Google Glass Enterprise Edition – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

November 15, 2018March 6, 2019

Second Google Glass for Enterprise Appears in Leaked Images with USB-C & Modest Spec Bump

It’s been nearly two years since Google launched its first Glass Enterprise Edition, something the company called “a new chapter” for the device. Originally introduced in its Explorer Edition in 2013 targeting early adopters and developers, it now appears the second gen Enterprise Edition Glass could be well on its way to the final stages of production.

Update (March 6th, 2019): Google Glass 2 passed FCC testing late last year, although now the emergence of supposedly leaked images could mark a nearby launch for the enterprise-focused smartglasses. Images obtained by Brazilian publication Tecnoblog show the glasses add-on sporting a new USB Type-C connector which replaces the previous version’s pin-style magnetic connector, and labeling that’s consistent with the previously revealed FCC markings.

According to a Geekbench benchmark, the new version contains a Snapdragon 710, an integrated LTE modem, and support for Bluetooth 5.0 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. It also supposedly contains 3GB of RAM, Android Oreo OS, and a 32MP camera which is capable of 4K video at 30FPS, or 1080p video at 120FPS.

We’ve included those images below the update. The original article announcing the device’s FCC testing follows below:

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Original Article (November 15th, 2018): As first reported by 9to5Google, the company is heading back to the enterprise market with another business-focused Google Glass, the heads up display (HUD) device that snaps onto a pair of glasses, providing real-time information to the user in a small transparent window.

Dubbed ‘Glass Enterprise Edition 2’, the FCC listing doesn’t reveal much outside of a single sketch. FCC certifications almost never list components or specs, but there are a few things to notice draw from the device label sketch. Like the previous iteration, the new Glass features a button-and-hinge mechanism so the device can fold and a similar power button configuration.

Citing a source familiar with the matter, 9to5Google reports that the new Glass is however “mostly just spec bumps for performance, battery life, and other core functions.”

The first Google Glass Enterprise Edition included a well-deserved spec overhaul since the 2013 Explorer Edition, featuring an Intel Atom CPU, 32GB of storage, and a 780 mAh battery.

Google Glass Enterprise Edition Now Available

The unexpected return of Google Glass was announced late last month, complete with a re-design and a new focus as being for business and industrial use, resulting in the re-launch as Google Glass Enterprise Edition. The new version of the augmented reality (AR) device is now available through Google partner Streye.

The new version of the google Glass has had a minor re-design, now featuring a 780mAh battery to provide longer battery life, storage space has been upgraded to 32GB and an Intel Atom processor now powers the device, with an improved Wi-Fi chip, better speakers and assisted GPS also providing minor improvements.

The Streye version of google Glass Enterprise Edition is aimed squarely as businesses, targeting the section of the market that products such as the Vuzix M300 smartglasses have previously dominated. Each Google Glass purchased through Streye will also have access to Streye’s enterprise streaming services, which allows one Google Glass user to stream what they are looking at to another user, a useful tool for quality control, technical support and other areas. Google Glass Enterprise Edition with the bundled Streye services has been priced at $1,800 (USD)/£1,400 (GBP).

AR has been on the rise recently, with persistent rumours of Apple’s intentions to release a set of AR smartglasses of its own, fuelled by the recent release of Apple’s ARKit software. Microsoft has also been interested in the business side of AR, with its HoloLens introducing several enterprise-focussed applications recently, along with the promotion of its upcoming range of Windows 10 mixed reality headsets.

VRFocus will continue to bring you the latest news on Google Glass and other AR products and services.

July 21, 2017

Ubimax Launches Frontline A New Enterprise AR Platform

We’ve already seen that augmented reality (AR) and business can be a good fit. From using the technology to do more accurate stock control, to using AR to detect faults and manufacturing defects, wearable technology can be valuable to businesses. Wearable Technology manufacturer Ubimax are using this capability to launch a new AR platform specifically for Enterprise use.

The new platform, titled Frontline, integrates three different AR products, xPick, xMake, xInspect and xAssist in order to offer an end-to-end solution for functions such as production, deployment, operation and quality control.

The new Frontline platform is compatible with the most common smart glasses technology currently on the market, including Vuzix M300, Google Glass Enterprise Edition and Microsoft HoloLens. Ubimax claim that the new Frontline software suite offers significant improvements over previous AR and wearable technology solutions previously offered to businesses.

The software is already being distributed to some of Ubimax’s customers. Ubimax says that customers who have already rolled out Ubimax Frontline have seen significant improvements. Samsung are currently using the software, and Ubimax have released figures saying that Samsung have seen an increase in production speed of 22% and a 10% reduction in error rate compared to figures gathered before Ubimax Frontline was in use.

The software is being made available for manufacturing, retail, logistics and other business interests. Ubimax are hoping that the Frontline software suite will become as ubiquitous as Microsoft Office.

VRFocus will bring you further news on Ubimax AR products as it becomes available.

July 18, 2017

Google Glass Returns with Enterprise Edition

Google Glass was a somewhat ill-fates attempt by Google to get in on the ground floor of the augmented reality (AR) smart glasses industry. Google have now unexpectedly announced a new version of the smart glasses technology, with a new look.

The technology was derided upon launch for its unwieldy form-factor, and criticised due to privacy concerns over people using Google Glass for hidden filming. Take-up was much lower than expected, and almost everyone believed that the project was dead. However, a recent firmware update for the original Google glass raises some eyebrows and launched speculation that the project had been resurrected.

That seems to have been proved correct with today’s announcement of Google Glass Enterprise Edition. The new version of the hardware is said to have better battery life, and a red indicator light that will glow whenever recording is active, the new version is also planned to be able to support prescription lenses, and substitute for safety glasses.

A new ‘Enterprise Edition’ of Google Glass has already been launched, a move that makes sense considering that while Google Glass was a near-failure amongst mainstream consumers, it saw considerable use amongst manufacturers and engineers who found the camera and heads-up display extremely useful.

“Workers in many fields, like manufacturing, logistics, field services, and healthcare find it useful to consult a wearable device for information and other resources while their hands are busy,” Explained a blog post by Google X Division Project Lead Jay Kothari, “That’s why we’ve spent the last two years working closely with a network of more than 30 expert partners to build customized software and business solutions for Glass for people in these fields.”

It is currently unknown if the new version of Google Glass was also launch as a commercial product, or if it will stay exclusive to businesses.

”We first saw signs of Glass’ potential for businesses in the Glass Explorer days,” Kothari continues, “As we said when we graduated, we’d been seeing incredible developments with Glass in the workplace. Now the Glass product team is back at X, and we’ll be collaborating with the Google Cloud team and our partners to help customers across a variety of business sectors make the most of Glass.”

VRFocus will bring you further information on Google Glass and its new version as it becomes available.