Run Google Glass apps on a Nexus 7 tablet

Google Glass is an Android-based wearable computer that you control by talking to it. But only a few thousand Glass devices are in the wild right now, and at $1500 per unit, they’re pretty expensive.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get a taste of Glass. Redditer zhuowei has modified a few of the apps that make Glass different from a normal Android device, and now you can download them and install them on a Nexus 7 tablet. They may also work on some other devices.

Glass Home is basically an alternative to the default Android app launcher. When you use it as your home screen, it uses the tablet’s mic to listen to you talk. To start an action, just say “OK Glass,” and the app will suggest a few options including taking a picture, recording a video, or getting directions.

If you have the Maps app installed you can get directions — but if you don’t have a physical keyboard or another device that can trigger a “tap” that the app recognizes, you’ll get stuck at a screen that loads before the map appears.

The good news is that you can ask some questions and get answers. For instance, Glass was happy to tell me the time and temperature when I asked.

Zhuowei has also begun digging through the apps to see what extra features are hidden, and he’s discovered, among other things, ways to launch a web browser from Glass Home, add support for “OK Glass” commands from any screen, and more.