The other side of this argument is that what Google is doing here is closer to what MS did with Kinect -- get visibly attached to a groundbreaking original new product it has confidence it will bring to market.
The Project Natal concept/intro video similarly overpromised when you look at the first wave of Kinect but the product itself is still crazy revolutionary and the intro did build the hype and attached the tech unmistakably to MS.
Hm. The concept video was released a year and a half before release. Microsoft obviously had to announce it, so third party devs could support it. But if you watch the video so much stuff is bullshit! ^^ Also it gave the competition a chance to react to it (Playstation Move? I don't own either and don't know which wave-your-hand-stuff is working better or has better games.)
It certainly built hype (but also derision. I remember many wouldn't take it serious and as hyperbole). I think Kinect would have been successful in a more truthful presentation. Like if Microsoft had done an Apple-like reveal and only shown the real product two months before release.
The Project Natal concept/intro video similarly overpromised when you look at the first wave of Kinect but the product itself is still crazy revolutionary and the intro did build the hype and attached the tech unmistakably to MS.