Samsung Galaxy XR Gets Realistic 'Likeness' Avatars & Travel Mode
Samsung Galaxy XR First Impressions: What You Need To Know
The Samsung Galaxy XR, the first major update for Google's Android XR, has rolled out, bringing with it a beta release of Google's Persona-like realistic avatar system for video calls, called Likeness, a Travel Mode, and a beta for a built-in PC remote desktop feature for Windows called PC Connect. As a tech journalist, I had the opportunity to briefly try the Samsung Galaxy XR at its launch event in New York last week, and I have mixed initial thoughts about the first Android XR headset.
Likeness (Beta)
Likeness is Google's realistic avatar system for video calls in Android XR, an equivalent to the original non-spatial mode of Apple Vision Pro's Personas. Your Likeness replaces the video feed that apps would normally get from a phone's selfie camera, providing a virtual equivalent, and should thus work for any video calling platform without developer implementation.
To use Likeness, you scan your face for Likeness by holding up your phone, not the headset itself. From here, the data is transferred to and securely stored on the headset. The Likeness app is currently only available on "select Android device models". In video calls on Android XR, your Likeness is driven by Galaxy XR's eye tracking and face tracking capabilities in real-time, and the feed shows a virtual representation of your hands when you hold them up too.
Travel Mode
Android XR now has a Travel Mode, which when enabled, makes the positional tracking work properly on moving vehicles, such as planes and trains. Apple was the first to launch this feature, alongside Vision Pro, and since then Meta, Pico, and Snap have followed.
Without a Travel Mode, the accelerometer and gyroscope in the headset's IMU will interpret the acceleration, orientation changes, and vibrations of the vehicle as your head movement, causing virtual objects and windows to drift off in the opposite direction. Travel Mode works by having the headset rely more on computer vision from the cameras, typically incurring a small loss in tracking quality.
PC Connect (Beta)
PC Connect (beta) is a feature that lets you connect to and control your Windows PC as a virtual screen in Android XR. After installing the streamer app on your PC, you can mirror your entire desktop or one window. There are already many third-party apps on the Google Play Store that can do this, including Guy Godin's Virtual Desktop, but PC Connect offers a built-in option.
Implications and Practical Insights
The Samsung Galaxy XR's update brings several features that can improve the user experience, particularly for those who use their headsets for video calls or remote desktop access. Likeness, for example, can provide a more realistic and immersive experience for video calls, while Travel Mode can help reduce the drift and disorientation that can occur when using headsets on moving vehicles.
However, the PC Connect feature, while convenient, seems to be a more basic option compared to Meta's partnership with Microsoft for an officially supported Windows 11 remote desktop system. This may limit its appeal for users who require more advanced features, such as virtual extra monitors and multiple aspect ratios.
Forward-Looking Thoughts and Implications
As Google continues to update and improve the Android XR platform, we can expect to see more advanced features and capabilities emerge. The addition of AI-powered features, such as the ability to turn any 2D content into 3D, could revolutionize the way we interact with virtual environments and provide new opportunities for developers to create immersive and engaging experiences.
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy XR's update brings several exciting features that can improve the user experience and provide new opportunities for developers to create immersive and engaging experiences. As the platform continues to evolve, we can expect to see more advanced features and capabilities emerge, and it will be exciting to see how users and developers take advantage of these new tools and technologies.
Source: https://www.uploadvr.com/samsung-galaxy-xr-android-xr-likeness-beta-travel-mode/
