Though much about the so-called "Google Glasses" remains a mystery, here's one thing we can say for sure: The "Project Glass" specs sure do love the camera.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin appeared on Current TV's "The Gavin Newsom Show" wearing his "Glass" (as he calls it), marking the second television appearance for the curious computerized glasses. Head Google engineer Sebastian Thrun previously appeared on Charlie Rose's show with Glass on in early May, snapping a hands-free picture of Rose mid-interview and posting it to Google+.

For its second television appearance, Google's Glasses (via Brin) again took a photo of the talk show host -- we expect a picture of Newsom to show up on Google+ any moment -- but the real story is that the head Googler let Newsom try on the Glass for himself. Newsom didn't quite believe that Brin had taken his picture, so Brin removed his Glass and placed it on Newsom's head so that he could see the picture in the front-of-the-eye display for himself.

Watch below for a short clip of Newsom experiencing Google's Glasses:

Now, this isn't the first time that Google has allowed non-Googlers to try Glass (that happened last week, at a Google+ photography summit in San Francisco).

But we did learn a couple of new tidbits: First, as Engadget points out, it appears that there is some kind of touch-sensitive trackpad on the right side of the device, presumably one that scrolls through menus or photos after they are taken. (Brin tells Newsom not to touch the side of the Glass, or his photo will disappear). One wonders if Google will also have to make "lefty Glasses," with the trackpad on the left arm of the gadget, whenever it releases Glass to the public.

The Glasses also operate without the trackpad, too, of course -- there are several photos out there taken hands-free with Glass -- though we're still not sure how one takes a picture without touching the Glasses.

And about that release date: Brin says Google wants to get its Glass out to the people some time in 2013, but he seemed far from certain that his company would be able to do it. Remember, just last week at the G+ Photographer's Conference he described Google Glasses as "not beta...not alpha," but "fresh off the lab floor."

He was probably being a bit modest about Google's progress on the Glasses, but the point remains: Project Glass won't be complete this year, and might not be ready next year, either.

The full episode, in which Brin and his wife discuss the Google X labs as well their philanthropic work, airs Friday at 8 on Current TV.

Below, check out a batch of photos -- and one amazing video -- that Google released last week of the best photography to come from Project Glass so far:


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  • The Crazy Trampoline Video

    Taken with Google Glasses. <a href="https://plus.google.com/111626127367496192147/posts" target="_hplink">Via the Google+ page for Project Glass</a>.

  • Sergey Brin Hands-Free Photo

    Snapping photos of the photo snappers, during a "photo walk" at the Google+ Photography Conference. <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/111626127367496192147/albums/5745849874061604161/5745851316774497090" target="_hplink">Via the Project Glass Google+ page</a>.

  • An Alternate View Of That Photo

    Via <a href="http://www.bmoorevisuals.com/" target="_hplink">Brad Moore of BMOORE Visuals</a>, on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/1/100671962746616152327/posts/PmA977ZDCVG" target="_hplink">his Google+ page</a>.

  • Speaking Of Brad Moore...

    ....here he is, wearing the Project Glass prototype. He told me he only got to wear it for a little bit, so he couldn't tell me much about it. But he did manage to get some of the most amazing, close-up photos of Google's Glasses yet...

  • Like This One, For Example

    Note that little flicker of blue light on the lens in front of Sergey's right eye. Let's zoom in, shall we?

  • Even Closer

    Now you can really see that mini-screen.

  • Maybe The Best Photo Of Google's Glasses

    Google co-founder Sergey Brin, in front of the Apple store in downtown San Francisco. Photographer Brad Moore's <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/1/100671962746616152327/posts" target="_hplink">caption on this Google+ snapshot</a>: "Heh, heh."

  • Hands On Your Knees, Hands On Your Knees

    The Project Glass team <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/111626127367496192147/albums/5745849874061604161/5745849877983743410" target="_hplink">also shared on its Google+ page</a> some of the best pictures taken with Google's Glasses so far. There are 14 photos (and one video) on that website; we've chosen a few of our favorites, and the best uses of the hands-free technology, here.

  • Reading Some Other Newspaper

    Just kidding! Love ya, <em>New York Times</em> ;) <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/111626127367496192147/albums/5745849874061604161/5745850104204108114" target="_hplink">Via Project Glass</a>.

  • Helping Out On The Playground

    <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/111626127367496192147/albums/5745849874061604161/5745850065516012802" target="_hplink">Via Project Glass</a>.

  • Playing With Baby

    <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/111626127367496192147/albums/5745849874061604161/5745850112444972306" target="_hplink">Dawwwwwwwww</a>. Via Project Glass.

  • "The Perfect Shadow Picture"

    Indeed, this kind of photo is practically impossible using a traditional camera. <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/111626127367496192147/albums/5745849874061604161/5745850091590054194" target="_hplink">Via Project Glass</a>.

  • Throwing The Pigskin

    Another photo that is all but impossible with a standard camera. <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/111626127367496192147/albums/5745849874061604161/5745850088505537234" target="_hplink">Via Project Glass</a>.

  • In The Rain

    Cool umbrella. <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/111626127367496192147/albums/5745849874061604161/5745850104725772818" target="_hplink">Via Project Glass</a>.

  • Photogs Wearing Project Glass

    What do you think of this radical blue Glass prototype? <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/1/100671962746616152327/posts" target="_hplink">Via Brad Moore</a>.

  • Brian Matiash In Google Glasses

    Photographer Brian Matiash tries on a pair. His review: "Simply amazing." <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/1/108705174211639807508/posts" target="_hplink">Via Google+</a>.

  • Nicole S. Young In Google Glasses

    The photographer models a prototype at the Google+ Photographer's Conference. <a href="https://plus.google.com/113097851206100618060/posts" target="_hplink">Via Google+</a>.