Tag: Source: Androidcentral.com

With a pocket-sized computing puck and a modern look, these are the Android XR smart glasses we have anticipated.

After a lengthy wait, we finally witnessed Xreal Project Aura in action at Google I/O 2026. These hybrid smart glasses are crafted to provide a VR experience in the form factor of smart glasses, allowing you to harness the full capabilities of the Android XR platform without the heft of a VR headset. Project Aura includes dual displays (one in each lens), speakers, and cameras to enhance the smart glasses experience.

To accomplish this, Xreal Project Aura is designed differently compared to other smart glasses available today. Instead of cramming all the electronics and battery within the glasses, Xreal will provide Aura specs with a compact computing puck that fits neatly in your pocket. This small puck contains the battery, Snapdragon processor, and most of the heavier components, ensuring the glasses remain lightweight and resemble a typical pair of glasses.

Xreal is equipping Aura glasses with an upgraded X1S chip and a suite of cameras that enable spatial tracking of your position, allowing for a complete VR spatial experience. This updated X1S chip prioritizes enhanced speed and multitasking compared to the X1 chip in the current-generation Xreal One glasses.

Distinctively different from every other smart glasses model

Xreal shared a significant portion of Project Aura’s key details following the Google I/O 2026 presentation yesterday, a whole year after the first reveal at last year’s I/O. During a product briefing ahead of I/O 2026, Xreal indicated that the glasses are set for their commercial launch this year. Whether this will coincide with the new Samsung-engineered AI glasses in the fall, or closer to the holiday season, remains uncertain.

Following the information release on Tuesday afternoon, there has been some misunderstanding regarding how Project Aura operates. These glasses are not the same as current-generation models like Xreal 1S or Viture Beast. Those models are merely wearable displays that require a connection to another device, such as your phone, laptop, or even a device like the Nintendo Switch 2.

Xreal Project Aura is designed to function independently, although it can also act as a wearable monitor if desired. Typically, you will connect it to the computing puck mentioned earlier to experience the full advantages of Android XR. This includes comprehensive spatial tracking of your environment and hand tracking (to facilitate natural movement and interaction), as well as compatibility with all existing Android 2D and spatial applications.

The puck itself resembles a phone, but it isn’t. It represents a clear advancement on 2024’s Xreal Beam Pro, featuring dual USB-C ports on the bottom.

Xreal has not specified a particular Snapdragon chipset for the computing puck. However, as it’s built to deliver the complete Android XR experience, it will be significantly more competent than the chipsets typically found in all-in-one XR glasses like Ray-Ban Display or even the monocular display glasses being developed by Google and Samsung.

Project Aura boasts a 70-degree field of view (FoV), which is approximately 15 degrees broader than the best smart glasses available today, yet still 20-30 degrees narrower than a VR headset such as the Meta Quest 3. Whether this will be suitable for regular VR gaming remains to be seen, but the glasses should be ideal for mixed-reality games that superimpose virtual elements onto the real world or utilize the real world as a setting.

From Android Central managing editor Derrek Lee’s firsthand experience and analyst Anshel Sag’s observations, it’s evident that Xreal and Google have invested considerable effort in effectively adapting the VR experience into an elegant pair of smart glasses. Sag notes that the narrower FoV is impressive and accurately reflects the Galaxy XR experience. As a regular Galaxy XR user, this is precisely what I was hoping to discover!

Moreover, the image quality and performance appear to match that of the headset for daily usage. Given that the glasses integrate Gemini, they can recognize faces and automatically dim the display so that you can best see the individual in front of you, creating an experience akin to a magical floating display.

Project Aura currently lacks a definitive product name, price, or specific release date, but we anticipate its availability later this year, likely priced similarly (or slightly higher) than the newly announced Xreal ROG R1 glasses from last week. Xreal is distributing the first 1,000 dev kits at no cost, which means developers can start creating Android XR spatial applications right away without incurring significant expenses. The outlook for this technology is exceptionally promising, and Aura will spearhead the next major XR advancement.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 remains an excellent choice, even though it’s a 2024 release.

Could’ve, might’ve, perhaps been an indication…?

Social media is abuzz following Google’s I/O, primarily because users believe it hinted at the Pixel 11 during the presentation. Google was showcasing how Gemini Omni can modify reality in a video, and at the very conclusion, the user’s Pixel emits a glow around its camera bar. Many speculate this could be the anticipated Pixel Glow for the Pixel 11 series, though we’re cautious, given the context of the Omni demonstration.

We’re just beginning to wrap up from Google’s nearly two-hour I/O livestream, yet it seems we aren’t finished, as it potentially hinted at the Pixel 11. Android Central’s Nicholas Sutrich noticed discussions on social media; users are excited, asserting that Google’s Gemini Omni segment hinted at the Pixel 11. This part discussed how users can utilize Omni’s video functionalities to “alter reality with natural language.” The model showcased a Google Pixel held sideways throughout the example, but at the finale, the area surrounding its camera bar shimmers. An AI-generated disco ball is featured in the backdrop.

Android Central’s Perspective: Look, if Pixel Glow is going to appear like this, sign me up. This luminescence is impressive. It’s bright and attention-grabbing. Uncertain if that’s what everyone desires (or if that’s Google’s intention). The notion that this could serve as a Pixel 11 hint generates considerable excitement. If Pixel Glow were to encircle the entire camera bar like that, it would definitely attract consumer interest.

What theories are thriving are whether or not this was a glimpse at Google’s “Pixel Glow.” We’re somewhat reluctant to endorse these theories. The first reason is that the company was emphasizing the various methods its AI could modify reality, showcasing elements or features that were never present. Additionally, the Pixel that the model is handling seems to be encased—possibly this specific one, to be precise.

Now, could it be conceivable that Google attempted to slip one past us? Certainly. It’s also challenging to ascertain (given the brightness of the light) whether the glow is occurring within the camera bar cutout or outside of it. This Pixel Glow speculation is thrilling, but recent reports indicate it may not resemble this AI showcase.

Let’s hit the brakes

Rumors from late April suggested Google was developing a new capability for the Pixel 11 series called “Pixel Glow.” Code discovery indicated this would involve approximately eight LEDs and would operate similarly to a light bar. Previous rumors hinted at the same feature for Google’s forthcoming laptops, which have been introduced as Googlebook.

Android Central’s Perspective: It’s these rumors that make me wary about what’s circulating online. Naturally, I’d be thrilled if Google adorned its camera bar with Pixel Glow. Only time will reveal, right? August is merely three months away, so perhaps. Just perhaps.

For smartphones, Pixel Glow would provide glanceable data, reminiscent of Nothing’s Glyph Matrix (or Bar). However, a significant Pixel 11 leak earlier this month implies it may not be a “light bar,” but rather a compact RGB LED array within the camera bar. Google may omit its temperature sensor to accommodate this feature in the next series. Little more speculation has emerged regarding Pixel Glow. It appears safe to assert Google’s AI, Gemini, will likely play a major role in it, though.

Google is frequently regarded as a leader in technology, yet in terms of ecosystem functionalities, it is catching up to Apple. Ten years after Apple unveiled seamless app transitions between devices, Google is finally introducing a comparable feature for Android with “Continue On” in Android 17. This recently developed feature enables users to shift app activity from a phone to a tablet nearly instantly, covering articles, notes, emails, and specific web pages or documents. Although Google aims for the system to function in both directions, it is presently concentrating on phone-to-tablet transfers.

The Continue On feature establishes a secure connection between a “sending device” and a “receiving device,” allowing the latter to retrieve the precise state of the application. If you are utilizing an app on your phone, your tablet’s taskbar will recommend that app, enabling you to resume exactly where you paused. This capability is part of Google’s overarching strategy for Android 17, which emphasizes multitasking, larger-screen devices, and ecosystem functionalities.

Google’s initiative is perceived as a long-awaited advancement to render Android a connected ecosystem, akin to Apple’s. Nevertheless, the real test will be to ensure that Continue On does not turn into another promising feature that diminishes due to insufficient developer backing or decreasing interest from Google. The stable launch of Android 17, featuring Continue On, is anticipated later this year alongside the next generation of flagship Android smartphones and tablets.

Google is increasingly determined to incorporate AI into all of its offerings.

Google is implementing notable modifications to its AI Pro plan by launching a new credit-based usage framework. This transition replaces the earlier fixed-message count system regarding Gemini usage caps. The updated model takes into account elements such as prompt complexity, the utilized features, and the duration of conversations, all of which can greatly affect the allotted usage quota. This adjustment impacts Gemini functionalities within applications like Google Photos and various other Google services.

During the recent Google I/O 2026, the firm unveiled a range of new AI-driven features and tools, including a novel $100/month Google AI Ultra plan and a price cut for its premium plan. Nevertheless, the shift to a credit-based structure for the standard $20/month Google AI Pro plan has not been positively received by every user. A considerable number believe the new restrictions are more stringent, with reports indicating that a single prompt can take up a significant chunk of the quota.

The new structure brings forth a rolling five-hour usage period and weekly limits, which some users perceive as lower than the earlier thresholds. This strategy resembles the usage-based quota framework employed by other AI solutions, where more intensive tasks utilize more credits. The adjustments extend across Google’s complete Gemini ecosystem, impacting all AI-enabled Google services.

In spite of these updates, Google has raised cloud storage for subscribers from 2TB to 5TB, offering some added benefits. However, the revised limits may drive power users toward the pricier Ultra plan. Users can track their usage constraints within the Gemini app located under Settings.

The Garmin Fenix 8 stands out as a high-end smartwatch celebrated for its wide array of features and premium cost. Nevertheless, astute consumers can seize opportunities to lower this investment’s price. Presently, Best Buy is providing a $250 markdown on the Garmin Fenix 8 in celebration of its Memorial Day event, bringing the price down to $750. This offer makes the Fenix 8 more attainable for individuals who might otherwise consider it out of their financial reach.

The Fenix 8 is acclaimed for its all-encompassing lifestyle and training resources, durable battery life, and integrated flashlight. It includes functionalities from other esteemed Garmin models such as the Venu 3 and Forerunner 965, rendering it a flexible option for fitness lovers and tech-oriented individuals. Garmin has also rectified most of the initial glitches, improving its performance.

This smartwatch is perfect for anyone in search of a high-quality device that features a vast assortment of fitness, lifestyle, sleep, and heart rate tracking capabilities. It provides multi-band GPS and a battery endurance of up to 16 days, or seven days with the display always on. Despite its intricacy, the Fenix 8 remains a premier selection for those who value cutting-edge features and are ready to spend on a premium item.

For potential buyers of the Fenix 8, this price reduction offers an outstanding chance to obtain a top-notch smartwatch at a more favorable cost. However, if you lean towards a more conventional smartwatch or seek a more economical alternative, this offer may not suit your preferences.

In a recent turn of events, Meta has terminated 8,000 employees, worsening the current discontent among its staff. The job cuts, part of a transition towards AI initiatives, were communicated through early morning emails, causing anxiety and uncertainty among employees. Although CEO Mark Zuckerberg has promised no additional layoffs for the remainder of the year, morale continues to be low, with workers voicing dissatisfaction over the company’s emphasis on AI and repeated job reductions. This action continues a trend of substantial layoffs at Meta, intended to align with strategic objectives and enhance efficiency. The scenario underscores persistent difficulties in balancing corporate aims with the welfare of employees.

**Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Speculations: A Blend of Hopes and Disappointments**

The technology sector is buzzing with speculations regarding Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup. Although excitement is palpable, recent information indicates that the new foldable may fall short of expectations, possibly leaving out some highly awaited features.

**Main Speculations:**

1. **Privacy Display Exclusion**: The Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup might not feature Samsung’s Privacy Display technology, a capability that garnered positive feedback in the Galaxy S26 series for its effectiveness in blocking unwanted viewing angles.

2. **Display Crease Issues**: In contrast to earlier assertions implying enhancements, the Fold 8 could retain the same display crease, offering a visual experience identical to that of its forerunner, the Fold 7.

3. **S Pen Non-Inclusion**: There are also rumors that the series will not reintroduce the S Pen, despite earlier expectations for its comeback. This aligns with Samsung’s emphasis on preserving a slimmer profile, as seen in the Fold 7.

These speculations have triggered mixed responses among technology fans. The lack of the Privacy Display and S Pen could be perceived as setbacks, particularly for users who prioritize privacy and productivity features. Nevertheless, the choice to continue with the current display technology might signify Samsung’s assurance in its existing design.

As the release date draws near, enthusiasts are keen to discover whether these speculations prove accurate or if Samsung has unexpected innovations planned for its next-generation foldable.

The Galaxy S25 Plus runs on the intuitive One UI 7, and this price bracket marks it as a top bargain.