Google Glass is a confusing product, normally beta testers get their product for free, test it out, offer feedback and ways to improve and then send the device back, but that isn’t how Mountain View want this beta project to work.
Instead, beta testers opt into a $1500 payment for the Google Glass device and in return get to check out all the developer previews and try out all the newest applications before anyone else, even if it makes them look weird in public.
What’s odd is the large price tag Google Glass has, if it was $500 or even $100, it would make sense for beta testers who will not get the final version for free and have to stick to the developer edition, meant only for programmers and people interested.
The $1500 price tag gets even weirder when looking at how much the whole unit costs, TechInsights reported that Google Glass would cost $79 without manufacturing taken into consideration, a rather measly sum.
Google has denied the report, stating that other factors need to be taken into consideration, mostly research and development. Augmented reality could be considered a new market, but realistically Google should be aiming for a high-end smartphone price tag when they finally get a commercial version of Glass into stores.
The most expensive feature inside Google Glass is the processor, a Texas Instruments build costing $13. This is pretty low-end compared to some processors on the mobile market, costing upwards of $60, especially from Qualcomm.
Arguments will continue to happen over Google Glass’ price, but for developers and programmers, it does not mean much if they are able to successful program and app that might become popular someday, when Google finally decides to announce the consumer version of the augmented reality device.
