Google has been rolling out software updates to improve the performance of its Google Glass wearable computer since the company launched the Glass Explorer program for early testers.
Now Google is giving Glass a hardware upgrade: New units will start shipping with 2GB of RAM instead of 1GB.
Glass is a device that you can wear like a pair of glasses (in fact you can wear it with a pair of glasses), to perform some smartphone-like functions without touching your phone.
It pairs with your smartphone to connect to the internet and allows you to search the web, get answers to questions, run apps and games, make calls, and shoot pictures, among other things.
Glass also costs $1500 or more at this point. While the finished product that’s eventually sold to consumers might be more affordable, early members of the Glass Explorer program have had to pay a pretty hefty price to get their hands (or heads) on one.
The first time Google upgraded its Google Glass hardware, the company sent existing users new units for free. It’s not clear if that’ll happen this time around.
Other updates include new software with additional Google Now cards for reminders about where you parked your car and for tracking packages. There’s also support for “OK Glass, show the viewfinder” to help you frame photos before you snap them.
via Gizmodo
probably the silliest invention since the driverless car..
I don’t think that’s really the case at all. For everyday consumers just nerding out, perhaps. But for doctors, or security (police, fire), military and quite frankly anything that needs real time data updates (stock brokers) a derivative of this technology could be critical. It doesn’t have to end up looking like the above glasses either. It could be a face protector or a ski google like version. Whatever it takes…
Anyhow, it’s really the application of the device that’s the important thing here. Getting data in real time while enabling you to not have to stop, look down at a device (computer, phone, tablet, watch, etc.) is the thing I like most about this technology. It allows one to still do their job without getting completely distracted. I don’t know…I think it’s pretty amazing actually.
Really?
Can’t tell if trolling. But yes, really.
Majority of the public can not make up their own decisions in terms of whether they like technology or not. Especially consumers who adopts the appeal factor more so than technological aspect. The cool kids think it’s stupid, everyone thinks it’s stupid. Watch what happens when Apple creates a Glass product. Everyone will say it’s “innovation”. Much of the hate towards Google Glass is also the fact that it’s not available to the general public (general being those who are sane enough not to spend 1500 on a prototype). This is the same public that have already coined the term “Glassholes” even before they’ve tried it.
Wow, superiority complex much?
An unbiased view is showing superiority over those who have formulated opinions based on trend? Much of the public have not even tried one or touched one. Your “really?” comment is the sign of superiority complex.
“Majority of the public can not make up their own decisions in terms of whether they like technology or not.” Yeah, that doesn’t look like snobbery at all.
Snobbery? If that’s not true, you wouldn’t need marketing, ads, campaigns, reviews, tech bloggers, conferences for people to know what they want. That is the same for everything else. People like what’s hip… and hip isn’t a personal opinion. Come out of that cave and welcome to the real world.
https://xkcd.com/1386/
Actually I quite agree with that comic. But the guy giving the award is creating the problem (but it depends on the context of why guy in hat called people stupid). But this problem is why people don’t care if they are fat if an “average” American is obese. Calling America “fat” is not trying to say the average person is not as skinny as you, because that would just be an excuse, human bodies have an absolute normal.
But no, I did not call people stupid, I said they most people can’t decide for themselves. It’s common for an individual to let someone else decide for you, it’s the easy way out. Religions exist for this reason. An example of unable to decide what you like “I want X because everyone has X”, if you don’t know what this is, this is how vendors make money… by creating fads, trends, hip products. This is why people have debts.
Well a really great example of this is BlackBerry (just noticed your nickname) and their BB10 OS. Personally I think their stuff is amazing but the vast majority of the market doesn’t agree. Most of those people haven’t even tried it like you mention. Just some tool said, “it sucks, don’t buy it” so they don’t. Sure BB needs some spec help to catch up in certain regards but as a platform? I think it’s brilliant. Then again I come from the webOS world and thought that was game changing stuff too…
Actually I picked my username from the south park fictionary character mintberrycrunch, but wanted something slightly different.
But yes, Blackberry devices are an example. The big problem is what the consumer thinks, which in general tosses out business use cases.
I think the jury is still out, I haven’t really seen a killer app for Glass yet and thats what it will take. That and making them less ugly/obvious. If it turns into just another platform for Google to deliver ads I think they’re doomed.
Ya, but you’re talking about the consumer side of this product which Conception seems to agree. He was talking about applications for employees in many fields. There are articles about how Glass has been (with great initial results) or in process of being used in industry.
Thanks tooky, yup, that’s what I was getting at.
See how I see things, “Glass” can be a personal heads-up display. I’d like to join this with a phone, tablet or computer for more processing punch. I’m not opposed to even having this on a thin cord tether that I clip on my clothing (or wear it underneath, whatever floats your boat) so I can share battery power from a host device like a phone. Now I think add-on sensors can be a big differentiator too.
For example, laser measurement for construction. Why can’t some type of sensor be added on to a phone case (or even as a standalone tool if it has to be) that will enable a worker to position or measure something with laser accuracy, while the Google Glass display gives you the visual feedback that things are aligned or measured properly? In a construction world, I’d love to snap in my phone into a case and have Google Glass automatically sync up to those sensors in the device NFC style and “cast” the display to a Google Glass display.
This would help in Space and military applications (target acquisition, distance calculation, accurate firing of weapon, wind speed, etc.) Pilots, train and bus drivers could see a rear view camera at all times while still keeping eyes on more important things like the road or obstacles. All kinds of really useful things.
As a consumer I could see myself using a version of this while snowboarding (to map out trails and terrain). Maybe I could be out fixing my car and I need to watch a how to video in real time because I need to replace a part…wouldn’t that be awesome? How about trying to save someone’s life and you need some directions because you forget CPR or important steps on how to make a tourniquet to stop blood flow of a bleeding person. Maybe someone could be video conferencing with you giving you directions Skype style?
I could go on and on here…a picture is worth a thousand words. People pick up information faster in a visual sense. They can react faster and get things done more accurately and faster. This device can be the bridge to do just that.
I agree. For consumers, this isn’t really a great product especially for $1500 (at least no one has come up with a good consumer application of Glass).
However, for the commercial industry it’s definitely useful. Like you’ve said, I’ve read excellent applications in the medical, finance, construction, military, etc. industries.
I was giving my 4 month old son a bath (maybe his favorite thing in the world) last night and he was having a particularly good time, laughing and splashing in the tub. I thought to myself “I should grab the camera and record some of this”, but I couldn’t leave him unattended and I knew that if I took him out not only would I, and his towel, get all wet, but more importantly he probably wouldn’t get back into this mood again as he doesn’t like being taken out of the tub. I didn’t record it and I already regret that as I’ll never get that moment back and it will slowly fade with time. I get the concern people have with these devices, but I would love to have a camera recording what I see, or at least ready to if I want, at all times. 99.9% of it I wouldn’t want but every now and then something unexpected happens that you wish you could save on video forever. I expect that within a few years most people will be using a device similar to this and will not be able to imagine life without it, I know I intend to get something like this some day if for no other reason than having a hands-free always ready to go camera. Sorry if that offends you.
As long as there’s some sort of etiquette when it comes to these recording devices and it’s blatantly obvious that they’re recording, I’m okay with people walking around with them. Even now, with the smartphone, there are many people who think it’s fine to take photos and videos inside gym locker rooms, restrooms, etc. and have no issues with posting them online even if there are strangers in the photo/video who didn’t even know they were being recorded. Of course, there a few people who use spy time recording devices but that’s low and if they’re ever caught, they’ll likely won’t be met with smiles.
It seems the current group of consumer Glass wearers are mostly part of this group. It’s gotten bad enough where Google actually posted a do’s and don’ts page for Glass users: https://sites.google.com/site/glasscomms/glass-explorers
As long as there aren’t many “Glassholes” as Google puts it then I can see these things being more readily accepted for consumer use.
LOL @ “Glassholes”…too funny!