Like any other mobile device, the success of Google Glass is largely dependent on the app ecosystem. In a bid to attract developers and to make the lives of consumers easier, Google might soon manage the headset through their established Play Store. Although the California-based company has yet to formally announce this decision, they have offered up a major hint: Glass owners who have linked the device to their Google account are now seeing the wearable tech listed as a “compatible device” for many of the apps.
According to The Verge, owners must currently manage the device through an entirely separate interface. Glass also doesn't support any APK files, which is considered to be the standard format for all Android apps. Instead, early Glass programs have been extremely basic in nature and are non-transferable across other Android devices.
A secondary advantage of integrating Glass with the Play Store is that users will also be able to install apps directly from the headset, a privilege already given to smartphone and tablet owners. In fact, a recent screenshot from Android and Me appears to be early proof that this functionality is on the way. The message reads, “You have not opened the Google Play Store app recently on this device. Please open it and try again.”
Although there is plenty of optimism surrounding the Glass headset, it also seems unwise to have traditional Android apps running on the platform. The problem is that Android currently employs a one-app strategy, which means that a single application is compatible on all Google-based smartphones and tablets. The only difference is that the picture must be resized to properly fit the screen. Unfortunately, Glass had a tiny display and the screen itself isn’t actually touch-operated; therefore, traditional apps are essentially useless.
As a result, it is doubtful that we will see a single app running across all three devices. That being said, it would still be convenient to manage Glass through the familiar Google Play Store, a portal that is quickly becoming a one-stop shop for games, books and music.
