The second-generation Google Glass is confirmed to be underway, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), though the exact release date remains vague. While the first Google Glass is deemed expensive and bulky, the successor is pegged at a more affordable price with functions essential to workplaces.
The WSJ sources anticipated that Google Glass 2 is more likely to be introduced in the next Google I/O Conference in June 2015. Two years ago, a team of skydivers maneuvered a plane to the Moscone Center in San Francisco wearing the Glass.
The first Glass called the Explorer Edition is sold at US$1,500 for the beta version, though there is a possibility to have it sold at a lower price given its mass production. To accomplish this, Google intends to promote the Glass for hospital and industrial use.
Nevertheless, Google remains loyal in manufacturing the wearable glass for the consumer market. Less than five percent of the 300 Google employees are dedicated on the Glass at Work department.
PC Advisor initially reported that the Mountain View tech giant is eyeing for an Intel chipset instead of Texas Instruments. "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," The WSJ noted.
Reviews about the Explorer Edition indicated both positive and negative feedbacks. Because of the attached battery, camera, speaker, and screen, one side of the Glass feels heavier than the other. Also, the battery hanging at the rear of the right arm may be a cause of annoyance for long-haired users or those who are wearing coats or hats.
The Google Glass is surprisingly user-friendly. The touchpad on one side of the frame is well responsive in scrolling menus. The camera button, on the other hand, allows user to capture snapshots or record short videos. Certain hand and eye movements triggers action calls aside from the basic commands like "OK, Glass," but the device has a tendency to warm up on extended usage.
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