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Future Google Glass 2 Powered by Intel Chips. Is This True?

December 1, 2014 By David Leave a Comment

Both giants Intel and Google made the tech headlines in the past weeks, each with its own shortcomings and achievements. The leading chipmaker Intel recently revealed the MICA smartbracelet and the Synapse smartdress, entering the tech – fashion smart devices world with a bang. In the opposite corner, Google is struggling with its Glass, as peoples’ interest in the device diminished substantially. So what do two companies when they want to succeed? They put the basis of an alliance. Recent news tell us that the future Google Glass 2 powered by Intel chips is not just a rumor, but will become a fact.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Intel partnered up with Google in order to provide the Google Glass 2 with a still unnamed chipset and associated hardware. The Intel chips will replace the current Texas Instruments processors which fuel the existing generation of Google Glasses. Analysts don’t know yet what kind of Intel mobile chip will revive the Google Glass 2, but they all suspect it will be the Quark. This is an ultra-small x86 class processor based on Edison technology and it is currently embedded in Intel’s Synapse dress.

How will this alliance change anything? The future Google Glass 2 powered by Intel chips may be used in the workplace with substantial benefits for the healthcare and manufacturing industries. The most interesting aspect of this partnership is that Intel is ready not only to provide Google with new hardware, but also with marketing and sales strategies. Since the augmented reality technology is something of a big deal in certain working fields, Intel seems to be ready to promote the enhanced Google Glass 2 to hospitals and manufacturers.

Will Google give up the Glass as a niche consumers’ product and focus its strategy on turning the spectacles into working tools? Sources familiar with the matter stated the Google would not change its initial perspective of the Glass, no matter if Intel pushes the device to become an important part of the healthcare, manufacturing and construction industries. The Glass will remain a smart device dedicated to a narrow niche of people, despite the controversy surrounding the gadget.

It seems that the holly union between Google and Intel is taking a step forward. The two tech giants are already working together, as Intel powers Google’s self – driving car and the Nexus Player media-streaming device. Now the two companies focus on Google’s dearest project, the Glass. However, there is no official information regarding the technology Intel will deliver to Google, nor a time frame for the release of the upgraded Google Glass 2 powered by Intel chips.

Are We Witnessing the Google Glass Demise?

November 15, 2014 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

In case you wondered why nobody has heard much exciting news about the hyped Google Glass since the beginning of the year, Reuters has a more clearer picture on the Glass project: journalists are talking abut a Google Glass demise, in the sense that very few people are still working on the project as we speak, whereas other rumors talk about the delay of the Google Glass consumer version release.

What happened and how come are we talking about a Google Glass demise? Earlier this year, after the “Explorers” tested the smartglasses, a developers’ edition became available for purchase for the rather breathtaking price of $1,500. Next, we heard about the “The Glass Collective,” a joint – venture ready and willing to fund apps for the Glass and then we heard that a consumer’s version was finally planned for late 2014.

If you remember correctly, the tech media was high as a kite back then, generating debates related to potential mischievous uses of the Glass, futuristic benefits in the field of medicine and science and social dynamics modifications intimately linked with people wearing the Glass in the middle of the day in public.

According to Reuters, this was all too much ado about nothing, as unconfirmed rumors are drawing a sad painting: 9 of the 16 app developers for the Glass started their own projects and abandoned this one or simply moved on to other positions; three of the key – staff members working on the Google Glass project left the company entirely, and this year’s Google I/O developer conference almost skipped the Glass altogether

Reuters talked to various sources, engineers and developers, wondering about this alleged Google Glass demise and the answer they received was that there was no market for this product yet, and given its limitations and its low level of consumer demand, the project would be most likely postponed for 2015.

On the other side of the fence, Google says the project is still developing and going further. Nine of sixteen developers and three out of hundreds of employees means nothing. According to the company, moreover, there are tens of thousands people who currently use the Glass as we speak, in the consumer pilot program. When contacted, Chris O’Neill, Glass Head of Business Operations said that

We are as committed as ever to a consumer launch. That is going to take time and we are not going to launch this product until it’s absolutely ready.

With fewer and fewer developers and a general feeling that the Google Glass is still just an experiment with no connections to reality, the tech world is now expecting an official release date, which doesn’t seem to arrive any time soon. In the meanwhile, Google is testing the program Glass at Work, to see if the device can be useful to some industries and businesses. Taco Bell, KFC and Boeing seem to have enlisted in this program.

We also heard some people sell the Glass on eBay and that Google itself sells the device in bulk, at a two – for – one package. Whether these are the early signs of the Google Glass demise, we don’t know, but we can stay tuned to the news!

Google Glass Brain Control App Released by Start-up

July 11, 2014 By Daniel Giordano Leave a Comment

Google Glass is a controversial device. Its use pushes the social norms to the limits and so far the early adopters have been mocked by many. Google is trying to establish new terrains for the device. Just a few days ago, Google awarded nonprofits with money and Google Glasses to be used for socially oriented causes.

A Google Glass brain control app was released by design studio This Place. The app allows the users to completely perform one simple task without any physical effort. Google Glass functionality is based on a clear ability, to perform tasks by voice command. This Place managed to go even further. By using the Neurosky EEG biosensor, the company managed to take a photo and post it on Facebook and Twitter. The electroencephalography (EEG) headset must be attached to the head and reads how the person concentrates. It then transforms the brainwaves into commands. London-based company This Place argues that the functionality will be extremely useful in high-pressure hands-free environments like a surgery room.

Google Glass brain control app lets users take pictures by concentrating

To perform the task, the user must concentrate, after which the device captures the brainwaves. The operation is visible on the screen as a white horizontal line which goes up. Glass captures a photo when the white line reaches the top. The pack containing Google Glass and the biosensor are sold for $1838.

This Place placed MindRDR app online for free so other developers will take the work further. The applications are countless. As any other technological application, it can be used for a variety of purposes. Google stated it did not review, nor approve the app, so it will not be available on Google Play Store. Google is concerned that the new device will freak people by thinking Google can read their minds. A fair concern, we would say.

The possibilities are truly endless. People with speech impediments could have a support for greater social functionality. Spies will gather information easier than ever. With Google Glass brain control app, various tasks will be available for people with a wide range of mobility impediments too.

“Google Glass is one of the world’s most recognizable and popular pieces of wearable technology, but after getting our hands on it, we saw huge potential to incorporate EEG technology so it benefits the wider society,” Dusan Hamlin, CEO of This Place stated.

Such a powerful application of the device will probably rise concerns from federal regulators too, because the opportunities might produce harm, as well as good.

Google Awards Nonprofits $25000 and Google Glass

July 9, 2014 By Mary Duncan Leave a Comment

After a contest with more than 1300 applicants, Google awards nonprofits pairs of Google Glass and money. Google Glass is a very controversial subject. The gadget was seen as a wonder by most tech enthusiasts. Initially, the device was available only for a limited number of users who constituted a sort of beta testing group. Google Glass has been frowned upon by many privacy advocates, as well as by regular people. ‘It is too invasive’, the accusers claimed. Ethical issues have been raised and debated for a while now. What does being too invasive mean?

People usually behave ‘normally’ in their daily lives. They have an imagined ideal type of self they would like to present. Normally means that we live most of our lives by trial and error, while striving to achieve goals, whether they are individual or social. Google Glass is an instrument which potentially records every aspect of the user’s life, including its inherently prone to mistakes social part. How feasible is it to ask for consent every time you go to a bar using Google Glass? Barely feasible, we would say. Another use of Google Glass lies in the professional world. Here, people act according to prescribed rules and are regularly obliged to pay extensive attention to their behavior according to a certain script.

Google Glass is a wonderful device. The main idea floated around and sci-fi movies contained conceptual versions of it. Google managed to marry the concept when the adequate technology was finally available. There are many more uses for Google Glass besides turning regular folks into privacy invaders. For example, surgeons use the device during medical procedures as a method teaching for medical students. There must be a suitable domain for Google Glass use, so Google awards nonprofits to discover new roles for the device. Google Glasses have been available for sale in the U.S. starting with April the 15th.

Google awards nonprofits with Google Glass for better social use

The tech giant now tries to find out new uses for the device. One way will be by offering nonprofits the device along with cash awards for their activities. Google organized a contest to award five nonprofits $25.000 each, along with a pair of Google Glass. After the deadline on the 20^th of May, Google.org, the branch oriented toward charitable actions, declared the five winners.

3000 Miles To A Cure raises funds for brain cancer and the device will be used to document their bicycle Race Across America. Women’s Audio Mission will support girls’ passions for technology. The Hearing and Speech Agency will integrate the device in activities supporting people with hearing and communication problems. The Mark Morris Dance Group/Brooklyn Parkinson Group will use Google Glass to stimulate physical activities for people with Parkinson. Finally, Classroom Champions will offer Paralympic athletes’ training to students from high-needs school through Google Glass. So we can see that Google awards nonprofits in an attempt to contribute to social development.

SiME Smart Glass Wants to Compete With Google Glass

June 4, 2014 By Mary Duncan Leave a Comment

Once upon a time, late Apple icon Steve Jobs quoted Pablo Picasso and said that “Good artists copy; great artists steal.” We don’t want to relate this quote to the company’s inclination to “borrow” ideas from its competitors and sell them as they were its own, but we will talk about a case of “artistic inspiration” related to one of the hottest devices on the market: the Google Glass.

We have talked a lot about the Google Glass in the past, but today we will focus on a gadget that looks like a worthy opponent to the hi-tech device.

If you ever considered that nothing can compete with Google’s trophy gadget, you were wrong, as there is no serious tech company out there to not try to copy, develop and improve an existing product in order to deliver an even better performing one.

So let’s talk about the Taiwanese company ChipSiP and their SiME Smart Glass, a prototype similar to the Google Glass that was showcased at the Computex 2014 event.

According to the tech journalists who got their hands on the device,

In colorful blue, orange, and black frames, the headsets look similar to Google’s Glass, with the exception of the rectangular blocks near the frames’ earpieces. Overall, the demo units on display were somewhat flimsy and tilted to the side due to the weight of the built-in screen.

Can the SiME Smart Glass even dare to compete with the Google Glass?

Well, nobody knows yet, but, to the Taiwanese product’s defense, let’s just say it sports an interesting feature that is less present in the Google Glass. We are talking about an augmented reality application that was described as surprising, to say the least. In more words, the ones testing the device and benefiting from an augmented reality tour at the company’s booth said that

We were amused by the dancing figures of Chinese deities that popped up from posters as we scanned a desk with the glasses. This feature could be one way SiME gains an edge on Google, which is still lacking a good augmented reality application for Glass.

And this is not all there is. The SiME Smart Glass runs a full version on Android 4.2.2 and plans to upgrade to the Android 4.4 KitKat by July. Moreover, this specific Glass will allow users to download apps directly from the Google Play store directly to the Glass and not to the smartphone, as in the case of Google Glass.

Of course, the SiME Smart Glass manufacturers hope to compete with Google Glass based on a lower price for the upcoming product. The developers’ version is said to be released sometime in July this year, for only $1,000, while a public consumption – ready product might sport even a $500 price. We hope that in the next two years, the company will improve the SiME Smart Glass, not because we are in favor of it, but because so far, it is a poorly executed and poorly performing copy of the Google Glass and we just don’t like copycats.

Quest Visual Joins Google

May 19, 2014 By Micheal Baptiste Leave a Comment

If you don’t know what is Quest Visual, we have only two words for you: Word Lens! This is a fabulous app that allows you to see the world in your own language with the help of a smartphone. What does this app do exactly? It translates in real time a written message from a foreign language to English. And along these lines, Quest Visual is the company behind this incredible application.

So far the app has been showcased on Apple’s iPhone 5S ads, but Google bought the producing company recently. We don’t have any information on the details of the transaction, but it is clear that Quest Visual joins Google with nothing more than genuine enthusiasm.

On the other hand, the tech giant sees Word Lens as a very powerful tool to boost Google Translate. The take-over is beneficial for both parties: Word Lens supports only translations from Russian, Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Portuguese into English and this is where Google Translate steps in. The added value bestowed by Google Translate to Word Lens is tremendous.

Quest Visual joins Google, but what’s in it for the tech giant?

You might think that Google didn’t have to buy the entire company. For all we know, the Word Lens app has been available for Android for two years now and the App Store also features it. Moreover, there is a Word Lens app available even for the Google Glass, so Google seems to have all its cards already played well. But Word Lens can do a lot of good to the Google Translate service and here is why:

Quest Visual should help to greatly speed up the workflow in the translation app, as currently Google Translate requires you to take a picture, wait for scanning, and then the app translates the text in a separate interface. Word Lens’ video-based translation is much faster.

However, the two companies will have to work together very close in the nearest future. Word Lens translates locally. Google Translate works based on cloud data. This is a true challenge for the tech specialists from both companies, as the main goal should be to preserve the Word Lens speed even if one is engaged into an Internet round trip.

To top it all, Quest Vision joins Google but not without a “thank you” note dedicated to all its fans and supporters:

As a thank you to everybody who supported us on our journey, we’ve made both the app and the language packs free to download for a limited time while we transition to Google.

This is very nice and you should take advantage of the offer as soon as possible. The Word Lens is indeed an incredible app and in the talented hands of Google engineers, it has all chances to become something revolutionary.

Google Glass is Available For Sale in the United States

May 15, 2014 By Brandi McCants Leave a Comment

If you are a Google Glass fan, you surely remember April 15, a historical landmark in the Glass’s life: the tech giant made the Internet – connected eyeware available for purchase for only one day. It’s been a month since that one – in – a – lifetime deal, but in case you didn’t get your hands on the infamous spectacles, don’t despair: Google announced that starting from now, the Google Glass is available for sale in the United States permanently.

In case you have $1,500 to spare, now it’s your chance to become an “explorer” and a proud member of the Google Glass family. A post on the Glass page at Google+ online social network clearly specifies that

We’re still in the Explorer Program while we continue to improve our hardware and software, but starting today anyone in the US can buy the Glass Explorer Edition, as long as we have it on hand.

According to the statistics, on April 15, Google could barely supply the Glass to all buyers, as the requests exceeded the wildest expectations of the tech giant. The almost “overwhelming” interest in the device made Google open the site for the American public, keeping the initial price and giving all tech aficionados an incentive to try the Glass for themselves.

Another strike of genius from Google’s part was the partnership with luxury frames Italian manufacturer Luxottica, which includes famous brands such as Ray-Ban and Vogue-Eyewear, among others. In the beginning, the Glass wearers were portrayed in less flattering manners (as the hi – tech spectacles made them look like androids) and since then, the company struggled to change the looks of the Glass. Google’s attempts to turn the Glass into a popular wearable gadget dedicated to all people and not only freaks and geeks will become a reality next year. So if you buy the Google Glass in the next few days, you won’t get Ray – Ban frames. You will have to wait because

The first smart glasses by Luxottica for Google Glass will go on sale in 2015, the head of the Italian eyewear group said Tuesday.

Don’t become a Glasshole!

So now the Google Glass is available for sale in the United States. This is a moment many have been waiting for, either to join the ranks of the explorers, or to start campaigning against the Glass. There is a long time problem related to the Internet – connected eye-wear and it revolves around the idea of ”privacy invasion” from the part of those wearing the Glass. Google made numerous attempts to debunk all the myths related to the spying abilities of the Glass, saying that if somebody wants to spy on people, they have plenty of other less – obvious means than the Glass. However, Google politely asked the Glass wearers to not turn into Glassholes. In simpler words, don’t be “creepy or rude (aka a ‘Glasshole’)” and follow the Google Glass Etiquette Guide.

The Meme Smartglasses Don’t Let You Fall Asleep

May 14, 2014 By Nicholas Anderton Leave a Comment

It is a wonderful tech world out there and it would be a pity not to take advantage of its innovations. There are a lot of “smart” things that make a consistent part of our lives, from smartphones to smartcars, and we are more than happy to have access to them.

Recent news tell us that the smart devices family will soon welcome a new member, the Meme smartglasses, a pair of common – looking glasses that have the ability to wake us up when they “sense” we are about to fall asleep. This revolutionary device is manufactured by Japanese company JINS and is set to launch in Japan next spring. The good news is that the glasses will cost around $685 and they might actually save our lives, our jobs and even our relationships.

How do the Meme Smartglasses work?

Have you ever experienced the dangers of falling asleep while driving? Did you ever took an accidental nap during a college course or a boring team meeting at the office? And were you ever reproached to have fallen asleep while your partner was about to make a point in the conversation? Well, starting next year, if you want to avoid all these unfortunate occurrences, you may look into the Meme smartglasses. According to the specialists,

the Meme uses eye and motion tracking in order to figure out when you’re tired. Once it knows that you’re a bit sleepy, the Meme will send a notification to your smartphone via a companion app and buzz in your pocket.

Joke aside, the issue of falling asleep while driving is very serious and the Meme might actually be a brilliant way to prevent accidents and even save some lives. One nice aspect regarding the device is that it looks pretty normal and few will know you are wearing a Bluetooth wearable gadget. Some specialists admitted they couldn’t wait for the Meme smartglasses to be imported in the United States, although there is no information regarding this particular subject.

Besides their waking – up skills, the Meme smartglasses also sport some healthy features such as calorie counting and step tracking. The Japanese will be blessed with three different Meme models, varying from traditionally looking glasses to cool sunglasses as well. It may be a coincidence, but it seems that JINS worked hard to make their glasses look as wearable as possible in comparison to the famous Google Glass. Even if the Glass is way more technologically advanced, it can’t elbow you in the stomach every time you doze off, so everybody is waiting for the Meme smartglasses with their arms open.

Google AdWords Gets Updated

April 28, 2014 By Mary Duncan Leave a Comment

It looks like Google wants to update every single one of their services. A few days ago they made an announcement saying that the controversial Google Glass will get updated with two new features for iPhone users: the SMS service and a calendar app. Now, it’s time for Google AdWords to get updated with a variety of new features. Google has named them “the next generation” of changes that will bring the leading advertising service to a whole new level.

The new Google AdWords features were shown at the AdWords Performance Forum in front of an audience of marketers by Jerry Dischler, the product management vice president. Google made the announcement through a livestream video and an official blog post.

So you might ask what’s new about Google AdWords? We will talk about some of the most important new features they unveiled. Google has added bulk actions for settings and ad extensions which will come very useful if you want to update or change any seasonal promotions.

From now on you will find inside Google AdWords a “testing lab” where you can experiment with keywords, ad format, bids and targeting. You can also use the testing lab for running tests with live traffic.

Another new feature that we find pretty useful is the fact that one can choose to maximize the value or number of conversions and place your bidding accordingly and automatically.

Based on what apps you downloaded previously you can get target app advertisements. The target app advertisements also appear based on in-app purchases and your usage of it.

Google AdWords New Updates Make it easier and more fun

Google AdWords now has a new app re-engagement campaign that will take you directly to the content within the app you have already installed. You also get measure app conversions like installation, purchases and engagement. Google also announced that they want to invest more in the popular feature Estimated Total Conversions and will update it with advanced reporting tools that will simplify analysis so that it can be performed within AdWords as opposed to download it and reformat it.

Google has teased these changes some time ago and invited users to “step inside the future of AdWords”. Dischler has wrote in his official post that: “People are constantly connected, moving seamlessly between screens, sites and apps while on-the-go. This makes the best ads more than just messages sent to various devices. Instead, ads are now most effective when they connect people with the information, content and places that matter most to them, at the moments they are looking.”

It’s Official: Google Glass New Features Announced

April 22, 2014 By Daniel Giordano Leave a Comment

Leaving aside the differences between Google and Apple that have been going around the internet lately, there seems to be hope when it comes to the two giants. The Google Glass new features will make iPhone users more than happy because they can enjoy SMS support and a new calendar app. Until now, Google Glass had support for their Android devices, since it’s their own mobile operating system and iPhone users didn’t have much use for Google Glass.

The world’s number one search engine has revealed that the incorporation of the SMS for iPhone feature happened due to the large demands from people who use iPhones. The new feature lets users receive SMS messages from friends. How does Google Glass for iPhone works? It’s quite easy. You connect the Glass to your iPhone via Bluetooth and turn on the “Show Modifications” mode under the Bluetooth’s settings. When you get a new message, you will see the notification on your Google Glass. For now, because there are limitations on iOs, iPhone users cannot reply to the messages but we predict that this will change soon.

Google Glass New Features – the calendar app

Other Google Glass new features that were designed especially for iPhones include the latest calendar app. This is highly useful and it seems to have been built up on the recently updated Google App Suite which includes apps like Google Play Music, Gmail and Google+. Google has named their new app suite for the Google Glass the Glasswear.

On Monday, Google explained the new functions and settings of the calendar app saying: “On the Glassware tab in MyGlass, you’ll see a new Calendar Glassware. Turn it on to see your agenda to the left of the home screen. Tap a calendar card from your timeline and you can change the title, time, location, and RSVP as well as delete the event or dismiss it from your timeline.”

Google attracted some unwanted attention with their latest piece of advanced technology, the Google Glass. Some people using the Google Glass (called the Explorers) were attacked and mugged in the last months as well as receiving driving bans for using it. Google has been trying to fix this by issuing a guide for the Glass Explorers that explains how to best enjoy it and avoid any inconvenience. Recently, Google experimented with marketing strategies and put the Google Glass on sale for just one day and the Glass sold out in the first hours. It came as no surprise to anyone.