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Google gives up on Glass

Getty

Getty

Google has shut down several social media accounts linked to wearable headset Google Glass, ending its push to popularise the pricey eyeglasses with consumers four years after their unveiling.

Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts for Google Glass were no longer active on Tuesday, a development first reported on website 9to5Google.

“Hi Explorers, we’ve had a blast hanging out with you on G+ throughout the Explorer Program,” a statement on the Google Plus page said.

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It went on to instruct users to ask questions on the support page for Glass.

The company has declined to comment on the decision.

Alphabet Inc’s Google stopped selling Glass to consumers last year, noting it was time for a strategy reset.

The head of the Google X research lab has since said the hype surrounding the $US1,500 (A$2,100) device became overblown, considering it was merely a prototype and not a finished product.

Glass was greeted with enthusiasm among tech aficionados when it was first unveiled in 2012.

But the device, which allows users to access e-mail messages on its eye-level screen and to record video with a tiny camera, quickly ran into problems.

Some mocked its awkward appearance, while others expressed concern it could be used to make video recordings surreptitiously.

On Twitter, many interpreted the disappearance of Glass’ social media accounts to mean a final end to efforts to market the product to consumers.

Jonas Haberkorn, @JonasHaberkorn, tweeted: “#GoogleGlass for consumers is dead, yes really dead.”

Meanwhile, one user lamented the disappearance of the device’s social presence.

Mark Tompkins, @javamarket, said: “Disappointed in @google’s decision 2 remove #GoogleGlass history from FB & @twitter. We learn best from actual recorded history. #coverup.”

Topics: Google
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