Around two months back, Google announced that it would cease to sell its $1,500 Glass headset, laying to rest its famed Explorer Program. But today, we're hearing news that it might make a triumphant return.
With Google now having killed its Glass wearable off following a less than successful year it seems that everyone is suddenly spouting that it was doomed from the start. Whether they're just kicking Glass while it's down or did truly possess the ability to see into the future is anybody's guess, but one person inside Apple did apparently know that the writing was on the wall for what was a very ambitious project.
Google's firsts attempt at giving the world a wearable computer that lives on your forehead has suffered plenty of cynicism and criticism since it arrived on the noggins of Google's intrepid 'Explorers' but that clearly isn't going to stop the technology giant from pushing forward with new iterations of Glass. A new patent, recently made public but having actually been submitted back in January, appears to show what could be the next version of Glass to come out of Google's design labs.
Google Glass has been in some hot waters lately, with the search giant not having the easiest run with its futuristic gadget. Say what you may, but Google isn't letting its wearable wash away just yet, and is reportedly planning on a next-generation of the wearable with support from Intel.
The movie industry has long been concerned about the issue regarding moviegoers recording a movie using a smartphone, camera or other device. Google Glass, unlike most other camera-equipped gadgets, could be used to record a movie quite unsuspectingly, and as such, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) - the body that represents the major studios - has made a move to completely ban Glass and similar forms of wearable tech in cinemas.
One ambitious concept maker has crafted an interesting render of what a Google Glass-esque product might look like if Apple's design team was at the helm. It features, among other perks, a micro projector that beams content directly onto the lens, and while it seems far-fetched that such a slimline, stylish look could be achievable at this point in time, the designer suggests that Apple's own face computer could be something to consider in years to come.
The world of wearables is currently amid something of a boom, and with Google Glass having recently arrived at the Play Store, head-mounted gadgets continue to arouse interest. Several other big-name vendors in the tech game have also sought to get in on the act, and among them, Japanese outfit Sony has been working on some eyewear of its own. The SmartEyeglass, as it is named, will be heading to market in March of 2015, and today, the PlayStation maker has released the SDK.
Google's Project Glass has been in the works for years now, and since the initial dev roll-out back in 2013, generated quite a significant amount of interest in tech circles. First it was a closed beta available to selected creatives and developers, before eventually becoming an invitation-only enterprise. This year, the Explorer Edition relaxed the invitation system, making the gadget available in the UK and US to the masses, and now, finally, the head-mounted gadget is available at the Play Store with all of those lovely accessories to boot.
It remains to be seen whether there's a legitimate market for head-mounted, augmented reality devices, but as ever, Google is having a pretty good go at building a suitable device for this emerging space. The Explorer Edition of Google Glass has just spread its wings to the United Kingdom, opening the door to a wider roll-out in the run-up to the eventual consumer-end release, but while Glass is commanding the lion's share of coverage, plenty of other companies are working on something similar. Lenovo, to whom the Big G recently sold Motorola, has a product on the go that looks almost identical, and having just taken the wraps off the unnamed HUD, also gave a very brief overview.
One of the great benefits of owning a Nexus device, or a Google Play Edition of any other popular handset, is that the updates arrive quickly and without those cumbersome delays as vendors take the time to make their own personal tweaks. With Android KitKat 4.4.4 having trickled out a short while ago, those rocking the Nexus 5 have been able to get their fill almost immediately, and today, the search giant has rolled out a very minor bump to those based in Australia, New Zealand and India. Allied to this release of Android 4.4.4_r2, the Big G also pushed Glass's software to XE19.1, and below, you can catch all of the relevant details regarding both updates.
