XR Weekly Roundup (Dec 16, 2024): Unveiling Android XR, Samsung Headset Preview, and Beyond!

Exciting times are ahead as I gear up for my first-ever trip to CES this coming January! The preparations are underway, and I’m looking forward to diving into some AR/VR experiences. If you’re planning to be there too, do drop a line! I’d love any tips you might have to enhance my CES adventure. I can’t wait to give you the inside scoop on everything I encounter. But for today, let’s dive into the top XR happenings of the week—and there’s a giveaway you won’t want to miss!

Top News of the Week

So, the big highlight this week—and arguably one of the year’s biggest—is Google’s announcement of Android XR. This new operating system is set to drive XR devices, spanning mixed reality headsets, AR glasses, and smart glasses alike. The first gadget on board is a mixed-reality headset under the codename Project Moohan, developed with Samsung and Qualcomm. Other companies like XREAL, Sony, and Lynx are also hopping on the Android XR train with upcoming devices.

At a recent press demo, Google presented Android XR on Project Moohan and on smart glasses with both mono and binocular displays. A standout feature of this OS is its deep integration with artificial intelligence through Gemini AI. This assistant tracks your activities across paired real and virtual realms, ready to wield its power when called upon. Picture this: someone shows you a restaurant’s business card, and you can prompt Gemini AI to pull up a 3D location in Google Maps. Need more details on the virtual building? Just ask away. Smartglasses wearers can even benefit from live translations, handy for cross-language interactions.

One impressive thing to note is that Gemini AI remembers things for about ten minutes, offering a handy, though slightly privacy-invading, memory recall feature. Among its other bells and whistles, Android XR effortlessly converts standard photos and videos into 3D. It supports multimodal inputs, meaning you can command it via controllers, hand gestures, eye movements, or voice. While current offerings include the G-suite and a few games like Demeo and Vacation Simulator, more content is definitely on the horizon. A preview of the developer environment is already accessible for those interested in building native, Unity, and WebXR apps.

As for Project Moohan, detail-wise, it’s like a blend between the Quest Pro and Apple Vision Pro. It features an external battery, high-definition displays, and a sophisticated passthrough mechanism, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen2 chipset. Controllers are slated for release in 2025, coinciding with the headset’s launch.

Google’s leap into the XR arena not only validates the platform once more but it also cranks up the competitive heat—good news for innovation, although we hope this venture doesn’t join the ranks of Google’s past abandoned projects.

Check out [my detailed take on Android XR] and [a perspective piece by Ben Lang on Android XR versus Horizon OS].

Other Relevant News

Meta’s latest update for the Quest includes some handy enhancements. Hand tracking has reached v2.3, offering sharper and more responsive performance, even in tighter settings like travel mode. For Windows users, the newly launched Windows Mixed Reality Link allows Quest 3 and 3S users to effortlessly connect to Windows 11 PCs with just a glance, thereby transforming the computer into a massive virtual screen—similar to Apple’s Vision Pro setup with Macs.

A new Media Gallery app lets you easily access media files on your device, and improvements mean your virtual home environment no longer needs manual boundary setup—a seamless transition indeed. Additionally, you can now view all keyboards through the passthrough.

Personally, the Windows 11 connection takes the cake for me; after hearing rave reviews on the Mac connection with Vision Pro, I am eager to try it out on PC.

For more information, check out [Meta Quest runtime v72 on Road To VR] and [Upload VR] or explore [how to link Quest with Windows 11 PC].

News Worth Mentioning

According to a report by Omdia, the XR market might hit a bit of a rough patch come 2025, despite the industry appearing to be on a slow yet upward trend since 2023—just look at the success of Ray-Ban Meta and the advent of Android XR. Their analysis anticipates headset sales dipping by 10% to 6.9 million units in 2024, from 7.7 million in 2023, though a resurgence is expected by 2026.

Meanwhile, XR investor JP Minetos shared fascinating insights into how Gorilla Tag soared in popularity. Its effective social mechanics, quirky movement system, straightforward play style, and meme-ability all played pivotal roles in its success.

Full details on Omdia’s report are available [in this Financial Times article] and [on LinkedIn], while more about Gorilla Tag’s success story can be found [here].

If you’re eyeing the Quest 3S, opportunities for a good deal abound! It’s currently priced at $400 on Amazon US, with a $30 digital credit available until Christmas.

Over at The Game Awards, Batman: Arkham Shadow clinched the Best VR/AR Game Award—a fitting acknowledgment given its profound impact on the VR landscape.

Finally, there are some interesting content updates to look out for in the XR space:

• The anticipated Fallout London VR mod promises to bring VR functionality to the expansive Fallout: London DLC.
• Path of Fury: Episode I – Tetsuo’s Tower, drawing inspiration from classic ’80s Kung Fu films, aims for an early 2025 launch on Quest 2/3/Pro.
• Several other VR projects, including Mecha Force and DodgeCraft, are at different stages of release.

For further content details, including news on games like Action Hero and visit [these links].

Other News

There’s a comprehensive review of the Pimax Crystal Light by Rob Cole, providing valuable insights into the device. Apple’s recent unveiling of the Ultrawide Virtual Display feature for Vision Pro in VisionOS 2.2 is another welcomed progress in AR technology.

Unity is opening applications for its Humanity 2025 grant, fostering future XR projects. And in the XR modding space, NeoGrip stands out with its affordable, open-source custom controllers.

Amazingly, Into The Scaniverse uses Gaussian Splats to recreate real-world locations in WebXR, broadening avenues for exploration in virtual environments.

Discover more on these topics and new developments via links throughout my post, including insights on Vitruvian VR’s crowdfunding campaign and results from our Iron Rebellion Steam keys giveaway.

Donate for Good

As the week concludes, I urge you to direct your generosity towards supporting those in dire need due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Consider donating to organizations like the Red Cross, whose relentless efforts aim to alleviate human suffering in the region. My gratitude extends to all my Patreon supporters who fuel this journey—we couldn’t go this far without you!

You can find the link to support the Red Cross in Ukraine below.

(Header image by Google)

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