No fraz, in software business they'll announce new product 5 years in advance, then you get teasers, beta versions, etc. Have you heard the name Longhorn? I bet you have.
The reason is: They want you to wait for, and buy their software, not the competitors. They try to keep you interested, even give you the option on having influence on how the product looks and works.
Releasing fully designed product into a market that doesn't know the product is coming is generally considered bad marketing and is usually bad for business. Not to mention that it's considered bad design practice, if the expected buyer is not asked in details what he wants in the product.