Google and HTC Vive collaborate to advance Android XR research
Google and HTC Vive are working together to push forward Android XR innovation.
A portion of HTC Corp. Vive’s engineering team will be acquired by Google LLC today in order to expedite the creation of the forthcoming Android XR OS for virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR) headgear.
Google’s flagship Gemini artificial intelligence model will come with the latest version of the operating system, which was created in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies Inc., and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. for use with future-oriented VR and AR gadgets.
HTC claimed in its statement that Google has agreed to make a $250 million cash payment. A nonexclusive licence for HTC’s XR trademarks will be granted to Google as a component of the deal, and specific HTC personnel from its XR team will begin working for Google.
With the 2016 release of the HTC Vive, one of the initial powerful virtual reality headsets, in partnership with video game distributor Valve Corp., HTC has an extensive and distinguished record in the extended reality space. The firm has a history of creating strong and effective virtual reality headsets and has kept trying to advance its technology over the last ten years.
Late last year, Google unveiled Android XR, a single and open platform for XR eyeglasses and headgear. Android XR may provide VR and AR gear makers a chance to participate with the largest players in the market, such as Apple Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc., much to how the firm developed Android for handsets.
In order to speed up mainstream adoption, the firm said that this would provide Qualcomm customers like Lynx Mixed Reality, Sony Group Corp., and Xreal Inc. with a way to develop Android XR gadgets that have an entire range of extended reality features.
In 2024, Meta released Horizon OS for its Meta Quest headsets, while Apple released VisionOS, a proprietary OS that powers the Vision Pro mixed reality headgear.
The Samsung headgear, code-named Project Moohan (above), is anticipated to be the first gadget to come with Android XR. Based on firsthand accounts, it resembles Apple’s expensive Vision Pro, drawing some influence from Meta’s now-defunct Quest Pro. Samsung said that it plans to release the headgear for developers initially, but it did not provide a release date for the general public.
