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Wow. This is marketing material. This is going to be a real thing. Wanna bet Google gives them away for free so they can sell advertising based on your exact c

Wow. This is marketing material. This is going to be a real thing. Wanna bet Google gives them away for free so they can sell advertising based on your exact context and needs; even what you're looking at? Maybe. But just the idea and possibility of that is incredible. Imagine what this could be used for; not just what we can think of now, but a whole new paradigm of ubiquitous computing, a world to which mobile phones were only a stepping stone. Come to think of it, I don't think we're ready for this.

citricsquid 14y ago
They're charging $1500 to be in this "exclusive beta", seems unlikely they'll be free at release.
- calinet6 14y ago
  I never said when they'd give them away. Just that it's a possibility due to the incredible context-aware advertising potential they have. Someone is thinking about it, I guarantee it.
- swalsh 14y ago
  This feeling, i've had it before. Google comes out with a new product, with a limited release... and I WANT IT REALLY BAD. Of course, after I get it, it's nowhere near as cool as what my head thought it was going to be.
- networked 14y ago
  If Glass takes off and especially if it runs Android we can except Samsung and other major players in the cell phone market to start offering their versions soon enough. With Android phones it didn't take long for Chinese manufacturers to start offering phones under their own brands for a fraction of what major manufacturers ask for their products [1] shipped directly from China to the customer. If a technological difficulty doesn't prevent Glass clones from being manufactured then given its high starting price of around $1500 (I wouldn't expect retail price to differ too much; cf. $529.99 for Google Nexus One at launch in the US) Chinese-brand AR glasses might become the next big thing around the world. [1] See http://www.gizchina.com/2012/11/20/gizchina-exclusive-jiayu-g3-unboxing-and-hands-on-video/ http://www.gizchina.com/2012/11/20/gizchina-exclusive-jiayu-... for what they offer for $200 unlocked. In, e.g., parts of Europe where pay-as-you-go is the norm and most phones are bought unsubsidized such prices are basically unheard for a similarly specced phone. Of course, those phones have their own problems (like worse QA) and come with little to no support. Despite that I personally know many technical types who have decided it to be worth it for themselves and sites like XDA Developers (http://forum.xda-developers.com http://forum.xda-developers.com) show a global interest. Edit: expanded the footnote.
nicholassmith 14y ago
I don't think they're going to give them away, I think they've got two options they'll pursue: 1) they'll do what they've done with the Nexus tablets and phones and sell them for as close to cost price as they can to get them out there, or 2) they're going to take advantage of the fact they'll be pretty much either first to market, or most desired and charge a reasonable markup on it. Option 1 makes sense, Google's core business is monetizing your eyeballs. It's almost literal in this sense. Glass is going to have some form of advertising and Google has always wanted more data points and more ways to show adverts to you. They make a lot of money on it. Option 2 is a bit out there for Google, and represents a business strategy shift. What if they can also become a respected hardware-software manufacturer? They've got as much brand awareness as Apple, they're building a reputation for devices as well. Glass could be phenomenally popular, so we're talking a whole new market share that could explode. That could make Google a serious amount of money if they were sticking a 30% markup on (lets be honest, they could do an Apple and go higher on it as well). It'd help them diversify so they've got advertising as a core, and a potentially large revenue stream from the hardware on top. Money in the bank helps pay for the next Moon shot.
cedricd 14y ago
If they're not giving away Android phones for free I highly doubt they'd do the same with glass.

citricsquid 14y ago

They're charging $1500 to be in this "exclusive beta", seems unlikely they'll be free at release.

calinet6 14y ago
I never said when they'd give them away. Just that it's a possibility due to the incredible context-aware advertising potential they have. Someone is thinking about it, I guarantee it.
swalsh 14y ago
This feeling, i've had it before. Google comes out with a new product, with a limited release... and I WANT IT REALLY BAD. Of course, after I get it, it's nowhere near as cool as what my head thought it was going to be.
networked 14y ago
If Glass takes off and especially if it runs Android we can except Samsung and other major players in the cell phone market to start offering their versions soon enough. With Android phones it didn't take long for Chinese manufacturers to start offering phones under their own brands for a fraction of what major manufacturers ask for their products [1] shipped directly from China to the customer. If a technological difficulty doesn't prevent Glass clones from being manufactured then given its high starting price of around $1500 (I wouldn't expect retail price to differ too much; cf. $529.99 for Google Nexus One at launch in the US) Chinese-brand AR glasses might become the next big thing around the world. [1] See http://www.gizchina.com/2012/11/20/gizchina-exclusive-jiayu-g3-unboxing-and-hands-on-video/ http://www.gizchina.com/2012/11/20/gizchina-exclusive-jiayu-... for what they offer for $200 unlocked. In, e.g., parts of Europe where pay-as-you-go is the norm and most phones are bought unsubsidized such prices are basically unheard for a similarly specced phone. Of course, those phones have their own problems (like worse QA) and come with little to no support. Despite that I personally know many technical types who have decided it to be worth it for themselves and sites like XDA Developers (http://forum.xda-developers.com http://forum.xda-developers.com) show a global interest. Edit: expanded the footnote.

nicholassmith 14y ago

I don't think they're going to give them away, I think they've got two options they'll pursue: 1) they'll do what they've done with the Nexus tablets and phones and sell them for as close to cost price as they can to get them out there, or 2) they're going to take advantage of the fact they'll be pretty much either first to market, or most desired and charge a reasonable markup on it. Option 1 makes sense, Google's core business is monetizing your eyeballs. It's almost literal in this sense. Glass is going to have some form of advertising and Google has always wanted more data points and more ways to show adverts to you. They make a lot of money on it. Option 2 is a bit out there for Google, and represents a business strategy shift. What if they can also become a respected hardware-software manufacturer? They've got as much brand awareness as Apple, they're building a reputation for devices as well. Glass could be phenomenally popular, so we're talking a whole new market share that could explode. That could make Google a serious amount of money if they were sticking a 30% markup on (lets be honest, they could do an Apple and go higher on it as well). It'd help them diversify so they've got advertising as a core, and a potentially large revenue stream from the hardware on top. Money in the bank helps pay for the next Moon shot.

cedricd 14y ago

If they're not giving away Android phones for free I highly doubt they'd do the same with glass.