Latest news with #AndroidXR
Fashion United
6 days ago
- Business
- Fashion United
Google buys stake in Gentle Monster as it eyes entry into fashionable wearables
Anyone thinking wearable technology was a trend gone by, Google just acquired a 4 percent stake in South Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster, marking its most fashion-conscious foray yet into the smart glasses race. The deal, valued at approximately 107.3 million euros, positions the tech giant alongside Meta in vying for dominance in the nascent but increasingly promising augmented reality (AR) eyewear market. Gentle Monster, known for its sculptural, avant-garde eyewear and high-profile fashion collaborations with houses such as Maison Margiela and Mugler, represents an unexpected but telling partner for Google. The brand will lead design for a forthcoming line of XR (extended reality) glasses, slated for release in 2026, reported the Korea Economic Daily (KED), with Google's AI and Android XR systems embedded, developed in collaboration with Samsung and powered by Gemini, Google's AI suite. This isn't Google's first attempt to marry vision and technology. Its earlier iteration, Google Glass, failed to achieve mass appeal, crippled by privacy concerns, awkward aesthetics, and cultural resistance. What's changed now is the convergence of more sophisticated AR capabilities, improved miniaturisation, and, crucially, an understanding that wearables must seduce as much as they perform. The timing of this alliance reflects the maturation of the smart glasses market, which is moving from novelty to necessity in the eyes of major tech players, KED states. Meta's recent collaboration with EssilorLuxottica on Ray-Ban Meta frames demonstrated how meaningful the fusion of fashion and function has become. Google's deal with Gentle Monster aims to push that agenda even further, placing style at the forefront of product design. For Google, the partnership offers both technological potential and cultural cachet. For Gentle Monster, it's an elevation from niche fashion innovator to global tech collaborator, poised to reshape what smart eyewear can look and feel like.
Android Authority
23-06-2025
- Android Authority
Meet Google Martha, the company's Android XR smart glasses prototype
TL;DR Google demoed its Android XR smart glasses prototype at Google I/O 2025. We now learn that this Android XR prototype is called 'Google Martha.' Its companion app handles connected features like notifications, settings access, video recording from the user's perspective, and more. After over a year of teasing with Project Astra, Google showed off its Android XR glasses on stage at Google I/O 2025. My colleague C. Scott Brown even got to try them on, and he was impressed with the demo. Since these are prototype glasses and not meant for retail sale, there's not a lot of information on them, but we've now spotted their codename. Meet Google Martha, Google's name for its smart glasses prototype. App developer Sayed Ali Alkamel shared a photo of the companion app of the Android XR prototype glasses (h/t SERoundtable), which shows off a few settings and features of the connected smart glasses. I've rotated the image and edited the perspective to give us a better look at what's on the phone: As we can see, the connected Android XR smart glasses prototype is called 'Google Martha.' The companion app has entries for Notifications and Settings, but unfortunately, we don't get to see the entries within. The app also has a Record your view entry, letting the wearer capture a video of their view and the glasses' UI. There are also entries for feedback and reporting a problem. From Google I/O 2025, we know these prototype smart glasses run on the Android XR platform, opening up several Gemini-oriented use cases, such as real-world identification and querying, live translation, and more. Google Martha has a screen in only the right lens by design, though other smart glasses can have a dual-lens screen, or even none at all, and rely only on audio. If you want to get your hands on Google Martha, you will likely be disappointed. A report from earlier in the year noted that Google and Samsung were jointly developing Android XR glasses that are seemingly scheduled for consumer release in 2026, but Google did not confirm or corroborate or confirm these plans at Google I/O when it showed off Google Martha. This pair of smart glasses is unlikely to reach consumers since it's just a prototype, but the door is open for future smart glasses based on Martha to become available for you and me eventually. Until then, you can look forward to XReal's Project Aura or even Samsung's Project Moohan. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Axios
20-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Meta debuts its first Oakley smart glasses
Meta on Friday announced its first set of Oakley-branded smart glasses, touting upgraded camera and battery performance over its current crop of Ray-Bans. Why it matters: Smart glasses could be the next big platform for AI interaction. Between the lines: Meta is expected to face increasing hardware competition in the coming months from Google, Apple and possibly others. Driving the news: The new glasses, dubbed the Oakley Meta HSTN (pronounced HOW-stuhn), come in a variety of lens and frame color combinations and start at $399, though initial sales will be for a special-edition version that costs $499. The improved camera can capture 3K (Ultra HD) video, and Meta says the battery will give users up to eight hours of typical use, recharging to 50% capacity in 20 minutes. The case offers up to 48 hours of additional power. Like the Ray-Bans, the glasses can take photos and videos, play audio and connect to Meta's AI assistant. Meta has a broad partnership with Italian eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica, which controls both the Oakley and Ray-Ban brands. The big picture: Google has shown prototype Android XR glasses with a small augmented reality display in the lens, aiming for commercial release next year. Apple is also rumored to be developing smart glasses.
India Today
19-06-2025
- India Today
Samsung is likely to launch its first Android XR headset soon and here is everything we know about it
Samsung's first Android XR headset might finally be close to its official debut. After months of appearances at different events, leaks and teaser videos, a new report out of South Korea suggests that Samsung will unveil the headset — currently codenamed Project Moohan — on September 29 in its home country. If this report is accurate, the headset will go on sale in South Korea on October 13, with a global rollout expected to follow soon after. Of course, Samsung hasn't confirmed any of this just will be Samsung's first Extended Reality (XR) headset, and it's being developed in partnership with Google. The headset will run Android XR, a version of Android built specifically for mixed-reality devices. Android XR is the result of a joint effort between Samsung and Google, much like their collaboration on recent versions of Wear OS for smartwatches. The new platform is also expected to come with built-in Gemini AI, giving users access to smart tools and contextual information right inside their headset. For example, imagine using Google Maps in a 3D interface or receiving AI-generated assistance while navigating or working in the hood, the headset will be powered by Qualcomm's XR2+ Gen 2 chip, which is reportedly built on Samsung's own 4nm process. This should help deliver smooth performance along with balanced power efficiency, both of which are key for wearable Even though it hasn't launched yet, the headset has been seen in public a few times. Samsung showed off early prototypes earlier this year at MWC 2024 and the Galaxy S25 launch, and is expected to tease it once again during its July Unpacked event alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip for features, the device is said to support both mixed reality and full virtual reality experiences. Samsung is reportedly focusing on making the headset lightweight and comfortable, though specific design details remain unknown. Rumours also hint at a sleek form factor that's more user-friendly than bulkier course, all of this comes as competition in the XR space grows. Apple's Vision Pro has already made the headlines with its high-end approach, but it also raised eyebrows for its price and bulky design. Samsung may be aiming to strike a better balance, offering top-tier performance and a good user experience, but at a more accessible price said, nothing is set in stone until Samsung makes it official. But if the latest reports are accurate, we might not have to wait long to see what Project Moohan is really all tuned to India Today Tech for all the latest on Samsung's upcoming Android XR headset.
Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Indian Express
Samsung to launch Android XR device to rival Apple Vision Pro in September: Report
Earlier this year, Samsung gave us a glimpse of Project Moohan, its Apple Vision Pro competitor. First teased during the second Galaxy Unpacked event in 2024, the extended reality headset was rumoured to launch sometime at the end of the year. However, Samsung's extended reality headset may hit markets sooner than expected. According to a report by the Korean publication Newspim, the company might launch the upcoming Android XR-powered headset at its very own event on September 9. It also suggests that the headset will be coming to South Korea a month later on October 13, with a global launch planned afterwards. Rumour also has it that Samsung will be showcasing the prototype and playing teaser videos of the Apple Vision Pro competitor at its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, which is scheduled to take place in July. Compared to Meta and Apple's offerings, Samsung is reportedly working on fixing some issues associated with the technology, such as weight, battery life and performance. And while not much is known about Project Moohan's hardware except for the fact that it will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 chip and run on Android XR. In December last year, Google previewed Android XR – its new'open, unified platform for XR headsets and glasses.' Compared to the Apple Vision Pro and Meta's Quest range of mixed and virtual reality headsets, Google has confirmed that Android XR devices will support existing mobile and tablet apps on the Play Store 'right out of the box.' The tech giant is also building its very own XR version of popular apps like Maps, Photos and YouTube. For example, the Android XR version of Google Chrome will let users browse the internet with multiple windows, which will help enhance the headset's multitasking capabilities. Google also said that it will bring new AI-powered features backed by Gemini, which recently got multimodal capabilities. However, some important details like price, the product name and hardware specifications still remain under wraps, so we will have to wait a few months to get the full picture.
