Google Glass Adding Music, Shazam-like Song Identifier And Stereo Earbuds Soon

Integrated music, something that would seem an immediate design priority for a piece of wearable computing that rests on one's ears, is indeed finally headed to Google Glass.

The Mountain View giant announced on Tuesday that the smartglasses would soon be getting a voice command for listening to music, along with an audio accessory more music-focused than previous additions to the glasses.

Previously, Google added a single mono earbud accessory compatible with glass, but for those in the world with two working ears, mono earbuds don't really cut it for jamming on tunes.

So as part of the music-focused tweak to Google's Glass, Explorer edition, the company announced on its Google+ page that it is "introducing sterio earbuds designed specifically for Glass." The company also elaborated that "they're lightweight and uniquely engineered to deliver crisp, full-range audio while still letting you hear your surroundings." The earbuds will also come with five interchangeable "color caps" for a little touch of customization.

Along with the hardware upgrade, there will be a software upgrade as well. "Music is coming to Glass in several cool ways," a Google spokesperson said to the AFP. "Sound search can identify that song you're hearing but don't know the name of. All you have to say is 'Okay Glass... what song is this?' and it'll name the tune for you."

While what is essentially Google's version of Shazam isn't the most groundbreaking of features to add, it's bound to find more spontaneous use with an electronic accessory that is always listening anyway, and especially accessible by voice command.

The other feature Google is adding is voice search for Google Play Music and All Access. By saying "OK Glass, listen to..." and then the song title, Glass Explorers' smartglasses will call up the track and play it. There's no word yet on what listening to music through Glass will do to the battery life, but Google will undoubtedly be paying attention to that, as well as how people its beta testing Explorers interact with the identifying feature for music playing in the world in their daily lives.

Google is still adding features and testing out new capabilities as we approach 2014, which could be good news for the first consumers to get a wider-released version of the smartglasses, which are speculated to get a release date sometime early next year.

Right now, only "Glass Explorers" - developers, tech journalists, and other lucky people who won a Twitter competition asking what they would do with a pair of the rare wearable computing devices - are using the smartphone-connected eyewear. Soon, Google will allow those original Explorers to upgrade their Glass headsets and invite up to three friends to join an expanded beta-testing program - a move which may presage the wider release of a consumer edition afterwards.

In the meantime, Google is hyping every added capability to Glass, most recently announcing the addition of music by featuring Young Guru, an acclaimed DJ, hip-hop producer, audio engineer, and... one of those Glass Explorers.