In an attempt to gain a foothold in the virtual reality headsets and smart glasses market, Google introduced Android XR, a new operating system designed for the next generation of consumer electronics. Created in partnership with Samsung, Android XR is the culmination of years of investment in artificial intelligence, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
Image source: Google
There are few details yet about exactly how Android XR will function. However, as The Verge reports, Google is already adapting its popular services such as Maps, Photos and YouTube to work in the new environment. Interestingly, the new OS will support smartphone and tablet apps from Google Play, similar to how Apple adapted iPad apps on the Vision Pro. A version of the Chrome browser with support for multitasking in XR mode is also being developed.
Artificial intelligence (AI) Gemini plays a key role in the operation of Android XR. Google believes that AI is capable of making extended reality (XR) devices a convenient and mass-produced product. “We believe that integrating the digital assistant into XR solutions will become a key application for this technology, just as email and text messaging became essential for smartphones,” said Sameer Samat, who leads the Android ecosystem at Google. . These words are also confirmed by the fact that as Gemini becomes more versatile in creating and processing audio and video content, the use of headsets and glasses becomes more justified every day.
The choice of abbreviation for the new operating system is also interesting. “XR”, in fact, combines concepts such as virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality (MR) and others that partially overlap with those listed. XR has become the broadest definition, encompassing the entire spatial spectrum known today. “When we talk about extended reality or XR, we mean the whole spectrum of solutions, from virtual reality to augmented reality and everything in between,” Samat explained.
Google sees the future of XR devices in their versatility. Headsets should easily switch between virtual and real worlds, and smart glasses can become a person’s constant companions. The company is also considering the possibility of creating audio-only devices similar to Ray-Ban Meta✴ Smart Glasses. Some gadgets will be standalone, some will be an addition to smartphones. For now, the only open question is whether Google will produce its own equipment for XR or whether partners will do it.
It’s important to note that Android XR is currently in its early stages of development. Developers are just beginning to explore the available software and hardware to create applications for the new OS. However, Google plans to speed up the process. A device created in collaboration with Samsung, codenamed Moohan, is expected to be released next year. All that remains is to convince users to buy this headset.