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Google Glass Is the Future — and the Future Has Awful Battery Life
zacharye writes "The concept of wearable tech is really buzzing right now as pundits tout smart eyewear, watches and other connected devices as the future of tech. It makes sense, of course — smartphone growth is slowing and people need something to hold on to — but the early 'Explorer' version of Google's highly anticipated Google Glass headset has major problem that could be a big barrier for widespread adoption: Awful battery life."
Also, a review of the hardware. The current Glass hardware heads south in less than five hours, which doesn't seem too short relative to similarly powerful devices, but since it is meant to be worn all the time you'd think it would have a large enough battery to make it at least 8 or 10 hours.
This is what they were able to build. Rev 2. (probably when they get to mass producing it) will have better battery life
Great. That's where the camera is. I'll have some wonderful footage to provide the cops when assault charges are filed.
See you in court jackass.
I swear that if anyone approaches me wearing those things I'm going to punch him in the face.
Awww. *pinches cheeks* Remember when you said that about people using cell phones in public? That was just as cute.
great just proves my point that I was being recorded without my permission?
Give it a few generations to shrink and it will hide in glasses frames.
For now the dorks that will buy it will want you to notice.
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
You have no reasonable expectation of privacy in public.
So why not a version with a Ray Charles type sunglasses frame. Plenty of room for extra battery size in the arms and the oversize dark lenses could completely camouflage the fact that there is a camera and display behind the lenses.
You could probably have a 48-hour battery life if you wanted to wrap the sides and back of your head with batteries. Go for it.
...of course battery life on these is going to be low; they're designed to attach to one side of your glasses! Even if they had the space to put more battery in, they wouldn't, because then you'd have a device that was always pulling your glasses down one side of your face, to say nothing of the extra weight on your nose and ear.
Batteries are heavy. If you create a face-mounted computer, you're going to want to make it as light as humanly possible. This should not come as anything remotely close to a surprise or shock to geeks.
Obliteracy: Words with explosions
Yes and no.
Depending on the location (nation, state, municipality, etc) there are laws about deliberately filming someone. ~Sometimes~ there are legal differences between casual recording (you walking past in the background) and deliberate recording, but sometimes not.
Sure, you're not going to be (normally) busted for filming your friends at the beach and getting some random people in the background, but it's still possible. (IIRC, there was an Australian case very recently about this.)
I like you, Stuart. You're not like everyone else, here, at Slashdot.
Would look like stereo headphone cords. Could have an arbitrarily large battery in your pocket or purse. They sell them now for cell phones-- basically double the life.
She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
Blink Blink Revolution...
***
Blink Right Eye
Now Left,
Right again,
Left twice....
You did it!!!!
Laws regarding filming children (usually more restrictive, sometimes very much so) add to the stickiness of this situation.
Stickiness? Children? Really?
You're supposed to think of the children -- but not like that.
Great. That's where the camera is. I'll have some wonderful footage... ...or you would have if your battery had not run out about an hour ago.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Now if only we had decent media outlets reporting real news...
There may not be an "expectation" of privacy in public, but being "in your face" photographed and/or recorded in public by someone wearing this device makes the wearer a "Glasshole".
Given Google is in the US, I'm going by US based laws:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography_and_the_law#Public_property
http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf
It is legal to photograph or videotape anything and anyone on any public property.
Photographing private property from within the public domain is legal, with the exception of an area that is generally regarded as private, such as a bedroom, bathroom, or hotel room. In some states, there is no definition of "private," in which case, there is a general expectation of privacy. Should the subjects not attempt to conceal their private affairs, their actions immediately become public to a photographer using an average lens or video camera.
If you are in a city park for what ever reason, I can pop up a camera and video tape you as much as I want.
ORLY? Who made that rule?
Google did, through design choices.
Look at it. When not wearing, are you going to:
1) Put in pocket with keys
2) Put in pocket with phone.
3) Put in backpack with books.
Look at any image showing the whole thing. It doesn't even fold up like sunglasses so you cannot use a case. It would not fit in a pocket, and you'd be an idiot to do so anyway as it looks really fragile.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I wonder if some product developers have been operating on the assumption that battery life will triple in the next year or two. There have been reports suggesting that such a close-in timeframe for such substantial improvement is not impossible.
I'm in my early 30's with better than 20/20 vision. I know that won't hold out forever, but I've never needed glasses. Why would I want to wear these?
"The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money" - Thatcher.
Until I ask you to stop
Fuck asking, I'm getting t-shirts printed up:
By recording this person, you consent to him kicking the holy living shit out of you.
Hey, it works for EULAs...
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Such a low id
Au contraire, my id is quite active and often in control.
^
Ha, Freudian rimshot, where the cymbal hit is replaced by your mother.
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
You have a huge electro-chemical generator just millmeters from the glasses.
People have also made mechanical power sources from footsteps or pedometer pendulums. Remember self-winding watches?
So, what is the recommended procedure to vacate the area when you want to take a few snapshots?
Although the parent is rather obviously trolling, Google has a bit to learn about marketing. They are after all the brainiacs that launch social hubs by generating massive publicity and intrest for it, then letting people in only slowly so that by the time most people can actually use it, the hype has completely died off and the early birds have left because the places were deserted.
Google Glass has a simple answer for both power and battery life and price and reception. It is called a wire, the kind of wire that is attached to headphones. Gadget freaks already carry a large battery, a powerful cpu etc. They also are highly likely to carry a pair of headphones. So... why is Google Glass not equipped for decent headphones or a wire?
Simply connect it via USB to a phone. Then you use the touchscreen on the phone in your pocket, use its cpu and its reception without wasting battery life on a short range radio that has to deal with close promiximity of a human body (always plays merry hell with bluetooth).
I think Google was terrified that the device would be to nerdy and not hip enough but lets face it. This will only appeal to the terminally uncool and that is okay because I long since given up on the idea that any woman will go "meh, why not, just how bad can it be" by just seeing me and would be perfectly at home... but I also like my gadgets to be functional and a gadget that is out of power before mid day, isn't functional (or do you think that as you use a device, battery life goes up?).
Nice try google but either invent a battery 10 times more efficient then current tech or break out the wires. And really, WHERE ARE THE EARPLUGS!
because there MIGHT be 1 woman out there crazy enough but if I am seen with these glasses on and STILL talking in my phone... forget it... oh wait, she just texted me... oh. right... oh well... send me a pair over Google, seems I don't need to worry about how it will look any more.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
If you're in a crowded theater, the best way is shouting "Fire!".
Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
Or you could go for renewable energy source with a propeller hat.
You replied to the wrong post. I never used the word "generally." In fact I gave a "particular" counter-example. Learn to read.
I responded to the correct post, yours. A 'particular counter-example' might mean something if the person you were responding to didn't literally use the term 'generally'.
See, when someone makes a statement, "You generally don't find humans on the Moon." It doesn't add anything to the conversation to say, "But Buzz Aldrin was there!"
Generally, those sorts of conversations occur between teachers and elementary students. I say generally, because sometimes it also happens on the internet.
Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
Why is everyone so critical of this technology?
It's new and interesting. Obviously it is going to take a few iterations to be fully functional, but why should that stop the early adopters from beta-testing the device if they want to pay for it? Other companies make us do it all the time with computers, phones, software and cars.
Also, how much battery life is enough? The hardware is very small... would you rather have a gigantic Lithium ion battery strapped to your head? (That might help with balancing the device center-of-mass.) Or maybe a micro-nuclear reactor? Just like your phone: If you want it to last all day, don't use it all the time.
Have we really become so elitist that we cannot appreciate novel technology unless it is completely and utterly perfect?
Most of those companies that use EULAs have purchased a few members of congress. How many do you own?
I don't see why these devices are creating so much anger. Seriously? You're so ticked off by someone wearing a device that you're going to physically assault them?
More specifically, it's meant to be simply worn, even when it is not not being actively used at the time, and available for use at any time without having to fish it out of a pocket or case or what have you, or else the entire point of it being wearable in the first place is lost, and it offers no advantage over something you can carry in your pocket.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
haha... iggymanz... OK LARPER's aside... when did /.'ers become so scared about what other people think about what they are wearing? If you're genuinely secure in your own self, that confidence attracts women much more than your safe and acceptable iPhone does. To all those internet tough guys aka Anonymous Cowards preaching violence for seeing a person wear something they don't approve of: Each and everyone of you is a pathetic little insecure bitch. Can't even stand up behind your own comments and you want to be the guy stomping a nerd in real life for daring to have the balls to wear what he wants? First off, you aren't interesting. You are pathetic little cowards scared of what people think of you. You would make for a horrible subject to film. That is what actually pisses you off that nobody cares about you or your sad little insecure AC lives.
"... now you have battery" Does it last longer than five hours?
The most notable effect of Google Glass has been a resurgence of the internet tough guy.