Production of the first Google Glass units is being completed and the units will be shipped out to members of the early-access Explorer program in batches, likely within the next few weeks. The news comes from an email sent out to Google's backers (below) saying that "we’re seeing the first few devices come off the production line right now."
Google just released the official specs for Google Glass (after releasing the API too) and the futuristic frames come with 16GB (only 12GB will be usable) Flash memory, 5 megapixel camera for stills, 720p video recording, Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth and a battery that can handle "one full day of typical use".
Of course with a product like Google Glass, its specs won't tell us how much we'll actually use the, um, specs. Here are the nuts and bolts of Google Glass...
Google Glass is arguably the most exciting innovation in mobile technology since the iPhone — and not just because Google hyped it with a spectacular skydiving stunt. Certainly, the field of wearable technology has been around for decades (remember calculator watches?), but with the backing of a multibillion-dollar company and state-of-the-art wireless tech, Google looks to really take it to the next level.
There's a reason, however, that the device, which Google officially unveiled about a year ago, probably won't reach consumer hands until 2014: Creating a head-mounted display that's reliable, useful and not-ridiculous-looking is hard. Just ask Vuzix, which has been in the space since 1997.
The nerds are so excited. Our Internet-augmented, face-computer-wearing future is just over the horizon. Leading us there will be Google Glass, the first iteration of this particular sort of wearable, semi-immersive computing experience. If the product is successful, it will merely be the beginning.
The anticipation is understandable. If having Internet-connected computers in our pockets can transform our world, just imagine what wearing them on our faces will do. The prospect of everything from augmented reality games to futuristic surgery has people pumped for the days head. It's all very cool, but there's another side to Google Glass: the creepy factor.
For every exciting use case, it seems there's at least one social or policy-related concern. How will this impact privacy? Will we even have privacy in the future? When will we overcome the social stigma of face-mounted computers? Will we?
It will be some time before these questions shake out, a process that will continue as the technology evolves beyond Google's audacious first stab at it. In the meantime, here are five socially unacceptable things we expect some of Glass's earliest adopters to get into.
This coming week, we’re likely to get a peek at Samsung’s next generation Galaxy flagship smartphone, and by most accounts, it’ll have an auto-scrolling feature that can use head movement cues to detect when you’re paying attention to what’s on the small screen, and when you look away. There’s no word on just how specific it will be, but others are prepping tech that detects eye movement with a high level of accuracy to determine not just when someone’s facing a screen, but also where exactly their attention is focused.
Phones that pay at least as much attention to a user as a user pays to them are coming, whether in the form of the Galaxy S IV or not. And when they do, they’ll bring a tremendous amount of innovation potential to the application market, lucrative opportunities for mobile advertisers, and privacy concerns that make those around the rise of mobile location services over the past five years look like a minor concern.
Michigan-based Total 3D Solutions are trying to bring their cinemizer OLED multimedia video glasses to the business of real estate. The company is showcasing their brand of immersive video glasses at the Real Estate Connect conference in New York City, offering realtors the ability to bring home buyers immersive video tours of their properties from the comfort of their own offices.
A patent application published yesterday reveals that Microsoft is sitting on plans for its own version of Google's Project Glass.
Unlike Google's glasses, which seem to be intended for general all-day wear—if you like that kind of thing—Microsoft's patent appears to describe more specific scenarios for use. Indeed, images in the patent depict how the glasses could be used to augment action at live events, like sports games.
The patent application suggests a pair of glasses would throw up text, images and audio on a head-up display—kind of a second screen, just one that's strapped to your face. That means instant replays at the football, subtitled lyrics at concerts, or instant stats when a player walks onto the pitch.
You've heard that Google is working on computerized glasses. They're called Google Glass, and developers can already buy them.
It turns out Microsoft is working on something similar. It filed some patents on the project and Unwired View dug them up.
There's a big difference between what Microsoft is working on and Google Glass, though.
The most recent word out of Google is that Google Glass isn't going to use "augmented reality" – where data and illustrations overlay the actual world around you.
Google Glass is actually just a tiny screen you have to look up and to the left to see.
Augmented reality versus Google glasses: Soon both will be on the market. The question for consumers is, "Which one should I buy?"
Details of Google's prototype glasses are still largely under wraps, but what we do know right now is that the glasses consist of a powerful processor, multiple microphones, a small speaker, a camera, wireless radios and senors that make the glasses aware of their physical location.
For example, if you use the glasses to take a picture of a landmark or a barcode, they will display information about the place or product on the upper part of the right-side lens. That's different from augemented reality, where graphics are layered on top of what you see in real time.
3DTV hasn't taken off the way the TV and Movie industries hoped it would, but institutes like the MIT Media Lab are getting closer to developing displays that have the 3D effect and don't require glasses, which is one of the big grievances of naysayer. But would you join the ranks of the 3DTV faithful if you didn't need specs, or do you think the technology in general is frivolous?
The masterful engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are busy working on a type of 3D display capable of presenting that elusive third dimension without any eye gear. We say “elusive” because what you’ve been presented at your local cinema (with 3D glasses) or on your Nintendo 3DS console (with your naked eye) pales in comparison to what these guys and gals are trying to develop: a truly immersive 3D experience, not unlike a hologram, that changes perspective as you move around.
Apple has been awarded a patent for technology that sounds very similar to Google's Glass project Nick Bilton at the New York Times reports.
The patent is for "peripheral treatment for head-mounted displays," which allows images to be projected into your eye, says Bilton.
Now, just because Apple has a patent doesn't mean it's going to do anything. It is constantly researching new technology and patenting it. Those patents are proving to be quite handy in the smartphone wars.
Like most of you, I’ve heard plenty about Google Glass and seen some interesting demos — including the amazingly cool one at the Google I/O keynote this morning that featured skydivers and stunt bike riders. It wasn’t until Sergey Brin put a prototype pair on my face this afternoon, though, that I realized just how cool they are and how important they may become.
Google Glass will go on sale about one year after the test version for developers ships -- think early 2014.
A pair will cost a lot less than the $1,500 that Google is charging developers for an early beta version, which will ship in 2013. They will not include advertising. Instead, Google will make money from the hardware itself.
Google cofounder Sergey Brin explained the details to the San Francisco Chronicle's James Temple.
Developers at the Google I/O conference, which started today, can preorder a version of the glasses now and receive them early next year. Google reps at the show stressed that the early version is not for consumer use, and is available only to developers in the U.S.
Check out the Instaglasses, an amazing idea that fuses one of our favorite apps with a stylish pair of sunglasses.
Instaglasses is a concept discovered by Cult of Mac.
Designed by Markus Gerke, Instaglasses are just as easy to use as Instagram. A slider on one arm of the frames activates the filters, and if you see something you like, you can tap a button and upload it to your Instagram feed.
We guess the glasses would have some sort of WiFi or 4G chip to make the uploads possible.
Sadly, this concept will probably remain just that, but we still think its a really awesome idea.
Remember when Sergey Brin was on The Gavin Newsom Show showing off Project Glass' right-sided physical trackpad? Today, that element of the tech was given the official thumbs-up by the US patent and trademark office. Legally-trained minds in the audience concerned about the appearance forming prior art, take it easy -- the patent was filed five days before the Google chief took to basic cable to demonstrate his pet project to the current Lt. Governor of California.
We've seen pictures taken using Google's new glasses and, while some were ropey, others were fairly impressive. Now, Google has released the first video footage recorded using the device.
The clip lasts just 15 seconds, is shot in 720p, and is a first-person view from someone bouncing around on a trampoline. The quality's not absolutely amazing—though, hey, it's not bad—but then, we still have little idea what technology is crammed into the glasses. It is, however, pretty neat to see things from the exact point of view of someone else.
Google also released some more new pictures along with the video, which further demonstrate that the perspective they offer is pretty amazing.
You know those futuristic augmented reality glasses Google‘s been developing? A Googler recently posted a photo showing more of what you’ll be able to do with the sci-fi spectacles.
Google launched its Project Glass on Google+ last month, sending techies and futurists into a minor hysteria. The glasses — which don’t actually feature lenses, according to preliminary photos released by the company — will project augmented reality images into wearers’ field of vision. So when you wake up in the morning, for example, you’ll see weather forecasts, appointments and online correspondences projected in front of your eyes. Google has already released a concept video for the devices, and posted shots of people modeling early designs (see gallery below).
Much hoopla has been made over Google's Project Glass, and on Wednesday's Charlie Rose, we finally got a glimpse of the specs in action when Google Fellow and Stanford Professor Sebastian Thrun wore them throughout his interview and put them to work.
While casually chatting up Rose, Thrun revealed that he had uploaded an image to his Google Plus profile using the Google Glasses. Thrun also told Rose that the best use of the device might not be for augmented reality, as we saw in the demo video, but in sharing visual perspective between friends. Imagine using these to capture the crazy things you see in everyday life, but miss out on in the time it takes to pull out your camera. Then imagine uploading that to Instagram, without so much as lifting a finger.
It won't be long before that time comes when you think your friends are nodding along to your conversation, but they're actually uploading a photo of you.
