Google framed the recent end of the Glass Explorer program as Glass "graduating" from its experimental X labs. People wondered not so secretly if it was actually the end of the line for Glass. According to a new report from The New York Times, Glass as we've come to know it is dead, but the project lives on.

Glass is now under the control of Nest's Tony Fadell, who isn't so keen on public experimentation with products. Sources claim it was Google co-founder Sergey Brin who pushed for Glass to be made available to the public in the Explorer program. The team knew it wasn't ready for launch, but at the time it seemed like a good way to get feedback. However, the artificial scarcity only made Glass more intriguing. That's good when you're selling a product, but less so when you're still building it.

The complications surrounding Glass were only made worse by privacy scares and a very messy affair between Brin and Glass' marketing manager (you can read about that juicy nonsense elsewhere). Fadell is said to be starting over with Glass, and there won't be an Explorer program this time. As a product guy, employees allege he will only show off the new Glass when (and if) it's complete.