Hasta La Gadget!

Google is considering Glass boutiques where the public could try out the wearable, it’s reported, better explaining the Android headset by giving live demonstrations. A project closely involving Google co-founder Sergey Brin, according to whispers passed to Business Insider, the Glass-centric retail locations would push not only the concept of bodyworn computing, but the Glass brand specifically.

BI warns that the tattle comes second-hand, with their source having spoken to someone who supposedly is working on the retail project within Google. However, the idea of bringing Glass out of the lab and right into the public eye seems a likely one, since the concept takes more explaining than a smartphone or tablet.

That public relations smoothing is going to be particularly necessary with something like Glass, which is already prompting privacy concerns given the ease with which wearers can snap photos and video. One common criticism of the headset is that there’s no specific indication when filming is taking place; Google did not include a red light or other notification on the front, for those around the wearer to see, and the only giveaway for video capture is that the eyepiece is active.

As early reactions to Glass in public suggest, there’d be no shortage of visitors to Google’s stores should they ever open their doors. Whether many of those curious enough to step in would actually buy Glass – or, in fact, whether Google would even be offering Glass for sale, depending on where it’s up to with the eventual consumer version – is questionable, however. Google has previously said that it expects the mainstream Glass to be considerably more affordable than the $1,500 of the current Explorer Edition targeted at developers.

Instead the store proposal, if true, could be more about marketing and user research than actual sales, getting the public comfortable with wearables rather than necessarily pushing them to open their wallets. Meanwhile, it would also cement the “Glass” name as the new brand of Android-powered headsets, which would undoubtedly come in useful as Google rolls out its own consumer iteration, or potentially licenses the technology to third-parties like Samsung and others.

Currently, Google invites Explorer Edition buyers to its experience locations in San Francisco and New York City, where they’re fitted for the headset, shown the basic features, and walked through the initial setup of pairing it with a phone and such. Our own Vincent Nguyen picked up one such unit recently; stay tuned for his hands-on impressions over the coming days.

Google Glass stores rumored as wearables push for mainstream is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We’ve already seen a Twitter for Glass app, though it isn’t available for any Glass owner to use and has not been officially announced (there’s GlassTweet, though). Following not too long after, there’s now an unofficial Glass to Facebook app available to the public, allowing those who’ve scored a pair of Google’s frames to upload photos directly to their Facebook page.

Given the nature of Google Glass and the pervasive reality of Facebook in our daily lives, a Facebook app is a much-needed (if not much-wanted) addition to the device. Those who shelled out $1500 for an Explorer pair of the frames didn’t have to wait too long, with this third-party offering filling the gap until Facebook rolls out its own official app. You can get Glass to Facebook here.

Setup is very easy, with step-by-step instructions being provided. Users simply need to log-in to their Facebook account from the Glass to Facebook page, then enable under Sharing Contacts via MyGlass. From there, the Glass owner then takes a photograph with their device and shares that image with Glass to Facebook, which automatically shuttles it off to the attached Facebook account.

Much in the same way images taken and uploaded from a smartphone are added to a Mobile album, images taken and sent to Facebook with Glass are added to their own album called Glass to Facebook, with default text that says the device was used to post the image. Other than that, the photos show up the same way any other image shows up on Facebook through other uploading means.

[via Tech Crunch]

Google Glass to Facebook provides unofficial photo sharing is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Google Glass is all the talk in the wearable technology industry. The headset, which will be work as glasses and allows users to do everything from get directions to snap photos and capture video, is arguably the most exciting device to be entering the technology space.

Wearables are new to quite a few folks. Although they’ve seen (and perhaps used) pedometers or those wristbands that track their movements, the average customer has never really thought about wearing glasses that would allow for communication and all of the other features Glass boasts. And thanks to some smart marketing on Google’s part, quite a few people are now saying that they’d jump at the chance to buy Google Glass when it hits store shelves.

But I’d ask all of those people to truly consider what they’re saying. Yes, Google Glass appears to be a nice-looking device for those who don’t mind wearing an oddly shaped lens on one eye, but for the rest of us walking around town, doing so doesn’t exactly tell the world that we’re the most fashionable people.

Aside from that, I just don’t see the value in all that Google is promoting with Glass. Sure, it’d be nice to look at directions through one lens, and having the ability to snap a photo or record video is great and all, but I can do that with my smartphone. And when I don’t want to do any of that, I can just slip my smartphone into my pocket and not worry all that much about it getting damaged.

Google Glass, on the other hand, looks like an expensive, broken piece of tech waiting to happen. As those of us who wear glasses know, it’s not that hard for them to get all kinds of screwed up in our pockets or when they fall off the coffee table. When it’s a $100 pair of glasses, that’s not such a bad thing. But if we’re talking about Google Glass, which could be exceedingly expensive, it’s a much, much different story. And I just don’t see how Google is going to sidestep that issue.

“Wearable tech is niche, and not even Google can change that”

Beyond that, I guess I’m not sold on the whole wearable technology craze. Yes, I know analysts are saying that the marketplace will grow in leaps and bounds in the coming years and billions of dollars will be spent, but I’m not convinced. Save for a few products, wearable technology is still very much a niche product category. And I don’t think that even Google can change that.

To me, Google Glass is more a novelty device than something that can truly be groundbreaking in the technology world. It’s a neat idea and it’s something that I can see people getting excited about, but does it really deliver value in practice? Theoretically, it’s cool, but I just don’t see it actually appealing to people who want the latest and greatest execution of wearable technology. On that front, I think Google Glass will fall short.

So, I’m not really sure Google Glass is worth it. I suppose I’ll be able to make a final decision when I know exactly how much Google Glass costs. But until then, I’m not expecting too much value.

Is Google Glass Really Worth It? is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

As we see Google Glass’ first YouTube app join the first Reddit app, first blink-to-photograph app, and an ever-growing ecosystem software expand, it’s become clear: this device is currently embroiled in a Wild West atmosphere. What this means for developers is that if the opportunity is open, an basic app for every purpose can and should be made. As it was when the iPhone first appeared and when Android was first initiated, first-come releases have the potential for significant success.

With the app “Fullscreen BEAM”, users will be able to record a video with Google Glass and upload it instantly to their YouTube channel. This system allows for instant pre-sets like keeping the video private for later viewing and instantly sharing to Twitter – users’ choice. The developers of this app work with Fullscreen, a media company created by CEO George Strompolos back in 2011 after co-creating the YouTube Partnership Program.

This week has been full of 3rd-party app creations filling the many, many gaps left by official brands. While app creators at, for example, Evernote and Path make it clear that they’ll be developing for Glass themselves, many Google services remain wide open for the 3rd party development attachment. It’s Google’s intent that the platform grow, it seems, through developers from outside its own ranks.

Have a peek at the brief timeline below for additional moments in app development appearing for Glass in just the past week. This device is becoming an ecosystem for which a development group gains hype for creating a rather simple app quite quickly. Expect many more to jump aboard in the very near future.

First Google Glass YouTube app appears: Wild West development continues is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

As a new platform rises, so too does a Reddit interface come with it – this being the way of things. With Google Glass sitting in front of the eye of the user and appearing in every moment of a user’s life, it exists as the perfect starting point for the community that calls itself The Front Pace of the Internet. This app was developed by Glass Explorer and futuristic developer of the future Malcolm Nguyen and goes by the name Reddit Timeline.

Like Reddit’s existence on each other mobile and desktop platform its represented on, this app home will likely be one of many for Google Glass. Reddit does not have any truly official apps on any platform at the moment, relying instead of miniaturized versions of itself within the webpage in a web browser to tend to those without love for the numerous third party apps on the market. As a technology-friendly population of users makes up the bulk of Reddit, apps developed by the environment itself appear to have come naturally.

Nguyen’s app Reddit Timeline is a rather rudimentary portal into Reddit through Google Glass in which the top 25 stories posted to Reddit are shown in brief. The user is is able to see these posts in text form and with image previews, not including videos at the moment but pushing for comments and up or downvotes on the whole.

NOTE: For clarification – this isn’t the first 3rd party app developed for Glass. Instead the title is meant to imply that it is the first 3rd party Reddit app developed for Glass – no worries!

This app also allows you to have comments read aloud via Glass and is certainly not something you’re going to want to download if you ever plan on taking Glass off your head again. As Google Glass is said at the moment to only be able to stay powered up for 3.5 hours on average, we’ll have to stay close to a wall charger for the time being. Watch out for not safe for your work environment posts right up in your eyeball!

[via Mashable]

Reddit hits Google Glass in first 3rd party app is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.