Think you'll make a bundle when you put your Explorer Edition of Google Glass up for grabs on eBay? Think again.
Just as the first Explorer Editions of Glass come off the production line, Google is making it clear that users selling or giving them away is not part of the plan.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin dons the company's Glass digital eyewear. (Photo: Andrew Kelly/Reuters )
The company's terms of sale forbid Google's Explorers, who are the first to try out the futuristic-looking wearable computers, to sell, loan or give away the glasses. If an Explorer goes against these terms, the company retains the right to deactivate the glasses.
"Unless otherwise authorized by Google, you may only purchase one Device, and you may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your Device to any other person," Google wrote in its terms of sale. "If you resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person without Google's authorization, Google reserves the right to deactivate the Device, and neither you nor the unauthorized person using the Device will be entitled to any refund, product support, or product warranty."
The terms also say that Google has the right to "determine and use" the location of all Google Glass Explorers. And all photos and videos that the users take will be automatically uploaded to the users' Google+ Instant Upload album.
The company also retains the right to update Glass, which is still in beta testing, without notifying the user. The company also can remotely uninstall any services.
Late last month, Google chose more than 8,000 people to act as Glass Explorers, to try out the computerized eyewear. Those who applied by telling Google how they would use them in a brief message on Google+ or Twitter.
The majority of Explorers will pick up their pair at an event in either New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles. The company has not yet announced when the distribution events will be held. They also must pay $1,500 for the device.
On Wednesday, Google announced that the first Explorer Editions of Glass are being produced.
"It's been a bit more than a year since we announced Project Glass to the world," according to the Project Glass page on Google+. "Since then, we've been working hard on our Explorer Editions and we're seeing the first ones come off the production line. Yesterday was the first day that Explorers got to take Glass out into the real world. We've been waiting for this day for a long time, and it's been both thrilling and surreal to watch it happen."
The first Explorers to receive Glass are the developers who signed up for them at the 2012 Google I/O conference in San Francisco.
For the Explorers from the #Ifihadglass campaign, Google says they will be contacted in the near future. "If you are one of our Explorers: this process will take some time, so hang in there and thanks in advance for your patience," the company wrote.
