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Google Glass shipping now for some Explorers

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Google GlassDevelopers who put their name down for the prototype Explorer edition of Google Glass at last year’s I/O will be pleased to learn that the high-tech eyewear should be perched on the end of their schnozzle pretty darn soon.

According to AnandTech‘s Brian Klug, the Mountain View company sent out an email to the developers – known as Explorers – on Monday, informing them that the device will be coming their way very soon. 

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“We’ve been working hard on the Glass Explorer Edition and we have great news: the hardware and software are now ready for you,” Google’s email said. “We’re seeing the first few devices come off the production line right now.”

However, instead of waiting till the whole lot are ready – there are around 2,000 Explorers looking forward to receiving their futuristic specs – Google said it would be sending them out in batches, as and when they roll off the production line.

“Instead of waiting for all of the devices to be ready, we want to start delivering them to you now,” the email explained. “We’re producing enough for everyone, but only a portion of them are ready today. Therefore, we’ll be notifying you in waves, and as soon as we’re ready to invite you, we’ll let you know. When the time comes, you’ll receive an email with all the details.”

All Explorers will have to hand over $1500 for Glass before they can try it out, with Google hoping for some helpful feedback on ways it can further develop the device before launching it commercially at the end of this year or soon after.

The Web giant will also be handing out Glass to winners of a recent social media competition where entrants had to come up with ideas about what they’d like to do with Google’s gadget. The company ended up having to withdraw some invitations handed out to winners after it became apparent that it hadn’t read some of the suggestions carefully enough (eg. “#ifihadglass I’d throw it at your face. ._.”). 

Full text of the email to Explorers:

Dear Explorers,

It’s been a little under a year now since Google I/O — you came to the keynote, we jumped out of an airship, and when we landed, we asked you to join us on this unpredictable yet exciting journey. Back then, we had no idea how Glass would be received. In just two and a half days, we went from 0 to around 2000 Explorers: people who believe in the project, who are ready for a challenge and who will (most importantly) help shape the future of Glass.

Ever since then, we’ve been working hard on the Glass Explorer Edition and we have great news: the hardware and software are now ready for you. We’re seeing the first few devices come off the production line right now.

We know you’ve been standing by patiently to get Glass. So, instead of waiting for all of the devices to be ready, we want to start delivering them to you now. We’re producing enough for everyone, but only a portion of them are ready today. Therefore, we’ll be notifying you in waves, and as soon as we’re ready to invite you, we’ll let you know. When the time comes, you’ll receive an email with all the details.

Thanks for believing in us from the start. We’re very lucky to have you all as our first pioneers, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you once you’ve all received your Glass.

Here’s to the next step.

The Glass Team

[via TheNextWeb] [Image: Antonio Zugaldia]

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