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Google Debuts Android XR Operating System for Mixed Reality Headsets and Smart Glasses

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Google today announced the launch of Android XR, an operating system created for extended reality (XR) headsets and smart glasses. Android XR is Google's equivalent of visionOS, the operating system that runs on the Apple Vision Pro headset.

android-xr.jpg

Android XR is designed for the "next generation of computing," and Google has teamed up with Samsung for the operating system. Google is providing a preview of Android XR to developers as of today, allowing them to start building apps and games for future Android XR devices that will compete with the Vision Pro and VR headsets from Meta.

The first headset that runs Android XR will be designed by Samsung, and it is set to launch in 2025. Android XR and Samsung's headset will support being fully immersed in a virtual environment or staying present in the real world, similar to how Apple allows Apple Vision Pro users to adjust the Vision Pro immersion level by activating or shutting out the real world view provided by cameras.

Android XR will include Gemini, Google's AI assistant, and it will offer device controls and insight into what the wearer is seeing. Google says that Gemini will be able to help users plan, research topics, and get task guidance. YouTube will be available to watch on a "virtual big screen," and Google Photos will support 3D images. An immersive view will be available for Google Maps, and Chrome will support multiple virtual screens for multitasking.

Google says that mobile and tablet apps from Google Play will work with Android XR "right out of the box," with more immersive content made for XR coming in 2025.

As for smart glasses, Android XR will provide one-tap access to Google Gemini. Google is planning to test prototype glasses running Android XR with a small group of users in the near future.

Article Link: Google Debuts Android XR Operating System for Mixed Reality Headsets and Smart Glasses
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/12/12/google-android-xr-operating-system/
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hieranonymous said:
I wonder if this will hasten the release of a native visionOS YouTube app or drag things out even more.
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It will ensure there is never one. This is why Google killed anything resembling one. If they could block Safari on Vision Pro from accessing YouTube and thought they could get away with it, they would.

Remember software from these companies doesn’t have anything to do with what we want. Only what they can sell and what they think is best for their business interests. That includes Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc.
 
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CarAnalogy said:
It will ensure there is never one. This is why Google killed anything resembling one. If they could block Safari on Vision Pro from accessing YouTube and thought they could get away with it, they would.

Remember software from these companies doesn’t have anything to do with what we want. Only what they can sell and what they think is best for their business interests. That includes Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc.
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To be less cynical, it could also simply be because Google knew they had this coming soon and wanted to debut it for their platform first, and it will eventually make it to vOS with delayed features like they do with everything else they make. So it's a win-win: they leave Apple out to dry on the debut but eventually capture that audience too.
 
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tazinlwfl said:
To be less cynical, it could also simply be because Google knew they had this coming soon and wanted to debut it for their platform first, and it will eventually make it to vOS with delayed features like they do with everything else they make. So it's a win-win: they leave Apple out to dry on the debut but eventually capture that audience too.
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I would be less cynical about it if they hadn't killed the third party client, too.
 
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The fact that Google is developing something similar is good. Developers now has the reason to develop for 2 platforms. Although the coding platforms are different, the concept behind each app will be similar. Looking forward to a better shared future with Google😆
 
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paulovsouza said:
I'm glad there's a push, and competition because I really want Apple pushing the AVP even though no one believes in it. But even though it's a year ahead, I'm sure Google already learned from Apples mistakes. So the AVP may still be behind, even in 2025.
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Google looks to be copying AVP software and the headset from Samsung looks like a paired down version for the Vision Pro.
 
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paulovsouza said:
I'm glad there's a push, and competition because I really want Apple pushing the AVP even though no one believes in it. But even though it's a year ahead, I'm sure Google already learned from Apples mistakes. So the AVP may still be behind, even in 2025.
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You dont remember the launch of the first iPhone and how it got copied? This is nothing new. Hint the early versions of Android were not better than IOS lol. So yeah, AVP will be ahead still.
 
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Finally. Maybe this will push Apple on their AR/VR and AI efforts. Interesting to note: Everything Google is showing is possible with Gemini now unlike Apple's promised but as of yet to be fully delivered AI/Siri efforts. Will this spur Apple to bigger and better things- perhaps even to alter their course a bit? I certainly hope so as an AVP owner that's currently looking at it on a table, covered with a slight layer of dust. Either way this Samsung device is a day one purchase.

So, can't help but think Apple's usual "not first but best" strategy doesn't apply here since they were the first and ceded the high ground. Maybe they should have waited on AVP a few more years, it's certainly not a good value as a media consumption-centric device so hopefully this lights a fire under Apple. Also, that Google maps immersive view is chefs kiss. Auto spatializing any photo (not dependent on buying a new phone) and maximizing shareability of the header are also killer. Looks amazing and with Gemini it's gonna be actually useful for multi-modal routines. Whereas Apple's headset is positioned as a Mac display and passive video consumption device. It's making me feel like Apple just wasn't imaginative enough because they didn't build AVP with any sort of LLM in mind. But arguably Google and Samsung have. Wonder what the cost will be.

- and apparently during the presentation they made note that any and all Android apps will be available for it (a dig at Apple?)
If Google was feeling vindictive they could just not release YouTube or YouTube TV natively for AVP and I don't think anyone would know but it would hurt the AVP user base if a competitor had it.
 
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AlexStudios said:
If Meta actually uses Android XR as their new OS for future Quest headsets, then we’d actually be able to have a full competitive market of XR headsets just like with Smartphones.
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I don't think Meta will do that, they're instead licensing their OS for other peoples headsets. They want to be the gatekeeper this time around, they're very mad about how Apple and Google control iOS and Android and which apps are allowed and what their policies are about what apps can and cannot do etc

I'd also say Meta is much further ahead than Google.
 
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AlexStudios said:
If Meta actually uses Android XR as their new OS for future Quest headsets, then we’d actually be able to have a full competitive market of XR headsets just like with Smartphones.
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I believe the Quest as is is using, like most things nowadays, an Android fork, kind of like Fire OS on Amazon Echo devices. It wouldn’t be too hard to switch it to this Android XR OS. However, like Amazon, they may prefer to keep it to their own ecosystem, considering they have their own store, gift cards, and an established market already.
 
what you get when you order AVP from TEMU. Crappy Samsung hardware next fall. Followed by tanking sales the following spring, followed by a much talked about but poor selling follow up, ending with Google abandoning it. Rinse and repeat. Yeah, I too would like to see try competition for AVP. But you’re delusional if you think the writing isn’t on the wall or that Apple is behind.
 
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I welcome this. Competition is good. I currently have a Meta 3 and it's fun for games but sucks for media consumption because there isn't even a proper movie / tv rental store to conveniently watch content. Studios also hardly support it as there are barely any natively supported Apps such as Disney- etc. This one seems to offer Google Movies or whatever it's called nowadays at least
 
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