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Unless you were living under a rock for awhile, you have almost certainly heard about Google Glass, which we knew was in development for quite sometime. We also knew that Google was planning production soon and now we finally have a clearer idea of the final product.
On Monday, Google released the all-important specs sheet for Google Glass and also announced that the Explorer Edition models are now in full production, so it should be available for use in the upcoming weeks. Naturally, as a first generation device, there is a mixture of speculation, scepticism and the healthy dose of enthusiasm. The specs reveal a lot about the device but of course it doesn’t reveal everything.
If Google gets this right, it could set the new industry standard and cement its status as a first-rate innovator, which is something similar to what Apple was doing when it released (arguably) the first smartphone for mass consumption.
Tech Specs
Fit
Adjustable nosepads and durable frame fits any face.
Extra nosepads in two sizes.
Display
High resolution display is the equivalent of a 25 inch high definition screen from eight feet away.
Camera
Photos - 5 MP
Videos - 720p
Audio
Bone Conduction Transducer
Connectivity
Wifi - 802.11b/g
Bluetooth
Storage
12 GB of usable memory, synced with Google cloud storage. 16 GB Flash total.
Battery
One full day of typical use. Some features, like Hangouts and video recording, are more battery intensive.
Charger
Included Micro USB cable and charger.
While there are thousands of Micro USB chargers out there, Glass is designed and tested with the included charger in mind. Use it and preserve long and prosperous Glass use.
Compatibility
Any Bluetooth-capable phone.
The MyGlass companion app requires Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher. MyGlass enables GPS and SMS messaging.
The Knowns and the Unknowns
The highlight is obviously the display, which provides users with a sort of augmented reality (something Batman has in Arkham Asylum without the X-Ray part, or maybe Halo’s Master Chief or the soldiers from Ghost Recon). If you have already looked at the promotional videos and demonstrations, you already have a pretty good idea of how it works.
According to Google the “high resolution display is the equivalent of a 25 inch high definition screen from eight feet away.” Also amazing is the “Bone Conduction Transducer” technology used for audio, which is something Google only patented recently.
The other stuff -16 GB memory, 5MP camera, etc. - are quite standard in comparison to a high-end smartphone. Nevertheless, one must keep in mind that the device itself is very different and for a first generation model, it is quite reasonable. However, unless the price falls eventually or the specs go up (hopefully a bit of both), then most users might just opt for an ultra high-end smartphone instead (the edition available to developers costs $1,500).
It is quite important to remember that Google Glass in current form is more like a high-end accessory to a smartphone. Users can’t make send messages or check your GPS directly from Google Glass. For things like SMS and GPS, the smartphone is still necessary (along with the MyGlass app - available in the Google Play Store for the heck of it).
Last but most importantly, the battery usage is still an unknown. Google says that it could withstand “one full day of typical use,” but everyone needs to take that with a pinch of salt and wait for third-party tests. Manufacturers routinely exaggerate and qualify the capabilities of their batteries, which are still the achiles heel of modern technology.
Verdict
Personally, I can understand why Google Glass can’t do everything a smartphone does (you can’t only shrink so much technology at this time) and even though it isn’t a stand-alone system, it is still revolutionary because it completely changes the way we interact with our devices.
I’m not sure if smartphones will disappear completely but in many ways, this is the next logical technological leap and until we figure out a way to wire all this technology directly to our brains, Google Glass is the only real way to go.
Question: What do you guys think about Google Glass? Let us know in your comments
Reviewed by Navam Niles
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