I'd be more enthused if I felt like they laid out a road map for the product and talked about why we need this. Why do (normal) consumers want this, Google? Im not saying they don't I just want to know why Google thinks they do and what the offering really is going to be. We've seen tech-oriented glasses in many forms over the years flop... why now and why will people adopt these? Whats the actual killer features that are going to be worth putting these on?
How about because it's the only gadget demo ever where the experience has not been entirely insular? When's the last time a gadget product announcement has not been something happening on a screen? A 24" screen, a 10.1" screen, a 7" screen. Steve Jobs holds up an iPad and shows what it does on a screen. Sinofsky shows Windows crashes ... on a screen. Xbox... on a screen. Flicking games on and off, showing the latest version of iPhoto, whatever.
Glass demo? People actually doing awesome stuff and bringing the entire audience into it... live, in Hangouts.
Yes, we know this is a demo and not entirely honest. So what. Glass is a vision product. It's time to break away from being in front of devices, slouching in a chair or with our neck at a 45-degree downward angle looking at an iPhone. That's why people are excited.
I think what I was trying to elude to is that their skydiving demo could have been utilized differently to talk about what the product experience will be like as a user. Instead what we got was streaming video of people skydiving - not exactly anything eye opening... the actual information I got about the product was really nothing.
It's an early prototype for chrissakes. The real devporn comes later. For now, just sit back and enjoy the show.
FWIW I pre-ordered and can't wait to hack around with this thing.
There are three important things about Glass: * It's an HUD w/ a webcam * It's got some kind of wireless communication * It runs Android
If you don't see how those three things are full of possibilities, that's sad for you.
"Am I the only one who's not impressed that we only got a man 100 miles up into the air? It's not like he got to the moon" (OP, 1959)
So far, the reaction seems to be mostly positive. By hiring a few stunt guys and a blimp Google created a lot of hype, got a nice amount of feedback on that.
Heck, I was suckered by the presentation, even while thinking "I wonder what they are using the send the image feed, surely not 3G or even LTE... and what else besides doing Plus group conversations can this do?". I knew it wasn't revolutionary, but still got excited.
They showed today how they had multiple people on the roof with portable microwave dishes, hand aiming at each individual skydiver, with redundant backup alternative RF. The first skydiver released smoke to let his tracker know his position.
As many people say, "it's the software stupid", so I'm waiting.
Damn right! That's why the Iphone failed. Pffft, who needs to know there is a storm coming in over the internet. Hail coming in? I just check if my knee's a-shakin!
I’ve been following every single article, video, or meme mentioning Google Glass since its first demo video a few months ago. Google promised a lot; Glasses were meant to be something like “an augmented brain.” It would offer contextual information, interactivity, quick reference, and much more. And now I feel betrayed. Why?
And ends with:
We all know that this is a really early prototype and are willing to see (and buy) something as revolutionary as the iPhone. In the end, the most intelligent move of the day was releasing the early version of the product only to developers (with a US$1,500 price tag), to gain the necessary feedback and try to get things working while surfing on the huge PR wave.
You just answered your own question.
Think about it, though... The experience of wearing the glasses is probably very difficult to properly explain or show. You can't really put it on a camera and get a true representation. They have a long way to go before it's ready.
If I have to buy 10 pairs of Google Glass to light a fire under Apple, Qualcomm, and Valve's asses to get the immersive AR glasses I always wanted I will gladly do so.
There have been public mentions and acknowledgements of some of the features that you call out as missing. You're, plainly, uninformed.
