Skip to main content

Glass update brings World Cup notifications, improved photo sharing, and more

google glass update world cup
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google’s army of Glass ‘Explorer’ testers has expanded significantly recently, and to keep them interested the Mountain View company is continuing to roll out software updates bringing new features and a more refined user experience to its face-based tech.

On Tuesday it posted details of its latest update, this one partly geared toward pleasing soccer fans waiting patiently for the World Cup to kick off this week.glass world cup

So when the competition in Brazil finally gets underway, you can use Glass to keep up with news of unfolding events by setting up notifications on Google Now. Choose your team and you’ll get the latest information on upcoming matches, matches in progress, completed matches and table standings.

Glass’s photo functionality continues to be enhanced, with this latest update offering improved sharing for Android users via the MyGlass app (coming later to iOS).

Glass team member Yury Pinsky explained in a blog post: “With the updated app, when you take a picture on Glass, you’ll see it instantly on your Android phone when you open the MyGlass app. Tap the image to open it, apply your filter du jour (or wave the #nofilter flag), and export it to the photo-sharing app of your choice – Instagram, Facebook, VSCO – whichever strikes your fancy.”

Pinsky adds that a Wi-Fi connection isn’t necessary to perform the task.glass parking

If you’re the type of person that tends to park your car only to forget where you left it when you return, you can now pull up a Parking location card to help you locate your vehicle via a map.

The update also brings with it shipping information for any packages you’ve ordered. Simply go to settings on the Google Now mobile app and give the OK to “package updates based on your Gmail.”

Finally, in response to Explorers’ requests for more battery data, the Glass team has added a notification that pops up when Glass’s battery drops below 20 percent.

Google’s wearable computer is yet to get a full-scale commercial release, though with marketing expert Ivy Ross joining the team last month it’s thought it won’t be too long before we see the gadget finally go on sale. 

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
The camera on this Android phone is confusing, but I love it
The back of the Tecno Camon 30 Premier.

I’m all for a lot of detail, and love to hear about the new technology that’s inside a smartphone I’m about to test, but when I have to search for an explanation of what something means, it’s not a good start. The Tecno Camon 30 Premier suffers from this problem, as it has a lot of cool camera tech that is explained in a mystifying way.

So, I thought the best thing to do was to just ignore the tech speak and find out if it takes great photos the old-fashioned way.
What's the problem?

Read more
The 5 best phones with IR blasters in 2024
The OnePlus 12's camera module.

IR blasters used to be a common component in smartphones, with big products from Samsung, OnePlus, and TCL giving users access to the cool gadget. Phones equipped with IR blasters could be used as a universal remote for your other electronics, making it easy to control your gear without the need for their default controller (which might be clunky and unintuitive to use).

Fast forward today, and attempting to find a smartphone with an IR blaster is shockingly difficult. What was once common technology is now relegated to just a handful of smartphones. You won't find any iPhones or Galaxy phones with IR blasters, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for a poorly reviewed smartphone if you're interested in the tech. You will, however, probably need to settle for either OnePlus or Xiaomi, as they're the two key players still churning out powerful smartphones equipped with IR blasters.

Read more
Why you should buy the iPhone 15 Pro instead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max
Natural Titanium iPhone 15 Pro with Chopper and BD-1 droids around it.

Apple releases multiple iPhones every year, offering folks choice in terms of size and features. In 2024, the iPhone 15 lineup includes four distinct models.

The regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are great for those who don’t need a telephoto lens and don’t care about the Action button or the 1TB of storage. But anyone who wants a more “pro” experience has the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Read more