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Smart glasses without a camera? Even Realities bets productivity beats recording everyone
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In the past few years, multiple tech executives have told us that glasses could be the next big interface for consumer hardware. And yet, today’s smart glasses rely a lot on phones, even if they have good hardware. Even Realities’ G2 smart glasses are in the same boat. They’re a premium-looking pair of glasses with a neon-style heads-up display you can see in any lighting — but their functionality relies heavily on their connectivity with the phone, which can be** unreliable and frustrating. Even Realities takes a different approach to smart glasses than players like Meta. Their devices have a monochrome heads-up display that shows text and information in green, giving it the look of a neon board. There are no cameras or speakers, and that is by design. The company wants to focus on productivity rather than recording, so the people around you don’t have to worry about being filmed. The G2 is the second pair of smart glasses from Even Realities and an improvement over the G1 released a few years ago. The G2 has a brighter 1,200-nit display (vs. 1,000 nits on the G1), four mics (vs. two), and a 75% larger display area than its predecessor. The new display also has a better 60Hz refresh rate, compared with 20Hz on the G1. In the few months I’ve used the G2, the connectivity with the phone has improved tremendously. Early on, the glasses would disconnect from the app so frequently that I nearly gave up on them. But after a few app updates, that issue got better. The glasses are targeted at people who might be constantly in meetings, giving presentations, and traveling to countries where different languages are spoken. Design The glasses, which come in two frame designs, are very light at 35 grams. The frame is made out of magnesium alloy, and the temples (the arms that go over your ears) are made out of titanium alloy. In terms of weight and fit, the glasses were comfortable to wear. Since I work from home most of the time, though, I didn’t feel much need to wear them all day. That said, the lenses have UV protection built in, so they’re still worth wearing outside just for eye protection — smart features or not. Image Credits: Even RealitiesImage Credits:Even Realities The company claims that, based on typical usage, G2’s battery can last up to two days on a single charge. The glasses come with a protective case that can recharge them up to seven times before needing to be plugged in itself. I personally didn’t test the two-day claim, but the battery lasted me long enough to put them back into the case without running out of juice. That case is big — you can’t shove it in a pocket — but it’s solid, and the glasses fit in snugly. Features and operation The glasses act as your companion for schedules, reminders, and access to notes. You can wake them up by tapping on the stem-based controls. If you double-tap on the control pad on the stem, you will see a dashboard with information like your upcoming meetings, stocks, and top news. The G2 can also show real-time phone notifications, but the pop-ups weren’t always reliable — and since my phone is usually within reach anyway, I didn’t find much use for the feature. Long-pressing the temple control opens a menu with several functions: a notifications tray, Translate, Conversate, Teleprompt, a to-do list, and Navigate. Translate lets you set a target language and converse with anyone. At the recent Global Connect Show (GCS) in China, I wore the glasses while talking to company reps doing demos, and the translation was good enough for me to follow along when someone spoke Chinese. I also tried it with other journalists speaking various languages, including French and Spanish. (The downside of this feature is that the other person doesn’t know what you’re saying in your language unless they’re also using the app.) Navigate is a cool feature that shows turn-by-turn directions on the heads-up display. The catch: it doesn’t work with Google or Apple Maps. Instead, you have t
Disney+ is considering making some of its streaming library available to watch for free, according to a report from Business Insider. Disney’s chief product and technology officer Adam Smith discussed the possibility of offering free-tier content during a town hall on Thursday, the report says. It’s unknown which shows or movies would be included or when the streaming platform would consider launching the offering. The rollout of free content would allow Disney+ to better compete with free services like YouTube and Tubi, which are capturing a growing share of consumers’ viewing time. As streaming giants continue to raise prices, consumers have been turning to ad-supported services. According to data from Neilson, free streaming services represented 18.7% of U.S. television watch time in April 2026, rising from 16.8% in April 2025 and 12.7% in April 2024. By offering select free content to consumers, Disney+ could better differentiate itself from its streaming peers like Netflix and Amazon Prime, especially as Apple TV+ and Paramount+ already allow non-subscribers to access a few free episodes.
We spend dozens of hours at our desks each week (if not more), so it’s worth creating a workspace that’s productive and enjoyable. The right desk gadgets can help you reduce clutter, stay focused, and add a little extra convenience to your day. From ambient lighting to smart mugs, there are lots of products designed to make your time at your desk better, so we’ve combined a list of some options. Whether you’re working from home or in an office, these gadgets can help transform your workspace. Odistar Desktop Vacuum Cleaner — $13 Image Credits:Odistar The Odistar desktop vacuum is an affordable option for keeping your desk clean and crumb-free, especially if you often eat lunch or snack at your desk. You can also use it to clean your keyboard and remove dust and debris between keys. It’s quiet and simple to use, and because it’s so compact, you can keep it on your desk or tuck it away in a drawer until you need it. It’s cordless and uses two AA batteries. At just $13, the desktop vacuum is a great way to keep your desk clean as you work. Ember Mug 2 — $150 Image Credits:Ember If you’re someone who enjoys hot coffee but often finds yourself drinking it cold after getting sidetracked while working, the Ember Mug 2 can help keep your drinks at the perfect temperature. You can set an exact temperature using your phone and the smart mug maintains it for up to one and a half hours with the 10-ounce version and up to 80 minutes with the 12-ounce version. The mug allows for a more consistent coffee experience, making your workday more enjoyable. Amazon Echo Dot — $50 Image Credits:Amazon The Amazon Echo Dot can be a great addition to your work desk as you can use voice commands to set reminders, create to-do lists, check your calendar, play music, adjust smart lights, or get quick answers to questions without having to reach for your phone. Since it’s small, you can easily place it anywhere on your desk where it can act as a hands-free assistant that helps keep you organized and focused throughout your workday. Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels — $189.99 Image Credits:Govee The Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels are a simple and fun way to add some personality to your work desk setup without taking up any actual desk space. The hexagon-shaped panels mount on the wall behind your monitor and can display different colors and customizable lighting effects through the Govee app. They can be used to create a focused atmosphere during work hours and can be switched to more dynamic effects when gaming or taking a break. The panels can be arranged in different patterns to match your style. Speks — $35 Image Credits:Speks If you’re someone who hasn’t yet delved into the world of fidget toys but often finds yourself playing with random objects or even wrappers during calls or meetings, Speks might be for you. They’re tiny magnets that you can fidget or build with to keep your brain focused and your hands busy. Instead of fidgeting with whatever happens to be within reach, you can have something that is actually made for the job and is more satisfying to have in your hands. They can help you stay focused and relieve stress throughout your workday. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Aisha is a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch. Prior to joining the publication in 2021, she was a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Aisha holds an honours bachelor’s degree from University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University. You can contact or verify outreach from Aisha by emailing aisha@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at aisha_malik.01 on Signal. View Bio
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