Google's not-ready-for-primetime Glass is getting a makeover: The search giant and eyewear manufacturer Luxottica Group on Monday announced a partnership that brings a new level of style to the high-tech specs.
Through this collaboration, the eyewear maker will provide a team of experts to work on future Glass products, specifically developed under its Ray-Ban and Oakley brands.
"We live in a world where technological innovation has dramatically changed the way in which we communicate and interact in everything that we do," Luxottica CEO Andrea Guerra said in a statement. "More importantly, we have come to a point where we now have both a technology push and a consumer pull for wearable technology products and applications."
With that in mind, the companies' first joint collection will combine high-end technology with avant-garde design. Don't expect any sneak peeks, though. Luxottica and Google are keeping their specs under lock and key; details about new products are expected to be disclosed at a later date.
"We see Glass as the next chapter," Google wrote in a Google+ post. "Light, simple and modular, Glass introduces new functionality as your glasses get smarter—but bringing your own style to Glass is just as important."
In late January, the search giant promised prescription versions of Glass via the new Titanium Collection, which offers four feather-light titanium frames. But in a society where individualism is often best expressed through outward appearance, four sets of frames likely won't cut it for Glass Explorers. That's where Luxottica comes in.
"We believe it is high time to combine the unique expertise, deep knowledge and quality of our group with the cutting edge technology expertise of Google and give birth to a new generation of revolutionary devices," Guerra said.
Google Glass, still in beta, will set you back $1,500, and is not yet generally available. To be considered, sign up on the Google Glass website.
But don't be so quick to judge the futuristic eyewear, or the people typically toting them. They're not all "technology-worshipping geeks," according to Google, which last week debunked the most common "myths" about the specs, including the idea that they were designed as a spy device.
For more, see Google Glass: Everything You Need to Know.
Also check out PCMag Live in the video below, which discusses the Google/Luxottica partnership.