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Apple Vision Pro brings into focus Google's failure with AR
But Google might be cooking something in the wake of Apple’s efforts in VR
As with everything else it makes, Apple has drawn a lot of attention towards its new VR headset, the Vision Pro, which is being portrayed as the next big thing to happen since the iPhone. The hype is so much that it feels like Apple has invented an all-new category of devices from scratch — which couldn’t be further from reality. Other companies including Meta and HTC already make highly sophisticated VR headsets while Google once famously had and then abandoned its AR glasses.
Google could actually make augmented reality useful, for better or worse
Nightmare scenario: Google could make fixing your relatives' computer possible over the phone
Google can already consider ARCore a success, with the app hitting one billion installs on the Play Store in December 2020. The company has also shared that about 850 million devices with an ARCore certification are currently active, so it's no wonder Google is invested in improving the experience that gives us AR animals as well as TikTok and Duo filters. Following the I/O keynote, the company is launching ARCore 1.24, which introduces a so-called Raw Depth API and the Recording and Playback API.
It's been admittedly hard to try out makeup before purchasing in 2020. While I haven't experienced this first-hand, I've heard that having to wear a mask in public is proving to be a problem (duh). But worry not, Google is here to save the day with a new set of tools that will help you visualize makeup from the comfort and safety of your home.
Killing off beloved products can be difficult to do, but Google has gotten pretty good at it over the years. The company even put up a cemetery filled with its own products for Halloween last year. Now it looks like another tombstone needs to be installed, because Google has announced that it's sending Expeditions, its educational VR tour app, on one last outing — and it isn't coming back.