Android as we known runs on many devices across smartphones, tablets, tv, cars, smartwatches and IOT devices. Google thus far has only supported Android on Phones, Tablets, Smartwatches, TV, and Cars, but today they’re expanding their reach into the Extended Reality or XR category of devices. Under this category, Google is set to release AR and VR glasses.
What is Android XR?
Android XR is a new Android OS heavily customized to support VR headsets and AR glasses built on AOSP, open source foundation of Android.
Since, 2017 Google has not released a new version of Android with Android Automative, which were well before the birth of Generative AI. Google, in turn has termed Android XR as the first Android platform built for the Gemini era.
As we have learnt, Google is making the XR project come to life with the help of partners like Qualcomm, Samsung and others. Samsung is said to be developing the Hardware to run Android XR, Qualcomm, on the other hand is developing the chipsets that will house the hardware.
Why Google And Why now ?
As you maybe aware that Google is not new to XR. In the past as we have known, they did start with the AR-focused Google Glass project and the VR-focused Daydream VR platform. Recent AI race and breakthroughs have once again made Google believe that it can once again bring back VR they wanted to years ago.
This is why Google believes, it is the right time for them to launch Android XR as they’re in a unique position with the advancement of AI.
Android XR, Who Is It For?
An ambitious project as such calls for developers to get onboard and it won’t be easy to develop an experience that fans desiring to purchase such hardware want.
Google has thus demonstrated some capabilities as to what one should look forward to. For example, Android XR allows apps like Google Photos, Google TV, and YouTube to be shown in windows floating above objects in the real world. These windows can be moved around, dragged or dropped, and minimized or closed by using hand gestures. Every app in Android XR has a header bar and sometimes a bottom bar with various buttons that can either be controlled through hand gestures or controlled conversationally through Gemini. Gemini in Android XR has the ability to interact with and even control your apps, as the platform allows Gemini to “see what you see, hear what you hear, and react to your gestures alongside your voice.”
Samsung is known to be developing the Samsung VR Headset which will be the first device running the Android XR platform. It will be made available to the general public at an unspecified date in 2025 and the price is yet to be known.
Samsung and Google has first decided to release the VR headsets before it can get on to the glasses band wagon. Both companies believe that VR headsets are the “most suitable form factor” to start building out a core XR ecosystem. They also offer eye, head, and hand recognition and can seamlessly transition between mixed and virtual realities. In contrast, XR smart glasses are a bit more limited in terms of immersion and input options as they’re much smaller and thus can’t pack as much hardware. This is why smart glasses running Android XR are being developed with different experiences in mind. Google envisions smart glasses as more of a lifestyle product rather than a gaming or productivity one. You’re expected to wear smart glasses out in public just like regular glasses, and you’re expected to converse with them while moving about. Just like with VR headsets, AR smart glasses will also support voice controls through Gemini AI, but voice interactions are even more important for smart glasses than they are for VR headsets. Example, you’ll be able to ask Gemini to summarize the content of group chats in Google Messages, send messages to contacts, look up information on nearby stores and restaurants through Google Maps, and get turn-by-turn navigation directions to a location. You’ll also be able to point your smart glasses at a sign and ask Gemini to translate it, ask Gemini questions about the content of the sign, and get real-time translations during conversations.
Smart glasses running Android XR will be coming soon, and they’ll be available in a variety of options. Google will soon begin real-world testing of its Project Astra service on prototype glasses running Android XR, and they're inviting a small number of users to sign up to take part in this testing. We don’t know when Samsung’s smart glasses will launch or whether they’ll even have an in-lens display, but Google’s announcement strongly suggests the initial batch of Android XR smart glasses will have displays, as shown in the demo videos that Google shared with us. There’s a future where Android XR will run on display-less glasses, though for now, Google believes that displays are important to the form factor as they allow for richer content and more capabilities to be offered on the output side.
Apps that will be a part of android XR
During the briefing done by google they have highlighted some of its partners who are working on apps for android XR. They have included various concepts to make it interesting such as Adobe, Calm, MLB, Concepts, AmazeVr, Mirrorscape, Naver, Resolution Games, 30 Ninjas, Spline, Tripp, Owlchemy labs and Virtual Desktop. 30 Ninja has been working on a film app, as well as Owlchemy labs and Virtual Desktop are porting their games over their platform. Many companies have also shared their experience and offers to be a part of the platform but whether they will release for Android XR program is yet Unknown.
Google has said to work on all existing Android apps that will just work on Android XR. These apps will be built for large devices for many best Android apps, to work on mixing the reality and to make it wider viewing area. Most of these apps will be available on the Play Store on Android XR, the developer’s will polish the app to make it available to manifest the attribute to opt it out. Google has been getting ready to make Android XR Headsets, but what we actually know is whether we will be able to download these Android Apps without Google Play Store.
We shall update this article as and when more information is made available.
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