Uncategorized | Tick Marketing

So a few weeks ago, I started writing about inbound marketing and how it is becoming a fundamental part of every organisations marketing plans. But after a few crazy weeks at work and with the Pantomime I have been promoting, I haven’t had chance to do my second post, until now!

This post is based around HubSpot and their inbound marketing beliefs. HubSpot advocate four stages to inbound marketing, which are: Attract, Convert, Close and Delight, and I will briefly explain each of the stages below.

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Tagged agency, business, ewom, free consultancy, inbound marketing, Marketing, strategy

Jun 27 2014

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Product Marketing, Uncategorized

Google Glass

Review: Google Glass

Uk Price: £1000

Available in: Four Frames that can come with or without prescription, Four Sunglasses and Five Colours

Courtesy of the Marketing Week Stand at MWL2014, I was able to try Google’s revolutionary attempt at smart-gear or wearable devices aptly named Google Glass. For those who aren’t familiar, Google Glass is a concept that is meant to enhance your everyday experience, and complement your surrounding in doing so. The idea is simple, in that a glasses frame has a small piece of hardware attached to it which allows the user to have some of the following features in their peripheral vision: Web Surfing, Video, Photography and even GPS mapping. These features are all displayed, or rather projected through a small prism which then creates a digital view that is best viewed when looking at darker objects. It works in the same way as a normal TV or computer projector works, and therefore in seriously bright light, the image can be rather vague.

Controlling all of these features are a combination of Voice recognition and Hand gestures. For instance to start any process on Google Glass you have to say “Ok Glass” followed by your command. Once this opens and is displayed on to the projected screen, you can then select items by simply tapping the frame of the glasses. To scroll up and down a page you can put two fingers on the frame and then use your head’s motion to look up and down, or alternatively you can swipe backwards or forwards on the frame itself, which gives the same results. To go back to the home screen, you simply put two fingers on the frame and swipe down, although this does have the tendency to turn the device off.

So from that brief explanation you should be thinking WOW but I wouldn’t get to excited, YET!

The premise and the concept is extremely exciting, however the application and user experience currently does not justify the £1000 price tag. Why? Well firstly, its Google. Who really believes that Google’s Android technology is as slick, and well polished as Apples IOS software? Yes the gap is narrowing, but I can’t ever see it being really that close and I believe that this problem is now being highlighted in the Google Glass software. When I tested the device, I had no real conception of how the user would feel when wearing the device. Granted, the device is comfortable, and the screen is in your peripheral vision, but right now, Google have focussed too much on getting the design and feel of the product right, rather than ironing out software inefficiencies. When using the Glass, I felt like I was going back to an android device, it was jumpy, out of control in parts, and not consistently responsive. Even the Voice control was not as slick or effective as you would expect from such a premium product, to the extent that when I tried to search the web for Border Terriers, I ended up on trip advisor looking at Georgian Terrace Hotels. From this simple test, it is clear for surfing the web, Google Glass is not going to be a replacement for your mobile phone, tablet or Phablet.

Yet, Incredibly, I am still impressed. If the product that is now being sold in the Uk is the same as the one I tested, then I would be sure to wait for a significant drop in price, as well as a software update that reduces faults. But once that is done, I think there will come in a time in the near future where everyone is wearing one. We are all already in a digital bubble, and really there’s no turning back, so tech firms are trying to make this bubble as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, and I think Google could really succeed in doing this through this device.

In conclusion, don’t get one now and don’t pay £1000 for one. Wait until the next generation comes out, at a lower price, and then you can’t say no, as they will be the next big fashion accessory. But lets not forget, we have smart watches to wear first!