Business Insider Thinks the 'Google Glass' Revolution will Fail
Boy, Business Insider's Jay Yarow doesn't mince his words; he really doesn't like Google Glass and goes out of his way to slap it around. In short, Yarow points out that Google Glass has terrible battery life, it's disorienting, it doesn't work in a brightly lit environments, you can't tweak any settings, the voice controls are buggy, it doesn't fold like normal glasses so storing it is awkward and the list goes on and on.
On a Social Note
On a social note Yarrow states that "These things are going to cause a lot of social angst early on. It's hard to imagine going out to dinner with your wife and not getting heat for wearing Glass. Or hanging with your friends at a bar, and having them believe you're fully committed to the conversation.
Looking at your phone in front of friends sends a direct, honest signal that you are tuning them out. With Google Glass, you're doing the exact same thing, just in a more surreptitious way."
Dammed if you do and dammed if you don't
Yarrow says you can't win an argument about Glass. Yarrow states that "despite seeing a long list of problems — nobody wants to be the person that was wrong about the future.
The tech elite have decided that Glass is the future, dammit. If you say otherwise you're a short-sighted Luddite who can't accept how the world is about to change. You will be ridiculed in five years when everyone and their grandmother are walking the streets with creepy pieces of glass floating over their right eyes.
If you don't say something nice now, people will remember it, they will mock you, and you will be a fool. It's better to be safe and say something like, 'it is undoubtedly a game-changer,' despite the fact that you only see problems with Glass."
Well, I think I know where Yarow stands on Google Glass.
Playing devil's advocate, I could see it another way. Companies like Apple would never, ever allow the public to provide it with feedback on a product it wants to remain secret to the very last second. Apple got away with Antennagate relatively unscathed and they'll never change their mind on secrecy. So, two points to Google for having the guts to have everyone in the world take a kick at their future product with such fervor in the hopes of trying to deliver a better product when it ships to the public. Better now than after the fact.
On a personal level, I like the idea that I'll be able to use Google Glass simply as a live "life camera" to wear when I'm on a favorite hike or on a future holiday where I don't have to think about taking "a video" for memory sake, as it'll just record everything. I'll edit out the garbage later. Being able to film an event or a party in real-time the way it's really happening rather than arranging the event for your "video cam" moment will be refreshing. If you're at a concert, you won't have a stupid phone get in your face with someone, no everyone, trying to film it. So I see some benefits for certain occasions and the product isn't even out in the market yet. Give it some time to breathe.
Yet as a wearable computer to replace my smartphone or future phablet – I don't think so. When you play with data and email quickly, Glass won't be able to keep up. But in the future, I could definitely see the technology applied to my windshield and Google has other applications on their mind for Google Glass way beyond eyeglasses. So, give the idea a little time to breathe.
At the End of the Day, Skeptics don't always get it Right
At the end of the day it's hard to judge something you haven't actually tried out, but Yarow says what's on the minds of many people and for that I give him a hearty two thumbs up. In the end, Yarow thinks that the critics have it right and that Google Glass "will probably fail to revolutionize the tech industry ..."
On the other hand, I can vividly recall how people, no, Apple diehard fans, tore apart Apple's patent filings for their future iPhone and iPad. These diehard fans were absolutely convinced that if Apple ever dared to bring these ideas to market that it would end up being a complete disaster!
According to preliminary data from IDC, worldwide tablet shipments continue to surge, growing 142.4% year over year in the first quarter of 2013 (1Q13), Tablet shipments totaled 49.2 million units in 1Q13, surpassing that of the entire first half of 2012.
If anything, it goes to prove that when skeptics get it wrong, they really get it wrong. As for Google Glass, only time will tell.
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i would agree to When the iPad came out, that was useless, the product that doesn't have a define category would find its uses, that maybe just to put it in your home, and use it after breakup
Posted by: joshua logan | May 05, 2013 at 08:41 PM
The privacy issue needs to be looked at I feel. As a man can you imagine where our eyes wander to when we are out, about and its all being recorded! With Google owning the images, sound and GPS, a truly walking talking truman show..
Posted by: Adam | May 04, 2013 at 08:54 AM
I personally don't know anyone that would want these. Im almost positive that no family, friends, or relatives of mine would get these.
Posted by: Sam trumpet | May 04, 2013 at 07:09 AM
Agree Agreed AGREED! No woman on the planet will wear these things (unless they are really nerdy) who would want to chat with you if they think your recording the conversation and or photographing it! people like their privacy and this will bring up issues. recording action like a speeding motorcycle would be cool - but go pro has that covered and well go pro is only a fraction of the price. good luck Google!
Posted by: Gavin | May 03, 2013 at 08:00 PM
Actually, its easy to duplicate. And, Apple has a patent from 2006 for the device which means they probably have prototypes in house. As everyone knows, Apple doesn't parade their prototypes around in public. Also, I think they see the same problems with Google Glass that everybody else is pointing out. Lastly, 100% market share of a 0 market is still nothing.
Posted by: Special K | May 03, 2013 at 07:55 PM
Wall Street loves Google Glass and they're pushing Google to new heights. WS realizes that Google has that whole market to itself. 100% market share with no chance of any other company duplicating that device. There's almost no news media or pundits that thinks it's a useless. When the iPad came out, that was useless. Everyone thinks this Google Glass is going to be something that will change the world and put Google in a class by itself. There are hardly any detractors saying that Google is throwing away money or is taking any major risk with Google Glass. I guess because it runs on Android, it has to be a huge success and sell in the tens of millions of units. Google Glass should easily push Google shares to $1000 being that it's such a wonderful product.
Posted by: Constable Odo | May 03, 2013 at 06:47 PM