Google Unveils Latest Preview of Android XR Development Tools

Google’s at it again. Another Android XR thingy. Some shiny new Developer Preview, number two, if you care. Seems like just yesterday they dropped the first one — late last year maybe? Anyway, they’re stuffing it full of new stuff: immersive video magic, hand-tracking jazz, and Jetpack doodads. (I swear, half the time it’s like they’re just making up words).

They made this big fuss during Google I/O. Fun name, right? Sounds like a codeword for a secret spy mission. But really, it’s like a Christmas catalog for tech nerds. They’re really amping up the tools for making XR apps. Whether you’re creating fresh AR adventures or just slapping your phone app onto headsets, they’ve got you covered.

You know what’s cool? 180° and 360° video playback. Stereoscopic, no less. If that’s your jam, it’s using some MV-HEVC codec. Sounds fancy, but it’s just another way to say “better video.”

And oh! Jetpack Compose for XR is now real. I had no clue what Jetpack did until I realized it’s like this toolkit to keep stuff looking pretty across different gadgets. Now it works across headsets too. Thanks, Google, for making sure my VR games don’t look like a Picasso painting when I tilt my head.

Here’s a kicker: hand-tracking with ARCore for Jetpack XR. It’s got 26 joints or something. What even are those? Anyway, expect to wave and point your way through apps like a futuristic maestro. They’ve got samples and guides if you want to dive deep, but let’s be honest, most won’t.

Material design also got a refresh. Bigger screens and all that jazz. XR’s the name of the game, and Google wants your stuff to slide in smoothly like it’s meant to be there all along.

But here’s the thing, lots of devs still don’t have the fancy XR headsets. There’s something called Samsung Project Moohan — sounds like a mystical beast. Anyway, it’s a tool they’ll lean on. The Emulator got beefier too, with AMD GPU support. (Yeah, I gasped too — seems important.)

Unity’s also chirping about a Pre-Release version, with terms my brain skips over like Dynamic Refresh Rate. Some sparkling Mixed Reality template goodies there too. Hand meshes and anchors? Sure, I’ll take your word for it.

Bizarre twist — Unity’s tossing out Android XR Samples. Like, full-on features for you to pick apart; hand tracking, plane tracking – if it tracks, it’s there. It’s like offering free samples at a software buffet.

Guess they didn’t light up the Google I/O stage with XR, but they’re still chugging along, tossing it to partner devices and flirting with XR glasses. Warby Parker, Gentle Monster, who’d have thought? They’re promising glasses that act a bit like Ray-Ban Meta ones, maybe? Plus, a version that reads stuff to you. Handy if you’re too busy to look at your phone, I guess.

Wrap it up? Sure. Check the deep-dive on Android XR Developer Preview if this caught your eye. Infinite jargon awaits.