Tuesday, April 15 is finally the day (and the only day in the near future) when regular citizens without the ability to persuasively answer the application question, "Why do you deserve to be a Glass explorer?" will only need their money to purchase the eye wear technology, and not also their words.
Previous to today, people interested in purchasing Google Glass for the $1,500 price tag (the same price for which it will be available today) had to apply first (via several methods, not always by answering the above question). Many, apparently, were actually turned down, according to the below line from Google's blog post last Thursday.
"Every day we get requests from those of you who haven't found a way into the program yet, and we want your feedback too," went the post. "...We're excited to meet our new Explorers, and we can't wait to hear your thoughts about Glass."
It's unclear how Google separates worthy and unworthy applications. The only two criteria they've highlighted is diversity and celebrity ("Our Explorers are moms, bakers, surgeons, rockers, and each new Explorer has brought a new perspective that is making Glass better," the blog said.) Beyond that, it might simply be luck.
Based on the same post, Google didn't intend to make their announcement more than a week in advance, but the news had been leaked several days before that. I've been cynical about Google's shameless publicity of Glass for the last six months, and I'll continue that in assuming they weren't actually that disappointed when the news leaked early.
On a similar note, of course Google had to throw this last asterisked line in their post: *To everyone outside the US... we know. Sorry :( We're just not ready yet to bring Glass to other countries.
Glass came out over a year ago, but it's been one of the slowest-developing technologies of all time. My theory is that its frustrating growth is a very intentional marketing strategy that, for the moment, is working. Something tells me, however, that it could backfire in the long run. Just release the glasses for a reasonable price already!
