Google to Halt Individual Sales of Google Glass, Puts Tony Fadell In Charge of Developing New Version

Google is planning to halt individual sales of Google Glass and has put Tony Fadell (one of the fathers of the iPod) in charge of developing a new version of the device.

The WSJ reports that the Glass project and Chief Ivy Ross will become a business unit, leaving the Google X research lab. Ross will report to Fadell, CEO of Nest Labs which was recently acquired by Google.

The changes usher in a new strategy for Glass that will shun large, public tests of prototypes in favor of the approach used by Apple and Nest, which develop consumer gadgets in secret and release them as fully finished products.


The Explorer program which let individuals purchase Glass will be shut down after January 19th; however, Glass will still be available to companies and developers. A new version of the device should be available sometime this year but there will be no early access for testers.

“There’s no reason to throw it out there again,” said Ross. “Now it’s time to hunker down.”

The new Google Glass device will be cheaper, have longer battery life, improved sound quality, and a better display. Google also plans to pair the device with familiar types of eyewear to make it more socially acceptable.

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