You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
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.
Yesterday we received word that Google Glass was hot off the presses and heading for shipping, and today Google+ is full of posts from the lucky few who are now in possession of their device. Unboxing pictures have surfaced, as well as a tidbit of info that navigation directions can be pushed from smartphone to Glass. And perhaps best of all, there’s also a video recorded with Glass at the go-kart track, which we have after the jump.
Above is a self-portrait taken by Brandon Allgood using his Google Glass, which can be seen in so-called Terminator fashion on his frames. He also published a snapshot of the device in an unboxed pose, showing off both the frames and the various accessories, such as the micro USB cable and charging adapter. G+ user Arthur Van Hoff also has an unboxing album.
Following this is a video recorded by Matt Abdou using Google Glass at the go-kart track, which you can watch below. According to the device support pages that Google made public yesterday, Glass features a 5-megapixel camera sensor and can record video in 720p; don’t forget to bump YouTube’s video quality up to max to see the video in high definition.
And, finally, there’s also the screenshot from Cecilia Abadie confirming that driving directions can be sent to Glass via the MyGlass app. We’ll certainly be seeing more photos and such hit the web as more buyers receive their devices, but until then you can catch up on the latest round of news, such as Glass’s specs and the Mirror API documentation and sample code.
Update: And here’s an unboxing video, courtesy of Dan McLaughlin:
[via Engadget]
Google Glass Explorer edition video and photos hit the web is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Even though we’ve seen Google Glass be leaked, be announced, be presented, be demoed, be worn, be used and even be mocked, it’s always represented some far off future technology that we never were sure if it would ever be real (in a I can’t believe it’s already here kind of way). But it’s totally happening guys. And this is what it looks like. Brandon Allgood got his hands on the Google Glass box and revealed what’s inside the future. More »
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Google announced its Google Glass Explorer Editions were beginning to ship in waves to their respective buyers, but what exactly will $1,500 get these selected pioneers? We recently saw an infographic from artist Martin Missfeldt who went through the trouble of compiling information through a number of sources, but we still don’t know what the specs are for the Google Glass. That is, until today as Google has officially announced what is under the hood of its Google Glass.
The Google Glass Explorer Editions will have a 5MP camera capable of taking video up to 720p, has 16GB of internal storage (of which, 12GB is usable), feature 802.11b/g and a display that will be equivalent to a 25-inch HD screen if you’re standing 8 feet away from the TV. Most importantly is its battery, which Google says will last the user a full day with typical use, although Hangouts and video recording may quicken its battery drain. (more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Business Suit Turns Transparent Upon Detecting A Lie, Tetris Clone Makes Its Way Onto The Pebble Smart Watch, 
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Google’s Glass Explorer Edition headsets will come with a set of usage, tech, and app limitations at odds with the freedom Android developers are used to, including blanket permission to remotely strip out functionality from the wearable computer. Glass, which Google announced had begun shipping in partial numbers from Monday, comes with a new Terms of Sale agreement as part of the setup process, with strict limits on who you can allow to use your headset, and how Google can update it to remove features it may decide are dangerous or simply not in keeping with how it feels the wearable should evolve.
Would-be international developers have already voiced their frustration about Google’s decision to limit availability of the Glass Explorer Edition to those in the US only; even the Glass companion app, freshly released into the Play store, is geo-restricted to those in the US. However, the conditions of use for the developer headset are even stricter than normal:
“Unless otherwise authorized by Google, you may only purchase one Device, and you may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your Device to any other person. If you resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person without Google’s authorization, Google reserves the right to deactivate the Device, and neither you nor the unauthorized person using the Device will be entitled to any refund, product support, or product warranty” Google
In short, if Google discovers you’ve tried to sell on your Glass unit, or even allow another developer to borrow it to cook up their own “Glassware” apps, the search giant is within its rights to remotely kill the wearable. It’s unclear how this might affect teams of developers looking to share a single headset while working together on services, though presumably Google will track possible signs of loaning behavior by which Google+ accounts Glass is logged into.
Remotely bricking a Glass unit might be somewhat draconian, but Google has other methods of remote control it can call upon. Glass will periodically check in with one or more update servers for the latest software, with the system automatically upgrading to the newest firmware. That sort of system is familiar from Android phones, of course, but the difference with Glass is that the user will have no control over whether it happens: running Google’s newest version is mandatory.
“From time to time, Glass may check with remote servers (hosted by Google or by third parties) for available updates to both the Glass software and any Glass services you have enabled, including but not limited to bug fixes or enhanced functionality. You agree that such updates will be automatically requested, downloaded, and installed without further notice to you” Google
In a similar way, Google reserves the right to remotely kill any service or feature on a Glass unit that it deems unsuitable, using a blacklist of banned services that the wearable will periodically check for.
“From time to time, Google may discover a Glass service that violates Google developer terms or other legal agreements, laws, regulations or policies. Glass will periodically download a list of such Glass services from Google’s servers. You agree that Google may remotely disable or remove any such Glass service from user systems in its sole discretion” Google
There’s no telling whether Google will be so strict with the commercial version of Glass, set to follow on after developers have got to grips with the Explorer Edition and begun cooking up software for it. However, the nature of the Glass system and the Mirror API that acts as a conduit for content means that users have little choice but to abide by Google’s rules.
That’s because everything passes through the Mirror API, with Google’s servers sitting in-between third-party services and the wearable itself. As SlashGear revealed back in February, Google can use that ‘conduit’ position to effectively place limits on what is displayed on Glass and what can be shared from the headset:
“For third-party developers, integrating with Glass is all about integrating with the Mirror API Google’s servers rely upon. So, if you’re Twitter, you’d use the API to push a card – say, to compose a new tweet, using voice recognition – to the Glass headset via the user’s Google+ account, coded in HTML, with a limited set of functions available on each card to keep things straightforward (say, dictate and tweet). Twitter pushes to Google’s servers, and Google pushes to Glass … As a system, it’s both highly flexible and strictly controlled”
It also means there’s no possibility of inserting adverts or charging for software, two other limits Google has revealed with this new blast of information. Again, the policies could well change by the time the commercial Glass is released, but for the moment any functionality served up for the developer models has to be free and barren of adverts. User data also cannot be sold or shared for advertising purposes.
On the one hand, Google’s stricter controls around Glass make perfect sense with its more tentative approach to wearable functionality. The company has a set of four new “User Interface Guidelines” for instance, which it expects developers to follow when they design for Glass. That includes considerations about not distracting or overloading users with data.
On the flip side, however, there’s a strong contrast between the relative free-for-all of the Android developer scene and the environment – at least initially – for Glass developers. Arguably that’s down to the greater potential for damage in user-experience should Glass apps go rogue: something that might be mildly frustrating on a smartphone could well be considered a deal-breaker on a device intended to be worn throughout the day.
It remains to be seen as to how strict in following its regulations Google will be, and the fact that the company has given itself permission to remotely deactivate Glass units doesn’t necessarily mean it will take advantage of that. Nonetheless, developers will have to be ready to toe the line if they don’t want to run the risk of having an expensive – but non-functional – geek tiara instead of a high-tech wearable computer.
Glass gets strict: Sharing, paid apps and ads risk remote kill is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Google has been rolling out a variety of Glass-related materials following its announcement on Monday that Explorer edition pairs were in production and some would possibly begin shipping today, with the rest following in waves in the near future. Nearly a year after they were unveiled at Google’s I/O, we finally have a run down of the device’s specs.
According to a Glass support page made public by Google, the device will have a 5-megapixel camera with up to 720p video recording and 16GB of storage contained in what is said to be a durable frame that is one-size-fits-all (with the aid of adjustable nose pieces). If you’re wondering how the display will look, according to the support pages, it will be fairly pleasant.
The display is said to be equivalent to looking at 25-inch high definition television from a distance of 8-feet, meaning it won’t appear terribly large, but certainly won’t have you squinting in an effort to make things out. Audio is delivered via bone conduction, and a single battery charge is said to last all day, so you won’t have to part with the headset halfway through the day to recharge.
Connectivity includes standard 802.11b/g WiFi and Bluetooth, as well as a micro USB port for data transfer and charging (users are advised to use the Glass-specific charger rather than a generic one). Finally, compatibility is with any Android smartphone running 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich or higher, as well as the MyGlass app, which is now available from the Google Play Store.
[via Droid-Life]
Google Glass specs: 16GB of storage, 5MP camera, and more is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Google just released the official specs for Google Glass (after releasing the API too) and the futuristic frames come with 16GB (only 12GB will be usable) Flash memory, 5 megapixel camera for stills, 720p video recording, Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth and a battery that can handle “one full day of typical use”. More »
A couple of hours ago, Google sent out word that Google Glass Explorer edition is in production, with the first wave going out as early as today, and the rest heading out in the very near future. Following closely on the heels of that announcement is the public availability of Google Glass Mirror API documentation, which includes a couple videos that take users over the most relevant aspects.
In addition to the vast pages of documentation, Google has also released some sample code for interested developers to take a gander at, an example of which is displayed in the screenshot above. Aside from a Quick Start guide to get readers going, the documentation is broken down into relatively easy to manage sections, including bits on managing timeline cards, menu items, notifications, and contacts sharing.
The section on User Interface Guidelines includes the details developers will need to follow when creating what Google calls Glassware. It runs down formatting timeline cards, offering content via the cards in the form of videos and photos, making menus and menu items, how to share content, and more. Check out the video below for more information.
There is also a section on improving the performance of your Glassware applications. Users can check out the sample code, as well as a list of descriptions for values and property names, in the subsection under each main category in the documentation. For example, you can view sample Timeline code here, with the links under “Timeline” on the left taking you to more specific aspects of the code.
[via Google+]
Google Glass Mirror API documentation now available is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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