For those who can’t wink, the Google Glass might not be for you. Or at least a few of its functions will be lost to you if you don’t start practicing that wink. Simply repeat to yourself, “What has two thumbs, one eye and is good in bed?” while turning your thumbs inward and saying, “This guy.” That should do the trick. Today, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) announced a massive update to its highly anticipated first foray into wearable technology.
Google Glass updates for YouTube, Hangouts, more
The update includes a lock screen, direct YouTube uploading via an app for Glass, Hangouts chat, and lastly a wink-and-shoot picture add on. The last feature was somewhat expected given that multiple developers had found allusions to it in the Glass’ firmware.
The Glass by itself raises more questions than Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has answered regarding privacy issues when it it issued. This certainly adds to these concerns now that users will need only wink rather than speak or touch a button on the device.
“Glass is about helping you look up and experience the world around you without getting bogged down by technology,” reads the posting on the Google website. “Based on this philosophy, we’ve got a new setting that lets you quickly and easily capture the moments you care about with a simple wink of the eye. Whether it’s capturing an amazing sunset on an evening walk, or photographing your receipt for the lunch you’ll need to expense, you can now stay in the moment and wink to take a picture instantly.”
The post continues with the suggestion that winking to snap a quick picture is ‘just the beginning’. It asks you to imagine situations like ‘winking at a cab’s meter’ to pay for a ride, or winking at a pair of shoes in a shop window to purchase a pair in your size and have them shipped to you.
“You wink at a cookbook recipe and the instructions appear right in front of you – hands-free, no mess, no fuss. Pretty cool, right?”
Glass banned by some businesses right out of the gate
When Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) first announced the Glass, I immediately suggested that I would punch the first person I saw wearing it. That didn’t happen and as a golfer and bit of a gadget freak, I quickly changed my tune understanding that I sounded like I was violent, 70 years old or both. That hasn’t stopped a number of businesses from banning the device almost immediately and well before they ever had a customer enter their establishment with Glass on head.
In addition to these winks, the new lock screen will allow the disabling of the device with a set of taps and swipes set by the user. Additionally, direct upload to YouTube has been enabled by Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG). This feature was already enabled by hackers playing around with the Glass. For Google Music All Access Subscribers, this update also provides access to their music and playlists.
Lastly, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) announced the imminent return of the iOS version of MyGlass from the App Store.
