A small black ball with LED lights known as Nexus Q is the first hardware developed from scratch by Google. He is a media center that connects to Android devices like TVs and stereos for the home user – playing music and videos on these devices store multimedia company, Google Play, or even YouTube. The device, shown on Wednesday at Google, poses the question: what will the search giant intends to venture into the area of hardware and launch his first gadget?

The Wired magazine visited the lab that designed the Google gadget even before the company announced the Nexus Q on Wednesday, Google I / O, its annual event for developers in San Francisco, where he also did the Nexus 7, tablet manufactured in partnership with Asus. The magazine said the main reason that led Google to venture into the consumer electronics market is one of the most basic pillars of the economy: there is a huge demand for a device like this.

IPhone users have dozens of accessories – manufactured by Apple or others – to leverage brand loyalty, while users of Android – a system that already runs on 400 million handsets from many brands around the world – have very few. With the Nexus Q, these users have at least one Android device important to consider.

The problem, says Wired, is that Google is a software company and online advertising, and that corporate DNA is difficult to change. But Google needs to do this if you want to remain relevant, since the explosion of smartphones in the last five years is not only mixing the relationship between computers and smartphones, but also between smartphones and TVs. All companies are in a race to catch on a device itself this convergence, and Google wants a role in this future.

The Nexus Q also represents a critical step for Google, is the first attempt in hardware after the purchase of Motorola. Google decided that all parts will be supplied by American manufacturers – which allows the company’s engineers visit any step of the production chain at any time.

But even though manufactured by Americans, is that the Nexus Q will be bought by Americans? Wired says that if the analysis is focused only on the hardware, the device is a great product and easy to use. But there are problems.

The first problem is price: the Nexus Q will go on sale for $ 299. Moreover, the lack of support for other platforms such as Windows Phone iOS and it prevents the device is used over a wide area on the public in new technology. The device also depends 100% on Google store play, which has been seen by some users as a single attempt to recruit users to its ecosystem.

The new Nexus Q will hit stores in July, and initially only in the United States. It remains to give time to see if the  Google’s bet is correct and whether it has the important role that the company thinks.