Google Glass goes on general sale

If you live in the US, have $1500 to spare, love technology and really want to make a bold sartorial statement, Google's smart headset is now available, along with a range of accessories, on the Google Play Store.

Until now, with the exception of those living in the UK, Google Glass was only available to buy if you were an app developer or if you had managed to get on the company's Explorer Program for beta testing the headset ahead of the consumer launch.

However, while it is now officially a product to add to the shopping cart, like a Nexus smartphone or an Android Wear smartwatch, Google Glass is still in beta and $1500 -- more than an Apple MacBook Pro notebook -- is a lot to spend on a device that for which a more consumer-friendly replacement is in the pipeline.

Nevertheless, Google describes its headset, which connects to the web via a smartphone app and offers users voice-activated searches and operation of forward-facing stills and video cameras well as running a number of specially adapted apps, as 'smart eyewear that lets you live lighter, and stay in the here and now.'

For $1500 consumers can get the headset in a choice of five colors and Google will throw in a free frame --for fitting prescription lenses -- or shade for turning them into high-tech sunglasses.