Google Moving Google Glass Program Out Of Google X Labs

By Kevin Parrish
published

The Google Glass account on Google Plus was updated on Thursday with news that January 19 will be the last day the Explorer Edition of Google Glass will be sold. Glass is "graduating" from Google Labs to become its own entity within the Google collective, allowing the company to focus on the next version of Google's controversial wearable tech.

"Glass was in its infancy, and you took those very first steps and taught us how to walk," the update read, referring to the Explorer Edition participants. "Well, we still have some work to do, but now we're ready to put on our big kid shoes and learn how to run."

The Wall Street Journal added a few more specifics, reporting that Ivy Ross will be in charge of the new "stand-alone" unit. Ross will report to former Apple executive Tony Fadell who still leads Nest Labs, which was acquired by Google back in February 2014. The site said that Fadell will run both Nest Labs and Google Glass and will provide "strategic guidance" to Ross and the Glass team.

"As we look to the road ahead, we realize that we've outgrown the lab and so we're officially 'graduating' from Google[x] to be our own team here at Google," the Google Plus blog added. "We're thrilled to be moving even more from concept to reality."

The first wave of Glass specs was issued back in April 2013 to a limited few who were selected by the company, had a spare $1,500, and resided in the United States. Since then, the company has opened the Explorer Edition program up to anyone who can fork out the funds. The retail version is expected to be manufactured here in the United States and arrive sometime this summer.

"We're continuing to build for the future, and you'll start to see future versions of Glass when they're ready," the Google Plus blog concluded.

Will Google Glass become a hot item once it goes retail? That remains to be seen. The Explorer Edition wearers are already facing social issues related to restaurants, nightclubs and movie theaters. There's also the $1,500 price; it's rather steep for the general consumer. If Google wants Glass to become the next smartphone, it will need to deal with not only the price, but how the built-in camera can be less invasive to non-Glass wearers.

We've reached out to Google for additional comment.

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Kevin Parrish
11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • okibrian
    Glass is done. Everyone has moved on.
    Reply
  • alidan
    Glass is done. Everyone has moved on.
    im paranoid, i would use glass just to record all my interactions with people, because who know what crazy is going to hit me and i need to prove my innocence.
    Reply
  • Vlad Rose
    And the glassholes rejoice. Yet another reason for people to not be paying attention to the road. It's also another way for thieves to steal your personal information since the camera can be used w/o anyone knowing.
    Reply
  • surphninja
    im paranoid, i would use glass just to record all my interactions with people, because who know what crazy is going to hit me and i need to prove my innocence.

    I wonder why you're getting hit so much.
    Reply
  • greenspoon
    Glass is done. Everyone has moved on.
    im paranoid, i would use glass just to record all my interactions with people, because who know what crazy is going to hit me and i need to prove my innocence.

    That's funny. That is why I will not use it. I do not want Google tracking everything I do. Even if they say they won't, they have been known to "accidentally" do things like that. Some may say they can already track what I do, but that is only true to a point. This would allow for a complete record of everything I did.

    Which one of us is paranoid? :)
    Reply
  • Vlad Rose
    15072409 said:
    Glass is done. Everyone has moved on.
    im paranoid, i would use glass just to record all my interactions with people, because who know what crazy is going to hit me and i need to prove my innocence.

    That's funny. That is why I will not use it. I do not want Google tracking everything I do. Even if they say they won't, they have been known to "accidentally" do things like that. Some may say they can already track what I do, but that is only true to a point. This would allow for a complete record of everything I did.

    Which one of us is paranoid? :)

    Don't forget the people with Google Glass that have been known to take pictures of people's credit cards while waiting in line in a supermarket. That'd give me a good reason to punch someone with a Glass on instead of vice versa.
    Reply
  • mman74
    We thought the first automobile users were lazy baffoons. We thought the first mobile users were arrogant yuppies that couldn't afford to be out of reach for 10 minutes.
    One day terrorist acts will occur and the authorities will know exactly what happened and how the perpetrators got away. One day we will have meetinsg and instantly recall names and who said what. One day women will walk home at night safe.
    I still remember it was quite cool to make fun of the yuppies with their 80s phones. What's that in your back pocket now?
    Reply
  • computerguy72
    If the price is right I'll buy a google glass. It would be awesome for driving directions among other hands free things - perhaps the ideal solution for those sorts of activities.
    Reply
  • JOSHSKORN
    I'll buy Google Glass when the price comes down to 99 bucks. Maybe by then, it'll actually have practical use.
    Reply
  • milkod2001
    concept of G Glass is good but initial price has totally killed it. Google put Glass together for $150 and ask $1500 for it. That's even beyond Apple's standard.What a joke.
    Reply