Google Glass goes on sale, for one day only
It's the tech world equivalent of one of those old-fashioned car dealership ads: Get it now! Act Fast! One day only! One day ONLY!
In this case, the "it" is Google Glass, the long-awaited smart spectacles, which are believed to be going into wide release at some point later this year. This week, Google announced it would jump the gun a bit, and for one 24-hour window, allow consumers to join its ongoing beta program for Google Glass – providing, of course, they're willing to folk over a hefty chunk of cash for the privilege.
"Next Tuesday, April 15th at 6am PDT, we’re opening up some spots in the Glass Explorer Program," Google reps say in a Google+ message. "Any adult in the US can become an Explorer by visiting our site and purchasing Glass for $1500 + tax – and it now comes with your favorite shade or frame, thanks to feedback from our current Explorers. The number of spots available is limited, so mark your calendar if you want to get in."
We can only imagine what kind of bull rush Google will be managing next Tuesday. This could show if there's actually any interest in the device.
In related news, as the Google Glass Explorer Program edges toward its second year, an increasing amount of comprehensive reviews have trickled online. For the most part, they're positive, with critics praising the turn-by-turn navigation and the camera features. Still, as Darren Murph of BGR recently noted, Google has yet to concretely prove to consumers why they need such an expensive chunk of technology.
"I prefer a watch for raw notifications and I prefer my phone for input," he writes. "I also prefer traveling with as few things as possible, so the company still has some persuading as to why Glass should make the carry-on cut. The upside, however, is that the potential for Glass far exceeds its present state. Much like the original iOS – the one that shipped without an App Store – Glass could be morphed into a game-changing device for the masses."
