The new Nexus Q streaming media player announced by Google at its I/O conference Wednesday is already receiving blowback for its seemingly high price, at $299.00. But according to the New York Times, one reason the device is a bit pricey is that Google decided to manufacture much of it in the United States, rather than building it overseas in places like China, where most gadgets are now manufactured.

Labor costs are significantly lower in China, which largely contributes to the (generally) reasonable prices of most gadgets nowadays. Companies (like Apple) that use Chinese factories in their operation chain have begun to face scrutiny, due to the suspected deaf ear turned to the factories' allegedly poor treatment of workers and failures to meet basic safety guidelines.

According to a report in the New York Times, the parts in the Nexus Q are "almost completely" sourced from manufacturers in the United States. The metal base is created in the Midwest; plastic components are from Southern California. A notable exception are the semiconductor chips, which are made in the US but then packed off to Asia to be combined with other components.

The Nexus Q, which functions as both a streaming hub and 25-watt amp for external speakers, is now available for order at $299.00. The device will ship in July.