MyGlass For iOS Released (Again) But Lacks iMessage Support

Google has released the MyGlass for iOS app, giving iPhone users the same navigation and other functionality with the Glass headset as their Android counterparts have, after prematurely setting it wild earlier in the week. Whereas iPhone users would previously have to use the web-based interface to adjust their Glass settings, and did not get the same turn-by-turn directions support as with Android phones, the new app allows the wearable to access the iOS smartphone's GPS among other things.

It also has access to screencast support, which allows an iPhone to mirror what the Glass display is showing. That's particularly useful during demonstrations, since it's practically impossible for more than one person to see the Glass eyepiece at a time.

The other features are around setup and Glassware control. The iPhone app can be used to configure Glass in the first place, and then to install and manage Glassware apps such as the new batch of titles added yesterday.

Contacts, which can be preset as shortcuts for sending content such as photos and video recorded with glass, can also be set up in the app. The wearable needs to be running XE12, released this week, in order to use the new tool, which also adds features like wink-controlled photography and YouTube video sharing.

Glass Explorers using iPhones rather than Android handsets were momentarily excited on Tuesday when MyGlass for iOS landed unexpectedly in the App Store. However, the app's availability was short-lived, with Google pulling it down and admitting that it had released it prematurely.

However, the app isn't quite as functional as what Android users get. iMessage is a conspicuous omission, with Glass not showing Apple's SMS-replacement messages as it can with text and Google Voice messages from Android phones.

There's also iOS' large blue Bluetooth tethering bar to contend with, which is shown across the top of the iPhone's display while it's connected to the wearable.