Samsung’s Galaxy XR: Samsung and Google are rolling out a fresh wave of upgrades for the Galaxy XR, aiming to make the headset far more useful in everyday life. The new features, launching starting today, focus on expanding your workspace, improving mobility, and blending AI more naturally into XR devices. Whether you want to get work done, watch movies on the go, or stay expressive during video calls, the latest update brings something for everyone.
PC Connect Turns Your Headset Into a Massive Virtual Workspace
The biggest upgrade in this release is PC Connect, a new tool that lets you link your Windows PC directly to your XR headset. Once connected, you can pull your entire desktop—or just a specific PC window—into your virtual space.
This means you can place your PC screen side-by-side with native apps downloaded from Google Play. Want to edit documents, browse the web, reply to emails, or even play PC games, all inside your headset? Now you can.
PC Connect begins rolling out today in beta, giving users their first taste of a true virtual workstation that goes beyond what a standard laptop display can offer.
Travel Mode: Turn Flights Into Cinemas or Portable Offices
Another major addition is travel mode, created for moments when you’re stuck in cramped spaces like airplanes. With travel mode on, your virtual view remains steady even while your physical environment moves. That means you can comfortably watch movies, work on projects, or open multiple virtual screens without worrying about turbulence or movement.
It essentially transforms long flights into a private cinema or makeshift office, helping the XR headset better integrate into your everyday life — even at 35,000 feet.
Likeness: A Realistic Digital Version of You for Video Calls
To make virtual communication more natural, Samsung is introducing Likeness, a detailed digital representation of your face. This avatar-like model mirrors your real-time facial expressions and hand gestures during video calls.
Instead of a flat or unnatural virtual face, callers will now see a lifelike version of you that reacts just as you do. It keeps conversations more personal, expressive, and authentic — even when you’re fully immersed in your XR world.
Building a Bigger XR Ecosystem: AI Glasses, Stylish Designs & More
Samsung, Google, and partner brands are pushing toward an expansive XR ecosystem where devices come in different shapes, weights, and styles. The idea is simple: one device can’t fit everyone’s needs, so Android XR must support a wide variety of hardware.
AI Glasses Coming Next Year: Screen-Free and With Displays
At Google I/O, the companies announced collaborations with Samsung, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker to create the next generation of lightweight, stylish AI glasses.
They’re developing two variants:
1. AI Glasses (Screen-Free)
These are meant for natural, hands-free assistance. They feature built-in speakers, microphones, and cameras, allowing you to:
- Talk to Gemini
- Capture photos
- Get real-time help
These glasses focus on voice-based and camera-based AI interactions without showing visuals.
2. Display AI Glasses
These add an in-lens display that shows information only you can see, such as:
- Turn-by-turn navigation
- Translation captions
- Contextual prompts
Both versions of AI glasses are expected to arrive next year, offering a mix of fashion, utility, and futuristic convenience.
Wired XR Glasses: First Look at XREAL’s Project Aura
Android XR will also support wired XR glasses, a middle-ground device that mixes immersion with transparency. These glasses display digital content directly in your field of view while still letting you see the real world clearly.
Samsung showcased the first model in this new category — Project Aura by XREAL.
Features include:
- 70-degree field of view
- Optical see-through technology
- Ability to layer digital windows over the real world
- Massive private screens that travel with you
- Perfect for following recipes, watching floating videos, or accessing on-screen guides while repairing appliances
Project Aura is set to launch next year, and more details will be shared soon.
Developers Get New Tools With Android XR SDK Preview 3
Of course, hardware alone isn’t enough. Google is inviting developers to build the next generation of XR and AI-powered experiences.
Developer Preview 3 of the Android XR SDK introduces:
- Official support for building apps for AI glasses
- Tools and APIs to create helpful, context-aware augmented reality experiences
- New capabilities for headsets and wired XR glasses
- Early app previews from partners like Uber and GetYourGuide
This update marks a major step in growing a unified XR ecosystem where apps, AI, and hardware work together seamlessly.
As the Galaxy XR platform grows, Samsung and Google are clearly setting the stage for a new era of wearable computing — one where your workspace, entertainment, communication, and AI assistance move with you everywhere. More updates and hardware announcements are expected in the coming months.
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