Ex-Apple iPod chief Tony Fadell to oversee Google's Glass project after reorg
Former Apple executive Tony Fadell --?known colloquially as the "father of the iPod" --?is set to take over Google's Glass augmented reality project as the search giant reorganizes the stumbling wearable team.
Current Glass chief Ivy Ross will remain as the team's manager under Fadell, who will lend "strategic guidance" to the project, according to the Wall Street Journal. Fadell will continue to lead Nest, the connected home company he co-founded and sold to Google last year.
The existing Glass Explorer program will be terminated as part of the changes, which include moving the project out of Google co-founder Sergey Brin's Google X incubator. Developer kits will remain available, however.
Google is said to be planning a more Apple-like approach to product development going forward. Rather than running open beta tests, as it does with its software projects, the company will continue hardware development in secrecy and only make finished devices available to consumers.
Glass has been beset by trouble since its unveiling, primarily because many consumers rebelled against the idea of companions with a camera constantly attached to their face. That led to the coining of the term "glassholes" for those who wore the device in social situations.
Google attempted to right the ship by positioning Glass as a fashion accessory, going so far as to strike a partnership with designer Diane von Furstenberg. The company even began construction of a series of massive barge-borne "floating showrooms" for glass, which --?perhaps tellingly --?were eventually scrapped before hosting a single visitor.
Current Glass chief Ivy Ross will remain as the team's manager under Fadell, who will lend "strategic guidance" to the project, according to the Wall Street Journal. Fadell will continue to lead Nest, the connected home company he co-founded and sold to Google last year.
The existing Glass Explorer program will be terminated as part of the changes, which include moving the project out of Google co-founder Sergey Brin's Google X incubator. Developer kits will remain available, however.
Google is said to be planning a more Apple-like approach to product development going forward. Rather than running open beta tests, as it does with its software projects, the company will continue hardware development in secrecy and only make finished devices available to consumers.
Glass has been beset by trouble since its unveiling, primarily because many consumers rebelled against the idea of companions with a camera constantly attached to their face. That led to the coining of the term "glassholes" for those who wore the device in social situations.
Google attempted to right the ship by positioning Glass as a fashion accessory, going so far as to strike a partnership with designer Diane von Furstenberg. The company even began construction of a series of massive barge-borne "floating showrooms" for glass, which --?perhaps tellingly --?were eventually scrapped before hosting a single visitor.
Comments
Google has too much money to waste.
Dead cat bounce, at best.
First thing he'll do is rename it "iGlass"...
Now he'll be known colloquially as the "father of the glassholes". " src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
Maybe they'll be able to come up with some uses for Google Glass, finally.
No, the market has to find the Google Glass features useful. Google can't just arbitrarily create a use.
At some point, I would think this device (or something similar like the GoPro cameras) will have enough functionality to be used by classes of users, like police, firemen, paramedics/EMTs, security guards, airport staff, and others.
Remember, decades ago, the need for a "personal computer" was highly disputed. Even computer experts said that the average person didn't need one, that there would only be a handful of computers on the planet.
Similar doubts were expressed about mobile telephones and that they would only be needed for emergencies, etc. Now they are used for selfies.
Let's face it, consumer technology like Google Glass is on its way, and the initial strong pushback is typical. In time, many people will accept much of the new technology's intrusion acceptable. Sure, some people will still hate cellphones, CDs, etc., but the majority of people will understand that the devices can be used properly or used improperly, a judgment call by the individual operator. That's a grey line.
Google has too much money to waste.
Dead cat bounce, at best.
Do you think those cards are starting to collapse? lol
Glassholes
They are hated In public
Scorned at bars and eating joints
Brings out peoples angst
And privacy fears
People comment that they walk out of establishments where they are seen
Bad side of technology
Now who wants to be a developer for more mess??
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/wearable-tech/3589338/google-glass-2-release-date-price-specs/
The assignment of Mr Fadell can be chalked up to Google moving Glass out of the xLabs and into a stand-alone project.
According to a Google spoke person there's no change in the day-to-day operation will be continue to be run by Ivy Ross with Fadell taking control of the overall vision (pun intended ) Google will not become part of Nest nor is Fadell giving up his responsibilities there.
I though this was a dead product after people using them were found to be getting headache and such. I guess google it willing to take on the "Jerk" type lawsuits that will come later.
Google is good at hiring people who were not the originator behind the ideas they are buying. They think that Fadell was the master mind behind the ipod. We all know it was Jobs which made it a success. He is going to end up the same way Rubin end up, managing special projects (maybe glasses is the special project) until they can figure out how to get rid of him. Yep, nest is turning big dividends for google.
http://www.strictlyvc.com/2014/11/12/unrest-nest/
It's also not how engineering is supposed to work. You don't build things for the hell of it, and then hope someone comes up with a use later. You build it to do something.
https://plus.google.com/+GoogleGlass/posts/9uiwXY42tvc