for its Play store music and movie streaming and rentals. It's safe to say that the web and Chrome will play a big part as well.

That said, Google already has a device, or rather a platform, for the living room, namely Google TV. It's based on Android as well and it also incorporates the Play Store. It's also not very popular.

What's more, the Nexus Q was also designed as a media hub. It never made it to market, but a second Nexus Q is in the works. It's not hard to imagine that this new device would also focus on streaming and media content, so Google could be offering three devices that do the same thing.

A Google-built smartwatch, on the other hand, could be interesting. There are plenty of rumors that Apple is working on one, so everyone else, Samsung, for example, and now Google, is jumping in to get to the market first.

But here too, Google already has a device that would fill some of the same roles, namely Google Glass. Like Glass, the smartwatch would connect to a phone and could display information at a glance, bypassing the need to take out your phone to check out an email or even see what time it is.

It's important to note that all these devices are built in-house by Google and not by Motorola. At least one of them is expected to launch by fall, according to the report, around the time the next Android version, Key Lime Pie, is also expected to come to devices.