Apps That Work And Apps That Dont

The apps listed in black are recommended apps, as at the time I tried them they worked just fine. They may however not be visible to you on Google Play until you do the steps to get Google Play to show you more apps.
The apps listed in grey had issues or reduced functionality, but may still be useful.
The apps listed in red crashed or were otherwise useless.

Apparently, if you disregard apps like Skype that clearly will not work (e.g. since the Q doesn't have a microphone or hardware needed for a specific app), most apps are compatible as-is.

Browsers

  • The browser from CM9
  • Chrome Beta
  • Dolphin HD

Media

  • The built-in Nexus Q functionality
    • Do not attempt to install the Nexus Q app actually on your Nexus Q. It won’t do anything.
  • Netflix
  • Flixster
  • Google Play Movies
  • Pandora
  • Slacker Radio
  • Google Play Music
  • Spotify (portrait only)
  • TuneIn Radio (local radio stations etc)
  • Scanner Radio (listening to police, fire, etc, radios)
  • Built-in Gallery

Games

  • OnLive (streamed 3D games). My keyboard mappings was a bit different to what the game expected, and I only tried one game, but it appeared to work just fine.
  • Angry Birds, all versions
  • Amazing Alex
  • SuperGNES (NES emulator). So you can play Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario, etc etc.
  • Where’s My Water? (portrait only)
  • FreeCell solitaire card game
  • glTron
  • Sonic CD Lite (Sonic the Hedgehog)
  • Mobile Andrio
  • Temple Run (you can’t click for some reason)

Social media

  • Google Plus
  • Facebook
  • Google Talk (crashes)

Shopping

  • eBay
  • Amazon MP3

News, weather, education, information

  • BBC News (portrait only)
  • TED
  • The Weather Channel
  • Wikipedia
  • Google Earth (crashes)

“Productivity” or Utilities

  • Gmail
  • Google Voice (crashes)
  • Astrid (To do lists etc)
  • Google Play Store
  • Device spoofer (does work, and does make the Q be listed as a spoofed device on Google Play, but doesn’t allow you to see any more apps. For that, click here)
  • Notepad
  • OfficeSuite
  • Microsoft’s on{x} (but limited functions due to geofencing etc being meaningless on the Q)
  • PrinterShare (appears to work, but I haven’t actually printed anything)
  • Advanced Task Killer
    • I found that if you are opening app after app after app, eventually sometimes the Q freezes and needs to be restarted. Remember that it’s not designed for this kind of work and is a bit unstable without a full-blown OS. Using Advanced Task Killer every so often to kill everything solved the problem for me. You only need to do this if you are opening apps in rapid succession.

Connecting to other devices

File explorers, terminal emulators, backup programs

  • Astro
  • ES File Explorer
  • File Expert
  • Terminal Emulator
  • Titanium Backup
  • ROM Manager (may have issues, please document here when isolated)
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