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Google Nexus 7 Launch Troubles Aren’t Surprising

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The bizarre nature of the Google Nexus 7 tablet launch shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has seen an Android launch or two over the last couple of years.

The Nexus 7’s launch confusion did not, in fact, start earlier this week when an Office Depot notice claimed that the device would be out on July 12th only to issue another note saying that launch had been postponed.

No, the Nexus 7’s launch mess actually started last month at the end of June at Google I/O 2012. That event, of course, served as the launching pad for not only Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Google’s latest operating system, but for the Nexus 7 tablet as well.

It was there that Google executives took the stage, ranting and raving about the Nexus 7, its features and its competitive price tag. It even put the device up for pre-order that very day.

The Nexus 7 launch mess is familiar.

Well, when it came time to reveal a release date, surprise surprise, Google, like many of its Android manufacturers, failed to announce a specific release date only going as far as to say that the device would be launching in the middle of July.

If you have ever seen an Android launch, you’d know that this is often the case. For example, Samsung hosted a massive Galaxy S III launch event in London, an event that it live streamed and promoted endlessly. But, when the time came, Samsung failed to deliver any kind of specific release date for users in the United States.

Read: Verizon Galaxy S III Launch is a Mess.

And then, when it was time for launch, there was confusion, there were rumored release dates, unclear shipping dates, and little communication. In other words, there was a mess.

At least Samsung had the decency to explain the circumstances surrounding the delay, Google has been less than clear with those who have pre-ordered the Nexus 7 or are looking to snag one in stores.

Nexus 7 pre-orderers had to find out through Google’s help line that the device had begun to ship out. Even now, it’s unclear who is selling it, who isn’t, and when and if it will ever arrive in stores.

Google’s shipping it out but there’s no release date, there’s very little communication and there are a lot of confused consumers out there.

The sad part about the mess is that it’s almost something that we’ve come to expect from an Android device launch.

You’d think that, by now, Android manufacturers and the carriers that carry their devices would know that a solid release date is a crucial ingredient to any major launch. Need an example?

Apple executives take the stage, ranting and raving about a new iPhone or a new iPad but once they are through, they put the device up for pre-order and gasp, they even give it a firm release date to put the minds of potential customers at ease.

Unclear release dates and rumors are fun before the launch of a product, but they are the exact opposite when they take place after the launch.

The sooner Google and its Android buddies learn that lesson the better.

13 Comments

13 Comments

  1. Blargnot

    07/13/2012 at 2:29 pm

    I wouldn’t say that it is a mess, more like a marketing scheme to make people want it more. Not knowing when something is going to happen is more exciting.

    Google doesn’t make messes of things… they know exactly what they are doing.

    • Kevin H

      07/13/2012 at 5:07 pm

      If it’s a marketing scheme, it’s a very bad one. An unclear release date only frustrates the people who pre-ordered it. They’ve already ordered it, there’s no logic in making them want it more. And anyone who hasn’t ordered it doesn’t care about the release date, so it’s not going to get them excited. This is one area where Google does NOT know what they’re doing…. yet.

      • Christopher wice

        07/14/2012 at 10:00 am

        I agree completely. In short, make a promise and then deliver it under time and under budget. Deliver to your core first and everyone else a day later.

    • Saturobi

      07/16/2012 at 6:30 pm

      Nope, they do not know what they are doing.
      I ordered 2 Nexus 7 (8gb and 16gb) on 5th of July. I had not gotten any shipping details even till this morning, so i called them and asked to have my order cancelled.
      I will not be buying a product from the Google Play Store again. Hardly anyone outside tech circles even know about the Nexus 7, much less than it is launching.
      If Apple brings a 7inch device, i will buy it, why?, because they have proven that the know what they are doing.
      Funny how Google flops a launch as important as this when Android tablets is not a runaway his on tablets._

  2. Esteban

    07/13/2012 at 2:31 pm

    It’s not a mess, it’s a glitch, dearth, etc. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

  3. becci

    07/13/2012 at 2:36 pm

    It was exciting to begin with but now it just takes the biscuit! I just want my nexus already!!

  4. notafanboyofanything

    07/13/2012 at 2:44 pm

    I feel the author of this article is blowing the situation out of proportions …..as long as they deliver in advertised 2-3 week ..i don’t care much.

  5. Phil Rozzi

    07/13/2012 at 3:21 pm

    No one found out anything through Google. We found out through forums because Google customer service wasn’t saying anything.

  6. Thuderstruck

    07/14/2012 at 4:53 pm

    I totally agree. It’s surprising that a huge solid company like Google can’t handle a product launch, worst case by just copying what other companies have already proven to work. Just unbelievable. If it’s a publicity or marketing stunt , this is in the lines of a pop star going underwear less for publicity :), not a good one. Very disappointed.

  7. McKenzie

    07/14/2012 at 8:19 pm

    Eh, it still doesn’t rival the flop that was the HTC ThunderBolt release… well, the disappointment didn’t really end there either lol.

  8. Tom

    07/15/2012 at 4:00 pm

    You’d think google could have googled “product launch screwups” before their own launch :-).

  9. pa7

    07/18/2012 at 6:02 pm

    Its been my worst experience with shipping so far.

    I had pre-ordered Nexus 7, which Google shipped on 13-Jul. Not sure who messed it up they somehow got my address wrong even though both UPS and Google has my correct address in the system. Its not been delivered for 6 days now (shipped on 13-Jul) and UPS is still trying to deliver the package!!

    When I called Google to track the package and place complaint with UPS, I am told they cannot do it. I went ahead and cancelled my order. Ironically within 2 minutes they recall the package and UPS delivery man has also been notified. Wonder how they could not reach the delivery man to track his location, but could reach him only to cancel the order!!!

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