Google announces Android XR OS for VR and mixed-reality headsets

Google just announced a brand new operating system called Android XR. “XR” stands for “extended reality,” which is the umbrella term for virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality headsets.

Think of Android XR as a direct competitor to the visionOS that drives Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Google will be bringing many of its apps like Maps, YouTube, Chrome and Photos to the platform. It plans to support other Play Store apps as well.

Google Chrome promises offer enhanced multitasking capabilities and let you open and arrange your browser tabs to your liking.

Google’s Gemini AI will be a centerpiece feature of Android XR, making the user experience more effortless. It will aid you in every task and capture audio and video.

Of course, Android XR is in its early stages, but the company expects to ship Android XR-powered products sometime next year. In fact, Google and Samsung are already working on a headset codenamed Moohan, and it should be available in 2025.

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