Google Glass is now Project Aura, absorbs talent from Amazon

By Rich Edmonds
last updated

Google Glass
Google Glass (Image credit: Google)

Google Glass has a new name. Meet Project Aura, the division Google hopes to pump new life into. The company has been hiring engineers and software developers for the project, including ex-Amazon employees from Lab126 who previously worked on the Fire smartphone.

The team is headed up by Ivy Ross, who reports directly to Google's head of connected home business Tony Fadell. It's reported that Aura is not only working on the next version of Google Glass, but also other wearable tech too.

It's clear that Google sees potential in Project Aura, especially after executive chairman Eric Schmidt wrote off the project's failure by stating it needs more work. Still, there's nothing out there quite like Google Glass and you can expect to see more control over hype from Google for future releases.

Source: WSJ

Rich Edmonds
Rich Edmonds
23 Comments
  • I'm looking forward to the development and evolution of this tech. It's a long time coming! Seams like it stuttered for a bit there. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Yeah, its really unfortunate how that was handled. Google Glass was out in the wild very early and then they seemed to shut it down as all the competing virtual reality & augmented reality products started catching up.
  • Project Aura. Project Ara. Nope, those aren't going to get confusing, not at all. Posted via the Android Central App
  • That was the same thing I thought. Unless... Modular Eyeglasses! (Must. Have. Coffee.)
  • Haha I was thinking that too! They seriously couldn't have named it something else?
  • I already opened the article thinking "but they already used that name" until I noticed the ONE LETTER DIFFERENCE. Posted from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 with the official Android Central app for... Well... Android!
  • My body and wallet are ready for Glass V2 Posted via the Android Central App
  • So first Google gave up on the project and sent it to the nest team. Now the nest team has given the project to a bunch of failed engineers from amazon. Google might as well just kill the project. Posted via the Android Central App
  • How did the Amazon Engineer fail? Posted via the Android Central App
  • This was exactly what I thought as I read the title of the article. I didn't know Amazon had any talent to be absorbed.
  • Exactly. If they helped design the Fire, then they should go work for Blackberry, MSFT, Yahoo, HTC, or any fast food chain. I'm wondering if they contributed to the new name? Heyyyyyy.. let's name it Project Aura like Project Ara. Posted via the GS6 Active, aka GS6 M.E. (Manly Edition)
  • Other than the price, I don't get why they cancel before it's launched. As a consumer I need to try it to be able to decide whether to get it or not.
  • It was terrible, poor battery life, invasive, got extremely hot and would shut off. (Wealthy) Consumers did technically have the chance to try it, but the hardware aspect was definitely not finished.
  • They better change the name. The glass name pretty much is now ingrained in negativity. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Did you not read anything?? The name change was even in the title... Posted via the Android Central App
  • The fire phone may have failed as an amazon product, but the hardware was solid for its time. If it was a standard phone with google services on it I think it would be a much different story.
  • Exactly. .
    Besides that, we do not know which people they hire(d) specifically. These people worked on a project, and the project didn't turn out huge as expected, that does not mean these people do not have any talent, and that's important to remember. Posted via the Android Central App - One M9
  • Not the greatest at naming projects. Now we have Project Ara and Project Aura. Wonder what the next one will be?
  • Ara and aura, this is confusing Posted via Android Central App on 1+1
  • I still would love to get my hands on a pair of Google Glass...
  • Back to the future! (Anyone?.. no? Okay, lame sorry) Posted via the Android Central App
  • Is that Apple pissing their pants with laughter I hear? Is it amateur hour over at Google? Get the answer to these questions and more on the next...(failed Project)
  • They really seem mostly there already. I tried numerous smartwatches, but eventually decided that my simple BT headset has virtually all the functionality using Google Now: I can send texts, add calendar event and reminders, get audio map directions, etc., and with Voice Notify app, it will read my notifications when my headset is connected. I'm becoming more convinced that audio smart devices are a far superior form factor to watches or Glass-style (unless, of course, we finally get to a true heads-up display)