Q: When will Glass be available to all consumers?
A: Our goal is to make Glass available to a wider and wider group of Explorers, with even broader availability down the road so stay tuned.
Q: I hear that Glass is going on tour, is that true?
A: Yes, Glass is going to cities across the US this fall and we'll kick things off in Raleigh/Durham, NC on Saturday, October 5, with a public open house at the American Tobacco Campus. Read more about it here. We'll visit more US cities in the coming months and will announce each of them on Google+ so please stay tuned.
Glass Specs Questions
Q: So what does the screen look like?
A: When you activate the screen it looks a lot like a 25 inch color TV floating about 8 feet in front of you.
Q: What are the technical specs of Glass?
A: While there have been teardowns of the device, we prefer not to release too many specs. Why? Because we believe this technology is more about the person and how he or she uses it, than the hardware and software. All specs that we do release can be found here.
Q: Is Glass heavy?
A: Nope, not at all. Glass weighs a little over 40 grams, which is about the weight of a pair of sunglasses, or about a third of what your smartphone weighs.
Q: Does Glass have any storage capability?
A: Glass has a little over 16 GB of available flash memory. This includes storage of information that helps with making the device work, such as software libraries and application information. The flash memory can also be used to store photos and video, to ensure those moments are saved even when Glass does not have an Internet connection.
Q: What about people who wear prescription lenses?
A: Glass is designed to be modular and extensible. Our team is currently working on frames that will allow you to add prescription lenses to Glass but they are not yet available to our Explorers.
Glass security & privacy
Q: Did you think about privacy concerns when you created Glass?
A: Absolutely. We know that new technology always raises new issues, so we’ve been thinking very carefully about how we design Glass from the beginning.
Q: What information does Glass collect about its users?
A: We’re all about keeping your information safe, secure and always available when you want it. People interested in our privacy policy can find it here. And we give you control over the information you share with Google. For example, when you take a photo or video with Glass, it will be added to your private Instant Upload album on Google+ but won’t be shared with anyone until you choose to do so.
Q: Is Glass recording video or taking pictures all the time?
A: No. Glass is really about capturing moments in your life — whether it’s a deer running past you on a hiking trail, a friend blowing out his birthday candles or a child’s first steps. The default video recording on Glass is set to 10 seconds. While you can record for longer, the battery life won’t allow for more than about 45 minutes of straight recording. There are many devices available on the market today for people who wish to record their entire day, but Glass simply is not one of them.
Q: What have you done to inform non-Glass users if a picture or video is being taken?
A: We have built explicit signals in Glass to make others aware of what’s happening. First, the device’s screen is illuminated whenever it’s in use, and that applies to taking a picture or recording a video. Second, Glass requires the user to either speak a command — “OK Glass, take a picture” or “OK Glass, record a video” — or to take an explicit action by pressing the button on the top of Glass’s frame. In each case the illuminated screen, voice command or gesture all make it clear to those around the device what the user is doing.
Q: I’ve heard Glass is being banned in some places. What’s going on with that?
A: Whether we’re talking about cell phones, tablets or wearable computers, it’s clear there are some places where using devices simply isn’t appropriate. For example, movie theaters don’t allow you to talk on your phone, and casinos don’t let you take photos with your phone. We fully expect the etiquette around wearable technology like Glass to evolve as well.
Q: Is Glass able to recognize the faces of people walking past?
A: No. Glass doesn’t do facial recognition, and we have no plans to add it. What’s more, our Developer Terms of Service don’t allow Glassware that does facial recognition or voice print.
Q: If I’m wearing Glass, does Google always know what I’m doing or seeing?
A: No, not at all. You’re in control. Glass allows you to choose what you experience, whether it’s Google services like Gmail and Maps or other third-party applications you choose to install from the MyGlass application on your mobile device.
Q: What information is shared with third-party application developers?
A: Before you add Glassware, you’ll see the device-level permissions that Glassware obtains when used with Glass. If you don’t feel comfortable with the permissions it requests, you can simply cancel installation.
Q: How does Glass protect users in the event that Glass is lost or stolen?
A: We take security very seriously, and we put simple but strong protections in place for Glass users. If a device is lost or stolen, you can use your Google account to sign into your MyGlass page--either via the web or the MyGlass app on your smartphone--and initiate a remote wipe of all data stored on Glass. You can also remotely turn off different Glassware (services written for Glass) like Gmail, Twitter and Google+ from your MyGlass page. If the device is lost, you can use “remote location” to help you find it. We are currently experimenting with several possible “lock” solutions for Glass to further protect users and will have something in place before a wider consumer launch.
Glass Software
Q: How often are you updating Glass’s software?
A: Our aim is to make Glass more awesome every month with new software updates. So far some of those updates have included:
