Google Glass future clouded as some early believers lose faith

Reuters:

After two years of popping up at high-profile events sporting Google Glass, the gadget that transforms eyeglasses into spy-movie worthy technology, Google co-founder Sergey Brin sauntered bare-faced into a Silicon Valley red-carpet event on Sunday.

I think this is one of the problems with Google Glass: Even in serious news coverage almost inevitably the spy aspect of Google Glass creeps in.

I did a quick Google search and did not find a single hit with a positive attitude about Google Glass. Under the top 10:

TechCrunch: MPAA Bans Google Glass And Other Wearable Cameras From Movie Theaters

Mew York Post: The revolt against Google ‘Glassholes’

Gizmodo: Is Google Glass Dying?

Under those circumstances one can easily speak of 'faith' when the test version of Google Glass comes with a $1,500 price tag.

While Glass may find some specialized, even lucrative, uses in the workplace, its prospects of becoming a consumer hit in the near future are slim, many developers say.

Of 16 Glass app makers contacted by Reuters, nine said that they had stopped work on their projects or abandoned them, mostly because of the lack of customers or limitations of the device. Three more have switched to developing for business, leaving behind consumer projects.

My personal experience? Google Glass is a difficult market even for business developers. As freelancing software developer I asked several of my customers what they think about possible Google Glass solutions. I pointed out some ideas how Google Glass could be used to benefit their business. Though the ideas were generally well received, they usually were answered with: Sounds very good, perhaps in the future. We are watching Google Glass. We thought about it ourselves, but don't think that at this point the necessary investments will pay off.

My advice to Google? Cut the price. For $150 I'd take the risk. Many nerd developers would. Google Glass needs a better reputation and a few killer apps. Only Google has the money and interest to improve the reputation of Google Glass. To find a killer app, it needs an as large as possible developer base. One does not get the latter with a $1500 product with a questionable future.