A post by Robert Scoble over on Google Plus suggests that Best Buy will be one of the retailers carrying Google Glass next year. An unnamed source said that Google plans to rent 6,000 square feet inside every Best Buy store. What that means for Google's supposed Glass-specific shops is unknown that this point. Last we heard, Glass needs to be tailored fit for each individual, hence the need for one-on-one Glass-focused shops.
Yet given the amount of hype that's generated around Google Glass, setting up pop-up shops in Best Buy may be needed in order to handle the demand. Even more, where will Google establish its own Glass-specific shops and where will they be located? With Best Buy scattered throughout the nation, Google has a better, pre-established launch platform.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin said during Google I/O 2012 that the upcoming Google Glass headset should be available to consumers by 2014. Then back in April 2013, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said the consumer model wouldn't arrive for another year, pointing to a Q2/Q3 2014 launch. That said, the whole 2013 launch window has been tossed out with the trash for some time now despite recent "insider" talk that Glass has been "delayed" to 2014.
"The developers are beginning now," Schmidt said back in April when asked when Glass will hit the market. "It will be fair to say that there will be thousands of these in use by developers over the next few months. And then based on their feedback, we'll make some product changes, and it's probably a year-ish away."
Meanwhile, Google has reportedly scooped up Glass-related technologies from Foxconn including HMDs that generate "a virtual image and is superimposed on a real-world view". Glass will actually be manufactured by Foxconn's facility in California, allowing Google to say that the specs are officially Made in America.
Google also recently acquired a 6.3 percent stake in display maker Himax Technologies Inc. which makes LCOS chips for Glass. Google has the option to purchase more shares at the same price for another year, and could own up to 14.8 percent of HDI if Google exercises its option in full.
