Google Will Stop Offering Consumers Google Glass

“Google will stop selling its Internet-connected eyewear to consumers until the company can develop a more polished and affordable version that’s less likely to be viewed as a freakish device,” reports the Toledo Blade. “The sales moratorium on the nearly 2-year-old “Explorer” edition of Google Glass goes into effect Monday. Google will still sell a version of Glass to companies that have found uses for the device in their offices, stores, and factories. The company still plans to come back with a new consumer model of Glass.” Read more.

Google Glass on the Ropes?

“After two years of popping up at high-profile events sporting Google Glass, the gadget that transforms eyeglasses into spy-movie worthy technology, Google co-founder Sergey Brin sauntered bare-faced into a Silicon Valley red-carpet event on Sunday,” according to a Reuters post. “He'd left his pair in the car, Brin told a reporter. The Googler, who heads up the top-secret lab which developed Glass, has hardly given up on the product -- he recently wore his pair to the beach. But Brin's timing is not propitious, coming as many developers and early Glass users are losing interest in the much-hyped, $1,500 test version of the product: a camera, processor and stamp-sized computer screen mounted to the edge of eyeglass frames. Google Inc itself has pushed back the Glass roll out to the mass market.” Read more.

Getting a Tax Refund; Order Google Glasses

“Google Inc. will take online orders for its Glass wearable gadget on April 15, in its biggest push to get the $1,500 wraparound Web-ready glasses out to the U.S. public.” That’s the news from a Reuters post on Raw Data. “For a limited time starting Tuesday, Google will make the wearable device available to more than just the select group of users such as apps developers in its Glass Explorer program. In a blogpost, Google did not say how many pairs it would sell, just that the quantity would be limited.” Read more.

No Trademark for You, Google Glass

“Still struggling to make a good name for itself with a skeptical American public, Google Glass is now struggling to get its literal name approved by the U.S. trademark office. The Wall Street Journal reports that the trademark office is pushing back against Google's plan to trademark the single word "Glass" for its wearable computerized eyeglasses.” That’s the post on The Wired. “Google already has legal claim to "Google Glass," but two issues are holding back the plans to trademark ‘Glass.’ For one, the term is too similar to other products and so could cause confusion among consumers. And secondly, the word is ‘merely descriptive’ of the actual product. ‘You couldn’t trademark the word “shoe” for a shoe you’re selling, for instance,’ the Journal notes. The trademark office's letter argues that Google Glass is made of glass, and so therefore it can't be trademarked.” Read more.

Google Glass Teams Up with Luxottica

“Google Inc. is partnering with Luxottica Group SpA…to help the Web company’s Glass eyewear go mainstream,” says Bloomberg news. “Luxottica is setting up teams focused on design, development, tooling and engineering of products, the world’s largest maker of eyeglasses said in a statement yesterday. Google’s Glass technology combines a tiny screen, camera and audio on a small device that’s worn at eye level. Google, seeking new ways to get consumers to use their services on mobile devices, has been stepping up efforts to show how Glass can appeal to a wide audience. While the gadget has received a lot of media attention, it’s also faced challenges, including criticism for its ability to record images or distract users. The Mountain View, California-based company said it plans to release mainstream versions ’down the road.’” Read more.

Real World Apps for Google Glass

“You might think of Google Glass as one of those tech creations that’s more intriguing than practical. You might see computerized eyewear as a Silicon Valley nerd fantasy that’s unlikely to change the way the rest of the world works. You would not be alone,” starts the Wired post. “But that’s not how Michael Chagala sees it. Chagala is the director of IT at Sullivan Solar Power, which is slipping Google Glass onto the heads of the field technicians who install its solar panels atop homes and businesses across Southern California. Because every building is unique, these field techs need ready access to all sorts of specs and plans describing the job at hand. In the past, they’ve carried three-ring binders onto the roof, but those are so hard to handle — particularly when the wind is blowing pages. They’ve lugged laptops up there too, but that comes with its own problems, including, well, the sun. So Chagala and company are switching to Glass, allowing their techs to browse documents simply by looking through the eyewear. For the most part, they can do this without using their hands — though you do have to tap the side of the glasses to move from doc to doc.” Read more.

Sneak Peak at Google Glass's Prescription Version

“Wearers of traditional eyeglasses got an early holiday treat this week when a Google employee leaked photos of what appear to be the prescription version of Google Glass,” reports Mashable. “Reportedly posted on the Google+ page of Brian Matiash, community manager for Google+ Photos, on Thursday, the images showing the modified version of Glass were quickly removed without explanation. Phandroid managed to capture the photos before they were taken down. The new version of the wearable computing device (not pictured above) looks a lot like the current version, except it does away with the steel band completely, allowing the wearer to place their traditional eyeglasses in what appears to be a cradle within the body of Google Glass. It's unclear whether or not the cradle shown in the photos could house any pair of traditional eyeglasses; however, such a design seems unlikely given that eyeglass arms vary in width, and may not fit into the cradle.” Read more.

Google Talking with VSP about Prescription Google Glasses

"According to a Wall Street Journal report, Google is working with VSP Global to bring Glass to optometrists’ offices," reports TechCrunch. "We have learned from sources close to Google, however, that Glass does not currently have any partnership with VSP (yet). So while the two companies may be exchanging ideas, as the WSJ reports, no formal relationship between the two companies as been established so far. A Google spokesperson provided us with the following statement: 'We have said for some time that we are working to bring Glass prescription frames to our Explorers and we’ve created prototypes that members of the Glass team are actively testing. Beyond that we don’t comment on rumor or speculation.'” Read more.

In related news, Linda Conlin's presentation about AR contact lenses at OpticalCEUs Fall 2013 Conference received rave reviews. Read more. 

Version of Google Glass Out Soon. Google CLs?

“A version of Google Glass for people who already wear glasses will arrive in a few months, the head of the Google project said Monday,” according to a post on CIO.com. “’In the next few months we will release a version that will integrate into glasses. So if you are wearing glasses, you'd be able to use this,’ said Babak Parviz, founder and head of the Google Glass project at Google, during a speech at the Hot Chips conference in Stanford, California, on Tuesday. If the Google Glass platform is successful, ‘you'll see different optics,’ Parviz said. But will there be Google Glass contact lenses? That is possible, but perhaps in the distant future, Parviz said.” Read more.

There’s also Computer World’s version of the story.

Shipment of Google Glasses Postponed

“Google sources have backed away from earlier projections that the company's Glass wearable computer would ship later this year. The company now acknowledges that Glass won't ship until 2014,” reports Computerworld. “At the Google I/O developer conference in May, one internal source and another close to the company said that Glass would be available in 2013. In a recent email to Computerworld, one of the sources at Google I/O referenced Google's Glass ship date as 2014.” Read more.

NFL Players Toss Pig Skin with Google Glasses

"Imagine a football game decades from now. After defining all the regulations, players could utilize Google Glass-esque headsets integrated into helmets and have a high-tech array of features at their disposal," starts the CNET post. "Coaches could send messages to players and alter plays on the fly or watch first-person footage of a play going down. A world where plays don't get screwed up because of excessive crowd noise. In a recent segment aired on ESPN, reporter Katie Linendoll shared the Google Glass experience with several NFL players from the St. Louis Rams. The video shows Rams quarterback Sam Bradford's point of view as he throws a pass to running back Tavon Austin -- and then another clip from Austin's view. It's an interesting example of how Glass could provide a new learning tool for coaches and athletes in professional sports." Read more.

Google Glasses the Future for ODs? One Person Thinks So

"Elyse Kleifgen is among 8,000 people chosen across the U.S. to pilot Google Glass, an eyeglasses mounted device that enables users to browse the Internet, shoot video and take photos," according to MLive.com. "Kleifgen, a second-year intern at Ferris’ Michigan College of Optometry professional program, applied to pilot the instrument through the social media service Twitter, saying the technology could help optometry evolve." Read more.

No Clue How Google Glasses Will Play Out, Says Wharton

“With the introduction of Google Glass, an effort to create and market computerized eyewear, Google has captured the imagination of technologists, consumers, and even sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, while also raising a number of social and privacy issues,” notes Knowledge@Wharton. “Experts at Wharton say that the Google Glass experiment will be important to watch from a business, marketing and cultural perspective, and they add that no one -- including Google -- has any clue how the search giant's efforts will play out.” Read more.

Google Talks with Warby Parker about Prescription Google Glasses

“Google is reportedly talking with eyewear upstart Warby Parker about designing less geeky frames that would include the Glass apparatus. While the optical frame maker could certainly add some fashion to Glass, perhaps making it less cyborg-like, it could also provide an efficient way to sell and distribute Google's wearable computer,” reports computer-industry observer CNET. “For Glass buyers requiring prescription lenses, Google has a fulfillment problem that Warby Parker can help solve. Unlike other wearable devices, such as a watches or bands that come in a few colors, acquiring glasses with corrective lenses is far more high touch. You need to choose a frame style, deal with prescription lenses (currently on single vision, no progressive lenses) and get properly fitted. It's not a service that Google is suited to perform.” Read more.

Up Close and Personal with Google Glasses. And How and When to Use Them.

“I had two transformative yet very minor optical experiences last week, both kicking off in the space of 2 hours: I got contact lenses, and I began experimenting with Google Glass,” according to CNET writer Scott Stein. “The two are interlinked, because I couldn't use Google's bleeding-edge wearable tech with my comfy Ray-Ban eyeglasses. If I was going to use Glass, I'd need contacts.” Read about his experience with Google Glass.

Meanwhile the New York Times reports “Google’s wearable computer, the most anticipated piece of electronic wizardry since the iPad and iPhone, will not go on sale for many months. But the resistance is already under way. The glasseslike device…has been pre-emptively banned by a Seattle bar. Large parts of Las Vegas will not welcome wearers. West Virginia legislators tried to make it illegal to use the gadget, known as Google Glass, while driving….As personal technology becomes increasingly nimble and invisible, Glass is prompting questions of whether it will distract drivers, upend relationships and strip people of what little privacy they still have in public.” Read more.

Google Glass Gets Thumbs Down

PC World reports “some Google Glass users are less than thrilled with the computerized eyeglasses that supposedly will replace the smartphone one day. It will be too bad if the early criticism ends up killing Glass, which has had high expectations since Google co-founder Sergey Brin showed the gizmo off last summer during the Google i/o developer’s conference. He arguably pulled off the best demo ever with skydivers jumping out of a Zeppelin sporting the headset that streamed video of their descent onto the roof of Moscone Center in San Francisco. The search and advertising giant issued a call for "explorers" willing to pay $1,500 to try out Glass. People who won the contest included actors, entertainers and more than 50 Twitter users with more than 100,000 followers.” Read what the naysayers are grumbling about.

Even after $1500, Google “Owns” Google Glass

“Google is barring anyone deemed worthy of a pair of its $1,500 Google Glass computer eyewear from selling or even loaning out the highly coveted gadget,” says Wired. “The company’s terms of service on the limited-edition wearable computer specifically states, ‘you may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person. If you resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person without Google’s authorization, Google reserves the right to deactivate the device, and neither you nor the unauthorized person using the device will be entitled to any refund, product support, or product warranty.’ Welcome to the New World, one in which companies are retaining control of their products even after consumers purchase them.” Read more.

Some Specs on Google’s Specs

“Along with word that Google Glasses are rolling off the assembly line, we get our first look at the specs behind the high-tech spectacles,” reports the digital industry site, CNET. “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 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. It will also feature 16GB of Flash storage synced with Google cloud storage, of which 12GB will be usable. The headset will sport Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, although it will be at the older and slower 802.11 B/G standards. The MyGlass companion app will allow GPS and SMS messaging but run only on devices with Android 4.0.3 or higher.” Read more.

China’s Google (Baidu) Developing Its Own AR Eyewear

“Baidu Inc , China's largest search engine, is developing prototype digital eyewear similar to Google Inc's Google Glass that will leverage Baidu's strengths in image search and facial recognition, a Baidu spokesman said on Wednesday,” reports NBCNews.com. “Internally known as project "Baidu Eye," the glasses are being tested internally and it is not clear whether the product will ever be commercialized, said Kaiser Kuo, Baidu's spokesman. Kuo said the device will be mounted on a headset with a small LCD screen and will allow users to make image and voice searches as well as conduct facial recognition matches.” Read more.

CNET reports that “Unnamed sources told news site Sina.com that Baidu is testing a prototype called Baidu Eye. The device has an LCD display, voice-controlled image recognition, and bone-sensing -- the same technology Google is deploying to allow for voice control functions on its Google Glass eyewear. Baidu Eye wearers will be able to make phone calls, search the Web, and use gestures to take and send photos, according to the report. The device also will have an open platform for developers. Again, that sounds like Google Glass.” Read more.

What Company Will Manufacture Google Glasses

Focus Taiwan has reported that “Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, declined Thursday to comment on a report that it has been tapped to assemble Google Inc.'s futuristic digital eyewear.” Read more.

Meanwhile the CNBC has come out with the following story: “Google will manufacture Project Glass, its futuristic digital eyewear, in Silicon Valley, in a high-profile example of the return of electronics manufacturing to the U.S., the Financial Times reports.” Read more.

More on the same story from the Los Angeles Times.