google glass

Google uses its Android mobile operating system to power its Glass devices, Chief Executive Larry Page confirmed yesterday.

"Obviously Glass runs on Android," Page said toward the end of the conference call reporting Google's strong first-quarter financial results.

It's not a surprise, given how the engineering resources Google already has poured into Android. But the company hadn't confirmed it, even when it detailed Google Glass specifications last week.

Fragmentophobes might freak out that Android is being stretched to yet another device: it's hard enough for programmers to keep up with the diversity in screen … Read more

Larry Page's voice might not ooze excitement, but he expressed a lot of enthusiasm for Google's sales force and technology during the blowout first-quarter 2013 earnings call. "This week after three years of development we started to handing over Glass devices developers. I get chills on a user product that is the future and that happens when I use Glass," the Google CEO said.

Page addressed a question about building out an ecosystem for developers around Glass. "It's the early days. We are just handing over small numbers so far. We are probably pretty … Read more

If you long for high-tech eyewear but can't afford, or wait, for Google Glass, these Japanese glasses let you record in HD for less than $100.

Mitamanma Megane from Japan's Thanko hide the camera in the frame and only cost 8,890 yen ($91). That's cheaper than similar products like Pivothead video glasses, which go for around $300. … Read more

If all you envisioned developing by being an early recipient of Google Glass Explorer Edition was a quick resale profit, think again: Google has rules against reselling the wearable tech without its permission.

As the Web giant began shipping the high-tech specs this week, it also unveiled a host of developer preview documentation, specs, and rules about what developers could and couldn't do. One of those things, apparently, is reselling or even loaning the $1,500 device to someone else. Developers who do risk having their prized specs deactivated. … Read more

Google, which relies on advertising for some 95 percent of its revenue, doesn't want ads on its hotly anticipated Google Glass eyewear.

The blanket prohibition came in the fine print of a policy made public this evening, which says "Glassware" developers may not "serve or include any advertisements" and they "may not charge" users to download apps for the device.

Today's announcement, which coincided with news that Google Glass Explorer Edition prototypes were about to ship, indicates that the Mountain View company is proceeding carefully, even slowly, when allowing third-party developers access … Read more

As the Google Glass Explorer Edition begins rolling off the assembly line, the Web giant has published documentation for the Mirror API, the programming interface that developers will use to create services for the high-tech eyewear.

Although Google Glass was already demonstrated at the SXSW conference, the new documentation goes into much more depth for writing what Google calls "Glassware," including quick-start guides for Java and Python, developer guides, and best practices outlines.

"Today we're releasing the API documentation and a bunch of example code, so even though the API is in a limited developer preview, … Read more

Along with word that Google Glasses are rolling off the assembly line, we're getting our first look at the specs behind the high-tech spectacles.

The eyewear will be capable of capturing 5-megapixel images and video at a resolution of 720p, according to the technical specs Google released this evening. The first glimpse of the eyewear's hardware details come as the Web giant sent out an e-mail today to everyone on the Glass Explorers list to say that a few of the $1,500 wearable devices had already come off the production line.

Google Glass will also feature 16GB … Read more