Google gets FCC approval for Nexus Player, preorders likely to reopen

By Mike Flacy Published November 11, 2014

nexus-player — Image used with permission by copyright holder

One day after preorders opened up for Google’s Nexus Player set-top box, the Web company was forced to halt all early orders for the device due to the lack of approval by the Federal Communications Commission. While anyone that ordered the device between Friday and Saturday was able to snag an early order, interested consumers that attempted to order in the last 24 hours were out of luck. Google specifically mentioned the FCC issue at the bottom of the Nexus Player page which read “This device has not been approved by the Federal Communications Commission. It is not for sale until approval of the FCC has been obtained.”

Fortunately for Google, the Nexus Player received FCC approval today and Google can start taking orders again for the $99 set-top box in the near future. It’s likely that Google will reopen ordering during Sunday evening or Monday morning on the Google Play store. Other retailers will also be able to open up preorders for the set-top box, although the device has yet to appear on Amazon’s site, despite the retailer providing a page to preorder the Nexus 9 tablet almost immediately after Google’s announcement of the new tablet last week.

Recommended Videos

During this holiday season, the Nexus Player will be going head-to-head with competing set-top boxes such as the Roku 3, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV as well as competing indirectly with streaming sticks like the Chromecast and Roku streaming stick in addition to gaming consoles like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Interestingly, Apple has yet to announce a revision to the Apple TV and Roku has remained silent on the development of a new flagship set-top box to replace the Roku 3. The Roku 3 was originally released approximately 18 months ago and the Apple TV’s last hardware revision also occurred during early 2013.

Topics

Contributing Editor

By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…

Audio / Video

GoldenEar Speakers joins Paradigm, MartinLogan, and Anthem

GoldenEar T66

After the news last month that Bose had acquired the McIntosh Group, we have another interesting shift in the premium audio world. PML Sound International -- the parent company of storied audio brands Paradigm, MartinLogan, and Anthem -- has welcomed GoldenEar Speakers into the fold. It was just under five years ago when it was announced that GoldenEar had been bought by The Quest Group, the owner of AudioQuest and DragonFly, upon the retirement of GoldenEar co-founder Sandy Gross.

Starting January 1, GoldenEar will be known as GoldenEar Studio Inc. PML has announced the operations will pause for the month of January to ensure a smooth transition. During that time, GoldenEar orders will not be processed or fulfilled, with operations resuming on February 3. PML has also assured that "existing warranties and service support will be honored, and they will continue to receive the same level of product quality and customer service when business resumes."

Audio / Video

Here’s how Apple’s AirPods Pro hearing assistance stacks up to professional results

Apple's hearing test in iOS 18.1.

Apple made waves when it announced that its AirPods Pro 2, when combined with iOS 18.1, could fulfill the role of OTC hearing aids. Given that OTC hearing aids can often run as much as $1,500, it seemed too good to be true that the same hearing benefits could be had for just $249 or less. Better yet, given the popularity of Apple's wireless earbuds, there's an excellent chance that those who could benefit already own them (if you live in a country where Apple's hearing aid feature has been approved).

So how good are the AirPods Pro 2 as OTC hearing aids?

Audio / Video

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the perfect stocking stuffer, and it’s on sale

A promo image of the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD.

If you’re struggling to come up with last-minute gift ideas, an Amazon Fire TV Stick makes for a great stocking stuffer, and it won’t break the bank. And while these streaming devices are pretty cheap, to begin with, the following offer makes buying one all the more appealing:

For a limited time, when you purchase the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K through Amazon or Best Buy, you’ll only pay $28. At full price, this model sells for $50. We tested this tried and true streamer all the way back in 2020, and reviewer Ryan Waniata said, “Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K offers killer features at a great price.”