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Google Glass update brings winks, the ‘Glass handshake’, YouTube, and more

Trevor Mogg
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google glass spec bump brings twice the memory and improved battery life october 2013
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Google has just released its final Glass software update of 2013 and by the looks of it, it’s a pretty substantial one.

Update XE12 looks set to turn Glass users into a bunch of winkers, with a new feature that allows you to snap a photo with a discreet wink. Wonder how that one’s going to go down with privacy groups.

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Still, judging by what the Glass team wrote on its Google+ page, it looks like winking could become a major part of Google’s high-tech headwear:

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“We’re starting with pictures, but just think about what else is possible. Imagine a day where you’re riding in the back of a cab and you just wink at the meter to pay. You wink at a pair of shoes in a shop window and your size is shipped to your door. You wink at a cookbook recipe and the instructions appear right in front of you – hands-free, no mess, no fuss. Pretty cool, right?”

Next up, improved security. Apparently in response to Explorer requests, the Mountain View company has added a lock screen function to prevent others from using your face-based computer until the correct “Glass handshake” – comprising a series of taps and swipes of your choosing – is performed on the device’s touchpad.

Uploading Glass-shot videos directly to YouTube is now just a matter of saying, “OK Glass, share with YouTube,” or alternatively, tap on the video and swipe to the YouTube share card.

Hangouts integration, too, has been added with this month’s update, enabling you to message and chat with friends through Google’s communication tool, while the company’s music service has been further worked into Glass, now letting you easily navigate through playlists and All Access radio stations.

Last but by no means least, Google will this week roll out the long-awaited MyGlass app for iOS, allowing iDevice-owning Glass users to more easily configure and manage their Glass gadget, and make use of other features, too.

Google’s monthly software updates through 2013 have helped build Glass into a feature-rich product that’s set to get a commercial release in the first half of 2014, though the Web giant is yet to announce a specific launch date.

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Trevor Mogg
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)…
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