Yesterday Google announced on Google+ the next version of Google Glass software XE8. This new version brings many new features for users and developers but also seems to have lost one feature that I like.
What's New With XE8 For Developers
Google's Alain Vongsouvanh share a lot of detail that was not specifically mentioned by Google Glass in their announcement. Specifically:
- Voice commands: you can now invoke a Glassware with "Take a note" or "Post an update": more will be coming!
- HTML Pagination: you can now let Glass auto-paginate your long article and no longer have to guess where to cut the page.
- VIEW_WEBSITE menu item: you can now open the browser from your timeline item.
- PLAY_VIDEO menu item: this lets you style your video timeline card with HTML and let the user drills into the video with the menu item.
What's New With XE8 For Users
Google Glass shared most of this on Google+ and also linked to the release notes:
- Google Now on Glass: Restaurants, hotels, events, movies, emergency alerts also show up on Glass
- New voice commands: “Post an update” (first supported by Path), and “Take a note” (first supported by Evernote).
- Video Player Controls: You can click to play, click to stop, fast forward by swiping and rewind, etc.
- Volume card in Settings: but you can't make it any louder, which is a huge disappointment.
- Check your timeline while in a video call
- Navigation Menu: New contextual voice commands for Navigation such as Show route overview, Hide route overview and Stop directions
- Add a caption by voice after taking a picture or video and add hashtags by voice.
What Do I Miss
It seems I can not longer use iPhoto to download photos I've taken with Glass. With XE 6 you were not able to use iPhoto with Glass. With XE 7 you were and I was able to view, download and delete photos via iPhoto. Now with XE 8, I can no longer do so.
Update: So it turns out the iPhoto thing only works with the USB cable provided by Google. Other USB cables do power the device, I tried 4 different ones, but don't show up as a drive in iPhoto or on my mac.
Forum discussion at Google+.
