All Ping

Google Glass is finally here — or at least, it’s here for the 8,000 lucky winners of the prototype version of the space-age augmented reality glasses. A wearable computer that looks like a set of Star Trek goggles, Google Glass is the latest celebrated invention from the laboratories of Google X, which is the secret lab where Google develops products that you hear wild rumors about, like balloon-powered WiFi or the self-driving car. Unlike self-driving cars, Google Glass augmented reality glasses are now an actual reality – and the first users have given us a clear look at what Google Glass really can do.

The first 8,000 prototypes of these glasses, called Google Glass Explorer Edition, started landing in the first users’ hands in late April. Now that Google Glass is actually out in the wild, it’s an interesting time to review whether Google Glass lives up to the expectations. Glass users have been posting photos and video of their experiences to Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ with the hashtag #throughglass. These user-generated submissions show us what to expect when Google Glass is available to the public, perhaps later this year.

GOOGLE GLASS VIDEO

First, let’s look at what Google originally promised with Google Glass. Back in April 2012 we saw the first Google Glass commercial, shot from the perspective of someone wearing the augmented reality glasses. In the commercial, you are a hip young male with no apparent job but a very nice Manhattan apartment. Commonly-used Google icons fly across your eyesight, letting you check your appointment schedule and the weather, all hands-free. You are able to send text messages using your voice. Travel alerts update you on subway closures and traffic jams, while a 3D virtual reality map plots your best alternate route. Google Glass helps you buy a ukulele. You are involved with an attractive young lady named Jessica who calls you for video chat only at the most convenient times.

“That’s beautiful,” Jessica tells you at the end of the video, referring to either your ukulele playing or the things your Google Glass can do.

WHAT CAN GOOGLE GLASS DO?

Now that Google Glass is available to a few people, we see that it cannot perform many of the features shown in the commercial. The commercial shows beautiful icons flying all over your field of vision, while actual Google Glass provides just a small display box whose location you can adjust. Icons almost never appear — users navigate their apps like a carousel slideshow, and many features require you to swipe a touchpad on the Glass’ side. Google Glass is not a completely hands-free device — you cannot just eat a sandwich with both hands and still have full functionality, the way the guy does in the commercial. The How to Use Google Glass training video that came with the first Google Glass prototypes shows a more accurate depiction of the glasses’ capabilities.

So what can Google Glass do? Google Glass can display the time, the weather or your calendar right before your eyes, prompted by voice command. It can show you photos or videos saved to your smartphone. Glass lets you read and respond to emails or text messages with your voice, and it makes phone calls. Glass does offer the 3D maps for walking or driving directions, just as it was shown in the commercial. But Google Glass cannot pull up the Google web page, or any website for that matter. That said, when you ask Glass a question, it will Google your question and display the answer in a dedicated box.

Google Glass will not use facial recognition technology, as many privacy advocates had feared it would. That’s a bummer for me, because I’m terrible at remembering people’s names at conferences and work functions. What’s more, Google Glass will not work on its own — it requires a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone to operate and if you’re not carrying your smartphone you can’t use Google Glass.

Right now, Google Glass cannot do much that your smartphone can’t already do a whole lot better. Future versions will surely have more apps and features. The real value of Google Glass right now is just the thrill of having this technology before anyone else does, and being an early adopter.

Want to be an early adopter? It is generally accepted by the rumor mill that Google Glass will be available commercially by the 2013 holiday season.

Image Credit: ausdroid.net

I’m sure by now, most of us have heard of the potential Google Glass has. In the video you see a few people going through everyday routines while others put it on for more extreme stuff like skydiving.

On their head, is the wearable gadget that gives you the first-person’s view of the experience, made possible by you guessed it, Google Glass.

While Google Glass is still currently a developer’s toy, who has the time to wait until it becomes an item for the masses? So we did a little digging, got our fingers dirty and found 10 things you can expect from this high-tech eyewear.

We’ll talk about its hardware, what it’s capable of doing and how it’ll do it. Be prepared for the future as you might see many people wearing the Google Glass when it’s released

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1. Tiny (But Powerful) Hardware

It’s amazing how the Project Glass team has managed to squeeze all of its features into a tiny ‘computer’ supported on a lightweight yet strong frame.

Google Glass is packed with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, speakers, a camera, microphone, touchpad andpossibly a gyroscope that detects head-tilts. Then there’s the main piece, a tiny screen the size of your finger, that shows you all the information you need at your finger tips.

                                                    (Image Source: The Verge)

You can tell by the prototype that the design and engineering team have done a great job cramping everything into the current Glass design: a wearable, non-intrusive gadget that doesn’t get in the way of daily life.

2. Heed My Command!

Well, all that hardware is put to good use: Google Glass has voice input, which makes everything a lot more interesting. The built-in microphone combined with Google Now connects you directly to the search engine.

You activate Google Now by saying "Okay Glass" then send a command or question. Tilting your head up does the same thing.

You can take a photo or record a video, all by just saying the command for it – more on that, later. On the right, is a touchpad where you can swipe through, to get to menus; tapping, registers your selection.

3. Life Pauses For No One

Google Glass users can now live in the moment, and keep that memory in pictures or videos. No more foraging around for a camera, tuning the settings of your photo apps, and letting the moment go by without a single snap. Just say, "Take a Photo" and your view at the moment is captured, hands-free. Imagine the possibiltiies.

Other than photos, you can do the same with videos, which spells opportunities for extreme sports, real-life tutorials and more. Of course, picture quality coming from a device this small would not be comparable to a DSLR camera, but oftentimes, you’d rather not lose out on the moment.

4. Always On Call, Literally

With Glass being able to record videos, it can also act as a webcam with the data connection from your home or smartphone. You can use Google Hangout for a group conference, and still do what you need to do without being confined to a desk.

The powerful voice input feature also allows you to dictate text messages, attach videos and pictures alongwith and sending it via your mobile data connection, without having to remove your phone from your pocket.

5. Never Get Lost Again

Since it’s built with a GPS chip, it’ll be able to help you navigate, with help from Google Maps. This will take away the need to look down at your smartphone and it will be especially handy when you are driving, when you’re walking through crowded streets or when you’re hiking through the countryside.

Travellers, backpackers and even long distant cyclists won’t have to stop and check on where they are. In fact, this is the perfect example of augmented reality.

6. Blend In With The Locals

If you have read this recap on Awesome Things Google Search Can Do For You, know that you can do all of this on Glass as well. What’s the difference? Think about travelling and visiting a place where you don’t speak the local language.

7. Live From The Field

Live information that is shown to you would come from the predictive software of Google Now. On Android’s Jelly Bean, Google Now knows when you’re leaving your home for work and can warn you of bad traffic before you get stuck in it.

You can also set your favourite sports team and it’ll give you the latest news, scores and updates from the team, whenever they play.

All those features are available on Android, but with Glass, you can skip checking your device and just get it shown to you as and when it happens, or as news feeds. Google Now cards also shows you your boarding pass, next appointment, hotel or restaurant reservations, reminders for important birthdays and events in your calendar.

8. OS Compatibility Not An Issue

Google Glass works not only with Android phones but also with the iPhone, according to this report. Apart from the GPS chip inside, Google Glass is dependent on the Wi-Fi or mobile connectivityto deliver its features. It is only fair game it if is available like any third-party accessory

When paired up with your smart device, it can show social network notifications and let you communicate via the same channels as you would on the computer. This removes the need of looking at your smartphone constantly, giving you more time to concentrate on the task at hand.

9. Time For A Make-Over

What is high tech without a sleek and cool design? Google Glass weighed an astounding 8 poundswhen it first was announced more than a year ago, but now is seeking to receive nods from the fashion industry.

Already lightweight, and soon to be available in 5 color options (Shale, Tangerine, Charcoal, Cotton and Sky), Google Glass is set to get a make-over with help from eyewear companies.

The flexibility in design is made possible with different frame and lens shapes — the computing part of Glass can be unscrewed from the current frame and attached onto another. We’re looking forward to a less cyborg, more natural feel to it. But for now, it’s wait and see.

10. Still Elusive But Almost Here

Google first made Glass available to developers during the Google I/O conference. At the time, it was priced at $1,500 and word has it that it will still be within that price range when it is finally released end of this year.

More recently, participants of the #ifihadglass competition can get an opportunity to buy Glass if they give the most creative Tweet or Google+ comment. For the rest of us, we’ll just have to wait until they iron out the rough edges before we can put on a pair.