Google Glass to support GPS navigation, text messages without companion app

Google Glass Explorers looking for turn-by-turn directions and text messages to be displayed from the device must pair the wearable with an Android smartphone, and a companion app. But that could soon change, according to a TechCrunch report. When writer Frederic Lardinois went to pick up his Glass yesterday afternoon, a Google rep explained that the headset will soon be able to display directions and text messages within the device -- in other words, you won't need a smartphone to act as the middleman. You will, of course, still need to source your web connection through another device, unless there's a WiFi hotspot around, but this new method will at very least enable a bit more functionality for iPhone users. It's unclear whether Glass will also still need to pull GPS data from a synced handset, so don't make any plans to ditch your smartphone just yet.