XR platforms from Google, Samsung coming this year

Google's Gemini can now multitask for Sasmsung's Fold 6 as part of their collaboration

Tech Desk - Jul 11, 2024

An undated image representing XR technology. — Freepik

Compared to Samsung’s long list of reveals, Google falls a little short, as the former yesterday revealed the Z Fold 6 at its Galaxy Unpacked event while the ‘upcoming XR platform’ also received a mention.

Gemini has a new trick up its sleeve, it can now multitask for the Fold 6 but instead of delivering results through a fullscreen UI, it’ll appear as an overlay on the user’s screen.

Moreover, Google reiterated that “Ask about this video” is coming when watching YouTube. It joins the existing “Add this screen” and “Ask this PDF” in the future.

“Starting later this month,” Circle to Search will be able to scan QR and barcodes, as well as “help you learn more complex topics like symbolic math.” Google added that the visual search feature “will come to more Samsung devices later this year.”

Google also highlighted YouTube TV multiview for “enjoying up to four different streams at the same time.” It started rolling out for Android in late April.

Users can entertain themselves with a pre-selected catalogue of football, news, weather and simultaneous sporting events.

Besides all that, Samsung also announced WatchOS 5 for the Watch 7 and Watch Ultra during its annually held Unpacked exhibition.

Rick Osterloh briefly touched on the matter of the “upcoming XR platform” being developed in collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm. Initially announced in January of 2023, “you’ll want to stay tuned for that,” no further details were shared.