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Editor's Letter: Google glass gone wild
In each issue of Distro, editor-in-chief Tim Stevens publishes a wrap-up of the week in news. It seems like ages since Sergey Brin staged one of the most dramatic product launches of all time at last year's Google I/O, guiding a bemused audience through a cavalcade of extreme antics that saw a prototype Google Glass headset delivered to the Moscone Center courtesy of skydivers, BMX riders and mountain climbers. This week, the very first Explorer Editions of Google Glass shipped to lucky recipients through rather more pedestrian means: UPS. Still, those deliveries were received with no less excitement. These early units are shipping out in waves, with many of the I/O pre-orderers (including this eager editor) left waiting and watching unboxing videos with envy. The first videos of the early editions in action started hitting YouTube en masse, something we're sure will become increasingly commonplace through the spring. We also finally got the full specs for the thing, including 802.11b/g and Bluetooth connectivity, 16GB of internal storage and a 5-megapixel camera capable of 720p video recording.
Google Glass appears on eBay, you can't afford it (updated)
You're not a developer and didn't win out over the other trillion people who entered Google's #ifihadglass contest, so you'll just have to wait until the proper release, right? Perhaps not -- if you're rich, that is -- as one unit is being offered on eBay, with bids already clocking in at over $90,000. If you've got that kind of money, don't get excited just yet -- for starters, the seller claims they are one of the lucky contest winners, but won't actually pick up their pair for a "few weeks." We don't have any reason to doubt the seller, however, as they've been an eBay member since 2004, and with 100% positive feedback, a false listing would arguably be out of character. Google may not be happy, though, as it was very clear that the Explorer Edition coming to devs was not to be resold or even gifted, and we assume the same restrictions will apply to contest winners. Thus, we expect El Goog will intervene, but before it's possibly pulled, you can watch the bids rise at the source link below. [Thanks, Nochum] Update: And... it's gone. We imagine the seller was contacted by Google, and a note on the now defunct listing shows they weren't happy with the amount of attention the listing received, nor with those "who have driven up the price for their own amusement."
Glass Explorer Edition gets unboxed, photographed (video)
We already know what Page and Co. will be packing along with Glass, but now that participants of the Explorer program have begun picking up the wearable hardware, we're getting a second-hand unboxing experience. For those in need of a refresher, the glasses will be accompanied by a microUSB cable and charger, a pouch and an attachable shade and clear lens. Though there isn't much to glean from the stream of images, one of Mountain View's adventurers noticed that users will be able to send navigation directions straight from a smartphone to the eyewear. Click the source links below to take a gander at the photos, or hit the jump to watch a video shot with Glass by a Googler. Update 1: We've slotted in a video after the break of Glass user Dan McLaughlin extracting his device from its packaging. The footage is a bit choppy, but it certainly provides a closer look at the hardware. Update 2: The intrepid folks at Tinhte managed to get their mitts on Google's headgear and have given us a tour -- albeit in Vietnamese -- of the contraption, replete with close-ups and solid video quality. Head past the break to watch the footage.
MyGlass companion app arrives on Google Play, Glass setup page goes live
Between word that Explorer Editions are being produced, a reveal of spec details and documentation for the Mirror API being published, it's been a busy night for Google Glass announcements. Now, Mountain View has pushed up the hardware's Android companion app, dubbed MyGlass, to Google Play. Sure, you can download it on any device toting Android 4.0.3 or higher, but Page and Co. say, "If you don't have Glass, then downloading this will be a waste of time." Launching the app takes users through a setup process for the eyewear, which the search behemoth has made available on a webpage as well. Google's also posted a "help" directory to give folks unfamiliar with the glasses a tour of the spectacles. Hit the source links below for the app, the setup experience and the newly added overview of the device.
Google Glass support page lists tech specs for camera, battery, audio and display
The trickle of Google Glass details (they're shipping, the API is available and an Android companion app is live) has suddenly turned into a flood tonight, as 9to5Google points out a support page listing the device's technical specs. While we knew some bits about its capabilities (some of which were explained in a patent application), the official list reveals its display will be equivalent to a 25-inch HD screen viewed from eight feet away, while its camera does 5MP stills and 720p video. It packs 16GB of storage onboard, 12GB of which are available to the wearer. Audio is transferred via a bone conduction transducer, while its wireless capabilities include Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11 b/g. There's a micro-USB charger included with it and the battery is expected to last a "full day of typical use" although video and Google Hangouts will drain it more quickly. Also published is an FAQ for things like "Is it ok to go scuba diving with Glass?" (A: No, jackhammering is also probably out, while laws concerning mobile devices and driving may rule out use behind the wheel as well), covering things any Explorers should know before their headset arrives.
Google Glass API documentation now live, Glassware sample code provided
Google painted the broad strokes of its Mirror API for Glass at SXSW in March, and now it's released comprehensive documentation, replete with example code. Despite the fact that the application programming interface is still in a limited developer preview, you can dig in and read up on everything from location features to timeline cards. The cheeky devs in Mountain View also announced that they've named services for the spectacles "Glassware." In case you missed the presentation in Austin, you can catch a handful of videos with Glass developer evangelist Timothy Jordan condensing the API basics. Hit the source link below to dive into the docs, and to download client libraries for the eyewear written in Dart, Go, Java, PHP, Python, Ruby and .NET.
Google Glass Explorer Editions rolling off the production line, will be delivered in waves
Google just shot out an email to folks who signed up for its Glass Explorers program at I/O last year, and it's spreading word that Glass units have begun to roll off the production line for participants. The roughly 2,000 devs who pre-ordered the spectacles won't be getting them all at once, however, as Page and Co. say they'll be delivered in waves. Mountain View notes it could have waited for every unit to be ready, but decided to send them out as they're made to speed things up. Presumably, winners of the #ifihadglass contest are in line to receive theirs after those who attended the developer powwow, and they'll have to travel to Los Angeles, New York or San Francisco to pick them up. Hit the break to live vicariously through the search titan's guinea pigs adventurers by reading the email in its entirety.
Google forms the Glass Collective to invest in eye technology entrepreneurs
Google believes that it's naive to build a wearable technology like Google Glass and expect successful businesses to simply materialize from thin air; those firms will need a financial nudge, too. Accordingly, Google is forming the Glass Collective to invest in projects centering on its eyewear. The partnership will see Google Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers unite on seed funding for those US-based startups which show promise in areas like communication and navigation. The group hasn't named any targets for its cash, but it's obviously very early days for both Glass and the Collective -- Google needs more developers in the field before it can shower companies with support. Update: According to TechCrunch, Google mentioned during the event that it hopes to get Glass hardware into developers hands "in the next month." Since it started preregistering folks at last year's I/O event, we'd also hope they will arrive in time for this year's Google I/O and inevitable skydive-to-stage live stream.
Japanese mobile boss claims he's already patented the tech inside Google Glass
Patent filings, we don't take so seriously. One of Japan's richest men, with the potential to call on an army of lawyers to defend what he claims is his invention, we probably ought to. Masayoshi Son, the billionaire (and philanthropic) CEO of SoftBank, has given a two-hour speech to his shareholders about his technological predictions for the next 30 years, and about halfway through he describes a familiar idea: augmented reality glasses that can understand what a person is saying and provide subtitles as a visual overlay. At one point, he specifically mentions protecting the concept: "By the way, we've already taken out a patent on this -- translation glasses with captions." (1:22:49 in the video at the source link.) We think we may have found the patent application in question, submitted in 2010 by SoftBank Mobile Corp. It does show a translation function similar -- but not totally identical -- to what's been shown off in a recent Project Glass promo video, in which a guy translated his own words using Google's specs. In any case, the whole patent system is so esoteric that it's impossible to predict what ideas will clash and what won't, but it's worth bearing in mind how Masayoshi Son first became rich: he sold a translation device patent to Sharp for $1 million. What are the odds on that?
Google Glass developer presentation from SXSW finally available to stream in full
If you're still thirsting over details about life with Google Glass, you can now sit back and experience the presentation (though not filmed in first person with one of the units -- opportunity missed) from SXSW last month. We covered it in our liveblog and dug up news on various apps already working with Google's Mirror API to present their information in ways that are designed for the wearable units, don't get in the way, and don't pop up at bad times. These are relatively new and unique issues to deal with since the information is being presented on a device that's in your face, so it will be interesting to see if developers are up to the challenge. Check after the break for 50 minutes of Googler Timothy Jordan showing the people what the Glass team has learned and implemented so far.
Baidu Eye is no joke, aims to be a Google Glass competitor
We all know that Chinese search giant Baidu is notorious for receiving much inspiration from its US counterpart, Google, and according to the above IM screenshot published on April Fools' Day (now bear with us here), the former is apparently already working on its own version of Glass. This claim is seemingly supported by a couple of articles from Tencent Tech and Sina Tech, who said that the spectacles feature a tiny LCD, image recognition technology, voice control technology and bone conduction audio. These all sound familiar, no? The articles also mentioned Qualcomm's "latest power management chip," which would allegedly push the device's battery life up to 12 hours. That said, Baidu's real goal is apparently to offer an open platform for wearable devices in all shapes and forms: watches, necklaces, headphones and more.
Google Glass will reportedly be built in America, at least initially
That $1,500 price tag for Google Glass Explorer Edition? Perhaps it makes a bit more sense considering that US labor will be used to manufacturer it. According to unnamed sources cited by Financial Times, the first run of production-quality Glass headsets will be built in Santa Clara, California. The reason? A lot is riding on the quality of Glass, and it's likely that Google just wants to keep a close eye on every single prototype that leaves the lab. In fact, it's not exactly uncommon -- the outfit did the same for its ill-fated Nexus Q, and Apple is building some of its iMacs here in the states as well. It's also important to note that the initial batch of Glass headsets won't be high yield, so there's little reason for Google to look overseas with so few units slated for production. Whether or not the lines in NorCal will continue to hum once these things hit critical mass remains to be seen, but it is interesting that Hon Hai Precision (read: Foxconn) will reportedly manage the facility that cranks 'em out.
Google selects Glass Explorers, will send invites to winners over the next few days
What would you do if you had Glass? Google asked you to share your plans last month, offering up 8,000 coveted reservations in the search giant's "Explorers" program. Now, the company has finally selected the winners, and plans to send out order invitations "over the next few days." Sadly, invite recipients will still need to hand over $1,500 (plus tax) for their very own set, and the program is currently limited to folks in the US, but this was still the best opportunity to get an early look at Glass, making it a very appealing program, despite the cost. Google received many creative applications, including a proposal from JetBlue, but only individual users will have an opportunity to make a purchase this time around -- the company says that it's "working on connecting with businesses in other ways." Congratulations to the lucky winners -- feel free to send us a tip when word finally hits your Google+ or Twitter inbox.
Caption contest: Sony imagines the future of commuting, involves its 3D visors
Musing on a dystopian near-future where you really don't want to see your fellow commuters, Sony Japan's Twitter account just offered us the above image. Is this what's going to happen when the likes of Sony and Google have managed to supplant our affection for smartphones with eyewear tech? Mat: "We're going to need more charging sockets." James: "Perhaps not the best time to be watching Unstoppable." Richard Lai: "You're seeing this ad because your fellow passengers are also watching this." Tim: "Nice shoes." Steve: "We've arrived? I'll just finish the movie while crossing this intersection." Dan: "Trainspotting? I haven't seen a train in years." Jon Fingas: "Seeing where you're going is so 2012." Brad: "We just can't get enough of that amazing Galaxy S 4 launch event." Edgar: "Glass? Where we're going, we don't need Glass." Ben: "Where am I? What's happened to my life? Oooh, a new episode of Deadliest Catch!" Darren: "Geordi La Forge is all up in these royalties." Terrence: Blah, blah, bah, something, something, something, private porn watching. Brian: "You guys are going to the X-Men auditions, too? Cool. Didn't want to miss my stop." David: "Do you know where we are? Hmm, about ten minutes into the season finale of Game of Thrones." Jon Turi: "Victims of the Krazy Glue prankster all try to go about their day." Michael: "Sony says all your face are belong to us." Don: "Wow. This is just like being on a train." Myriam: "So those grab-handles double as VR glasses, right?
Google applies for another Glass patent, thinks about controlling your garage door and fridge
In case you hadn't noticed, the people over at Mountain View continue to work pretty hard on bringing yet more functionality to its Google Glass. During our patent application trawling this week, we fished up another possible application for Google's future-wear, where the finished product might fuse together augmented reality (and wireless connectivity) to control objects around your house. The headwear will apparently using visual identification, RFID, infra-red, Bluetooth and even QR codes as methods for recognizing controllable devices. Once your well-designed head-mounted display picks up a target, it would then pull down information related to the object, including a control interface. These "superimposed controls" would then hover over the real-life objects (which would need to be WiFi-connected or otherwise), with garage doors and refrigerators both referenced as possibilities (we've added sketches for both of these after the break). Whether you'd then adjust these white goods with your voice or otherwise is still an unknown -- the predictably fuzzy-worded patent application doesn't quite touch on any... touch interfaces.
Google Glass is, in fact, compatible with prescription glasses
We learned a lot about Google Glass yesterday at SXSW, including a sample of the kinds of apps it will be running when it becomes available to the public. Today on Google+, the Project Glass team let out a bit of rather important hardware info: namely that Glass is compatible with prescription glasses. Turns out that its "design is modular, so you will be able to add frames and lenses that match your prescription," though the team is still working on the frame design to get it juuust right. The prescription compatibility won't be ready for the Explorer edition of Glass, but we can expect the frames to officially debut "later this year."
Google shows off Glass apps: New York Times, Gmail, Path and more
Google just took some time at SXSW to show off Google Glass, and it's pulled back the curtains on some apps that are currently in the works. As it turns out, Page and Co. have been working with the New York Times to build an application. Just ask for some news and Glass will deliver a headline, a byline, an accompanying image and the number of hours since the article in question was posted. What's more is that users can tap and have the eyewear read the story's text aloud. The duo are also testing a breaking news feature where notifications regarding fresh stories will appear as they're published. Gmail also got some time in the limelight with its very own app. An email sender's image and subject line will appear on the device's screen, and users can reply by dictating their messages. Evernote and Skitch received some love from the folks in Mountain View too, with the ability to send images to the services through Glass' share functionality. Social networking app Path has found its way onto the wearable computing bandwagon as well. Not only do Google's spectacles receive curated updates from the network -- to keep you from being bombarded, of course-- but they allow users to add emoticons to a friend's post and reply with comments. Not impressed? "This is just where we started with a few friends to test the API in its early stage," says Google Glass developer evangelist Timothy Jordan.
We're Live at Google's SXSW Glass panel
We've already seen a number of folks roaming the halls of the Austin Convention Center this week, rocking Google's much anticipated wearable -- and now it's finally Glass' time to shine. We've got a front row seat for SXSW's Building New Experiences with Glass session. Just us after the break, won't you?
The Daily Roundup for 03.08.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Google Glass learns how your friends dress, picks 'em out in a crowd
Facial recognition? Pah. Dahling, the only way to find someone in a crowd is to pick out what they're wearing. InSight is an app being developed for Google Glass by Duke University that helps you identify your chums, even when they've got their back to you, by channeling its inner Joan Rivers. All your pals have to do is submit some self-portraits to the app, which then creates a spatiogram -- identifying the colors, textures and patterns with which they've adorned themselves. That data is then pushed to Google Glass, hopefully allowing you to avoid the usual "I'm by the store, no, the other store" routine. Then again, maybe your friends will find you first -- after all, you're the one with a computer strapped to your head.
