Google has a second shot at smart glasses, and according to 9to5Google's hands-on with the Android XR glasses developed alongside Samsung and Warby Parker, it is not wasting it.
The piece argues that Meta built smart glasses on a 'growth at all costs' model, and the collateral damage is a form factor now culturally associated with surveillance before it ever delivered on utility. Google's response, per the hands-on, is deliberate design at every layer, hardware, software, and partner selection included.
The full hands-on is worth reading for the specific interaction details and how Google is structuring the Android XR platform to differentiate from Meta's approach. The question of whether considered design can undo a poisoned first impression is exactly what is at stake here.
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