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Google Glass sells out within a day (Updated with quote from Google)

glass sells out in tuesday sale google closeup
Image used with permission by copyright holder

That’s it then, Google’s one-day Glass sale to Joe Blow is done and dusted. Snag a set?

The company said at around nine last night that all units had been snapped up, though as it’s declining to say how many were ordered, it’s impossible to gauge the popularity of the sale – its first to the masses.

“All spots in the Explorer Program have been claimed for now, but if you missed it this time, don’t worry. We’ll be trying new ways to expand the Explorer program in the future,” the Web giant said in a Google+ post Tuesday night.

Updated on 4-16-2014 at 1:44 p.m. PT by Jeffrey Van Camp: A Google spokesperson has sent us the following message, clarifying the sellout: “We were getting through our stock faster than we expected, so we decided to shut the store down. While you can still access the site, Glass will be marked as sold out. We are leaving the site open so Explorers can still get any accessories they need.”

Earlier in the day, at around lunchtime, those jumping on the Web to order a pair of the $1,500 high-tech specs were informed the Cotton (white) frames had already sold out, leaving potential buyers to choose from black, red, blue, and gray alternatives.

Up till Tuesday, the only way people could get their hands on Glass was by applying as a developer or winning a contest. The one-day sale, open to US-based adults only, was the first time Google had offered its face-based tech on such a wide scale. Given that the gadget has received a mixed press over the last year, with stories of privacy concerns and assaults on wearers hitting the headlines, the sale will have been a good opportunity to test demand for its groundbreaking piece of kit.

 Up until Tuesday, Google’s army of Explorer testers was thought to number around the 10,000 mark. The company has been making steady progress with Glass over the last year or so – rolling out regular software updates refining existing features or introducing new ones – though a date for a full-scale commercial launch is yet to be announced.

In the meantime, the Mountain View company says that anyone still interested in becoming a part of the Explorer program can sign up here, whereupon it’ll let you know if a spot becomes available. However, as with its one-day sale, the program is currently open only to those living in the US.

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