This ordinary Monday night has turned into a pretty big deal for anyone interested in Google Glass, as the search company has unleashed a motherlode of new information on its upcoming piece of headwear. First up, Engadget notes that Google has begun emailing alerts to anyone that signed up for a Glass Explorer Edition unit at Google I/O last year, letting buyers know that the first batch of Glass units are rolling off the production line and are ready to be sent out. Google says that the devices will be delivered in waves, so anyone that dropped $1,500 on a pair last June will want to keep an eye on their inbox for an email from El Goog.
Google also posted up a couple of new support pages for Glass with a list of the device's specs as well as some Frequently Asked Questions. The site reveals that Google Glass packs a 5-megapixel camera that can record 720p video, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, 16GB of storage (12GB user-accessible), microUSB cable and charger, a Bone Conduction Transducer for audio and a battery that's rate to last for one full day of use. The Glass display is described as being the equivalent of viewing a 25-inch HD TV from 8 feet away. Finally, Google says that Glass has a durable frame and adjustable nosepads that should fit any face, adding that it includes additional nosepads in two sizes so that users can get a perfect fit.
The FAQ page that's been posted by Google includes questions like "Is Glass indestructible?" (No) and "Can I use Glass while driving or bicycling?" (It depends). There are also some sillier questions in the list, such as "Can I use Glass while operating a jackhammer?" ("Use caution.") and "Is it OK to go scuba diving with Glass?" (No.) The full list of questions and answers can be found right here.
Finally, Google has launched the MyGlass companion app in the Play Store that allows Glass owners to setup and manage their headwear. The app requires users to have an Android phone running version 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich or higher, and while MyGlass is basically useless for anyone that doesn't have Glass of their own, Google has put a screenshot of a puppy wearing pajamas into the app so that it's not a total waste of time for folks that non-Glass owners that download it.
Along with the MyGlass app, Google has introduced a setup page for Glass owners to connect their gear to their Google account. Meanwhile, developers can hit up the Google Developers site for a preview of the Mirror API, which will help get devs ready to start making their own "Glassware."
Most of the information released by Google tonight won't mean much to anyone that isn't a part of the Glass Explorer Edition program, it does show that Glass is getting closer to making the jump from Google exec-exclusive gadget to something that thousands of regular folks will actually get to use. As for when regular folks will be able to buy their own Glass headwear, Google has previously said that it expects a "fully-polished" unit to launch before the end of 2013, complete with a sub-$1,500 price tag. That's still a ways off, but the good news is that with developers receiving their Explorer Edition units in the near future, it shouldn't be long before more details of Glass and its capabilities hit the web.
Via Engadget (1), (2), Android Police, Google Glass Support, Google Glass setup, Google Developers, Google Play: MyGlass
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