Earlier this week, Google announced that it was making Glass available in the United Kingdom, marking the first official launch of its wearable device outside of the United States. Coinciding with its UK launch, the company has also revealed that it has made some hardware and software improvements to the device.
The biggest improvement comes in the form of a big increase in RAM, doubling from 1GB to 2GB, which Google hopes will answer some criticisms about the device’s performance. As The Verge reports, Glass product manager Steve Lee said that the extra RAM “will allow for more Glassware [apps] to run in parallel and for each Glassware to start more quickly. You’ll notice the device generally feels a bit faster and more reliable.”
The upgraded hardware will be shipping to everyone who buys Glass now, including those in the UK, who will have to pay £1000 for it. However, existing owners on the Glass Explorer program will not be able to upgrade their devices, nor will they be able to swap theirs for the new and improved model.
But enhancements on the software front may at least give owners of the previous Glass model something to be happy about. The company has added new Google Now cards to the experience – for package delivery notifications and a reminder where you parked your car – along with a new viewfinder for taking photos, which has apparently been a common request among Glass owners.
A larger battery has also been shipping in Glass models since March, according to Lee, and combined with further software enhancements – including some in this latest update – Google claims that Glass can now go 15 percent longer between charges.
Source: +GoogleGlass / The Verge | Images via Google