Sure thing. Let’s dive into this a bit chaotically:
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So, Google’s thrown its hat into the ring again, teaming up with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Yeah, those guys who make specs that literally everyone and their grandma recognize these days. Anyway, they’re cooking up Android XR smartglasses. It’s like they’re saying, “Hey Meta, we see your Ray-Bans and raise you a Parker.” Or maybe it’s more like a friendly nod? Hard to tell in tech-land; alliances get weird.
So, honestly, Google hasn’t spilled all the beans yet. No actual products to show your skeptical uncle at the barbecue just yet. They’re in cahoots with these fab eyewear brands to crank out the first-gen smartglasses. Google’s Gemini AI is in the mix. Sounds fancy, right? Some will even have little displays you can peep through. Wonder if that’ll help with those random forgettable facts during pub quizzes? Might not — or maybe it will. Who knows?
Now, if you’re picturing Warby Parker as just another trendy eyewear shop, well, sure, but they’ve disrupted the whole direct-to-consumer gig. Started back in 2010. Gentle Monster popped up in South Korea around 2011, doing their own stylish thing. So, like Warby Parker, but with a Korean twist.
Feels like a deja vu for Meta and EssilorLuxottica, right? I mean, they hitched their wagons not too long ago, and the Ray-Ban smartglasses were the love child of that union. It’s been a journey — and kind of a successful one according to the drip feed of press. The shades look sorta vintage, very Ray-Ban-y.
Back to Google — sliding into this smartglasses game again feels like a big bold “me too!” from back when they tried with Google Glass in 2012. Remember those? Brilliant tech, just looked… odd. Like, not quite something you’d wear out to brunch without feeling kinda self-conscious.
And now, Google’s got this new wave coming up. No clear launch dates; they’re feeling it out, you see. But they’re hinting devs will get their coding fingers on it this year. Gotta wait and see how this unfolds. Or maybe don’t hold your breath? Timing and pricing are still in the wind.
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Man, tech roller coasters. Can’t wait to see how all this fits into our reality — once it’s here to ogle over.
