Android XR Archives

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

The Android Show I/O Edition: Everything that was announced from Android 16 to Android XR

Google is unveiling key features ahead of the Google I/O event, including Material 3 Expressive (M3), which focuses on enhancing user experience through color, shape, size, motion, and containment. M3 will introduce a vibrant UI for smartphones and wearables, featuring a new "tear away" notification system and playful animations. The Pixel Watch will have animations that follow the display's curvature, and Wear OS 6 will allow users to customize color schemes and watch faces. Google's Gemini AI will be integrated into more devices, replacing Google Assistant and enhancing interactions on Wear OS, Google TV, Android Auto, and Android XR. Gemini will provide hands-free assistance for Wear OS users and facilitate natural conversations in Android Auto. It will also improve content discovery on Google TV and offer real-time planning assistance in Extended Reality devices. To combat online scams, Google is introducing privacy tools with Android 16, including enhanced warning systems in caller and Google Messages apps, AI-driven detection of fraudulent messages, and a Key Verifier program for secure end-to-end encrypted communication. Google Play Protection will implement live threat detection for malicious app changes.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

Google talks smarter security against fraud and theft in The Android Show

Google has announced updates to enhance security and privacy for Android users, including: - Enhanced scam protection for calls and text messages. - Updated Factory Reset protections limiting phone functionality if reset without owner consent. - Upgraded Live Threat Detection in Google Play Services to identify malicious applications. - Introduction of the Key Verifier feature for verifying identities in conversations using public encryption keys, launching this summer for Android 10 and higher. - Expansion of the Identity Check feature to more devices with the upcoming Android 16 release. - Concealment of one-time passwords on the lock screen in Android 16. - Extension of the Advanced Protection program to a broader audience. - Rollout of live threat detection capabilities in Google Play Protect for Pixel 6 and newer devices and other smartphones. - Announcement of Google I/O 2025 scheduled for May 20 at 10 am PT (1 pm ET).

AppWizard

April 28, 2025

Google is giving us a look at what’s next for Android ahead of I/O

The Android Show will air a special I/O edition on May 13 at 1 p.m. ET, hosted by Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem, and featuring members of the Android team. This episode will provide an early look at innovations leading up to the Google I/O event, including details about Android 16. The show will be pre-recorded and streamed live on YouTube. Google has also released a schedule for the Google I/O event, which will cover topics such as Android's new UX design, Material 3 Expressive, and Gemini in Chrome and Android XR.

AppWizard

April 21, 2025

Latest Android Auto v14.2 seemingly dashes hopes of smart glasses navigation

Google has started rolling out version 14.2 of Android Auto, focusing on bug fixes and minor adjustments. The update does not mention "Glasses," which had previously led to speculation about smart glasses integration. This speculation arose from a Hindi version of the app that included references to "Glasses" and navigation capabilities, but discrepancies between language versions suggest it may have been a translation error. Additionally, Google has showcased ambitions for smart glasses in a TED 2025 demonstration, featuring a "memory" function that helps users track lost items.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

Google Wallet brings real-time train status alerts to Android, and teases I/O 2025

Google Wallet has introduced real-time train status alerts for users in India and Canada, allowing them to receive notifications about their train's status, such as "On Time" or "Delayed." Additionally, parents and guardians in select countries can now permit their children to add event tickets and generic passes to their Wallet accounts, with the rollout starting in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Spain, and Poland. Google will host its I/O 2025 event on May 20 at 10 am PT, where updates for Wallet and Pay will be discussed, along with developments related to Android 16, Android XR, and Wear OS 6. Android 16 will feature Live Updates and has reached Platform Stability, allowing developers to refine applications. The Android 16 Beta includes Auracast support for hearing aids to enhance accessibility.

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Android XR apps will have camera permissions similar to Android phones

In December of last year, Google introduced Android XR, an extended reality operating system for virtual and mixed reality headsets, with a commercial launch planned for 2025. Samsung is developing a headset for this platform, called Project Moohan, and Google’s DeepMind subsidiary is creating a pair of smart glasses. Android XR app developers can request camera permissions similar to those on Android smartphones, allowing access to both world-facing and selfie cameras. Unlike Meta’s Quest 3 and Apple’s Vision Pro, which do not allow third-party camera access, Android XR will enable developers to access the living room feed through the headset's cameras to enhance mixed-reality applications. Developers can also request access to "Scene Understanding" features, including light estimation and advanced tracking capabilities for hand movements. Basic hand tracking functionalities will be available by default, with further details expected from Google soon.

AppWizard

February 11, 2025

Android XR Will Let Apps Access The Passthrough View, Google Confirms

Google has confirmed that Android XR will allow applications to access the passthrough camera view, enabling third-party developers to interact with camera systems of headsets like Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro. Currently, developers have been limited to higher-level data from these cameras, such as skeletal coordinates and basic object tracking. Apple has provided some access to enterprise companies for the Vision Pro's passthrough cameras under strict conditions. Meta plans to offer Quest developers access to passthrough cameras in early 2025. Developers will be able to request camera permissions similar to standard Android applications, with access to the world-facing camera stream (cameraid=0) and the selfie camera stream (cameraid=1). Apps must request camera permissions to access the world-facing camera feed, and accessing the selfie camera will provide a video stream of the user’s avatar based on tracking data from inward-facing cameras.

BetaBeacon

February 3, 2025

Google’s ‘ultimate goal’ is for Android games to work seamlessly across mobile, XR, large screens

Google is working on creating a seamless Android app experience across all form factors, including mixed-reality headsets and glasses. They are focusing on adapting apps to work well on different platforms and are investing in features like Curated Spaces and Collections on Google Play to enhance user experience. More updates are expected later in 2025.

AppWizard

December 28, 2024

Google just gave us our first look at what Samsung XR headset apps might look like

Samsung's XR headset, known as Project Moohan, will debut within the next year and is powered by the Snapdragon XR Plus Gen 2 chip. The Android XR developer blog features a six-second video showing app windows layered over real-world environments. Android XR has two modes: Home Space, which allows multitasking with multiple app windows, and Full Space, which offers a single window experience against a virtual backdrop. Home Space is the default view, with a toggle to switch between modes. Samsung's app windows are expected to reflect the aesthetic of One UI. Android XR will support various input methods, including hand and eye tracking, voice commands, keyboard and mouse, and dedicated controllers. CES 2025, starting January 7, will provide more information about the headset's features and capabilities.

BetaBeacon

December 22, 2024

Android XR could be Google’s Daydream redemption, and VR games can help

Daydream had issues such as draining phone batteries and lack of smartphone support. Google abandoned Daydream just as Quest began to take off. Google could potentially regain ground in the XR market by focusing on gaming, offering a curated selection of apps, supporting hand-tracking and controllers, and utilizing powerful hardware like Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2. The success of Android XR will depend on how well Google can differentiate itself from competitors like Meta and Apple.