Google has unveiled Android XR, a new operating system for extended reality (XR) devices, including virtual reality (VR) headsets and augmented reality (AR) smart glasses.
Google teamed up with Samsung and Qualcomm for Android XR OS. As per Google, it will assist users in performing tasks in an entirely new way. It will come equipped with Gemini and a variety of Google apps.
It will let developers create apps and games freely for the platform using familiar tools like Unity, OpenXR, ARCore, and Jetpack Compose. It will support AR, VR, and other experiences, and apps will shape these experiences. Brands like XREAL, Samsung, Sony, and smart glasses like the Ray-Ban Meta and XR headsets are already part of the ecosystem.
AI-Enhanced Interaction
It will let users access Gemini AI assistant, which is designed specifically for XR experiences. With the help of this, users will be capable of talking to the assistant and asking questions about objects or places they see, or even they can use the Circle to Search feature, available on some selected Android phones, to look up information with a simple gesture. According to Google, all in-house apps such as YouTube, Google Photos, and Google TV will be updated to work on a virtual display.
Google Maps will have an improved Immersive View feature. Users can also browse the web on a larger virtual screen with Google Chrome, using gestures for navigation. Samsung will launch this XR headset in 2025. It is named as Project Moohan. Samsung explains in their announcement why they named it Project Moohan. Basically, Moohan means ‘infinity’ in Korean, and Project Moohan represents limitless possibilities in an immersive space. This can put the company as a direct competitor to Apple Vision Pro, launched this year, in selected markets. Google shared a demo of the Android XR glasses, showcasing features powered by Gemini that are similar to the assistant features shown in Project Astra at I/O 2024.
