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Android XR

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Android XR is an extended reality (XR) operating system developed by Google and based on Android. It was announced in December 2024 and will launch in 2025 on a headset manufactured by Samsung.

Google's first foray into the realm of XR—a catch-all term for augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR)—was Google Glass, a pair of smartglasses launched in 2013. Following the commercial failure of Glass, Google made other ventures into the space such as the Google Cardboard and Google Daydream VR headsets, neither of which gained traction and were eventually discontinued. In 2021, Google revived its XR efforts with a project internally codenamed Project Iris, an AR headset powered by a new operating system. However, Google shelved the project after Apple outmaneuvered Google by releasing its Vision Pro MR headset in 2023. One year later, Google announced Android XR as Project Iris' spiritual successor.

History

Background

This section is an excerpt from Project Iris § Background.[edit]

Google first experimented with the prospect of smartglasses with the introduction of Google Glass in 2013.[1] The product was panned by critics due to privacy and ethical concerns,[2] leading Google to discontinue the consumer-facing model and focus on the enterprise model.[3][4] In May 2019, Google VR/AR head Clay Bavor told CNET that the company was heavily invested in R&D regarding AR devices,[5] while a February 2020 report from The Information revealed that Google had no plans to develop a new pair of augmented reality (AR) smartglasses as of mid-2019, in part due to the highly publicized failure of Glass.[6] In June 2020, Google acquired North, a manufacturer of smartglasses, to assist in its hardware division's vision of ambient computing.[7] Shortly after the acquisition, the company began work on a new pair of AR smartglasses based on North designs,[8] which The New York Times confirmed in December 2021.[9]

In August 2021, following the announcement that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones would feature the custom-developed Tensor system-on-chip (SoC), Google hardware chief Rick Osterloh told Business Insider that he believed that Tensor had long-term potential for AR-powered smartglasses,[10] and was echoed by CEO Sundar Pichai in October.[11] In November, a "Google Labs" division led by Bavor was created to oversee Google's AR and virtual reality (VR) ventures, unrelated to the defunct service of the same name,[12] while development on an AR operating system began the next month for an unknown "innovative AR device", an effort spearheaded by Mark Lucovsky.[13] Meanwhile, Google began work on two custom system-on-chips akin to Tensor, codenamed Alius and Alexandrite, which would power its smartglasses.[8]

Development

Google announced Android XR on December 12, 2024.[14][15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Goldman, David (April 4, 2012). "Google unveils 'Project Glass' virtual-reality glasses". CNN Money. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  2. ^ Arthur, Charles (March 3, 2013). "Google Glass: is it a threat to our privacy?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Luckerson, Victor (January 15, 2015). "Google Will Stop Selling Glass Next Week". Time. Archived from the original on January 15, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  4. ^ Savov, Vlad (July 18, 2017). "Google Glass gets a second chance in factories, where it's likely to remain". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  5. ^ Stein, Scott (May 7, 2019). "Google won't release an Oculus Quest VR competitor anytime soon". CNET. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Bastone, Nick (February 14, 2020). "As Apple and Facebook Embrace AR Fully, Google Takes It Slow". The Information. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  7. ^ Bursztynsky, Jessica (June 30, 2021). "Google acquires North, which makes smart glasses similar to Google Glass". CNBC. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Langley, Hugh (August 22, 2023). "Google's augmented-reality dream turned into chaos. Insiders say constant pivots are delaying its master plan to chase Apple". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  9. ^ Metz, Cade (December 30, 2021). "Everybody Into the Metaverse! Virtual Reality Beckons Big Tech". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Eadicicco, Lisa (August 2, 2021). "Google wants its new chip to totally transform the smartphone. Its hardware chief tells us how". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  11. ^ Li, Abner (October 26, 2021). "Sundar Pichai says Google hardware & platform teams are 'thinking through' AR". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  12. ^ Perez, Sarah (November 11, 2021). "Google reorg moves AR, VR, Starline and Area 120 into new 'Labs' team". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  13. ^ Porter, Jon (December 14, 2021). "Google staffs up to build OS for unknown 'innovative AR device'". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  14. ^ Velazco, Chris (December 12, 2024). "Google and Samsung's first AI face computer to arrive next year". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  15. ^ Pierce, David (December 12, 2024). "Google announces Android XR, a new OS for headsets and smart glasses". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
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