LOS ANGELES—Rejoice, mere humans! Google has granted you the right to purchase your own Glass (with which to start making porn)! In a move that actually surprised Google watchers, one month after having a one-day sale on Glass, the search giant announced yesterday afternoon that "anyone in the US can buy the Glass Explorer Edition; as long as we have it on hand: google.com/glass."
The cost? Look, if you have to ask...
Seriously, the cost is considerable. According to CNNMoney, "Being an explorer is an expensive proposition -- the device sells for $1,500. The technology is also controversial. Glass users have been criticized for infringing on others' privacy, banned from bars and restaurants and given tickets for distracted driving. In a recent blog post, Google urged explorers not to act like 'Glassholes.'"
Not everyone thinks the announcement was made from a position of strength, however. When the subject came up on CNBC this morning, analysts thought the announcement was more a marketing move than anything else.
"These are not real products," said Buzzfeed's Jon Steinberg. "For today, they really have nothing to do with anything, except they show a sort of cultural whimsy and the ambition of Google, which is great. But we shouldn't take these for actual products that will make a bottom-line difference for Google."
The market itself appeared to react with relative indifference. Google shares were down about 1 percent on the day. But who cares as long as Glass is now available to the masses? (So they can make some homemade porn!)
