With the anticipated emergence of mixed reality devices, Google is preparing Android to accommodate spatial content.
Apple may be behind the curve in AI, but it still has a few tricks up its sleeve compared to Google's ecosystem. One area where it's a pioneer is spatial media. But Android should soon respond to its competitor in this area.
By analyzing the code of version 6.27 of Google Photos for Android, Android Authority has indeed found lines referring to support for spatial photos and videos. In particular, mention is made of the location where these should appear, suggesting that they will not be mixed with other more standard media, but that they will be displayed in a dedicated space, which can be accessed, for example, via a new tab or from a specific collection.
Mixed reality and spatial media are coming to Android
Google intends to respond to the Apple Vision Pro with its own augmented reality experiences. A Samsung headset, Project Moohan, has already been announced for Android XR, Google's operating system for mixed reality devices. Google, meanwhile, is developing mixed reality glasses, equipped with a camera, microphone, speaker, and screen integrated into the lenses. All of these upcoming devices will take advantage of spatial photo and video technology for greater immersion in the displayed content.
For now, it's unclear whether spatial media will also be available on other platforms (Android, web), or whether it will be reserved for Android XR, the only system capable of making the most of this type of file. The package name for Google Photos on Android is com.google.android.apps.photos, and Android Authority has spotted the existence of another version, com.google.android.apps.photosxr, intended for Android XR. The app will therefore differ depending on the system, and it's possible that the Android version for smartphones and tablets will simply ignore spatial content.
In any case, it's interesting to see that Google is making progress in mixed reality. Samsung's XR headset could also be released before the end of the year. It's likely that we'll have to wait a little longer for the XR glasses.
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