Google Glass XE5 software update brings improved Google+ support and more

There are a precious few that have access to Google Glass and these select individuals will soon be getting the first update for the augmented reality heads-up glasses. The update called XE5 brings with it some bug fixes and a bunch of new features.

One of the features brought to Google Glass is a new rule for uploading data in the background. Apps will be able to upload data when they are connected to Wi-Fi and a power source. There is no information why Google has adopted this policy for the glasses.

A complete list of the features that will comes to Google Glass with the XE5 update is as follows:

• Change to sync policy: require power Wi-Fi 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

To access the update, users will have to plug the Glass hardware into the charging port. Reports on the Internet suggest that the update will take some time to download and install. Google Glass is set to hit store shelves towards the end of 2013 for roughly $1,500 (Rs. 81,000 approx.)

Google will next week be holding its annual I/O event, which kicks off on May 15. Google is expected to unearth more details about Glass along with the next generation Nexus devices and the next iteration of the Android OS.

Source: Phandroid