Google Glass to Ship Next Year

Both of these are still science fiction.

The Nexus 7 tablet wasn't Google's only new gadget launched at I/O today; we now have a ship date and price for Google Glass. This much-hyped heads-up display is now up for pre-order for I/O attendees - assuming they have $1,500 to spare.

Nope, that's not a typo; Google Glass has successfully ousted the iPad as the most lusted after, most expensive gadget on the market. Right now Google is saying that the Google Glass Explorer Edition will ship early next year.  It's only going to be available in the US, and based on the price I think Google is targeting developers who might invest in the platform.

Do you recall that amazing concept video that Google released in April? Yeah, I don't think the Glasses are anywhere near ready to do live up to the hype. It's a pity; I hate it when the marketing dept gets ahead of the actual engineering. But it doesn't look like they're too far ahead. As part of the Glass presentation, Google streamed a video shot from Glasses worn by skydivers.

Here's a compiliationof the videos:

On the other hand, at least we know that Google Glass isn't capable of living up to the negative examples in the parody videos. That's something, at least.