You may be tempted to say a ‘rip-off’ but the answer is Google’s very controversial Glass wearable computer.
According to Teardown.com the accurate Bill of Materials (BOM) of Google’s Glass is $79.78 or around 5% of its retail price.
Before anyone jumps to conclusions that Google is ripping off customers – a fact that they vehemently deny – let us be clear that:
- Google Glass is a combination of hardware and software
- It is bleeding edge (earlier than leading edge) technology that cost a lot to develop. Google’s Mirror Application Programing Interface (API) is remarkably comprehensive and complex
- It is relatively unique
- And it is has been sold in limited numbers mainly to developers – sorry ‘Explorers’ with the attendant support costs that entails
Conclusion – $1500 may be what the market can bear but it probably has cost Google a lot more than what they have recouped – Google is entitled to make money.
Teardown is doing Google a favour by debunking a few myths. The computing hardware inside Glass is not ‘white man’s magic’ rather it’s a relatively low powered system on a chip (SoC*), 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, 5MP camera, 570mAH battery, 5MP camera, microphone, bone conduction speaker, and a 640×360 transparent display.
*The SoC is actually several chips that provide Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, Accelerometer, compass and gyroscope, touch, audio all controlled by the older Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. Do not forget the Titanium glasses frame and USB charger, cable and soft case.
The good news – not so much for Google – is that its competitors will eventually be able to make similar specified wearables and sell them for a fraction of the price – if they can ever get around Google’s patents! Simple – licence Glass from Google or in Samsung’s case use Tizen!