Google Must Delay the Nexus Q, but Customers Who Pre-Ordered Will get it Free!

[dgstorm]

Here's a bit of news from last night that we didn't quite get to yesterday. Apparently, Google has decided to put the Nexus Q Media-Hub Globe on hold in order to implement some new and improved features. Obviously, this could potentially make a ton of folks who pre-ordered the device a bit angry, but Google has them covered in a big way. Google boldly shared that anyone who pre-ordered the device will be receiving the newly updated version for FREE! This is unprecedented in consumer electronics. I've been in this industry a long time, and I have seen some crazy things to keep customer's happy, but never have I seen a company just give their stuff away. Here's a copy of Google's email to pre-order customers,

We have an important update about your Nexus Q pre-order.

When we announced Nexus Q at Google I/O, we gave away devices to attendees for an early preview. The industrial design and hardware were met with great enthusiasm. We also heard initial feedback from users that they want Nexus Q to do even more than it does today. In response, we have decided to postpone the consumer launch of Nexus Q while we work on making it even better.

To thank you for your early interest, we’d like to extend the Nexus Q preview to our pre-order customers and send you a free device. If you had other items in your order, your credit card will be charged for those items only.

Your Nexus Q will be on its way soon and you will receive a notification and tracking number from Google Play when it ships.

The Nexus Q Team

What's especially cool about this is the reason why they are delaying the device. Apparently, Google listened to all the feedback about the small feature-set and limited capabilities of the device, and they are taking it back to the engineers in order to make it do more stuff! They didn't specify what new features they will be adding, but it will be exciting to see the final result, especially for folks who preordered it.

Thanks for the tip, Zane_Grey!

Source: Wired

[xDMONEYx]

Google does technology, business and customer service the correct way. There are a lot of companies who need to follow the example set by Google. *COUGHAPPLECOUGH*

WIth that said, this is a pretty interesting device, I wouldn't mind getting one and checking it out.

[justin82]

wow thats customer service there. i have one of the free chrome books they were handing out a year or so ago.

[MissionImprobable]

Why oh why didn't I pre-order

[94lt1]

That's awesome.. and I agree.. Google is setting a great example.... economically for them though, its like giving away a quarter... lol.

[Dave12308]

Why oh why didn't I pre-order

Same thing i'm asking myself. Of course, I have bad luck. Had I pre-ordered i'd have been stuck paying for it. And i'm not even sure what I would do with it.

[jaybogg]

Sounds like to me they are getting the "preview model", but still, that's what they thought they were buying in the first place. That is awesome!! A preview model for free is better than the upgrade months later. They can still upgrade (purchase) to the one that come's out later, if they choose. Probably have a lot of the "originals" sitting around anyways.

I base this conjecture on statements: "...we’d like to extend the Nexus Q preview to our pre-order customers..." and "Your Nexus Q will be on its way soon..."

[dgstorm]

Sounds like to me they are getting the "preview model", but still, that's what they thought they were buying in the first place. That is awesome!! A preview model for free is better than the upgrade months later. They can still upgrade (purchase) to the one that come's out later, if they choose. Probably have a lot of the "originals" sitting around anyways.

I base this conjecture on statements: "...we’d like to extend the Nexus Q preview to our pre-order customers..." and "Your Nexus Q will be on its way soon..."

Nope. They are getting the fully upgraded model. All of the shipments were stopped before they went out in order to enhance the devices. More than likely the extra features will all be software anyway. Likely Google is adding more content and multimedia capability to flesh out the device a bit more.

[JSM9872]

It is pretty awesome that Google is doing this, I am impressed.

[gadgetrants]

It's probably impossible to say/know today whether:

- THE NEXUS Q will be the GREATEST DEVICE EVER!!!! It will REVOLUTIONIZE TV!!!

or

- The Nexus Q will flop faster than the Logitech Revue

But whichever happens, I'm sure hindsight will be 20/20.

I wouldn't call this a "prediction" or a "bet", but based on how internet-connected TV devices have fared so far -- and given Google hasn't solved the REAL problem, which is how to pretty much get all the networks to show their stuff for free -- I'd hazard the guess that it will cause a few ripples like Apple TV did, but probably languish and get quietly shelved before XMAS 2013.

-Matt

PS I'm not sure I believe any of what I just wrote. I'm just massively depressed (and mad at myself) that I didn't preorder. Or I mean, I did preorder. I just did it in my head.