Google is making big moves this week for its highly anticipated wearable – Google Glass by first updating its software to a more tried and tested operating system and second, by offering it for sale to anyone in the US for one day.

This should mean significant changes to Glass Beta testers and those who are fans of wearable technology. For starters, the company’s switch from Glass XE to Android 4.4 KitKat should mean a number of improvements for the wearable. These include improved battery life and more reliable and easier upgrade procedures moving forward.

The update should also allow users to leave photo replies in Hangout messages (a feature that was only available previously if a user starts a new conversation) as well as improved photo sharing and organization.

The downside is that Google has decided to remove the voice call feature on Glass. According to Google’s Glass team, the decision to remove the voice call feature all boils down to statistics as only a small portion of all testers (less than 10%) were using it and that they will temporarily remove this functionality until such time that their team or third party developers are able to improve it.

Lastly, the move to switch to Android should make it easier for developers to build apps for the hardware, which consequently should help increase the number of apps available and compatible for the device.

Google is holding a one-day special offer to anyone living in the United States by making Glass available for purchase to anyone who’s willing to shell out $1500.

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Google’s smartglasses are really one of those tech products that inspire innovation, but people still find it weird and unnatural to see other people wearing a chunky piece of eyewear walking in the street.

So, Google’s strategy is to employ designer brands to allow its Glass blend in better with eye wear that we’ve been accustomed to seeing. For instance, the search giant penned a deal today with the Italian design company responsible for the design and production of Ray-Ban and Oakley eye wear – Luxottica, in order to push Google Glass mainstream.

Details about the deal aren’t disclosed yet but both companies should benefit from each other’s strengths. On one hand, Luxottica’s extensive network of retail stores as well as their experience with designing eye wear that appeal to a broader audience would help Google get their smart glass to more people.

On the other hand, Google’s innovative technology applied into Glass should help further expand Luxottica’s consumer base by adding the production, design and distribution of smart eyeglasses with stylish designs into its portfolio.

At the moment, Google is offering a $225 upgrade to Glass for optional prescription lenses with titanium frames.

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Wearable technology is almost certainly the next big thing in consumer electronics as we see more and more manufacturer jump into the production of smartwatches and other forms of gadgets.

In fact, Google Glass which was actually the first device that started the wearable tech trend may now be on its way to commercial availability. Recent reports have hinted that Google is now partnering with a number of different companies to the production of accessories for Google Glass.

The said accessories include an earbud component with interchangeable caps in different colours will connect to the device via a mini-USB port that will also be used to charge the device. Google is said to also be working with Maui Jim and Zeal Optics to create a pair of sun glass shades as well as swappable frames for Glass.

Google has also published a few pages that show how these new accessories will be used with Google Glass. As of the moment there are not a lot of details about when the device or its accessories will be commercially available. But we’re guessing it’s only a matter of time before we hear the official announcement from Google.

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Developments in Google Glass are probably one of the most anticipated announcements in this year’s Google I/O developer conference. Fortunately, Google didn’t disappoint as the event debuted several apps that make the company’s HUD more practical to use.

Apps that made the leap to Glass include Facebook, Twitter and Evernote. First on the list is the Facebook app for Glass which lets users to share photos straight from the Glass to the social network. Tagging isn’t functional yet but tags can be added later on via a mobile device or computer once the images have been uploaded to the network.

Meanwhile Twitter is also announcing its own app for Google Glass. Just like the Facebook app, users will be able to share photos using glass. Users are also able to receive notifications of mentions, direct messages and tweets straight from the network. Favourites, replies and retweets are also available within the app.

Then there’s Evernote, where in users can send a Glass-captured photo or short video to a user’s account from within the Glass sharing menu. Users can also choose a note from Evernote Web and send it directly to the Glass timeline.

Other apps scheduled to hit Glass (which the company refers to as “Glassware”)include CNN, Tumblr, Path and The New York Times.

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People say that politics makes for strange bedfellows. But in the tech world fierce competition can also sometimes push former rivals to instantly become BFFs. And this might be the case with Yahoo and Google as Yahoo’s CEO hinted that the company might be developing apps for Google Glass.

In an interview during the Wired Business Conference in New York yesterday, Yahoo’s Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer (who also happens to be a former Google executive) said that Yahoo has gotten its hands on some developer versions of Google Glass and their staff is looking on how to people can use Yahoo’s programs on the device.

Yahoo and Google were once head to head competitors in the search business, in which Google eventually prevailed while Yahoo slumped back to third position just behind Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Since then, Yahoo has tried to revitalize its efforts to get more traction for its products and services, one of which was the change of leadership in the company which saw the appointment of Marissa Mayer as CEO.

Marissa Mayer’s current strategy for Yahoo is to put the company back into people’s lifestyle by positioning its products in areas where people spend most of their time – mobile to be specific. In fact, Mayer said that the company’s moonshot is to bring its products to very smartphone, every tablet, every PC, every day for every internet user.

And although Marissa Mayer didn’t specify whether Yahoo will be releasing any apps for Glass, it’s not at all surprising if the company starts developing apps for Google’s headgear. Besides, what’s more mobile and close to a user than a piece of technology that you actually wear?

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Google Glass hasn't launch yet in the market but there are already a number of developers who are lining up at its door steps to get their apps working on the highly talked about heads up display. One particular app that is almost certain to be ported to Glass is Instagram. Aside from its massive following, the concept of capturing photos and information and sharing them with your connections is something that’s very similar to how Google wants Glass to be.

At present, Instagram has yet to announce when it will start building apps for Google Glass. But even before such an announcement was made, a Glass developer has already released an app that performs the basic functionality of Instagram – the addition of filters to captured images.

The app is called Glassagram and acts as a rudimentary version of Instagram. However, unlike Instagram, this app applies filters in a less intuitive manner. For starters, images captured by the glass must be shared first on the Glassagram service. The app then applies all available filters to a photo then sends it back to the user in a pack. The user will then choose which filtered photo to upload to their favourite social networks.

Currently, the functionality of adding photo filters to images is now available to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean users. But since the Glass works only with Android Ice Cream Sandwich phones, this feature is basically unusable to the Glass.

The concept of Glassagram is not revolutionary nor is it efficient. Nevertheless it does fully utilize the user interface of Google Glass. Moreover, the app does show us the potential and practicality of Google Glass once it becomes commercially available in the near future. 

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Google Glass is still in its early testing stages and yet Google has already released an instructional video that details how consumers would be able to use Glass in their everyday lives.

The video shows the different parts of the glass and their corresponding functions with regards to the device’s user interface. From the video, users are informed about the Glass’s touchpad and its adjustable display. It also shows users how simple gestures on the touchpad reflect certain commands and functions on the Glass.

The video also shows the device’s user interface. At the center of the entire UI is the Glass’s home screen where a digital clock is located. The device uses a horizontal carousel of cards where specific information and functions are located. Navigation is done by either tapping the touchpad or by swiping.

Swiping at the touchpad will either move the cards to the left or to the right. Cards at the left of the home screen contain real-time information on current and on-going events including weather, traffic information or flight schedules to name a few. Meanwhile, cards on the right of the home screen are home to basic multimedia and connectivity apps including messages, videos and photos.

Surprisingly, the video doesn’t show anything related to voice commands and how consumers would be able to use them especially if the Glass is in sleep mode. Nevertheless, the fact that Google is already thinking a year or two ahead is a good indicative of its efforts to promote wearable tech.

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