Google Glass for sale on Trade Me may violate device's terms

Dr. Heather Evans points to the new Google Glass device at Harborview Medical Center, in Seattle, Washington. Photo /AP

One of the first pairs of Google Glass(es) to come to New Zealand shores has been listed for sale on Trade Me, however the sale may violate the device's terms and conditions.

Seller Ming Cheuk said he received the glasses directly from Google in America.

He said he hadn't used the device aside from powering it on. "It's pretty much new, it's in its box right now.

"The first intention was to use it, but then I realised that - because I wear glasses and I don't wear contacts - it's a little difficult to wear both at once.

"It's speculated that they're releasing the prescription lenses in January next year."

But in the meantime, "it's too expensive a device to sit" on the shelf, he said.

The auction had been up just over 24 hours and had received less than 100 views by 6pm on Wednesday.

Mr Cheuk had set the reserve at $2799 and a buy now at $2999.

However, according the the Google Glass terms and conditions, "you may only purchase one device, and you may not resell, rent, or lease your device to any other person".

"If you resell, rent, or lease 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."

Mr Cheuk said if the device was dead on arrival, he would happily take it back and refund the seller.

The glasses aren't yet available for sale to the public, but a prototype version can be bought by Google 'Explorers' who are selected after filling in an application form online.

Mr Cheuk said he was invited to trial the device by a friend who had been an early Explorer.

Those selected can become an Explorer for $1500USD. As of August 27, 10,000 people had been selected to trial the device.

A consumer model is expected to be available to the public early next year.

The glasses have a built in computer and an optical head-mounted display which projects images into the wearer's field of vision.

While the device operates as a stand-alone device to take and view images, it needs to be paired with a smartphone to access GPS features.

The wearer controls it by voice commands and through a touchpad on the side.

Mr Cheuk said the only other pair of Google glasses he was aware of in New Zealand was owned by a research laboratory in Canterbury.