Tag: Google Glass

By January 29, 2014 Read More →

Google Announces Prescription Glass Frames for Google Glass

TitGoogle announced their newest upgrade to the Google Glass wearable smart-glasses, only this time it isn’t a software or hardware upgrade, but is actually a structural one. They now have prescription glass frames available that are specifically designed to fit with Google Glass. They are called the Titanium Collection, and that doesn’t just describe their aesthetics. These new Google Glass frames are literally made of ultra-light titanium alloys. 

Their Titanium Collection includes “four feather-light titanium frames and two new styles of twist-on shades, designed just for you.” Now you can consider getting Google Glass without worrying about looking like a full-blown dork, just a half-dork! (We kid about this because some of us here at HQ are actually becoming more intrigued by this device regardless of how it looks to other.)

 

By January 17, 2014 Read More →

Google Glass wearing driver escapes prosecution

abadieIn what was the first case of motorist being stopped and given a ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving the defendant was found not guilty in a San Diego court yesterday.

The court ruled that Cecilia Abadie was not guilty as she had been cited under a code that makes it illegal to watch or use video or TV on the front of a vehicle while it is moving. Under the code it is a requirement that there be proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the device was in operation. This is something that the officer that stopped the defendant was not able to provide.

This seems like a positive outcome for Google and supporters of Google Glass, like me. However, Commissioner John Blair did state, following the ruling, that the he felt that there is sufficient scope in the code that bans the use of TV and Video to include Google Glass.

Whilst this ruling may not in itself set a legal precedent relating to the legality of Google Glass and usage while driving and this is likely to rumble on for some time to come until there is a definitive ruling and laws passed.

 

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By January 13, 2014 Read More →

Google Glass Glassware must-haves

Google Glass GlasswareMany of you will know that since I got my Google Glass about a month ago I have become a massive convert and huge supporter of it. In fact I wear my Glass almost all the time now, pretty much only taking it off when I go to bed or before meeting.

Those that I work with have also become accustomed to seeing that ‘thing’ attached to my head!

At the moment Google Glass can still be considered to be in Beta and, as it stands, the list of apps, known as Google Glass Glassware, is somewhat limited. However, many new developers have taken up the mantle and and the list of available third-party apps is now growing.

So I thought I would take a moment to mention a couple of the apps that I consider to be must-have and those that I use all the time.

 

Toolkit for Glass

This one is from my dear old friend Paul O’Brien. Toolkit for Glass offers several features that probably should have been a part of the base OS of Glass. Paul’s toolkit provides the following:

  • use ‘open camera’ to give you a camera viewfinder, take pics using the camera button. Enables you to properly frame a photo.
  • use ‘switch wifi’ to toggle wifi with voice confirmation. Turning off WiFi when you aren’t using it helps to extend the battery life.
  • use ‘switch bluetooth’ to toggle bluetooth with voice confirmation. Turning off Bluetooth when you aren’t using it helps to extend the battery life.
  • use ‘get status’ to receive a voice readout of battery, wifi and bluetooth status’
  • just for testing some stuff – use ‘magnify’ to open the camera where sweep forward will zoom in, sweep back will zoom out

Glasquare

This is an unofficial version of Foursquare specifically for Google Glass. Glasquare features include:

  • 3 voice commands: Check me in, Show best venues and Search venues for …
  • super-fast check-ins with a possibility to add photos and comments
  • 10 best venues around you/matching your search with details
  • directions towards a selected venue
  • read tips of the selected venue

SpeedHUD

google_glass_screenshot-300x168The use of Google Glass while driving continues to be controversial and there are still plans to ban it while driving.  However, there are a couple of apps out there that, in my opinion, would certainly improve driving safety and one app that I enjoy using is SpeedHUD which is believe demonstrates the very reason why a blanket ban is premature at best.  SpeedHUD shows your speed and compass direction.

 

Obviously there are many more Glassware apps out there but these are just the third-party one that I use all the time. Whether you are new to Google Glass or an veteran they are definitely worth a look!

 

 

By January 5, 2014 Read More →

Should Google Glass be banned for drivers?

Should Google Glass be bannedGoogle Glass isn’t even on sale here in the UK but the authorities are already looking to pre-emptively ban its use by drivers of motor vehicles. There have been similar motions from law enforcement in the US too.

According to Stuff Magazine, a spokesperson for the Department of Transport said:

“We are aware of the impending rollout of Google Glass and are in discussion with the Police to ensure that individuals do not use this technology while driving.”

“It is important that drivers give their full attention to the road when they are behind the wheel and do not behave in a way that stops them from observing what is happening on the road.”

It’s at this point I have a real issue with the ban. “It is important that drivers give their full attention to the road” – so does that mean that looking at my instrument cluster in my car should also be banned? Looking at my speedo requires me to look down, take my eyes off the road and to shift my focus. Then what about tuning the radio, or looking at the directions on SatNav? All of these things potentially shift my attention from the road ahead to something inside the car. So on the same basis should everything that the driver looks at inside the vehicle also face the same ban?

As a Google Glass user and convert I have to say that the ‘authorities’ have really got this wrong and that the technology-backward bureaucrats making these decisions clearly do not understand Glass nor have they, most likely, even tried it for themselves.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for road safety, but I firmly believe that tools such as Google Glass can improve road safety, not reduce it. Glass shows information in front of the user, and you don’t have to ‘take your eyes off the road’ to see it. Showing navigation directions, vehicle speed and other important, relevant to driving alerts in what is effectively a HUD is way better than having to look down at the inside of the vehicle, instrument cluster or elsewhere in the vehicle. If HUD systems are good enough for the military, and costing billions in development, then why not similar systems for in-car use.

There also seems to be a general lack of understanding when it comes to Google Glass. They are not ‘always on’ or ‘always recording’ and the display only turns on when the user wants it to. When there is an info update there’s an audible alert that then allows the user to turn on the display if appropriate or to simple ignore it.

Further consider the safety aspects of Google Glass, and other similar products when they come to market, when there is an incident on the road. If Glass was linked to the vehicle systems it would know if there had been a collision, if an airbag had deployed, the vehicle location via GPS etc. With its compass and G-sensors the direction and severity of the impact could be recorded and upon there being a collision the camera could be enabled and video could be captured for evidence at a later date.

So yes, I think the ban is all backwards. Should Google Glass be banned? NO! There is much that Google Glass does to improve safety rather than detract from it and I firmly believe that the authorities have this one totally wrong. Perhaps a proper study into the safety would be better rather than this whole technophobic approach to something new. If the authorities would like to properly investigate then I’m sure Google would lend them a couple of headsets to try out or you can contact me and I’ll let you try mine out!

Google: Please fight this!

 

So readers, what do you think? Are the authorities right to ban?

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By December 18, 2013 Read More →

Google Glass updated to XE12

google_glass_xe12_screen_lock-580x326Google has delivered the December update for Google Glass and there are a few significant changes. The big changes seems to be Play Music support and some changes to where and when “Sent Through Glass” is added to communication. YouTube Glassware allows videos to be shared directly to YouTube and Hangouts supports sending and receiving chats, photos, and making video calls. Wink is a dubious feature that allows the camera to be triggered by winking rather than giving a speech command.

  • iOS app —  as we noted earlier, XE12 brings along better support for iOS. Expect an update in iTunes later in the week.
  • Google Play Music support has been enhanced, and the new Listen menu will let you browse playlists and open radio stations if you are an All Access subscriber.
  • Screen lock — set a screen lock from the settings menu and anytime you deactivate Glass or take them off (if you’ve set-up on-head detection) the screen lock will activate.
  • Hangouts Glassware — now you can send and receive chats, photos and make video calls with any Hangouts contact.
  • YouTube Glassware — share your videos to YouTube, with support for private and public uploads.
  • Wink — Explorers with a new model Glass (purchased or swapped after October 28th) can now take pictures via blinking. This works with the display off, and seeing the privacy outrage over this feature should make for loads of fun.
  • New Google Search features — searching for how far you are from a place or how many calories are in a food is now supported.
  • Removed Signature from Messages — no longer will your SMS messages say Sent Through Glass. Email will, though.
  • Removal of Guest Mode — maintaining Guest Mode was too much strain on the programmers, says Google. It is no more. Google recommends using a “demo Google Account.”

I’m sure that Matt will be checking out the update on his Google Glass shortly so watch this space for updates!

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By December 16, 2013 Read More →

Google Glass unboxing video

Google Glass unboxing videoGoogle Glass has been around for a little while now with early ‘Explorer Edition’ versions being made available to a select few testers and developers at the beginning of 2013. Over the past few months the Explorer programme has been further extended and I’ve now been lucky enough to have been invited to join and have just now received my very own Google Glass. Excited is not the word…

Google Glass has been a little controversial of late and there have been some privacy concerns, in fact some shops and restaurants going so far as to ban their use. Part of my desire to use Glass is to consider these issues myself and I’ll be talking about this more as I get to use it more.

So as is always the way with any new tech I get my hands on, I’ve recorded a short unboxing video for your viewing pleasure. You’ll notice that I’m not in my normal studio environment recording this one, I’m in a hotel having just picked the Glass up. As a result, there is some noise for the first minute and 10 seconds, so I hope that doesn’t detract from the video too much.

Google Glass Unboxing video

Google Glass Specification:

  • Dual-core 1GHz OMAP CPU*
  • 1GB RAM (682MB available to developers)*
  • OS: Android 4.0.4
  • 3 axis gyroscope
  • 3 axis accelerometer
  • 3 axis magnetometer (compass)
  • Touchpad Control
  • Bone Conductor Speaker
  • 16GB Storage/ 12GB Free
  • 1 Day Battery Life
  • Voice Control
  • WiFi 802.11b/g
  • Bluetooth
  • Titanium Headband
  • 5MP Camera
  • 720P video recording
  • 640×360 display

* Specs for the CPU and RAM are not totally clear, has been a lot of contradictory information so we’re going with the consensus.

 

Other than the touchpad, Google Glass can be controlled using “voice actions”. To activate Glass, wearers tilt their heads 30° upward (which can be altered for preference) or tap the touchpad, and say “O.K., Glass.” Once Glass is activated, wearers can say an action, such as “Take a picture”, “Record a video”, “Hangout with [person/Google+ circle]”, “Google ‘What year was Wikipedia founded?'”, “Give me directions to the Eiffel Tower”, and “Send a message to John”

By December 1, 2013 Read More →

Google Glass upsets a man

Google_Glass_Explorer_EditionNick Starr, a video teleconference network engineer, has posted on his Facebook page that he and his partner were at a restaurant called Lost Lake Cafe and Lounge. Starr was told by an employee that they didn’t allow people to wear Google Glass at the eatery. Whilst Starr claims he had worn the optical gadget before no one had ever told him to put them away or leave.

Rather than push the issue, Starr left and CBSNews.com has confirmed with Lost Lake Cafe and Lounge that they do not allow Google Glass to be worn at their establishment.

In a post on their official Facebook page, they updated that they asked a “rude customer” to vacate the premises because he would not remove the device.

“If you do wear your Google Glasses inside, or film or photograph people without their permission, you will be asked to stop, or leave,” said the post.

Co-owner David Meinert said to Forbes he does not permit Google Glass to be worn at Lost Lake Café and Lounge and his other establishment, 5 Point Cafe, because of privacy issues. Meinert’s concern is that people eating could be recorded or photographed without their knowledge.

“I think the crazy part is that this guy comes into a diner, and is asked to change his behavior in a way that’s our right to ask of him,” he pointed out. “He doesn’t like it, so he tries to get the server fired. It’s a total (expletive) move.”

It’s safe to say the two are finding it difficult to see eye to eye.

By November 1, 2013 Read More →

Next-gen Google Glass teased

Google-Glass-next-gen-previewGoogle decided to show off the next-gen version of their Google Glass hardware. They previewed the image to the right on the Google Glass Google+ page. As you can see they would rather “show” than “tell.” The only real difference which is immediately noticeable is that it now has a mono earbud. We aren’t sure if this means they had to give up on the skull-vibrating setup in the previous version, of if this is just an additional option.

Google also claimed they have improved the hardware, without getting into specifics. This post also serves as a reminder to Google Glass Explorers that they will be able to “trade-up” later in the year when this next-gen version is released. The only other detail that we can share is the new Google Glass will support prescription frames. Also, if you are already Google Glass Explorer, later this year you will be able to invite up to three friends to get a Google Glass.

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By October 7, 2013 Read More →

Samsung developing its answer to Google Glass

Google GlassSeems that everyone wants to get their hands on Google Glass and the massive demands has apparently been too much for Samsung to ignore and rumour has it that the Korean giant has decided to work on its own “Gear Glass” hardware.

In a tweet from Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin, he states:

Samsung developing own version of Google Glass. We will see it (probably) around april-may under Gear Glass brand.

There are no further details as yet but it certainly would make sense for Samsung to release another wearable product to compliment their Galaxy Gear Smartwatch.

According to retailers, the demand for the Smartwatch 2 has been so high that they are unable to satisfy the existing demand and the back-order list is growing daily.

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