Google Glass will soon run the latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS, bringing with it new features and removing others.
Sometime later this week, Google Glass users will receive the Android KitKat update, ahead of the one day sale that will make the head worn gadget available to all US residents, outside of the Glass Explorer scheme.
“Our most exciting update is subtle, but big. We’ve been working on a significant upgrade to a new version of the Glass software,” reads the Google announcement. “It’s not a change you can see, but it brings improved battery life and makes Glass more reliable and easier to update in the future.”
One of the most exciting KitKat updates is that developers can now utilise the latest SDK to create apps for Google Glass, which means more apps for Glass in the long run.
Google has now introduced photo bundles that collate all photos, videos and other photo content into little packages in your timelines, making it easier to view them without scrolling.
You can also reply to Google Hangout messages with a photograph, which may be a simpler way to answer your pals’ when they ask you what you’re up to.
Another new addition coming with Android 4.4 KitKat on your Google Glass is a little voice command clarity.
Google has recognised the voice command list is getting a little long and now offers voice commands sorted by those you frequently and recently use. This will make them easier to access from the touch menu and remind you of those you most like.
What is interesting is that Google has removed the voice calling functionality with the KitKat update for Glass, because it believes it doesn’t quite live up to Google’s standards as it is currently.
“We hold ourselves to high standards for the features that we build and video calls aren’t living up to these standards. Explorers have told us so directly, and fewer than 10 per cent of them use video calls. For this reason we’ve made the hard decision to remove video calls from Glass until the experience is better.”
“We don’t know when that will be, but in the meantime, keep an eye on MyGlass as more Glassware is built and released – we’re already seeing the developer community work on other video streaming services.”
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