Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is known for working on crazy gadgets which it shows off years before they ever launch to consumers. So what’s a company like Google going to come out with this year? Nick Summers of The Next Web has some suggestions.
Will Google Glass come to market?
We’ve been hearing about Google Glass for some time, as the company toured the U.S. to let average consumers try out the headgear themselves. The company had previously been said to be wanting to launch the device by the end of 2013, so does this mean this will be the year since that window was missed? CEO Eric Schmidt suggested to the BBC recently that the device would launch in 2014, so there’s a good chance that consumers will finally be able to buy it.
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) could release more details about Google Glass at its annual I/O conference, which is usually held in either May or June.
Google to launch a Nexus TV?
Google’s Nexus line of handsets and tablets has been a hit with consumers, so now some are speculating that a Nexus TV is next. The living room is considered by many technology companies to become the next battleground for consumer dollars, so a Nexus TV could make sense. There have been rumors that a set-top box powered by Google’s Android operating system will launch in the first half of this year, but these rumors have not been widespread.
It sounds like the box will be a lot like the Apple TV box, the Roku Box and others which compete in this sphere. However, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) did just launch Chromecast, and I would think that would be more of a focus. At $35, it’s more affordable than boxes which are similar and also much easier to use. Plus, it turns Android smartphones and tablets into TV remotes, which is what analysts have been wanting Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to do with its iDevices for some time. Summers doesn’t sound too convinced that a Nexus TV box will be coming this year either. In fact, he also seems to think that the Chromecast will developed further in 2014.
What about a Google smart watch?
Another maybe on his list is a smart watch from Google. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) launched its Galaxy Gear smart watch, which runs on Android, this year, and it hasn’t been all that popular. A report from The Wall Street Journal indicated that Google is indeed working on an Android smart watch, but it didn’t say when this device might be available.
Standard updates from Google expected
And of course Google wouldn’t be a technology company if it didn’t roll out updated versions of its previous products, including the Nexus line. The Android operating system will probably also get a refresh during 2014, as will the Chrombook and possibly even the Chrome operating system.
