Nextbit, the company behind the cloud connected Robin smartphone, is giving something back to their users with a new beta program that allows them to test out experimental software and features. In a blog post yesterday, Nextbit announced their plans for the beta program, and much like any beta, it gives Nextbit a way to test out features and new software on real users to get things just right before pushing things out to the public masses. The aim is to fine tune the experiences and what better way to do that then give a small portion of users access to the software beforehand?
On the other side of things, the users that are part of the beta program benefit as well, as they end up getting to test things early before everyone else, and if you’re the sort who likes to be on the bleeding edge of everything you interact with, this could be a great opportunity. This also means that users, in a way, are able to help shape the future of Nextbit’s software releases through the feedback they hand over to the team following a push of any software through the beta, which will eventually lead to the public launch of the software.
What this also means is that beta testers will be responsible for providing useful feedback. That could entail anything from a few comments here and there on specific threads to direct communication with the Nextbit team to discuss any issues that may have been noticed. While it does afford testers the ability to check software out before anyone else, Nextbit mentions that the beta isn’t designed for that purpose, so testers will end up having to be vocal and actually participate in the program in a meaningful way. It goes without saying that since this is a beta program, there are likely to be possible risks that are associated with using software on the device that is unfinished. If you own a Nextbit Robin and are interested in being part of the beta program, Nextbit has set up an application through Google Docs that you can fill out.