Eric Schmidt says Google Glass isn't dying, just being 'made ready for users'

Dismissing rumours that the tech giant was killing Google Glass following its dismal reception in the tech market, Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt has said that the technology behind Glass was "too important to throw away" and that the program has been put under the control of Nest's Tony Fadell to "make it ready for users" in the future.

Schmidt said that Google was about taking risks and there's nothing about adjusting Glass that suggests that the company is planning to end it. He said that Glass remained "a big and very fundamental platform for Google" and added that just like the firm's self-driving cars, it was a work in progress and will take years to come to fruition. "It's like saying the self-driving car is a disappointment because it's not driving me around now," said Schmidt, reported The Verge.

Reports last December suggested that Google might be planning to launch a new, cheaper version of Google Glass this year. Intel was said to be providing the innards, with the updated model also reportedly offering a refreshed design and longer battery life.