glass

Engadget reports that some developers who had registered their interest in the Glass Explorers program are now receiving emailed invitations from Google.

Although third-party developers have been able to develop Glass apps using a cloud-based API, this approached imposed limitations on what those apps could do. Google recently removed these limitations by offering developers an SDK, or in this case a GDK (Glass Development Kit), previewed here … 
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Up until now developers have been using Google’s cloud-based Mirror API for Google Glass to build third-party apps, but today Google is officially previewing its new Glass Development Kit (GDK). While the Google Mirror API allowed developers to insert timeline cards, respond to user notifications, share from Glass and more, the new GDK allows developers to do even more with their third-party Glassware.

Google’s Timothy Jordan gives a sneak peek of the new Google Glass Development Kit in the video above noting some of the new features it offers developers. One of those features is offline support. Developers can now build apps that run natively on Glass with real-time user response that doesn’t require apps to contact the cloud. The GDK also provides developers with deeper access to hardware such as the accelerometer and GPS.

During it’s presentation above, Google demos a couple of apps that are already using the GDK. One of the apps is World Lens, an app that uses the GDK to access the camera and overlay offline, real-time translations for text you’re currently looking at. 
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If you’re eager to jump on board the Google Glass train, you’re now one-step closer as Google has added a new sign-up page. As Google recently let existing Explorers invite three friends to the Glass program, the new sign-up page asks for your basic information and your reason for wanting Glass.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5XoAkOuWdM

In its Explorer Story: Young Guru [through Google Glass], Google shows a lot of new features of the Google Glass upgrade and expected upgrades including the hardware addition of the stereo headphones.

We discussed Google Music hidden in the XE11 update yesterday but we’re seeing the Shazam type of song recognition, and some nice translation work as well.

Can’t wait! via

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Last week, Google began rolling out the XE11 update to Glass Explorers, touting a host of new features, such as new voice commands, directions home, and much more. Oddly unannounced, however, was support for Google Play Music. As first discovered by Phandroid, Glass users who wish to enjoy their music with the device can side load the Play Music APK and control it via voice controls. Once the app is loaded, simply say “OK Glass, listen to,” then the name of a song, artist, album, or playlist. A card will then pop up with results and allow you to specify what to play. A new card also stays pinned for further music control, including Play, Stop, Skip, Rewind, and volume control.

The music plays through the device’s bone conduction speaker, which means quality might not be the best, but that should improve with the upcoming hardware revision of Glass with a built-in earpiece.

Instructions to side load the APK are relatively simple, though do involve some basic ADB usage:

1. Download the latest Google Play Music APK here.
2. Go to Glass Settings > Device Info and turn on debug mode. Connect Glass to your computer.
3. Using the Android SDK, issue the command “adb install FILENAME.APK“, where “FILENAME” is the APK’s actual filename on your computer.
4. Enjoy the tunes!

If this odd post from a Google employee is to believed, the company has been working on this feature for the past several months and plans to officially announce it soon.

Update:  Google reached out to us to say there is currently no relationship between Google Glass and Rochester Optics

When Google recently announced the second generation Google Glass rolling out to those in its Explorers beta program later this year, it also noted that the wearable will fully support a new line of prescription frames. Now, Rochester Optical, a NY-based manufacturer of lenses and eyewear products, has teamed up with Tim Moore of VentureGlass who struck a deal with Google to provide “custom prescription, fashion, and sport lenses” for Glass. Moore announced the news today on his Google+ page with the image above and linked to a press release from Rochester Optical.

As a state-of-the-art optical laboratory, one of the first wearable technology items Rochester Optical will be producing are custom prescription, fashion, and sport lenses for Google Glass, available for purchase in early 2014

With Tim’s proven background as co-founder of social media agency SayItSocial and founder of Venture Glass, he will provide tremendous value to Rochester Optical in their endeavors in both the retail and the online space. His company, Venture Glass, a wearable technology company, was chosen by Google for their Google Glass project.

While the new Glass will be available later this year, Rochester Optical’s press release notes that its lenses for the device will available to buy in early 2014. 
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When Google Glass originally launched, there were many people who were incredibly eager to get their hands on it, but were not able to because they didn’t attend Google I/O. People who did attend the conference saw this as a huge opportunity for profit and tried to list their Glass units on eBay and other sites. Google quickly put a stop to this, claiming it was against its terms of service and that it would disable any Glass units that unofficially changed owners.

Today, however, Google has changed this policy (via Engadget). While it’s still technically against the terms of service to sell Glass, Google says that has no plans to disable anymore devices.

Q. Is it OK for Explorers to try and sell their devices online? Will you disable the devices if they do this?

A: The Explorer program is about taking Glass out in the world and seeing what’s possible with the technology. We hope our Explorers are excited to do just that. While it’s against our terms of service to sell your device, we don’t plan on disabling any Explorer’s device.

Google also recently started giving current Explorers three invites to hand out to other people interested in the product. It’s clear that the company is now trying to get Glass to as many people as possible before a full-on consumer launch. 
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Google today announced its XE11 update for Google Glass and highlighted a few of the new features on its Google+ page for the wearable. New for Google Glass is the ability to search Google Calendar with commands like “my agenda” and “what am I doing in November?” Google noted that “Calendar search works for Google Calendar users with Gmail and private search enabled.” 

The update also includes a highly requested feature from users in the XE11 update: the ability to get directions home or to work with voice commands:

It’s even easier to find your way home. Tell Google Maps where you live and work and you can refer to their locations by “home” or “work” on Glass. It’s part of Google’s personalized search so when you ask Glass for directions home, it’ll know what you mean. To get started, insert your home and work address in Google Maps or Google Now (iOS instructions) and then try it out on Glass. From the home screen, say “ok glass, get directions to home.

New Glass users will notice a redesigned Glass setup tutorial in XE11 (pictured above) that Google says will show users how to swipe and connect Glass to the companion smartphone app. You’ll also now see a “Start screencast” shortcut in the notification drawer of your connected Android device making it easier to quickly start screencasting Glass to your smartphone.

Lastly, Google has removed a feature from Glass with XE11. You’ll no longer be able to activate Google Search with a long press of the touchpad because many users were apparently triggering it accidentally:
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Google has just sent out invitations for developers to attend a two-day hackathon. The event will give Glassware developers a chance to see and test an upcoming release of the Glassware Development Kit. The hackathon will take place on November 19th and 20th at Google’s San Francisco Basecamp.

Due to limited space, only a few applicants will actually be able to attend the event. The announcement will also be recorded and posted online following the event, so anyone unable to attend will still be able to get any information they might be interested in.

The full email is included below…

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If an existing Google Glass Explorer has sent one of their three invitations to you, the good news is you no longer have to travel to Google’s offices in NY or LA to collect your gadget in person.

For the first round of Explorers, Google had insisted on personal collection so that a member of staff could talk them through the product and assist them with setup. Those accepting invitations now are being offered a 45-minute one-to-one on Google Hangouts … 
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The legality of driving while wearing Google Glass appears set to face its first test after Glass Explorer Cecilia Abade was ticketed by a California cop.

 A cop just stopped me and gave me a ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving!

The exact line says: Driving with Monitor visible to Driver (Google Glass). Is #GoogleGlass  illgal while driving or is this cop wrong???

Any legal advice is appreciated!! This happened in California. Do you know any other #GlassExplorers that got a similar ticket anywhere in the US? 
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After announcing yesterday that Google Glass hardware would be revised later this year and offered to current Glass Explorers interested in swapping to a newer unit, Google today gives us a look at the second generation Glass in the images above posted to Google+.

On top of introducing a new mono earbud instead of only the bone-vibrating speaker included in the first generation Glass, Google said the hardware revision will also make Glass compatible with new lines of sunglasses and prescription frames and Explorers will have their choice of colors when they swap sometime later this year.

Google hinted it will begin the first steps of the exchange program in November and will give users 60 days to make the swap. Explorers are still the only ones that can get their hands on the $1500 Google Glass, but Google recently started letting users invite up to three friends to join the program and will now ship Glass to those that join.

Those who purchased Glass before October 28, 2013 will be eligible for the upgrade. Google didn’t mention if there would be any fee associated with swapping to a newer unit, but it will notify those eligible automatically next month. 
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In a post on Google+,  Google has just announced a new revision of Glass that will be available to all current Explorers later this year. The company says that the hardware update will be designed to work with future lines of shades and prescription frames. The new version of Glass will also include a mono earbud.

Anyone who purchased Glass before October 28th will have the opportunity to exchange their original unit for a new, revised model. You will be able to switch colors at this time, as well. Google says it plans to notify Glass Explorers with the next steps to upgrade sometime in November. Once the program opens, users will have 60 days to register for an exchange. It’s unclear if the trade-in will be entirely free, or if a fee will apply.

In addition to the new revision of Glass, Google reiterated the fact that it is further expanding the Explorer program. As we noted earlier this month, current Explorers now have the ability to invite up to three friends to the program, who can then purchase Glass and have it shipped to their home.

Glass is expected to be available to the public sometime in 2014. 
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When reports emerged that a massive floating building in San Francisco Bay could possibly belong to Google, it wasn’t long before the original rumor was shot down. While it might not be the floating data center reported in the original story, CBS followed up with a report claiming that the barge would actually be a floating Google Glass showroom that Google could move from city to city to show of its new wearable and distinguish itself from the typical retail experience. Lending more weight to that theory over the data center rumor is the fact that another similar mystery barge has recently been spotted in Portland Harbor in Maine.

Portland Press Herald reported last week that a four-story structure is currently docked on a barge at Portland Harbor. The marina owner and workers aren’t talking about who the client is, but they did confirm that Maine will not be the structure’s final destination. At the time the report, like the original report about the barge in San Fran, speculated it could be Google’s floating data center detailed in a patent from 2009.

If these buildings are indeed floating Google Glass retail stores and not data centers like CBS claimed, it would make sense for Google to have a store on either side of the country to move to cities along the coasts. The structure certainly look quite similar to the floating building spotted in San Francisco.
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Rumors that Samsung plans to launch a Google Glass competitor have been lent further credence by a design patent uncovered by the WSJ.

While it’s not the first glasses patent Samsung has filed – this one was granted back in March – the latest one does look much closer to something that might actually be launched than the previous design … 
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Samsung could see itself getting priority access to new glass technologies after taking a 7.4 percent stake in Gorilla Glass maker Corning and simultaneously signing a 10-year supply agreement.

The net effect of a complex series of share swaps and cash investments, allied to a long-term procurement commitment from Samsung, is a $2B deal that will enable Corning to boost its R&D investment, accelerating the pace of development of new types of display.

With closer cooperation between the two companies, Samsung may prove well positioned to gain access to those new technologies ahead of the rest of the market … 
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Google announced today that its latest update to Glass (XE10) includes a few new features with the most notable being the addition of Transit directions. Now, Google Glass users paired to Android device will be able to see public transit directions in addition to other related information, like when to change trains for example, on their Glass display:

We have loads of great updates every month, but there’s one we’re particularly jazz hands about — Transit. Explorers who have paired Glass to their Android phones will now have the option to see public transit directions when navigating on Glass. When you get directions and select transit, you’ll be able to see all sorts of helpful info, like where to change trains, how far you have to walk to the bus stop and how long it should take to reach your final destination.

Google has also added the “ability to tap to select links in notifications.”
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Following a report late last month claiming that Google was preparing to open up Google Glass to third-party app developers, the company announced today it is opening up a new Glassware Review Process that allows anyone with Glass to submit third-party apps. Apps that are accepted will show up in the MyGlass app and Google is kicking things off with the addition of a handful of apps, including: SportsYapper, Fancy, Mashable, KitchMe and Thuuz.

As of today, you can submit your Glassware for review. Completing the Glassware review process will make your Glassware eligible to show on MyGlass and eligible to receive quota beyond the testing limit.

Google has a “Distributing Glassware” support document and checklist available to walk developers through the process:
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A Georgia Fire Chief is singing the praises of Google Glass. It isn’t hard to see why a heads up display would be a big benefit to Firefighters but a less Beta product would probably more optimal for bigger rollouts. (which are probably a year out at least).

Still, good for them for being open to trying it.
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Google announced today on its Google Glass Google+ page that it will soon be kicking off a road trip with the Google Glass team that will give people around the U.S. the opportunity to try out the wearable firsthand. Google didn’t share many details, but it has already announced the first stop on its tour with registration for a visit to Durham, NC in October now open.

We’ve heard lots of people are interested in experiencing Glass first hand, so we’re taking Glass to cities across the US to give you a chance to do just that… We’re excited to announce that we’ll be kicking off in the Tar Heel State. Come try Glass, chat with the team, and enjoy local snacks and beverages.

Google plans to announce additional dates for its U.S. Glass tour in the near future through its Glass Google+ page.