Google thinks it has the right to tell you what you can do with a purchase after you make it. If you try to resell Google Glass after you buy it, Google will have it self-destruct.
Buyers of Google Glass have been warned they cannot sell their pricey new techno-spectacles on eBay or anywhere else.
In terms of sale posted on its website, the advertising giant said a Google Glass was for life, unless you wanted to give it away for nothing. Anyone who failed to follow the rules will have their devices remotely shut down.
They’re putting terms of use on a piece of hardware that don’t even exist for software. I can resell any of my PS3 games by simply bringing the discs to a game store.
Google stated: “You may not commercially resell any device, but you may give the device as a gift. Recipients of gifts may need to open and maintain a Google Wallet account in order to receive support from Google. These terms will also apply to any gift recipient.”
Then, tucked away in the footnotes, the Chocolate Factory added: “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. If you [do this] 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.”
Got that? All your devices are belong to us. You don’t have the right to get tired of them and want to try to get back some of the $1,500 you spent on them. And Google is absolutely unashamed of trying to force American consumers to do what they want. I certainly hope there’s a backlash against this.
But it gets worse. You have to be worthy of Google to buy the new toy.
For the moment, not just anybody can buy the eyewear.
Google has created the Silicon Valley equivalent of a velvet rope under its so-called Google Glass Explorers program. If Google liked what you posted on social media under the hashtag #ifihadglassand, Google grants you the opportunity to fork out $1,500 for the Explorer edition of the headset.
Google declined comment. Google also isn’t saying when it would lift its velvet rope and whether the same Draconian terms of service would apply when it does lift the velvet rope.
On the other hand, I suppose it’s not a bad thing knowing exactly who has one.
It has already been banned from several places, including some strip clubs, over fears it could be used to film people without their knowledge.
Is anyone else totally creeped out by the idea of someone walking around connected to the web every waking minute? There’s just something wrong with that.
By the way, I no longer stay signed in to Google while surfing the web. I sign in for my personalized news and Gmail, and then sign out when I’m done. I’m tired of their cookies tracing me everywhere I go.
Keep trying to control consumers. Way to keep on not being evil, Google.
And no amount of complaint from consumers will phaze them. They don’t care.
Read David Brin’s latest SF novel, Existence, if you want to see what life might be like when everyone is walking around with aiwear. What amazed me about Google Glass was that it actually exists. Now.
I suspect that techno-forward people with lots of cash will not care about Google’s velvet rope or resale restrictions… but at such time Google wants to roll the product out to a broader market, they will need to back off unless they want to dramatically devalue their product.
I have absolutely no desire to be connected to a computer via eyewear. Not one. And it cannot possibly be safe. People are already walking into traffic because they’re texting and walking.
I’m starting to be very glad I was born when I was born. I don’t want to be part of this Brave New World.