Amidst all the rumours that Google Glass is dead, Google has confirmed it is working on Google Glass 2. Here's what we know about it's UK release date, price and specs. See also: Using Google Glass: 5 things we love, 5 things that need to get better (and probably will).
Google Glass 2: UK release date and price; Google Glass is not dead
Google Glass 2 is no longer just a rumour. While Google today (16 January) confirmed it was closing its Explorer programme and taking the original Google Glass offsale from 19 January, it also confirmed that this is not the end for Google Glass.
In a Google+ post it wrote: "Since we first met, interest in wearables has exploded and today it’s one of the most exciting areas in technology. Glass at Work has been growing and we’re seeing incredible developments with Glass in the workplace. 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. We’re thrilled to be moving even more from concept to reality.
"As part of this transition, we’re closing the Explorer Program so we can focus on what’s coming next. January 19 will be the last day to get the Glass Explorer Edition. In the meantime, we’re continuing to build for the future, and you’ll start to see future versions of Glass when they’re ready. (For now, no peeking.)"
According to The Wall Street Journal, which broke the news about Google Glass 2, the next generation of the wearable gadget will arrive in 2015. When exactly is unclear, although Google's I/O conference, which will take place in June, is a good possibility.
It was at Google I/O 2012 where a team of skydivers streamed their journey from a plane to the Moscone Center in San Francisco using Glass. Google made the Explorer Edition available to I/O developers for $1500. There was no mention of Glass at I/O 2014, but this year's developer event could be the perfect time for Google to reveal Glass 2.
There's been no rumours on price but we expect the price to be more affordable than the original which was always going to be a beta product. You can buy the Google Glass Explorer Edition in the UK for £1000 (at least until 19 January), but that price will have to be lower for Google Glass 2 if the firm is going to make it a mass market success.
Interestingly, The Wall Street Journal's sources claim that the chipmaker will promote Google Glass to organisations including hospitals and construction. It will also develop new workplace uses for the wearable but will still target the consumer market as well.
Google Glass 2: Specs and features
Google Glass 2 arriving in 2015 is big news but the other takeaway is that the firm will reportedly ditch Texas Instruments in favour of Intel as a chip provider. This should improve the battery life of Google Glass which has been a problem so far.
The WSJ says: "it isn't clear what Intel chip Google will use in the new version of Glass, but there will be an emphasis on power conservation".
Not only does Intel make decent chips, it may be a good deal for Google in terms of promotion. Intel will likely go full steam ahead when it backs something, like it has done with Ultrabooks.
Another source said that less than five percent of the 300 Google employees working on Glass focus on the company's Glass at Work programme. However, the Intel push to industry will not change Google's bias towards the consumer market.
Little else is known about Google Glass 2 but we'll let you know by updating this article as soon as we hear any more on the subject. Google, as usual, declined to comment.
Intel is winning more and more partnerships in the mobile space with many recent smartphones and tablets coming with Atom processors. It has been working with Google on projects such as self-driving cars and the Nexus Player.
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