Glass will not hit markets before 2014, confirms Google

There were rumours that Google could be planning an early shipping date for the company’s Glass wearable computer later this year. Computer World now says that Google has gone on the record to say that the wearable device will not be shipped before 2014.

According to the report, sources close to the company had earlier said that Glass would be available in 2013. Contradicting that, a Google spokesman has now said, "We're always adjusting and readjusting timelines. The most important thing that we do is focus on building a great product for users whenever that might be launched."

The spokesman went on to clarify that the earlier information given by some company employees at the May conference contradicted statements made by Google headhoncho Eric Schmidt. In April, Schmidt had told a BBC reporter that Glass was about a year away from hitting markets. At the time, the Google chairman had said, "It's fair to say there will be thousands in use over the months and there will be changes made based on feedback. But it's fair to say it's a year-ish away."

Google Glass will not be shipped before 2014

Analysts, however, feel that this decision may come from wanting to avoid problems if the shipping date of the device does extend beyond 2013. Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, told the source, "I'm pleased Google has the discipline to hold Glass back until they think it's perfect. Typically, Google will throw products out before they're ready, like the Nexus Q. Glass is a new category of devices and it's important that it works well. [If not], it could stunt the growth of these kinds of devices."

Another analyst with ZR Research, Zeus Kerravala said, "That's interesting, but not surprising. Glass has so much hype around it that it's more important Google get it right than get it out early or on time." Another point of view for this situation comes from Dan Olds, an analyst at Gabriel Consulting Group. According to him, it is possible that Google is focusing more on marketing the Google Glass as opposed to thinking about its technology.

Rationalising this, Olds said, "Google hasn't said anything about the slip or why it's happening. If I were to speculate, I'd say it's more marketing related than technical. Just the specter of Google Glass has caused a lot of buzz in both the tech world and with consumers. Businesses have banned them preemptively and there have been lots of discussions about how this device impacts privacy.”

The discussion around Google Glass has intensified in the last few days following several privacy and government bodies raising a lot of security and privacy concerns about the wearable device. The main point is the fact that Glass can be used to secretly take photos and videos of people. In response, Google has promised not to include facial recognition technology into the device till strong privacy settings are put in place. Certain businesses like Caesars Palace and Seattle’s 5 Points Cafe and Bar have already placed bans against the use of the wearable device on their premises.

These controversies are not stopping the company from steadily distributing the device to early adopters, developers and critics through its Explorer programme, though. Thus, it looks like the company is planning on sticking to its schedule for the Google Glass. So far, developers who want to get their hands on the device will have to shell out $1500 (Rs 95,070, approx), although there is no word on what the offical price of the device will actually be.

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Surface 2: Nvidia boss confirms Microsoft is prepping second iteration of its tablet

Chipmaker Nvidia confirmed Thursday what many have been suspecting – Microsoft is working on version two of its Surface tablet, despite having recently taken a $900 million write-down on the RT version following poor sales.

To avoid its successor suffering the same lukewarm reception, designers at Microsoft’s R&D department are likely rummaging through the drawer marked “bells and whistles”, though the box labeled “mind-blowing extras” may also need to be dipped into.

The news that the Redmond-based company is prepping the next version of the tablet comes courtesy of Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang (via Cnet), who said his company is “working really hard” with Microsoft to get the slate ready. An approximate release date isn’t mentioned

Huang, whose company provided the chip for the first version of the RT, believes he knows what’s been holding the device back – no, not the expensive price tag, poor battery life, average display or [enter your suggestion here], but the absence of Outlook at launch.

“It is the killer app for Windows,” Huang told Cnet, adding, “Now we’re going to bring it with the second-generation Surface. We’re working really hard on it, and we hope that it’s going to be a big success.” It’s hard to believe the inclusion of one piece of software is going to send Surface sales soaring, but Huang appears certain in his belief.

Launched in October last year, Microsoft’s Surface RT – together with the Pro version which followed – have failed to turn the tablet market on its head. They didn’t even turn it on its side. Mixed reviews and disappointing sales have forced the computer giant to offer discounts and promotions with the Surface in a bid to shift more units, though it’s not clear if these have had any real effect.

With PC sales falling and the tablet sector booming, Microsoft will desperately want to see the second iteration of its device grab a decent share of the market. Recent reports suggest it’s looking at launching smaller Surface tablets too, to take on, for example, the Nexus 7, iPad Mini and Amazon’s Kindle Fire offerings. Some have suggested Microsoft could dump the RT version and concentrate instead on the more powerful Pro model, though Microsoft has said nothing on the issue.

While Steve Ballmer’s company can easily handle any losses incurred by the first-generation model, another version that fails to capture the imagination of consumers would be a far more serious issue for the company as it attempts to tap a new revenue stream.

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan). As far as electronics are concerned, he's in the right place, with the East Asian country continuing to produce a plethora of gadgets and gizmos for tech addicts around the world. When not writing for Digital Trends, Trevor can be found out and about taking far too many photos, or in front of his computer trying to sort them all out.

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