Intel continues its sweep into the consumer wearables market, acquiring Recon Instruments for a reported $175 million. Recon is big in the sports segment of the augmented reality market, making the tech guts of an Oakley ski visor, as well as its own Snow2 and Jet glasses and the Engage smartphone app. Intel was an investor in Recon through its Intel Capital wing, and … [Read more...]
Luxottica’s Glass Will Be Out “Soon,” CEO Says; Intel Version Next Year
Luxottica is the world's largest optical goods company, and you may remember that Google has a deal with the company -- sealed a year ago -- to produce a consumer version of Glass. Massimo Vian is one of Luxottica's two CEO's and he told the company's annual shareholder meeting today that its version of Google Glass will be out "soon," the Wall Street Journal … [Read more...]
Google to Halt Sales of Glass, But Don’t Write the Obits Yet
Google says it will stop taking orders for its iconic Google Glass next week, and is closing its "Explorer" software dev program. The BBC reports that Google says responsibility for the project is being moved out of the Google X division and into the consumer products division (with Nest) under Tony Fadell. At first glance, this might look like the welcome end of Google … [Read more...]
Luxottica Seals Wide-Ranging Development Deal with Intel for Glasses; Doesn’t Rule Out Google
Luxottica, the world's largest maker of eyeglasses, has a deal with Google to make Glass-derived products. But that's not keeping the Italian optical goods giant from working with other companies, like Intel. Intel and Luxottica announced today a particularly wide-ranging development partnership. The two companies will establish an R&D lab in California, the New York … [Read more...]
Luxottica CEO Caught Telling The Truth About Google Glass
Leonardo Del Vecchio is CEO of Luxottica, the world's biggest eyeglasses company. Besides owning huge retail brands including Lenscrafters and Cohen's Fashion Optical, Luxottica makes frames under the names Ray-Ban, Oakley, and tons of others. It also has a deal to make Glass for Google. Which makes an interview he gave the Financial Times (which is behind a paywall) a little … [Read more...]
Oakley, Ray-Ban to Sell Google Glass-based Eyewear
Finally, there's a sign that Google really and truly wants to turn Glass into an actual business. The search giant has signed a deal with Luxottica, one of the world's biggest eyewear companies, to develop and sell Glass-based eyewear. It's possible that you've never heard of Luxottica, but you know its brands. Luxottica, an Italian company, numbers among its many luxury and … [Read more...]