Cupertino, CA — Coming soon: Google Glass. Shipping today: Apple iGlass.

That was the theme pounded nonstop by Apple executives at today’s surprise press event.

“iGlass doesn’t just change the way you interact with the world, it shows you a better world,” said Tim Cook.

Quite literally, this is a device that lets customers see the world through Apple-colored glasses.

Take “Disaster Detection,” for example. If a newspaper headline fails to meet Apple standards, iGlass literally re-writes it in real time. (See inset to the right.)

Is iGlass easy to use? You bet.

“If you know how to blink,” said Cook, “you know how to use iGlass.”

Just single-blink to take a photo. Double-blink to shoot a video. But that’s just the start.

Advanced users can create left-winks and right-winks to access system settings and customized commands.

Apple partners have signed on in a big way. Instagram has created a quadruple-blink/right-wink combo command that takes a photo, applies your favorite filter, then automatically uploads to your Instagram account.

If a user should ever become confused or perform an accidental blink/wink, a simple eye-roll returns you to the home screen.

“Can’t innovate anymore, my glass!” said a beaming Phil Schiller, echoing his memorable quip from Apple’s WWDC earlier this year.

But how did Apple beat Google to the punch? Is iGlass really ready for prime time? Cook was straightforward in answering that very question.

“Apple Maps taught us a lot,” he said. “We call our new philosophy ‘SARU’: ship, apologize, revise and update. I guarantee, you’re going to love iGlass. Eventually.”