If you're an Apple fan hoping to connect your iPhone 5, or potentially your iPhone 5S, to a shiny new Google Glass set, you might be in for a rude awakening.
On Tuesday, April 16, Google officially unveiled the specs for Google Glass, but apparently those specs are going to leave many iPhone owners working with a less than optimized Glass experience, since some features won't work on the iPhone.
According to the tech specs, and pointed out by the Los Angeles Times, in order to take advantage of Google Glass' text messaging and GPS navigation services, they will need to be tethered to an Android device with the MyGlass companion app installed.
"The MyGlass companion app requires Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher. MyGlass enables GPS and SMS messaging," read the spec sheet.
Without the MyGlass app, which is currently unavailable on iPhone, Google Glass users can still connect to the Internet, use Google search, make phone calls and participate in video chats, but GPS and SMS messaging won't be an option.
There's been no word on whether or not Google will make MyGlass available for iPhone, but it's a little hard to imagine Google intentionally locking a huge chunk of the market out of Google Glass' appealing functionality. The spec sheet also specifically details the model being sent to app developers, so it's possible that the final version won't have this limitation. Perhaps we'll hear more about this when Google reveals pricing and release date details.
Below you can find the full spec list:
Fit
- Adjustable nosepads and durable frame fits any face.
- Extra nosepads in two sizes.
Display
- High resolution display is the equivalent of a 25-inch high definition screen from eight feet away.
Camera
- Photos - 5 MP
- Videos - 720p
Audio
- Bone Conduction Transducer
Connectivity
- Wifi - 802.11b/g
- Bluetooth
Storage
- 12 GB of usable memory, synced with Google cloud storage. 16 GB Flash total.
Battery
- One full day of typical use. Some features, like Hangouts and video recording, are more battery intensive.
Charger
- Included Micro USB cable and charger.
- While there are thousands of Micro USB chargers out there, Glass is designed and tested with the included charger in mind. Use it and preserve long and prosperous Glass use.
Compatibility
- Any Bluetooth-capable phone.
- The MyGlass companion app requires Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher. MyGlass enables GPS and SMS messaging.
