Vuzix M100 smart glasses selling for US$1000
The Android-based wearable computing system is now available for pre-order and is ready to take on Google Glass.
Is 2014 going to be the year when wearables come of age? VR-headset maker Vuzix certainly seems to think so.
The Vuzix M100 is now available for pre-order in the US, costing US$1000 and with an expected delivery of two to four weeks.
Vuzix is calling the M100 a "hands-free wearable computer" — it features a monocular 16:9 full-colour display that, according to the company, replicates a 4-inch smartphone display viewed from 14 inches away. It's designed to overlay information, augmented-reality style, rather than interfere with your vision.
The M100 runs Android, has a 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS, a built-in head tracker, a single speaker and a noise-cancelling mic. A number of preloaded apps let you take and view photos and videos, access your calendar and link to your phone. The device is also compatible with many existing Android apps.
Interestingly, Vuzix doesn't seem to be pushing this as a consumer device. In a video interview, Vuzix CEO and president Paul Travers described a scenario in which a warehouse worker uses the M100 to locate targeted items and perform a stocktake.
With Google still to reveal the consumer pricing on its upcoming commercial version of Glass, the M100 might be the best bet for anyone desperately waiting for a smart glasses experience.