Google opens up online store for Glass accessories - $50 for a 'pouch'

The search giant is continuing to create buzz around the product, announcing a hardware update and new availability for devices

A man wears the updated Google Glass device.

Google has quietly opened an online store selling accessories for Google Glass, the company’s wearable computing device.

The shop was announced on a forum for Glass Explorers – select individuals who have been beta-testing the device for Google – and comes just after announcements of a hardware upgrade.

The shop reflects this upgrade, offering an additional mono earbud for Glass costing $50 (£31) as well as accessories such as a clear eye shield ($75), a spare charger ($50), or an extra pouch ($50).

The tech giant has been ramping up exposure of Glass recently, announcing that its Explorer program will be expanded, with each currently-enrolled member allowed to extend their invitation to three friends.

This means that Google is finally relinquishing control of who has access to the exclusive advice (previously Explorers had been selected by the search company) and a quick search of eBay shows that there is already a black market for invites, with ‘Buy it Now’ prices going as high as $2,999. This is on top of Glass’s standard $1500 price tag.

Another mystery surrounding the continuing roll-out of Glass is the appearance of a mysterious four-storey structure on a barge in San Francisco Bay.

The building has been linked to Google but the company refuses to confirm its involvement. It’s been suggested that the floating structure might be a moving store for Glass or perhaps be linked to a patent filed by the company in 2009 for a “water-based data centre”.

And for those of you who have been adding up the potential price-tag of being part of the Glass club there’s another potential expense – a Californian woman was recently given a driving ticket for “driving with monitor visible to driver (Google Glass)”.

A screenshot of the newly opened online store.