The specifications for Google Glass have been known for quite some time now. First developer copies have already been spotted in the wild and various approaches to popular design software whiz through the ether. For the official launch of Google Glass, only thing missing is an appropriate app store.

The New York Times has learned that the Google Glass App Store is coming next year and Google has confirmed the thing with Marketing Land, without bothering to pour in more detail on the subject. As already Clive Thompson of the New York Times mentioned that Google Glass is expected to launch to the general public in the course of next year, so it would be logical to inherit an App Store for it. It remains to be seen whether this will be independent application store, or would be directly integrated into Google Play Store.

“Because there isn’t an app store for Glass, its capabilities were initially limited by the few applications preinstalled by Google — sending and receiving texts, taking and sending videos and pictures, getting directions and doing Google searches,” said the report published in The New York Times Magazine. “The company says an app store is coming next year, when Glass is available to the general public.”

Earlier this summer, there were signs that the glasses are already on the list of compatible devices with apps from Play Store. The commercial launch is extended to 2014, representing a slight delay as the company will need more time than expected to improve the device.

A new wearable ecosystem for Developers

Google Glass has an internal memory of 16 gigabytes of data, of which 12 gigabytes are available for consumption. The integrated five megapixel camera allows the recording of both photos and videos in HD quality (720p). The HMD is charged via a microUSB port and includes built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. This allows Google to connect Glass with smartphone or tablet.

After first introducing Glass in 2012, Google began distributing Glass to members of its Glass Explorer program back in April at $1,500 for early access. Google, since then, has been updating the device’s software on a monthly basis, adding in new goodies, tweaking existing features and generally getting Glass ready for the general public.

As Google knows, the hardware doesn’t matter nearly as much as the ecosystem that develops around the software. Having a large population of developers writing and selling a rich and deep range of applications is what drives device sales. Apparently to strengthen its activities in the field of wearable computing, Google has recently launched a takeover of WIMM Labs, which specializes in Smart Watches.

Developers can create apps for Google Glass called “Glassware”. Google Glass Explorers already have a decent app selection such as the New York Times, Evernote, Gmail, Path, Facebook, and Tumblr. NYTimes reported Google created a set of guidelines for designing applications, and by midsummer, private developers had produced a few offerings. A cooking application, for example, displays pictures to go with a recipe as you make it.

One developer is even working on a Space Invaders-like video game, where players can destroy enemies by physically looking around and locking on to them. Other Glass developers are developing variety of situations, such as one that can display virtual to-do lists and another that displays PowerPoint presentation slides.

Outside of the ecosystem, Glass explorers are finding apps in unofficial channels with several Glass app directories popping up on the net. Glass Appz seems to have the most robust selection of those available with 68 Glass apps in its list.

This app store will be a key move for Google. As we know, the success of many devices these days depends upon the strength of their app store which can extend upon the functionality of a device. The search company will be hoping to have generated enough content for the device when it starts hitting the market for the general public.