Google has made several significant announcements in the world of Android this week, including the launch of Android XR, a new platform designed to power smart glasses and XR headsets. The platform, developed in partnership with Samsung and Qualcomm, aims to enable users to switch between virtual and real-world environments seamlessly.
Android XR will be launched first on headsets, with Samsung’s Project Moohan set to release in 2025. Smartphone and tablet apps will also work, and Google is optimizing its own apps for the platform. Additionally, smart glasses are being tested, which use Gemini to provide information about what you’re looking at, potentially offering visual cues as well.
Gemini 2.0 has also been upgraded to make it more capable than before, allowing it to better understand the world around users and complete tasks on their behalf. This could lead to experiences like Project Astra, where Gemini can visualize the environment and remember what was seen previously.
Rumors are circulating that the Galaxy S25 series might finally adopt Qi2 support for wireless charging, although there’s a catch: it may only be accessible via compatible cases rather than being integrated into the phones themselves. This could be similar to recent OPPO phones and the OnePlus 13.
In other news, YouTube TV has announced price hikes, with new users facing a base price of $82.99 for the first time since early 2023. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also recently threw shade at Microsoft during The New York Times’ DealBook Summit, highlighting the AI wars between the two companies.
The week has seen several other stories, including Google Wallet adding digital ID support in yet another US state, Android and iPhone users being advised to pause texting each other amid a major security threat, and more.
Source: https://www.androidcentral.com/gaming/virtual-reality/news-weekly-december-14-2024