Android XR Is on the Horizon, but Google Is Keeping Quiet for Now

Google’s schedule for the much-anticipated I/O developer conference reveals a few intriguing updates. One of the more captivating aspects is the focus on Android XR, the tech giant’s venture into extended reality, although it seems they’re not entirely ready to shout it from the rooftops just yet.

Since its announcement last December, alongside Samsung’s initiative, ‘Project Moohan’, Android XR hasn’t been grabbing headlines. Neither Google nor Samsung has pinned down an exact launch date, though we’re expecting both to break cover later this year.

Google has let slip some enticing Android XR features. Of particular note is the passthrough camera access, a long-awaited enhancement. The company has also opened up its Android XR SDK to developers, a move that piques curiosity about how it will measure against established platforms like Meta’s Horizon OS and Apple’s visionOS.

Scheduled for May 20th and 21st, I/O will feature a series of keynote addresses. However, only two talks are centered around Android XR—and neither will be streamed live. That said, a broader ‘What’s New in Android’ session is set to touch upon this emerging technology.

Though the bulk of substantial details might remain tucked away from live broadcasts, the developer sessions emphasize Google’s intent to welcome the development community, laying groundwork for Android XR within the expansive Android framework. Even though it’s somewhat removed from the limelight, Google’s ambitions are clear.

Diving into these sessions, it’s evident Android XR’s public rollout looms on the horizon later this year. Google is gearing up with a comprehensive XR toolset, marrying Jetpack SceneCore and ARCore within the Jetpack ecosystem tailored specifically for XR. Dubbed Jetpack XR, now available for developer preview, this suite empowers developers to craft rich spatial layouts with immersive 3D models, seamlessly bridging the realms of AR and VR.

The session discourse delves into enriching existing apps with XR capabilities like 3D models, hand-tracking, and stereoscopic video. This indicates a broader target audience beyond just game developers, aligning with Google’s vision of platform parity with the larger Android ecosystem.

Google also plans to expand Jetpack Compose, its declarative UI toolkit, to encompass XR environments, hinting at a push for uniform UI design across devices like mobiles, tablets, and XR setups.

Interestingly, the second session teases upcoming AI integrations within Android XR. These could herald features like real-time object recognition or AI-crafted environments—concepts that suggest a future rich with possibilities.

Despite these promising undertakings, the absence of a live stream for these talks suggests Google is playing its XR cards close to the chest for the time being. Curiosity is also mounting around Samsung’s ‘Project Moohan’, expected to be the inaugural device running Android XR.

We’ll be closely monitoring the live streams and digging into the technical content to catch any new developments on this front.