Though Android XR isn’t correctly open-source in the meanwhile, Google hopes the OS will run on a number of companion headsets. Whereas Samsung is alleged to be the primary to launch an Android XR headset, Sony, Lynx, and XREAL are additionally planning to make use of the working system.
Meta introduced earlier this yr that it intends to open its Quest’s Horizon OS working system to third-parties, however now Android XR presents one other alternative for headset makers.
In keeping with Google, Sony, Lynx, and XREAL are on board with Android XR.
For Sony’s half, its SRH-S1 enterprise-focused MR headset may be very possible the primary goal for Android XR. After we went hands-on with the headset earlier this yr, the corporate was tight-lipped about whether or not it was constructing its personal platform and the place customers might supply content material from. Android XR makes much more sense for the corporate than attempting to construct out its personal XR OS and platform.
As for Sony’s present and future PSVR headsets, we count on they’ll proceed to be tied on to the PlayStation OS relatively than change to Android XR.
Lynx R-1 is a long-in-development MR headset that has struggled to make it absolutely to market. A part of that battle, naturally, is constructing out a software program stack that does all the pieces an XR headset must do.
Lynx founder Stan Larroque tells Street to VR the R-1 received’t undertake Android XR, however future headsets from the corporate will. Making this transfer might properly put the corporate in a greater place for the long run, by lowering software program improvement prices and giving its headsets entry to a bigger ecosystem of apps and content material.
As for XREAL—an organization constructing AR glasses primarily made to supply a big floating display that tasks content material from different units—it’s not clear but precisely how they are going to use Android XR. However guess is that it will likely be the idea for future units from the corporate.
Whereas each Meta and Google are open to permitting their XR OS to work on third-party headsets, they’re nonetheless the gatekeepers. Neither Horizon OS nor Android XR are literally ‘open’ at this level. Solely hand-picked companions can construct on both OS.
However now that each working techniques are in play, there’s elevated stress for each to attempt to be the ‘extra open’ of the 2. That stress might rapidly lead one or each firms to make their XR OS correctly open for anybody to make use of.
