Registration Opens For Google I/O 2013

Two months ahead of the event itself, Google has opened up registration for its annual Google I/O developer conference, requiring those that want to attend the three-day event to sign up using their Google+ account. Starting at $300 for academics and $900 for general attendance, tickets aren't cheap, but attendees are almost certain to walk away with a huge haul of devices, if last year is anything to go by.

I/O will commence on May 15 through to May 17 at the Moscone Center West in San Francisco. It's set to feature Google's latest Android and Chrome OS updates, as well as the company's other hardware and software developments. We also hope to see more on Project Glass, following Google's SXSW briefing earlier this week.

                                                                      “TICKETS SOLD OUT IN 20 MINUTES LAST YEAR”

Last year, Google unveiled the Nexus 7, the Nexus Q streamer, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and a memorable live demonstration of Project Glass by Sergey Brin. Tickets for the event sold out in record time (in around 20 minutes) last year, so be sure to have signed into your Google+ account — a necessary part of the registration process — before attempting to purchase your ticket. [TheVerge]

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Project Glass Hackathons in NY and SF Hosted by Google

Remember Google's futuristic Project Glass augmented reality eyewear, and how you could plunk down $1,500 at the Google I/O conference last June to secure an early pair? Now, after months of radio silence, those developers who pre-ordered the so-called Project Glass Explorer Edition are getting invited to New York and San Francisco at the end of the month to finally try out the kit. The events will take place on January 28th and 29th in San Francisco, and February 1st and 2nd in New York; both are hackathons, so attendees can primarily expect to play around with the Project Glass API and write some code. Here's the full text of the invitation we received via a tipster this afternoon:

“Join us for an early look at Glass and two full days of hacking on the upcoming Google Mirror API in San Francisco or New York. These hackathons are just for developers in the Explorer program and we're calling them the Glass Foundry. It's the first opportunity for a group of developers to get together and develop for Glass.

We'll begin the first day with an introduction to Glass. You'll have a device to use while on-site. Next we'll take a look at the Mirror API, which gives you the ability to exchange data and interact with the user over REST. We'll then dive into development with Google engineers on site to help you at any point. At the end of the second day we'll have a lively round of demos with some special guest judges.

There is limited space. If you are accepted, you will receive a confirmation letter with additional details and terms after registration closes. Please don't make any travel arrangements until your attendance is confirmed.” [TheVerge]

The future is here. The future is now.

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FaceBook Unveils Graph Search [Video]

Facebook this morning announced "Graph Search," a way to search all of Facebook's content for queries tailored to your profile. CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the search by saying, "Graph Search is meant to answer very specific questions like 'Who are my friends in San Francisco?" In a video released by Facebook just after the announcement, project lead Lars Rasmussen (formerly of Google Maps / Waves fame) related a story about needing a dentist in a town he'd just moved to, and being able to search through which dentists his friends used for a tailored result. Worry not, privacy protectors: we're told Graph Search is "privacy aware;" Facebook's even dedicated 10 percent of its computing power just to the goal of ensuring privacy. And no, none of your privacy settings will automatically change as a result of signing up or using Graph Search.

It's being touted as a return to Facebook's roots, when the company's main goal was forging connections between people (rather than, say, a gaming portal, or a means for companies to advertise). Graph Search is essentially a relaunch of Facebook's internal search engine, allowing its already existing users to forge new relationships with folks they may not otherwise meet, and to find content that's hyper-specific. The beta -- albeit in a limited, English-only capacity -- kicks off today. During that period only a "subset of content" is available through search, with four primary areas of focus: people, photos, places, and interests. Facebooks says Graph Search will expand, "over the coming months," with additions like searchable wall posts and song listens (only if your privacy settings allow those things to be searchable, that is).

You can head right here to get whitelisted for the beta, which is apparently rolling out "very slowly." Or you could head past the break right now for the full PR from Facebook and a walkthrough video.

Update: Facebook "one more thing'd" us during its event, saying that Graph Search will also pull in Bing search results. [Engadget]

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