Android XR Is On the Horizon – But Don’t Anticipate a Big Announcement from Google Yet

Google recently unveiled the agenda for its upcoming I/O developer conference. This year, it’s packed with sessions aimed at developers, promising to shed more light on the much-anticipated Android XR operating system. However, if the schedule is anything to go by, Google seems to be keeping relatively quiet about Android XR for now.

Announced back in December alongside Samsung’s ‘Project Moohan’ mixed reality headset, Android XR has been somewhat out of the spotlight since. As of now, there aren’t specific release dates for either the operating system or the headset, though both are anticipated to make their debut later this year.

Even though Google has already confirmed several exciting features for Android XR, including the highly-awaited support for passthrough camera access and released a developer access to its Android XR SDK, we’re still waiting to see how it stands up against more established XR ecosystems like Meta’s Horizon OS and Apple’s visionOS.

For those of us eagerly awaiting more information, Google I/O is set to livestream a selection of keynotes from May 20th to 21st. Interestingly, only two sessions specifically focused on Android XR have been announced, neither of which will be livestreamed. However, a broader ‘What’s New in Android’ livestream session plans to touch upon Android XR developments.

The lack of livestreamed sessions suggests that Google is pursuing a more developer-centric approach to XR, working behind the scenes to integrate it into the broader Android ecosystem before stepping into the public eye.

From what we’ve gathered about these talks: Android XR is inching closer to a public launch later this year. Preparing for this, Google is developing a new XR toolchain expected to bundle Jetpack SceneCore and ARCore into an XR-specific version of Jetpack. Currently in developer preview, Jetpack XR will enable app developers on mobile and larger-screen Android devices to create spatialized layouts using 3D models and immersive environments. The incorporation of ARCore hints at Google’s ambition to unify its spatial computing tools, providing a seamless way for developers to build both AR and VR experiences.

Additionally, these talks will explore ways to add XR features to existing apps like 3D models, hand-tracking, and stereoscopic video. Google’s efforts to include such features suggest a focus beyond game development, aiming for Android XR to achieve app equivalence with the wider Android system.

Furthermore, Google plans to extend Jetpack Compose, their declarative UI toolkit, to XR platforms. This move suggests an effort to standardize UI design across mobile, tablet, and XR, simplifying the process of adapting UIs for immersive environments.

Of particular interest is the second talk, which highlights forthcoming AI capabilities integrated into Android XR. This could open doors to impressive features like real-time object recognition, scene comprehension, or AI-generated environments.

The decision to keep these talks off the livestream might indicate that Google isn’t quite ready to fully promote Android XR, yet we remain hopeful to hear more about Samsung’s ‘Project Moohan,’ anticipated to be the first headset to support Android XR.

We’ll be tuning in for the livestreams and detailed technical talks, excited to report back on any new, noteworthy developments.

Building differentiated apps for Android XR with 3D content

Dereck Bridié, Developer Relations Engineer, and Patrick Fuentes, Developer Relations Engineer, are preparing to introduce Jetpack SceneCore and ARCore for Jetpack XR. They’ll guide participants through the steps of incorporating immersive content like 3D models, stereoscopic video, and hand-tracking into existing apps. This is a chance to learn about new features in the Android XR SDK developer preview, equipping developers with crucial knowledge ahead of the public launch later this year.

The future is now, with Compose and AI on Android XR

Presented by Cecilia Abadie, Senior Product Manager, and Jan Kleinert, Developer Relations Engineer, attendees will be introduced to the future of immersive experiences with Android XR. This session covers the latest updates to the Android XR SDK Beta, launching at I/O, including enhancements to Jetpack Compose for XR and advanced AI capabilities. Learn how to leverage your existing investments in large screen development to seamlessly expand into the exciting realm of Android XR.