Google announced the $299 Nexus Q in 2012 as a “social streaming player”: a beautifully machined black orb that played Google Play and YouTube, required an Android phone or tablet as its remote, and ignored most popular streaming services. A month later, Google delayed the launch indefinitely and sent preorder customers the preview hardware for free. Its most successful feature was becoming complimentary.
Sources: Ars Technica: announcement and specifications · WIRED review · Ars Technica: launch delayed
Image: Mike Carlucci / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.