glass

Sergey Brin: Smartphones are 'emasculating'

Mobile phones may generate the fastest-growing segment of Google's revenue, but the experience of using them still bothers Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Speaking at the TED Conference today in Long Beach, Calif., Brin told the audience that smartphones are "emasculating." "You're standing around and just rubbing this featureless piece of glass," he said.

Using Google Glass requires a fair bit of rubbing as well, and the prototypes have fewer hardware features than most phones. But Brin said they improved on smartphones in certain ways, particularly in having a camera ever-ready to start snapping pictures. (… Read more

Google Glass expected to arrive in 2013

CNET Update is listening to songs for tech reporting:

Before Mobile World Congress bombards us with new smartphone announcements, we take a look at Friday's tech headlines:

- Sources tell CNET that Google Glass will go on sale in 2013

- HTC offers $100 credit for old phones, if you purchase a new HTC One

- To beat the MWC rush, LG announces Optimus F5 and F7 mid-range smartphones

- Nevada becomes the first state to allow online gambling

- Billboard Charts now include YouTube views in song rankings

- Songza finds the music to fit your mood, activity … Read more

Confirmed: Google Glass arrives in 2013, and under $1,500

Regular people will be able to purchase Google Glass eyewear by the end of 2013 for less than $1,500, sources have confirmed to CNET.

Google originally targeted 2014 for a consumer release when it revealed Project Glass last year, but the time frame has seemingly sped up in recent months, what with developer hackathons in San Francisco and New York and this week's announcement that people looking to put Glass to creative use could go through an application process to preorder the augmented-reality specs for $1,500.

The company also launched a new site promoting Glass that featured … Read more

Conan can't resist making an ass of Google Glass

When it comes to late-night talk shows, I am not sure if Conan O'Brien is bringing up the rear.

He seems, though, to be keen on suggesting that Google Glass might be scraping the bottom of the barrel.

It's not so much that Google has created these new glasses through which you can have a richer, more informative view of the world. It's that the company has created a sister device, intended to be worn as, well, a back-up.

And so we see Google Glass from the other side of life. It is the side most familiar … Read more

How Google is getting human with Google Glass

I've always felt a little skeptical about Google.

To be honest, not just about Google.

But in the case of the men from Mountain View, there's always been something so touchingly gauche about the way they've gone about their business.

None of this was assuaged by the recent sight of Google's Sergey Brin sitting on New York's subway wearing his Google glasses and looking like, well, a nerd on the subway wearing silly glasses.

I feared, therefore, for the world's nerve ends when I heard that Google had launched a site to promote those … Read more

Google Glass patent application gets really technical

Google sure is trying to head off any possible Glass copycats with its detailed patent application, published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The application, originally filed by Google in August 2011, goes into deep detail on how the glasses could be constructed, with long sections describing factors seemingly as mundane as the arms and bridge of the glasses frames.

As for the display, in a section of the application labeled "Background," Google explains that some head-mounted displays can "almost entirely obstruct the wearer's vision outside of the screen." Others can be &… Read more

Google wants to de-geek its glasses, says report

Those of you who think Google Glass eyewear looks a bit geeky may be in store for a more fashionable approach.

Google is chatting with eyeglass maker Warby Parker to bring a touch of style to Glass, The New York Times said today, citing its sources as "two people briefed on the negotiations."

Neither Google nor Warby Parker would comment on the reported talks to the Times. Google also told CNET that it had nothing to share. CNET contacted Warby Parker for comment and will update the story if we receive any information.

A startup company that's … Read more

How Google is preparing the world for Glass

Early this morning, while most of the West Coast slept, Google took the next steps in introducing Google Glass to the world.

A sleek website, highlighted by a crisp, new video, started to answer basic questions about the device for the broader world. How does it look? What does it do? Can I use it while dancing with a ballerina? (You can.)

Along with the new glimpses of Glass came a contest designed to lure early adopting enthusiasts in the United States. The simple request: "Using Google+ or Twitter, tell us what you would do if you had Glass, … Read more

Google looking for Glass Explorers

Wednesday's CNET Update does a barrel roll:

Google wants you to fall in love with the idea of a computer on your face. It has released another promo video showing what Google Glass could do (even though it's not a real product yet), and launched a contest for a chance to buy a $1,500 prototype. But as Forbes points out, people are using the #ifihadglass hashtag contest to point out the drawbacks of Glass.

Today's tech news roundup also looks at the redesign of Yahoo's home page, and the updated SwiftKey app for Android.

Watch … Read more

Google's electronic eyewear gets 'OK Glass' voice commands

"OK Glass."

Those are the two words that Google showed today will initiate a variety of commands for its Glass computerized eyewear.

In the Google Glass "How it Feels" video, people speak the words "OK Glass" and then pick from a list of featured voice commands to send a message, record a video, take a photo, launch a video-chat hangout, conduct a search, check the weather, or get driving directions.

The demo is a concrete illustration of how Google is evolving its technology from a mere search engine to a constant personal companion that augments your mind. … Read more