While Google maintains that it is still committed to the much-hyped video device, the future is starting to look a bit wobbly for Google Glass – essentially a video camera, a processor, and a cool VR-like screen on the edge of your glasses. The entry price to get what was then an uber-cool gadget was USD$1,500, but Google Glasses no sell for half the price over Ebay. What’s more, app developers and some key personnel have actually left the project.
Reuters says that out of the 16 app developers for Google Glass that they contacted, nine of these outfits have either stopped app development for the platform or complete abandoned the project. Three outfits have switched to creating business apps for Google Glass, rather than making consumer apps.
There are still over 100 apps for Google Glass on the official website, and the large developers which include Facebook and Open Table, are still there. But one big bird left the nest just recently – Twitter has abandoned its Google Glass efforts.
Several key personnel have also left the project, including lead developer Babak Parviz, electrical engineering chief Adrian Wong, and Ossama Alami, director of developer relations. And lastly, two of Google’s biggest backers for Google Glass in Silicon Valley – Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Andreessen Horowitz – have quietly taken down their site that used to hype the device.
Meanwhile, Google still maintains that it is committed to the device. “We are completely energized and as energized as ever about the opportunity that wearables and Glass in particular represent,” said Glass Head of Business Operations Chris O’Neill. But the truth of the matter is, Google is actually selling its inventory of the device in bulk to some businesses, offering two-for-one discounts. Whatever is happening to the project, it might take a miracle of sorts to bring interest for Google Glass back to pre-launch levels.
VIA: Reuters
If Google was so keen on making this a success why wouldn’t they have dropped the price yet. I personally would love to have them with all the travels that I do, however the cost is not justified.
I don’t think Google ever wanted to sell them to the common people.
because Google (Pichai?) is making limits and for iDiots design even with Google Wear and lately from Android
Pichai is probably decided to make Android irrelevant like Windows and destroy innovative future of Android
Google Glass was just a huge PR stunt for Google. Google has tons of money to waste.
I still think Glass is something that could work. Surgeons? All that info right in your view. Etc. This was just not a consumer product.