Hasta La Gadget!

Google has only just recently shipped its developer units of Google Glass, and it seems regular consumers will have to wait a while longer. According to Google chairman Eric Schmidt, consumers will be able to snatch a pair of Google Glasses in about a year, and while the company has never given a solid release date for the glasses, 2014 is a bit later than originally expected.

The former Google CEO said during an interview with BBC that Google Glass for consumers is “probably a year-ish away,” meaning that we won’t see them go on sale to the public until around the spring time of next year. However, Schmidt says that Google will be taking that time to improve on Google Glass, thanks to the many developers who are testing out the new spectacles.

Google Glass was originally to be released to the public at some point later this year, but it seems the company is pushing that timeline back a bit, most likely to allow enough time for early testers to get their say in before Google starts making changes and improvements to the new piece of technology.

Schmidt also addressed the concern over privacy with Google Glass, saying that society will “have to develop some new social etiquette,” noting that “it’s obviously not appropriate to wear these glasses in situations where recording is not correct.” Many places have already banned the use of Google Glass, including a bar in Seattle, and lawmakers are attempting to ban the glasses while driving.

[via DVICE]

Google Glass consumer units arriving as soon as next year is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This week the Explorer Edition of Google’s Project Glass is being delivered to intrepid developers all across the planet, and the unboxing videos and demonstrations have begun! What you’re about to see is, at first, a single demonstration video filmed from the developer set. As more demonstration videos appear, we’ll be capturing them here on SlashGear one by one!

First you’re going to see Glass capturing a Go Kart Racer in Burlingame, California – straight from the head of the user. This video is captured from Google Glass’ 5 megapixel camera and delivered at a cool 720p – make sure you turn up the quality of the video with the little gear in the lower right-hand corner of the YouTube rectangle. And don’t get too queasy!

The above video was recorded by Matt Abdou – see more hands-on action now!

Google’s Glass device will be delivered to the full set of over 1000 users in the public this week – while many more devices are out there in the wild, we’re certainly not expecting the full limited edition series to be seeing action in the public. You can find a whole lot more information on the Google Glass initiative in our Google Glass tag portal and through the timeline below.

In addition to this, you’ll find our own hands-on action with Google Glass coming up quick! We’ll be kicking around our own set of Glass units when we’re rolling with them in the coming weeks and months, and we’ll be sure to bring you along with us the whole journey long! Make sure you stick with SlashGear for the long haul!

Google Glass goes Go-kart racing is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

With micro-miniature camera built-in glasses “Mitamanma Megane” sold by Thanko, you can film a video of the direction you are looking in Full HD quality and save it to a micro SD card. Battery life is 30-40 minutes.

Price: 8,980 yen (including tax)
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Weight: 60g
Power source: USB

Buy these glasses here.

With almost everything being made in China these days, it’s particularly rare when a company announces plan to manufacturer something in the good ‘ole US of A. However, Apple recently announced that they’re going to do that with some of their Macs, and today it’s being reported that Google will be manufacturing its Glass eyewear in the US.

According to The Financial Times, Google will manufacturer Google Glass in Silicon Valley in California. The search giant will be partnering with Foxconn to assemble the futuristic eyewear at a facility in Santa Clara, California. This is according to several sources familiar with the company’s plans.

If this turns out to be true, it would not only boost the reputation of Google, but it would hopefully encourage other electronics manufacturers to bring business back to the US from countries like China and Taiwan. It’s said that in the coming weeks, only a few thousand Google Glass units will roll off the assembly line.

However, it’s not said exactly how many employees the facility will hire, nor is it said whether or not the employees will consist of current Foxconn workers from China, or if the company will hire all-new staff for the Santa Clara facility. Of course, bringing over current Foxconn workers would completely negate the whole “made in America” initiative, but we don’t think Google would be that naive.

[via The Financial Times]

Google Glass reportedly being made in US is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

As the first edition so foretold, so too is there a second piece of this puzzle: Google’s Project Glass appears to have been shown at South by Southwest this past week in at least one well-attended keynote. While we’d seen some relatively blurry looks at this particular showing late last week, this week we’re seeing not one, but two relatively close-up versions of the presentation. While we’ve seen some still shots of the Glass device’s basic UI before, here we get more in-depth with how Email, Skitch, and Evernote will work.

In the video shown earlier today, we saw a basic showing of how the camera will work, what we’ll see when we want information on the weather around us, and how it’ll feel to share content. Also shown was a nearly instant translation of English into Japanese spoken aloud as well as a glimpse at how Pinterest will be included in the first released build. It was there that we were also reminded that the touch interface on the side of the first Project Glass build will be touch-sensitive.

What you’re seeing above is the second of two filmings of this Google Glass UI demo at SXSW. This demonstration begins with a look at how Gmail will be integrated into the set right out of the box. A new email will, if you want it, be shown in brief complete with a user icon where possible.

You’ll see that the instant dictation feature present in many Google apps today will be a rather important tool in Glass. To reply to an email, you’ll have only to tap the side of your Glass unit once, see the reply button, tap again, and begin speaking. Here you’ll see the presenter saying “Are you kidding I can’t wait :-)” There’s a bit of a hiccup with the word “remind” at the beginning of the sentence, but other than that, dictation appears to be perfect.

Next there’s another sharing bit of action shown, with the presenter showing that once you’ve got a photo taken, you can tap, see that you’re able to share, tap again, and slide back and forth through your options for sharing. Here he shares to Skitch the same as he would to Evernote – in this case he’s shared to an Android device and Skitch brings up the image as soon as his Android device receives the file. This same sort of situation happens with Evernote, but with the big E, you’re saving to a massive archive rather than just sending a file via Bluetooth to your phone.

Have a peek at the timeline below to see additional demonstrations with Glass and see how and when you’ll be getting your own – in general – rather soon!

[via RoadtoVR]

Google Glass user interface demo filmed at SXSW [part 2] is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.