Google Unveils Android XR, A New OS To Power Samsung's 'Infinity' Headset Next Year

Google and Samsung have collaborated to work on a headset that will run on Android XR and compete against Vision Pro and Meta Quest series.

Hyderabad:Google along with Samsung are set to step into the spatial computing space. These tech giants will collaborate to create an MR, VR headset that will compete against Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Quest series. The device is code-named Project Moohan- developed by Samsung and will run on a new operating system developed by Google-- Android XR.

Android XR: What is it?

The word 'XR' in Andriod XR means extended reality devices, so Android XR is just a new operating system developed to run the same Android apps found on your phone, and tablets on MR, VR headsets, and glasses. "Today’s release is a preview for developers, and by supporting tools like ARCore, Android Studio, Jetpack Compose, Unity, and OpenXR from the beginning, developers can easily start building apps and games for upcoming Android XR devices," Google said in a blog post.

Through Android XR, one can browse through YouTube and Google TV on a big virtual screen, view photos and videos in 3D via Google Photos, and explore new places from the comfort of their home using Google Maps in Immersive view. With the help of multiple virtual screens multitasking on Chrome will become easier, and Circle to Search will fetch information quickly.

Apart from all this, Gemini, Google's AI assistant will help its users plan, research, and guide themselves in their daily tasks.

Project Moohan: What is it?

Moohan in Korean means infinity. Project Moohan is the code name of the MR, VR headset developed by Samsung. The device will extend or alter the user's reality by merging both the physical and digital worlds.

Project Moohan will include VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality), MR (Mixed Reality), and other similar technologies that will be developed in the future.

This headset will run on Android XR but will support the Galaxy ecosystem as well.

Other Developments

Google will continue to collaborate with Magic Leap on XR technology and will work with other Qualcomm partners like Lynx, Sony, and XREAL towards the development of XR devices. Google is inviting developers, device makers, and creators from all over the world to contribute towards the development of Android XR.