Mr Viral
After launching in October, Google is rolling out a suite of new Android XR features for Samsung’s Galaxy XR, led by PC Connect.
Google today announced PC Connect to link a Windows computer with Android XR and offer your desktop or any other window “side-by-side with native apps from Google Play.” This is happening in full resolution with a high frame rate over Wi-Fi, while input bridging allows a keyboard and mouse paired to either device to control the other.
The demo I had last week involved a professional image editor running on a laptop, while watching a video in YouTube’s Android XR app. I could use XR gestures to control said editor, with inputs seamlessly syncing over.
Behind-the-scenes, Google is using technology (a protocol that keeps latency down) from the Stadia days. As such, it’s only fitting that this can be used for video games. I played Stray running on Windows with a PS5 controller and could freely expand the floating screen
PC Connect is rolling out starting today in beta, and Google has plans for Mac support next year.
Meanwhile, Travel Mode is a “view that stays stable even when you’re in motion,” like on a plane.
Finally, Google is offering its own digital personal (as an alternative to Samsung’s avatars) to make interactions feel more natural and personal during video calls. Likeness creates a “realistic digital representation of your face that mirrors your facial expressions and hand gestures in real-time.”
You can always tell when you’re looking at any headset’s digital representation, but Google’s did feel more realistic but somewhat uncanny. In comparison, Apple Vision Pro “Personas” look like they have a fine art filter applied to it.
Likeness is created via a phone app (available on compatible devices) rather than using a headset. This is rolling out in beta starting today.
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