googleglass
Latest
Google Glass app store will debut in 2014
Back in July, a Google Glass software update inadvertently spilled the beans on a forthcoming app store optimized for the device, and now it looks like it's official. According to The New York Times, a Glass-optimized app marketplace is set to debut sometime in 2014, and a Google rep confirmed as much with Marketing Land earlier today. The store was labeled as "Boutique" in the aforementioned update, but whether or not that name will stick remains to be seen. Google's looking to introduce its headgear to the public next year, and the company will certainly need a secure marketplace for applications when it does. Details are sparse at the moment, but we'll keep you posted as we learn more.
Givit for iPhone edits video shot with Google Glass
Google Glass is still a long way from being the ubiquitous sci-fi headset many tech fans hope it will become, but that hasn't stopped entrepreneurs from looking to the future. Video app Givit thinks Google Glass is the future of easy-to-shoot video and they've already built an app to help iOS users get the most out of their Glass videos. Givit's new Google Glass app allows users to send videos shot on their Google Glass directly to Givit's iOS app, allowing for quick editing of the footage. CEO Greg Kostello explained the app to The Verge: Most mobile editing apps usually just offer a filter, trying to be a video Instagram or something, and then there's iMovie or Final Cut on the desktop, which is too intimidating for most people. We want to offer editing that removes that intimidation factor, then allows people to share what they've made where they want. The app is capable of sending video to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or DailyMotion. As of right now Givit's app is only compatible with iOS, meaning the barriers to entry are incredibly high. You have to have both an iPhone or iPad and the actual Google Glass, which isn't available to the general public. Of course if you are one of the lucky few to have access to Google Glass you can probably afford an iPhone. You can find Givit's iOS app in the App Store right now. Head over to The Verge for more of the interview with Kostello.
Daily Update for August 26, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
OpenGlass gives Google Glass real-time augmented reality (video)
To some, Google Glass is nothing more than a notification machine, but there are others who see Glass as an AR headset waiting to happen. OpenGlass is among those looking to give Glass augmented reality powers, and it's figured out how to implement simple AR in real-time. The trick was accomplished by sampling the imagery pulled in by the headset's camera and extracting the portion of that feed that corresponds to the size of Glass's display. That feed is then sent to an OpenGlass server that overlays digital annotations provided by another users onto the video feed to augment the wearer's reality. There's a video after the break demoing the AR functionality, but it's rudimentary and laggy in its implementation. Essentially, the system serves as a telestrator that superimposes scribbles into your field of view. It's a good proof-of-concept to show that Glass can do real-time AR, but there's a lot of work to be done before Glass can become a fully-fledged augmented (or mediated) reality headset.
Google reveals Field Trip app for Glass, puts recreational recommendations in your FOV
Perhaps you've been enjoying the fruits of Niantic Labs' endeavors on your handset since Field Trip's introduction on Android, and more recently, iOS. However, wouldn't it be nice to have those nifty tidbits of location-based info provided in a less obtrusive manner? Good news Explorers, because Field Trip has arrived on Glass today. That means that all those restaurant and activity suggestions upon which you depend to keep yourself entertained and fed are now delivered directly to your eyeball instead of your pocket. If you're thinking that such a Glass app makes perfect sense, well you're not alone. It turns out that John Hanke, Niantic's chief actually made Field Trip for Glass, and the mobile versions were built simply as a way to get the app out to as many people as possible. That way, the database of info for the app could be built up and more feedback could be gathered and used to refine the Field Trip UX by the time it came to Glass. For folks wanting to see the results of all that hard work (and don't have the $1,500 wearable needed to see it firsthand), a video of the app in action awaits after the break.
Escape for Google Glass brings casual gaming to explorers (hands-on)
You know what's not new? Android games. You know what is new? Games for Google Glass. There has been the odd attempt so far, but french-based game developer AMA is porting one of its bonafide titles over to the small screen for real. Escape! is a simple puzzler, the sort that we're all familiar with on our phones, that is being squeezed into the wearable format. While games on the hardware might be something of an inevitability, we managed to get our eyes inside a pair to take a better look for ourselves. Head past the break to see how it worked out.
GlassFrogger makes Glass wearers hop in real life to brave simulated streets (update: code and video)
Google may keep a tight lid on Glass development, but that hasn't stopped coders at the Breaking Glass Hackathon from building some clever wearable apps. Take the event's winning entry, GlassFrogger, as an example: the HTML5-based game recreates Frogger on Google's eyepiece by making players hop in the real world to cross virtual roads. It's a multi-platform title, too, with support for any device sporting a modern web browser. GlassFrogger is free to use today, but try to avoid playing while you're out on the street -- there's enough roadkill inside the game, thank you. Update: We've since been in touch with co-author Adam Singer, who has posted both source code and the GlassFrogger pitch; you can see his team demonstrating the game after the break.
Google patent would track objects within your gaze
Google already has a patent that would let Glass and other eyewear identify what's in front of you. However, it just received a new patent for a method that could follow your exact gaze. The proposed system would include both forward-facing and eye-tracking cameras, correlating both to determine what's grabbing your attention. It could gauge emotional responses to objects by watching for pupil dilation, and it could be used to charge advertisers based on how long wearers stare at a given ad. Google may also have an eyepiece upgrade to go along with its gaze detection, we'd note -- the company just received a patent for a quantum dot-based eye display. There's no evidence that Google will use either of these new inventions anytime soon, but we wouldn't be surprised if they represent what Glass could look like a few generations from now.
Google updates Glass with video player, improved voice commands, additional Now cards
It's a big day for Glass. Google's pre-production wearable just scored a variety of additional features, including a video player, improved voice control, voice-activated Path and Evernote updates, #hashtags, boosted SMS support and additional Google Now cards. Let's break them down. With the new video player, you can tap a video to play it, tap again to pause, and swipe backward or forward to rewind or skip. Path and Evernote users can update those apps by saying "okay glass, post an update" for Path or "okay glass, take a note" for Evernote. Speaking of which, voice controls are improved across the board, so you can now chat with Glass a bit more naturally. Instead of saying "okay glass" and waiting for a cue, you can speak in complete sentences, without pausing. On the cards front, there's a new method for adjusting volume controls, even while you're on a phone or video call. There are also Google Now cards to remind you of upcoming hotel or restaurant reservations, identify movie showtimes, or catch an emergency alert. Today's release, XE8, is expected to roll out to users over the next few days. Catch the full release notes at the source link below.
Fidelity Market Monitor app brings stock alerts, news and fanciful financials to Google Glass
You know, it makes sense: an app for the one percent, tailor-made for a $1,500 headset. Fidelity's Market Monitor app for Google Glass might just be the most impressive program to debut for the device, particularly considering the class of individual who would take advantage. In the trading world, missing an alert or notification by even three seconds could be the difference between million and millions, with this app enabling Fidelity customers to request real-time stock quotes and receive alerts dealing with companies in their portfolio. In a concept video describing what's possible (embedded just after the break), we even see a wearer snap a photo of a Google logo, and the app translates the photo into a stock quote for GOOG. We're guessing that it's only a matter of time before every other financial institution follows suit, which will likely lead to each and every CNBC anchor wearing a set whilst on air. Also, we're hearing from a "reliable source" that both Michael Douglas and Shia LaBeouf will be joined by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Wall Street: Glass on Glass on Glass.
OK Glass, pew pew pew: developer creates alien shooter for Google Glass
Developers (or should we say "Explorers") are coming up with all sorts of nifty ideas for Google Glass, and games are certainly getting their fair share of attention. Admittedly, we haven't seen anything quite like Psyclops, an alien shooter that's currently in the works by developer Sean McCracken. The premise of the game isn't new -- alien ships are attacking our home planet and it's our sworn duty to protect Earth by blowing them up -- but the method is: use Glass as your viewfinder, line the baddies up with the center of the display and hold for a moment to lock your position and fire. Sean thinks of the game as a "3D Space Invaders mixed with Missile Command," which sounds like a perfect mashup. There's no word on when fellow Glass users will be able to enjoy the title, but you'll find video evidence of its existence below. Just don't expect Lt. Commander Data to save you with his flashlight when you get hooked.
OpenGlass uses Google Glass to identify objects for the visually impaired (video)
Dapper Vision's OpenGlass project sees Google Glass' camera as useful for more than just hands-free pictures -- it's a tool for interpreting the world around us. To show that potential, the two-person group has tested two of its Glass apps with visually impaired wearers. The first, Question-Answer, lets the poor-sighted ask both Mechanical Turk and Twitter for help in identifying objects. Memento, in turn, automatically recites notes when the user looks at a recognizable scene; it can warn users about dangerous equipment, for example. Dapper Vision tells us that the OpenGlass apps will stay in limited testing until Google lets developers offer Glassware to the general public, but the company isn't sitting still in the meantime. It's devising a way to reward Question-Answer contributors with BitCoins, and it will demonstrate new Glass-based augmented reality software next week.
Google taps film students with Glass Creative Collective
Glass hasn't exactly been revered for its brilliant image quality, but that's not stopping Google from making a push among budding filmmakers. The Glass Creative Collective, a partnership with film and design schools, is intended to familiarize students at a handful of institutions with the video-capture wearable. Several colleges, including the Rhode Island School of Design, UCLA and the University of Southern California are on board -- students will reportedly begin exploring the device as a filmmaking tool beginning this fall. Glass could be a fit for documentary filmmaking, and for capturing point-of-view footage, of course, but performance limitations would likely prevent it from taking on a starring role in any production. We're a bit skeptical that the Creative Collective will be a booming success, but Google's promised to circle back with results once the program gets off the ground.
UK government considering fines for drivers wearing Google Glass
Wondering what West Virginia and Britain have in common? This. After hearing that a bill in WV would outlaw Google Glass for motorists in the state, a new report from Stuff suggests that the United Kingdom is considering something comparable. A Department for Transport spokesperson was quoted as saying the following: "We are aware of the impending rollout of Google Glass and are in discussion with the Police to ensure that individuals do not use this technology while driving. It is important that drivers give their full attention to the road when they are behind the wheel and do not behave in a way that stops them from observing what is happening on the road." He went on to affirm that a range of penalties already exist in order to punish drivers who aren't "paying proper attention to the road," and while a law has yet to be passed targetting Glass specifically, it certainly sounds as if that type of modification is on the table. Silver lining? North Korea has yet to issue a similarly depressing condemnation of the headset.
Google tells some Glass Explorers to invite a friend
Mountain View's kept itself as the gatekeeper for Google Glass with dev signups at I/O and a social media contest, but now it's letting some users spread the wearable computing love. Google+ is lighting up with reports that Glass Explorers are receiving emails from Page and Co. allowing them to invite a friend to snag a device by joining the program. In order to be eligible, invitees must be a US resident, at least 18 years of age, and willing to pick up the hardware in San Francisco, New York or Los Angeles. Google's told us that a "small subset of Explorers" have received the message in its continuing effort to expand the affair. Earlier today, the search giant announced that it cast a wider net for Explorers by enlisting five film schools to suss out how the contraption can be used for everything from character development to production. Head past the break for the full list of institutions.
Mercedes-Benz imagines seamless door-to-door directions with Google Glass
Despite apps that let a few lucky Glass owners control their Nest thermostat or unlock that Tesla Model S, one of the futuristic headgear's most practical applications is still just the default turn-by-turn directions that come courtesy of Google. The R&D department over at Mercedes-Benz realizes that as well, but wants to take it a step further. According to a report in the Silicon Valley Business Journal, the automotive company is working on a Google Glass project that combines both pedestrian and automotive directions to take a user literally from door to door. MBRDNA President and CEO Johann Jungwirth told the publication that he wants Glass to seamlessly transition between walking and in-car navigation. Of course, not everyone has access to the pricey wearable just yet, so the project won't likely see real-world application any time soon. In the meantime, Mercedes does have a few more down-to-earth solutions for the gadgets you might already have.
Google buys 6.3 percent stake in Google Glass display manufacturer Himax
If the name "Himax" prompted you to shrug, then you're not alone, but it's the latest company to receive a cash injection from Eric Schmidt's checking account. The Taiwanese semiconductor firm is selling Google a 6.3 percent stake in Himax Display Technologies, a subsidiary that's most famous for making the liquid-crystal on silicon chips used to drive Google Glass' head-mounted display. The cash will be used to expand capacity at the manufacturer, which already counts Intel as an investor -- and if Google likes what it sees, the search giant has an option to buy a further 8.5 percent worth of stock within the next calendar year. It's probably too early to hope that the project will help bring the price of future Glass headsets down, but we're going to, so there.
The origin of 'OK, Glass,' as told by Google's Amanda Rosenberg
"OK, Glass." It's a phrase that's become synonymous with Google's trailblazing wearable tech, and with good reason. As the headset's hotword, it must be uttered by the user (with varying levels of self-consciousness) to activate Glass' menu. Amanda Rosenberg, the Product Marketing Manager for Project Glass, took to her Google+ page today to share both the phrase's history and a few scrapped ideas. During dinner with Mat Balez, the Glass Project Manager, Rosenberg learned that the product required a simple, culturally resonant term that would let Glass know that it was go-time. Accompanied by what we can only assume was a choir of angels singing, Rosenberg realized that "OK, Glass" would be both functional and subtle enough to not embarrass users in public. It's an interesting anecdote, which you can read in full at the source link, but we have to admit . . . we're kind of sad "Go go, Glass" was never given a chance.
Google Glass may get Play Store access soon
Third-party apps have begun trickling out for Glass, but if Google expects thousands of add-ons to make their way to the public, it's going to need a searchable database of available downloads. And that structure could very well come in the form of a Glass-optimized Play Store. Android and Me noticed a "Google Glass 1" entry pop up in the device field following Mountain View's Play refresh that hit the web last night. It's not possible to push apps directly to the wearable at the moment -- the Glass option is not currently live -- but it's entirely possible that the device could be selectable in the near future. Take a closer look in the screenshot at the source link below.
Revolv shows how you could control a connected home with Google Glass (video)
Hasta la vista, switches.
