Google Disqualifies Many Glass Contest Winners
Someone obviously fell asleep while approving submissions for the Google Glass content.
Just days after Google said it has begun notifying winners of its Google Glass contest held in February, the company says it's now forced to disqualify some of the lucky winners for good reasons.
For those now appearing on Google's new blacklist, disqualification means they won't be required to drive to New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco to shell out $1,500 for an early "Explorer" release of Google's wearable tech. As it stands now, the retail version is expected to arrive in 4Q13, but the release could be pushed back into 1Q14 if any issues arise.
Based on several previously qualifying applications that are now being rejected by Google, it seems that a number of hopeful testers weren't really out to gain a pair of Google's specs at all. Instead, they were obviously just trolling Google for a few laughs and/or to see if they could gain entry… and somehow succeeded.
"It’s become clear that a few applications that don’t comply with our terms have slipped through the cracks, and we’re going to have to disqualify applications like these," the company said via Google Glass.
No other details were given, but the terms of the contest clearly state that submissions will be disqualified if they are "derogatory, offensive, threatening, defamatory, disparaging… or otherwise does not comply with the theme and spirit of #ifihadglass."
"Unfortunately your application didn’t comply with our terms, and has been disqualified," Google told one previously approved applicant via Twitter. "We’re sorry for the confusion."
One potential winner's contest entry stated that "I'd throw it in your face" while another said she would "cut a bitch!" So how did these submissions get through Google's filters? Obviously, someone was asleep at the wheel when picking and choosing potential Explorer testers. Or maybe Google didn't read them at all and just decided to use the first 8,000 submissions.
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
Google Glass is at the forefront of a new wave of wearable computing. It pulls many tasks off the smartphone and places them in the user's field of view. That means less rubbing on the smartphone's screen and more hands free, voice-controlled tasks. The specs come packed with an embedded camera that has already caused them to be banned from one Seattle bar.
Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
-
jdw_swb After wining the right to buy it, they were disqualified for not having the required funds to purchase their prize.Reply -
DRosencraft And, once again, trolls have ruined a potentially good thing. Although, you can't discount the terrible job that was done in reviewing the applications. You have to wonder how often this takes place in other contests and giveaways...Reply -
g-unit1111 They cost $1500???? :ouch:Reply
And how many places are preemptively outlawing these devices? -
beayn g-unit1111They cost $1500???? And how many places are preemptively outlawing these devices?Any place that already has a ban on cameras and video cameras for privacy reasons?Reply
-
teh_chem falchardI wish they would have posted the disqualified ideas.Sadly because you have to do "something" in order for people to think you're relevant. For google, it's been Glass. For others, it's been phone-tethered watches (an ergonomically-terribad idea). But while the mobile tech industry slightly stagnates momentarily, you still need to push something through, whether or not it ends up being the next blockbuster success.Reply