Does Google Glass have a competitor? It just might, if Samsung has anything to say about it. The company is reportedly developing a device called "Galaxy Glass" that's set to compete with Google Glass, according to USA Today.
In fact, Samsung may just unveil its smart glass as soon as September's IFA tradeshow in Berlin, according to the Korea Times. The new Galaxy Glass will, like Google Glass, be a pair of smart eyeglasses that let you view notifications from your smartphone and take phone calls.
"The reason is simple," said an unnamed official at Samsun Electronics in an interview with the Korea Times. "The market potential for smart glass is huge. It will be used in trucks, cars and has a greater impact on related industries such as gas--and coatings-makers."
It's perhaps not surprising that competitors are already emerging. Google Glass took the world by storm when it was first announced. The motion-tracking eyewear keeps a video display constantly in your line of sight. It can connect to Google and the Web through a phone or Wi-Fi, but reportedly has a middling battery life, according to the Seattle Times. Yet the demand for the new device is soaring.
"It will be interesting to see which companies get better stakes in the race for smart glasses," said the Samsung official. "Players definitely want to enjoy a 'first-mover' advantage in this new and highly lucrative market."
The new design will include integrated earphones that will allow users to take phone calls and listen to music during workouts. It's likely that the "Galaxy Glass" could be ready by some time at the end of this year.
