The Nexus Q page in the Google Play store says the media streamer is "no longer for sale." Does this mean Google has given up on the device? Maybe.

What a year for technology, what with all its tiny tablets and overhauled operating systems. But for every Nexus 7 triumph, a Nexus Q disaster reared its gruesome head. Here are the worst screw-ups the tech industry endured in 2012. Advanced warning: They're not for the faint of heart.

Google is reportedly sending letters to customers who pre-ordered its bizarre media streaming orb, saying it needs time to make it better." Ouch.

The Nexus Q is an odd little piece of hardware, filling a very small niche rather expensively. It could, however, turn out to be more useful than first thought, because a simple hack seems to bring it to life with the Android launcher, apps and as a result—you guessed it—Netflix.

Last week Google announced the strange-looking Nexus Q: a media streamer built by Americans for... well, we're not exactly sure who it's for. But iFixit has taken a look inside, and it's not quite the all-American Google might have you think.

Google unveiled its media-streaming glowing orb to many oohs and ahhs, followed by head-scratches. The thing looks cool. And it sounds good, both in concept and fidelity. But two major questions remain: Who is it for, and how well does it work?

Google's Nexus Q is many thing to many people. A miniature Death Star, an alien being, necessary but overwrought or, umm, a media streamer. It also has an extra, hidden function: it works as a magic 8-ball.

Google revealed a lot at Google I/O: a shimmering tablet at a good price, a sci-fi home theater orb, seriously sophisticated search, and Jelly Beans. It also revealed an unsettling lack of human understanding.

After the announcement of Google's Nexus Q media streamer, our good friend and former Gizmodo chief Brian Lam had an interesting thought: the Nexus Q is necessary, but too overblown for the audience its trying to capture. Does that seem reasonable or crazy to you? [Twitter]

We've spent some time with Google's new media Orb, and put our eye-orbs all over it. It's a funky little device, but is it funky in the right ways?