The day has finally come: Google has started shipping Google Glass to the lucky few early adopters. Now that it’s shipping, Google has also unveiled a lot more about the API and the specifications of the device itself. While the company had already given out substantial details at earlier occasions, there are still a few surprises here.
Let’s look at the specifications first. Google states that Glass has a ‘high resolution display’ that is the equivalent of a 25″ HD screen eight feet away from the eyes. It has 12GB of usable memory (16GB total), and, of course, it syncs with Google’s cloud storage. Camera-wise, it’s got 5MP for photos, and 720p for video. Naturally, Glass has the usual communication options such as Bluetooth and wifi. The battery supposedly lasts for about a day of typical usage. For an entirely new class of device, it’s hard to gauge what these specifications really mean.
Google has also released the companion application for Glass on the Play Store, dubbed MyGlass. It requires Android 4.0.3 and up, meaning about 54% of Android users are covered. Since Glass will most likely be something for enthusiasts – even when it becomes available to the general public – this seems like a good enough cutoff point.
Google also took the covers off the documentation for the Mirror API programmers will use to write stuff for Glass. It’s got everything from quick start guides to code samples, and everything in between that you need to get coding. The Mirror API has been detailed before, for instance in this talk by Timothy Jordan.
Lastly, the terms of service for the Mirror API contain some interesting surprises. For instance, programmers are not allowed to serve or include advertisements in their Google Glass service, nor are they allowed to charge for them. In addition, you are not allowed to use user data obtained through Glass for advertising purposes either – you can’t use it yourself or forward it to an advertising agency. I’m guessing this is done to make sure Google attracts the right kind of developers – enthusiasts who are in it not for the money, but for the excitement of a new class of device.
On top of all this, you may not distribute your Google Glass programs outside of the “official Google-hosted Google Mirror API Client distribution channel” (rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?), which is a strict departure form Android. We’ll have to see how this holds up in the future.
I’m quite jealous of the lucky few who’ll be getting Glass soon. It may not go anywhere, but that doesn’t make it any less futuristic.
Google started a “Glass Collective” to provide VC funding for Glass devs earlier this month. It seems like they are definitely committed to getting it off the ground.
Well, this should be delightful news. Every single god damn time there’s been talk about Google Glass there’ve atleast a few people proclaiming how they don’t want ads pushed in the faces or how Google and everyone else will just use Google Glass for marketing. The only thing left for these “privacy enthusiasts” to complain about is the ability for Google Glass to record audio and/or video, but…well, once you realize that you already are under 24/7 surveillance and tracking there’s not really much privacy to lose anyways.
Yeah, so why being so prude ? Get naked all day long, show off everything !
BTW, Google Glass = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114558/
Old stuff, new snuff…
Kochise
Edited 2013-04-16 12:02 UTC
There is a huge difference between the Big Brother government surveillance and the “little brother” creepy guy surveillance. I’m not happy about Big Brother, but I don’t personally feel immediate danger from that surveillance. Now, creepy guy/gal across the bar? I do not want to show up on his tapes.
How about all the stores with cameras, some of which look on the street outside the store windows and some of which are embedded in the mannequins? Photographers and hobbyist filmographers? People with phones with cameras? Or action cameras? How about people with dash-cams? The fact is that you’re already on “tape” by multiple different sources every time you stick your head out in the open.
Ok, maybe there is also a “middle brother” too, the store cams. A store camera just stays in a single position and films. There *might* be a creepy guy at the other end watching it at all times, but probably not.
Current cell phones are a concern in some situations, but you can usually tell when they are filming and when the are not. Certainly *can* be unacceptably creepy and wrong.
The more it gets closer to an individual personally and intentionally filming you and the less aware of the filming you are, the creepier and less acceptable it gets.
While I haven’t seen glass in person, I’d imagine there isn’t an obvious way to tell if they are recording or not. Which makes it much easier than a cell phone to secretly film people.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not 100% anti glass. But I certainly understand the concerns people have with the privacy aspect. There are certain acquaintances that I would explicitly avoid if they were glass users.
That not quite the point is it.
Anyway some people just don’t like knowing they are filmed.
I’m eager to see how it will increase in the following years, having a wifi/bt device just beside your brain for such a long time frame each day.
Just a question, since the issue has been raised for mobile phones…
Kochise
Looking at the docs, I see that everything goes through Google’s servers.
For example, if I want to display a Timeline item on my Glass device, I need to send a POST request to http://www.googleapis.com/mirror/v1/timeline. When I interact with Glass, the device reports back to Google, which then sends a response back to my app. Essentially, this is how a Glassware app works:
My Glass Device <-> Google <-> My App
A Glass app is a web application that talks to Google. A Glass app does not actually run locally on the device. Google mediates everything. This is a very closed system, and Google sees everything.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088846/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048918/
…
Kochise
So, if I wear googlass in toilet, guys @ google would be able to tell if I ate chili last evening or not.
I’m sure you’re aware that push notifications on most mobile OSes work the exact same way?
Its usually:
Your app <> Push Notification Service <> Your Service
That means every inbox, message, tweet, DM, or IM that you have been pushed has passed through these servers.
Yep, but the Mirror API does that for everything, and both ways. User interactions with Glass go to Google first and Google then notifies the app.
So, like you said, Glassware apps tend to be limited at the moment to notification style HUD stuff. And they require an Internet connection to work.
It also raises the question: will Google be indexing everything that you see in Glass? Will they also be indexing all your interactions, every single menu choice that you make?
I was very excited about Glass when it was first announced, but I am pretty disappointed with the Mirror API as it stands.
I still want my own little privacy. Don’t look at me with your f**king googlass on.
Will you please put your phone in your pocket and not take it out when I’m around? You might be recording me and I have no way to tell.
Grab the phone, check, give it back…
Kochise
Right, because that will go down well. Also, it’s illegal.
I can guarantee in some situations some people won’t know or care, these people are usually larger than you and have lots of large friends.
TBH These things will attract attention from the wrong sort of people.
Edited 2013-04-16 18:12 UTC
Exactly! I am in no way against Google Glasses used responsibly in the public square, but it is going too far to think you have a implicit “right” to wear them anywhere around anyone at any time… The law may be on your side, but that won’t keep your glasses from getting broke (or worse) if you happen to find yourself in the wrong situation…
All Im saying is people get their asses kicked or the phone taken all the time when they point them at a cop, a celebrity, or just a grumpy asshole. Saying its against the law is fine, but it generally doesn’t make a bit of difference… The problem with GG is you don’t have to whip them out and point them – you just have to be wearing them to elicit such a reaction.
I would just recommend people be cautious and think about where they are before putting them on – someone around you may not appreciate it much.
Relax fanboi, the man has a point. Glass is an interesting product but the privacy concerns are definitely there.
You don’t use your smartphone at eye level, you glance down on it. When someone is taking a picture of you or a video it’s pretty evident; not the case with Glass.
Edited 2013-04-16 15:41 UTC
“Glass… record that busty woman before me !”
A new way to get in touch… with your lawyer ? Or your dentist ? Maybe both…
Kochise
Edited 2013-04-16 15:57 UTC
I took pretty interesting pictures and movies keeping the phone at shoulder level. You just have to know where to aim and how much to tilt your phone.
Pro-tip: if you attach your phone on top of your shoes and go in a hypermarket, you can get some amazing shots.
Yes, another way is to get a good zoom lens for your camera and look around the neighbourhood at night…
My point was that the creepiness of Glass (and any similar technology) is effortless and discrete.
I wonder how much time will take Apple to release iGlass and sue Google for some design patent infringement.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10812_3-57579762/google-glassware-develop…
“and they “may not charge” users to download apps for the device.”
I’m guessing this will be changed eventually, otherwise what’s the incentive to develop any apps in the first place?
Not a good incentive for making great applications.
Simple. Brand-building. Being first in can be worth a lot down the line, but it’s a real risky game. Think of VisiCalc. Google is hoping that app developers want to be the brand that Glassholes recognise first once the competition comes along.
There will be advertising. It just won’t be banner ads. Google don’t know what it will be yet fully and want use-cases shoved in front of them (for free) first.
It’s a little premature to determine what this device is or isn’t as far as how Google is going to use it. Let’s give Google a chance to fully monetize it and then we’ll revisit the issue of privacy, marketing, and so on.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find any for-profit company that cares more about your privacy than their bottom line.
Knowing google’s history of tracking everything when you use google products, I’d say worry about privacy and personal data and user tracking now and worry about how google monetizes it, later.
Not just this, lets wait a few revisions to see how their overall aim for the project is. Maybe the way people envision Glass used today is very different from how it will actually be used a few years down the road.
Don’t judge an idea off of its version 1.0 deliverables, as the initial version is usually the minimum viable release.
Hi,
after watching the API introduction, I’m very disappointed. Is it possible to create LBS or AR apps? It was not mentioned and from such a simple API I really doubt it. So all these phantasies about identifying people just from looking at them, are far beyond the possibilities of Glass.
Come on dude! It is just an API, and an alpha stage API: it can be modified, improved, rewritten, deprecated, refactored, etc. If the API does not do what you want right now, that can change easily in next releases.
The fundamental design of the API itself is disappointing. The Mirror API is simply a web service. You can’t write apps that run directly on Glass.
This would be awesome for skydiving (think that was in one of the promo videos). Just needs an altimeter app, and hands free altitude awareness.
Could also be great for aviation. Essentially, Iron Man Jarvis-style situational awareness of other aircraft as well as altitude, speed, and heading.
You could even program in a snarky british voice: “You’re at 3,000 feet, so perhaps now would be a good time to deploy your parachute.”
Skydiving or aviation gear is built to better standards than Glass …which is anyway just a glorified webcam, it can’t really do much of the Augmented Reality stuff.
Also, skydiving often prohibits any recording devices; any such distractions are a huge safety hazard.
One thing it needs is an app, that shows the power level of the people your are looking at. It woul be interesting to se who’s over 9000!
!!!!!OMG!!!!!!! it is the same old debate all over again about Windows vs Mac OS vs GNU/Linux vs Amiga, I’m getting a headache.
Although Microsoft is right I don’t think IOS is running out of steam, I think they are saving it. Google and Android phones manufacturers are pushing features way too fast and one cannot keep that peace for a long time because it will eventually become boring and bloated. When users get tired of Android the same way it happened with Blackberry and some IOS users they will move to the next new flashy thing, maybe WP8 or something else.
WTF?? my post went to the wrong thread