Google Glass gets a software update, mix of bug fixes and additional Google+ support

BY Stefan Constantinescu

Published 8 May 2013

If you’re one of the few lucky people who owns Google Glass, you should check your device for a new software update. According to Phandroid, this latest update is known as “XE5”.

Here’s the full changelog, which curiously only they have:

  • Change to sync policy: require power + wifi for background uploads
  • Crash reporting
  • Incoming G+ notifications (direct shares, comments, +mentions), including ability to comment and +1
  • Incoming Hangout notifications
  • Transcription of queries & messages is now wicked-fast
  • Long-press to search from anywhere in the UI (no longer just from off)
  • International number dialing + SMS
  • Hop animation on disallowed swipes in the UI
  • New On-Head Detection calibration flow
  • Show device Serial Number on Device Info card
  • More reliable estimation of battery charge remaining
  • New recipient-list mosaic

So there’s not a lot there, but something tells me we’ll be hearing plenty more about Glass during Google I/O next week. It’s hard to believe Google I/O 2012 was where Glass was first demoed, and now it’s been almost a year since that date.

We’re still incredibly far away from actual consumer versions of Glass that you’ll be able to buy with your own money, which is maybe a good thing considering you’ll have to fork over $1,500 to get Glass today. That’s not pocket money for most people. Here’s hoping the retail Glass will cost less than a top of the line smartphone, and that they improve the atrocious battery life.