OK, Google Glass, play music for users

Google adds music features to computerized eyewear

Google is adding music features for the first time to its wearable computer, Glass.

The company announced in a Google+ post today that it's rolling out a new voice command that will let users call up songs or tracks to listen to on Google Glass. In the next few weeks, Google will update Glass prototypes with the ability for users to pull up music simply by saying, "OK, Glass, listen to..."

Google's wearable computer Glass will offer music and will include stereo earbuds.

"You can access your tracks from Google Play Music, including the millions of songs on All Access," the company wrote in its post. "To all our Glass Explorers, sit tight. You'll be able to dive into music on Glass soon. Look for an email in the next few weeks with more details."

The company also unveiled stereo earbuds that have been designed specifically for Glass. Google is billing the earbuds as lightweight and "uniquely engineered" to give users quality sound, while also letting them hear their surroundings.

While earlier this year Google, which has been getting ready to launch a Glass app store, had been saying Glass would officially ship later this year, they're now saying the computerized eyeglasses will ship next year.

A product like Glass needed to have a music feature, said Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research. "Music is just a given for all mobile devices," he added. "It's not an advantage, but lacking it is a disadvantage."

Today's announcement is just part of the process of getting Glass ready to ship in 2014.

"Well, they're still building the product," said Gottheil. "It's not ready for prime time but it's getting there... Google is still experimenting with Glass."

Google announced late last month that it plans to increase the number of people testing the Glass prototypes by inviting current users to invite three friends to do the same.

The new users will have to pay the $1,500 price tag for the computerized eyeglasses, but they'll be able to join the original 8,000 Glass testers.

This article, OK, Google Glass, play music for users, was originally published at Computerworld.com.

Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.0, emerging technologies, and desktop and laptop chips for Computerworld. Follow Sharon on Twitter at @sgaudin, on Google+ or subscribe to Sharon's RSS feed. Her email address is sgaudin@computerworld.com.

See more by Sharon Gaudin on Computerworld.com.

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