Tag: wearable tech

Google Glass now available for public sale in the UK

| June 25, 2014

Consumers in the United Kingdom can purchase the smartglasses for £1,000

Two years after being launched in the United States, UK consumers who own a credit card and who are over the age of 18 can now purchase Google Glass, which carries a price tag of £1,000 (just over US$1,700).

Even though they are on sale for the general public, the glasses are still in beta form.

According to Google, its wearable devices that have been made available for purchase in the United Kingdom are still only prototypes. The company wants the consumers who are the first to buy the product to use the gadgets, report problems and offers suggestions to help improve Google Glass’s future development. Once the beta phase is over, the official product is anticipated to cost about the same as the typical smartphone.

Glass can support prescription lenses and, soon, users will be able to choose from 5 swappable frames and 8 sunglasses from fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg. In addition, owners of this wearable tech will be able to resell the glasses just as users can sell their mobile devices. At present, there are several different older models of Glass up for auction and for sale on the UK eBay site from US sellers. However, prices are close to £950, which is not much cheaper than the newly released prototype.

The Google Glass version released in the UK will have better features than earlier models.

Google Glass UKSince it was first introduced, Glass has been revised three times and has undergone several software updates. The UK model will have longer battery life than previous versions and will also be equipped with certain customizations that will enable it to adapt voice recognition software to accommodate varying British accents.

Consumers have the option of purchasing the wearable device online and having it shipped directly to them or they can head to the “Basecamp” center in King’s Cross in London, which Google has opened up for those who wish for a trial and fitting.

In addition, the UK variant of Google Glass can run “Glassware”, specialized Android apps. There will be 5 new apps made available from launch that are specific to the UK. These include apps from Guardian, Shazam, Star Chart, goal.com and Zombies Run.

Wearable technology is part of Atari’s comeback plans

| June 24, 2014

The once video game powerhouse has released details on how it intends to regain popularity and profits in the future.

The official “Corporate Comeback Strategy” of Atari has been unveiled, which sheds light on how the previously bankrupt company plans to become profitable once more, including how it intends to tap into the wearable technology industry and how it will reach out to LGBT and social gambling audiences.

Classic Atari brands will be re-launched and made available for diverse platforms.

Pong, Asteroids and other traditional titles from the video game company are to be re-introduced and will be designed for various digital platforms including online, PC, iOS and Android.

According to Atari Inc. Chief Executive Officer Fred Chesnais, Atari isn’t just a company that publishes games; “it’s an iconic brand that has established a passionate and timeless culture.” He went on to say that Atari is known across the globe among several generations and it has every intention to keep on embracing all audiences. What the company has achieved throughout the years has been incredible, but there is still much to come. That beings said, Atari is aware that there will be challenges along the way.

Part of Atari’s strategy is to license wearable technology hardware.

Wearable Technology - Atari plans to make comebackChesnais said that the company is a hardware brand it is not just a software brand. That said, the CEO did stress that this does not mean Atari has any plans for making a new console in the future. Instead, Atari intends to license “gamified hardware and wearable devices.” He said that though their focus would not be on a new console, it would be on something like a “gamified watch”.

Another wearable tech idea Chesnais mentioned, in addition to a gaming watch, could be a plug-in for a jacket, for instance, so the user could power their Android smartphone or iPhone. With a solar chip on their shoulder they won’t ever require batteries.

“We’re looking forward to delivering on our new strategy and engaging with our audience in new ways across multiple channels as the next era of Atari unfolds,” Chesnais said. It will be interesting to see what wearable technology and other developments take place from Atari’s comeback.