By Alistair Barr
Google Inc. is making big changes to its troubled Glass
wearable-computing project, giving a former Apple Inc. executive
oversight of the initiative as the Internet giant grapples with the
best way to expand from its software roots into hardware.
Glass is moving from the Google X research lab to be a
stand-alone unit led by Ivy Ross. Ms. Ross and her team will report
to Tony Fadell, a former Apple executive who heads Nest Labs, the
smart-home device company Google acquired for $3.2 billion in
February 2014. Mr. Fadell will still run Nest, but he also will
oversee Glass and provide strategic guidance to Ms. Ross.
Google will stop selling the initial version of Glass to
individuals through its Explorer program after Jan. 19. Google will
still sell Glass to companies and developers for work
applications.
Google plans to release a new version of Glass in 2015, but it
hasn't been more specific about timing.
The changes usher in a new strategy for Glass that will shun
large, public tests of hardware prototypes in favor of the approach
used by Apple and Nest, which develop consumer gadgets in secret
and release them as fully finished products.
Google released the first version of Glass in April 2013 to
people who applied to test the $1,500 Internet-connected eyewear
through its Explorer program. Just over a year later, the device
went on sale to the general public, but sales were small amid
privacy complaints, technical shortcomings and a lack of obvious
uses.
"Early Glass efforts have broken ground and allowed us to learn
what's important to consumers and enterprises alike," Mr. Fadell
said in a statement. "I'm excited to be working with Ivy to provide
direction and support as she leads the team and we work together to
integrate those learnings into future products. I remain fully
committed to Nest and am equally excited about our work there,
which continues to accelerate."
Write to Alistair Barr at alistair.barr@wsj.com
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