Tag:

Hands

Hands on: I tried the new MSI Claw A8 at Gamescom 2025 and AMD’s Z2 Extreme chip was nothing but an extreme let down

by admin August 25, 2025

Why you can trust TechRadar

We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme is yet another gaming PC handheld to hit the market. Taking all of the positives of the previous iteration of the MSI Claw, the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme seems promising on paper, being the first gaming handheld to pack the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, potentially giving gamers a whole new level of performance right in the palm of their hands.

In terms of availability, the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme has been slowly released over the past few months as different regions start to stock the device. The UK is still waiting for its opportunity to purchase, as well as the US, and with the new Asus ROG Xbox Ally hitting the shelves soon, it may be a race to the finish line in terms of the first device featuring AMD’s new chip to be on the shelf.

However, using the device at Gamescom 2025 actually proved to be a rather mediocre experience, and this wasn’t the fault of the handheld but rather the processor itself. While the device looked snazzy and was comfortable to use, it didn’t quite deliver the performance boost I was expecting from AMD’s latest chip, and instead felt practically identical to the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme.

Not only are my expectations for the device tainted, but I’m worried about the progression of handhelds in general if this level of performance is meant to be seen as an upgrade. Oh dear.

(Image credit: Future)

MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme hands-on: Price and availability

The price of the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme varies from region to region and with no stock available in the US or UK just yet, we don’t have a confirmed price.

However, with sales already underway in Germany starting at €999, we can therefore assume it will be at a similar price point in both dollars and pounds, though exchange rates, local taxes and tariffs will likely have an impact.

This is particularly expensive when compared to alternative handheld gaming devices on the market. However, this is currently the only gaming handheld to feature the brand new AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, which makes direct price comparison difficult. The previous MSI Claw was £899 / $899 on release, and other alternatives like the Asus ROG Ally X come in at around £799 / $799 with frequent sales and price cuts.

Right now, there’s no confirmed release date for the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme for most of the world, but with it being on shelves in some areas of Europe, we shouldn’t be waiting too long.

(Image credit: Future)

MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme hands-on: Design

In terms of design, the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme comes in a fancy new colorway, Neon Green.

Being honest, I found this new color absolutely repugnant, but this is more of a personal taste issue rather than it being a major problem. Despite not being a fan, I can be the bigger person and admit that this new color definitely sets the device apart from the monochrome sea of gaming handhelds which are on the market right now.

You get an 8-inch screen which is just slightly higher in resolution than your standard 1080p at 1920×1200. Pair this with the variable 120Hz refresh rate, and this screen is one of the best options on the gaming handheld market.

The only thing that would improve this display would be if it was OLED. It was gorgeous to look at and would make a great option for both casual and competitive gamers alike – if competitive gamers would ever dare to play ranked on a gaming handheld.

(Image credit: Future)

The chassis definitely feels more ‘gamery’ in style when compared to its predecessor, with a more aggressive shape and clear cut edges rather than that smooth and sleek finish which we’re familiar with. Despite this, it was still comfortable to hold.

Coming in at 765g, it’s one of the heavier devices on the market; the Asus ROG Ally X, for example, weighs less than 700g. This is to be expected given the difference in screens, but doesn’t detract from the fact that the handheld feels like it’s slightly weighing you down while you’re playing it, but it didn’t cause any major issues.

MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme hands-on: Specs

In terms of specifications, the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme looks fantastic on paper, however the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme does majorly let it down. While using the device, I found that I wasn’t really getting any better performance when compared to the Z1 Extreme chip found in other (cheaper) gaming handhelds.

It managed good quality graphics in the games I played on the handheld, with solid frame rates which didn’t look or feel choppy. However, since this was just a brief hands-on session I wasn’t able to actually monitor the frame rates while playing, and it really didn’t feel like the device was delivering any significant boost in performance on a surface level.

Swipe to scroll horizontallyMSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme specs

CPU

AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme

Display

8-inch FHD+ (1920×1200), 120Hz, VRR, Touchscreen

Memory

24GB LPDDR5x-8000

Wireless

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Ports

2x Type-C, 1x Micro SD Card Reader

Battery

80Wh

Dimensions

299.5 x 126.2 x 24.0mm

Weight

765g

Aside from this, you also get 24GB of RAM, a major upgrade from some of the previous generation gaming handhelds. Lower RAM in previous handhelds has posed issues in the past, so it’s nice to see MSI learning from the mistakes of their competitors.

You also get a chunky 80Wh battery, the same as the previous iteration of the MSI Claw. While it would have been nice for this to have been improved upon, it seems like this is slowly becoming industry standard.

I wasn’t able to actually monitor the battery level during my hands-on time with the device, but the AMD Ryzen Z2 series of chips come with a promise of better efficiency so we’ll have to wait for a full review to see if this proves to be true.

MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme hands-on: Early verdict

All in all, I feel like I was somewhat underwhelmed with the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme, but that wasn’t down to the device itself but rather the processor from AMD.

The device was comfortable to hold, looked stunning (apart from the new neon green colorway, sorry) and has a promising battery capacity.

However, with a high price point and a processor which wasn’t delivering that boost in performance that I was expecting over its predecessor, it’s hard to recommend picking up the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme based on first impressions alone. Our full review, where we’ll put the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme through our suite of benchmark and real-world tests, should determine if it deserves a place amongst the best gaming handhelds.

Source link

August 25, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller Review: For Human Hands

by admin August 25, 2025

The Nintendo 64 was a fantastic console, home to generation-defining games such as Super Mario 64 and GoldenEye 007. With its four built-in controller ports, it revolutionized multiplayer gaming in front of the TV, and it was the first mainstream console to introduce an analog stick, essential for navigating the burgeoning 3D worlds the medium was starting to deliver.

Unfortunately, the controller it did all that with was an abomination, an unholy three-pronged monstrosity that earned my lifelong disdain. Fast-forward roughly three decades, though, and third-party peripheral maker 8BitDo has improved on the original N64 pad in almost every way with its new 64 Bluetooth Controller.

Nostalgia Upgraded

Photograph: Matt Kamen

8BitDo’s pad is chiefly designed for the Analogue3D, an upcoming field programmable gate array (FPGA) console set to play original N64 cartridges, but it can be paired to practically any Bluetooth-enabled device, from PCs to smartphones to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 consoles, where it can be used to play the digital N64 game library included for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers.

Aesthetically, traditionalists may lament the lack of the original N64 pad’s pops of color, but they have a sleek elegance to them. Intended to mirror the similarly monochrome Analogue3D, 8BitDo’s efforts match perfectly, while also looking like a fitting companion to Nintendo’s official Switch 2 Pro Controller. Functionally, this takes everything that made Nintendo’s original controller so groundbreaking and repackages it into a modern unit that, crucially, fits into the average human’s two hands. Every input is present and accounted for, accurate down to icons and fonts.

The 64 Bluetooth Controller massively improves the orientation, though. The original Z-Trigger, once on the underside of the official controller’s middle prong, is now two shoulder buttons, sitting where the L2/R2 triggers do on a PlayStation grip, while the analog stick is shunted to the left, comparable to an Xbox controller’s left stick. The result is that every input is within easy reach, eliminating the need to juggle your grip. It also introduces some welcome 21st-century upgrades, like making the thumbstick drift-proof thanks to Hall effect tech, and baking in haptic feedback, eliminating the need for a separate Rumble Pak.

Stick ’Em Up

Photograph: Matt Kamen

The thumbstick is the star, feeling incredibly precise thanks to both Hall effect sensors and retaining the eight-way “gate” at its base, the octagonal notches allowing it to snap satisfyingly into place. Expect effortless combos in 1080° Snowboarding, precise shots in Perfect Dark, and smooth flying in Starfox. The staff of the stick is also wider, shorter, and made of metal, making it feel far sturdier than that of the original pad. While the top of the stick reproduces the trio of raised concentric rings and subtle concave dip for your thumb to rest on, it’s rubberized now, rather than slippery plastic, making for a surer grip.

Source link

August 25, 2025 0 comments

Razer Blade 14 gaming laptop held in one hand with a PC and an Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 in the background.

Gaming Gear

I’ve spent weeks testing the best little gaming laptops and there’s only one they’re going to have to prise from my cold, dead hands

by admin June 25, 2025

I’ve spent a good few weeks now agonising over which of these two notebooks can claim the crown of best 14-inch gaming laptop—should it be the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 claiming the title for the second year running, or does the redesigned Razer Blade 14 do enough to topple the incumbent champ?

Honestly, from when I first started playing with the new Blade 14 my mind was made up. It’s slimmer than last year’s machine, cheaper, and a whole lot quieter than the frankly annoyingly noisy Zephyrus G14. But that’s not to say there hasn’t been some conflicting thoughts going around in my head.

Because, on paper, it’s really not so cut and dried a result. In the US, the Asus laptop is $100 cheaper, and that’s for the version with the RTX 5070 Ti GPU—the Blade 14, by contrast, can only be configured with either an RTX 5060 or RTX 5070. The G14 is also sporting the best mobile APU that AMD has ever created: the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with it’s excellent Radeon 890M integrated graphics.

The Blade 14 is also an AMD-powered device, but it uses the weaker Ryzen AI 9 365 with the same sort of iGPU as the last-gen APUs.

So… it’s got a lesser spec and it’s more expensive. “How can you be recommending this gaming laptop with just 8 GB of VRAM over the clearly superior Zephyrus?!” This is the question I imagine being screamed at this page right now, but bear with me and I shall explain.

If you want a gaming laptop with a ton of graphical grunt first and foremost, then a 14-inch machine isn’t for you. This form factor is about having a genuinely portable notebook that will play games on the go. It’s about the experience, not the raw numbers. While you will get higher frame rates out of the Asus compared with the Razer—though given the slight silicon differences between the two GPUs, not by much—there is a cost to be paid. And it will be paid by your ears.

The new Zephyrus has this uncomfortable two-tone nature to its fan noise which is hugely distracting and the only way to mitigate it outside of some really good noise cancelling headphones, is to use the manual configuration options to pull back on performance. And at that point, getting to the same fan sound as the quieter Blade 14, you’re then running your RTX 5070 Ti at the same frame rate as an RTX 5070.

I also just straight prefer the design of the Blade 14, too. The sleek matte black MacBook aesthetic has long been a draw for the Razer laptops, and with this new, thinner chassis that’s even more pronounced. It’s a lovely thing, with a gorgeous OLED screen, a decent keyboard, and great battery life, too.

For me, it’s the best compact gaming laptop around.

The quick list

Best gaming laptop 2025

All our current recommendations

The best gaming laptops

Best overall

The best overall

Now we’ve seen the new Blade 16 and Asus Zephyrus G16 laptops side-by-side we can categorically say that Razer has absolutely won this round. On all counts, the newly redesigned Blade 16 is the best gaming laptop you can buy today.

Read more

Best budget

The best budget

Gigabyte has created an excellent budget gaming laptop, and while the screen could be better, it offers a nice combination of components for very reasonable money.

Read more

Best 14-inch

The best 14-inch

If you want your gaming laptop to actually be a proper mobile gaming device, then the newly redesigned Razer Blade 14 is the best compact notebook you can buy. It may top out at an RTX 5070, but that fits perfectly its slimline beautiful chassis.

Read more

Best mid-range

The best mid-range

We weren’t huge fans of MSI’s last-gen gaming laptops, but the mid-range Vector manages to deliver both high frame rates, a decent price, and a setup that allows for a balanced mode with decent performance and acceptable fan noise.

Read more

Best high-performance

5. Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10

The best high-performance

If you want the best gaming frame rates full stop, then Lenovo’s redesigned Legion Pro 7i is the gaming laptop you should covet. The new design looks great, and that thicker chassis allows for the absolute best gaming performance we’ve seen in a current-gen machine.

Read more

Best 17-inch

6. Gigabyte Aorus 17X (2024)

The best 17-inch

The latest Aorus 17X shows that Gigabyte has been paying attention, and has delivered a beefy 17-inch machine that we’d be happy to lug about with us. It’s got a great spec, the screen is sweet, and the battery life is decent, too.

Read more

Source link

June 25, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

University shakes hands with the past – 3D printing replicates 500-year-old prosthetic

by admin June 25, 2025

The world of prosthetics has been changed forever thanks to the advent of 3D printing. We recently covered a story about a gentleman who received a 3D-printed face repair. Today, however, we’ve got a 3D printed replica of a 16th century wrought iron prosthetic hand put together by researchers at Auburn University.

Kassel Hand Project: Tips & Tricks to Operate the Model – YouTube

Watch On

3D printing this historical prosthetic is another way for researchers to interact with history and better understand what life was like for amputees during the Renaissance era. The team decided to use a real artifact as a point of reference so they could understand its mechanisms and also test the performance of the design.

The team ultimately decided to use what’s known as the “Kassel Hand”. This is a prosthetic hand from the 1500s assessed to be German in origin. The Kassel Hand is one of just a few European mechanical prosthetics to have survived from the Renaissance era. The team replicated its design as precisely as possible so they could 3D print the most exact replica possible.

Nexus Mods founder to step away as ownership of the site “changes hands”

by admin June 20, 2025

Nexus Mods founder is stepping away from his “behemoth” creation, passing the site onto new owners.

In a statement posted to the website, Robin “Dark0ne” Scott said that for both “my and the community’s best interest,” the “time has come to step back from the day-to-day running of the site.”

“I started this project back in 2001, in my bedroom, with a 56k modem, an excitement for the upcoming release of Morrowind, and with no grand ambitions or intentions. I didn’t set out to build a business, I just wanted to make a place where modders could share their work without worrying it would vanish into the internet, either the next time a fansite went offline or a publisher decided they were done with it. That idea grew legs, sprouted arms, and turned into Nexus Mods,” the statement began.

“Since then, this site has been my entire adult life. Every single day, for over two decades, I’ve been ‘on call’, whether it was fixing issues, reading feedback, pushing updates, or getting pulled into the latest bit of community drama. It’s been rewarding, sometimes chaotic, often exhausting and always personal. Somewhere along the way, I forgot to step back and breathe, or sleep properly. The dilemma of running a major social network that does not rest!”

Scott added that running the site had also been a “regular source” of anxiety and stress-related health issues, and suspected he had been “burning out,” which was impacting both the site and the “40 incredibly dedicated” people who work there.

“One of the biggest reasons I’ve been doing this for so long is that I’ve never felt that I truly found someone who really ‘gets’ the modding community the way I do. Finding a new owner who would be able to understand and respect the myriad intricacies of both Nexus Mods as a business and the wider modding community was essential,” he added (thanks, RPS). “After months of meetings, face-to-face talks, and a whole lot of soul searching, I am thrilled to say that I truly believe I have found the exact right people for the task.”

Though Scott insisted there wouldn’t be many changes from the user-side of things, he said the new owners – introduced via usernames – “have my complete trust.”

In a follow-up post, new owner “Foledinho” assured members “mods will always remain free” and ownership of the mods will continue to belong “to the creators who create them.” As for monetization?

“Monetization is hard and Nexus Mods is a complex platform,” the new owner said. “What matters most is continuing to support mod authors, delight users, and keep the lights on. We’re not changing the core model. No aggressive monetization. No paid mods. If anything, we’re aiming for fewer ads, not more. We’ll take a community-first, listening approach, and we won’t compromise on what’s made Nexus Mods special.”

In April 2025, a Japanese modder was sentenced to two years in prison. After being convicted of infringing Nintendo’s trademark and sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for three years. He was also fined around $3500.

Source link

June 20, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Microsoft says it’s working on next-gen Xbox “consoles” you’ll play “in your living room and in your hands”

by admin June 17, 2025

If recent reports are true, we likely won’t be seeing Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox console until 2027 at the earliest. But that hasn’t stopped the company from teasing a couple of details – including backward compatibility and vague handheld allusions – as it announces a partnership with AMD to co-engineer the bits inside.

Microsoft first confirmed an Xbox Series X/S successor was in the works last February, as the company rushed to assure fans – amid the start of its multi-platform release strategy – that it wasn’t abandoning the console market. At the time, Xbox president Sarah Bond insisted Microsoft was “invested in [its] next-generation road map” and “focused on… delivering the largest technical leap that you will have ever seen in a hardware generation.”

And it now transpires AMD will be the company helping make that bold promise a reality. Microsoft announced its “strategic, multi-year agreement” with AMD in a short video shared earlier today. In it, Bond explained Microsoft is “investing in [its] next-generation hardware line-up across console, handheld, PC, cloud, and accessories”, and would be working with AMD to “co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices including our next-generation Xbox consoles in your living room and in your hands”.

Xbox + AMD: Powering the Next Generation of Xbox.Watch on YouTube

There is, of course, quite a bit to unpack in that last sentence, starting with Bond’s clear reference to multiple next-generation “consoles”, and continuing on with the distinction between a machine “in your living room” and “in your hands”. While it’s entirely possible “consoles” refers to a dual release strategy similar to the Series X and S, it’s hard to ignore the additional allusion to an Xbox-branded handheld. But whether that might be an internally development machine – as previously rumoured – or something similar to AMD’s recently unveiled Xbox Ally, remains to be seen. Notably, Windows Central recently reported Microsoft’s internal handheld project had been “sidelined” in favour of more third-party partnerships, while The Verge went further, saying the project was “essentially cancelled”.

Bond’s spiel continued by insisting Microsoft’s new AMD partnership would result in “the next generation of graphics innovation” and will “unlock a deeper visual quality”. That’s alongside “immersive gameplay and player experiences, enhanced with the power of AI”, and “compatibility with your existing library of Xbox games”.

“This is all about building a gaming platform that’s always with you, so you can play the games you want across devices anywhere you want, delving you an Xbox experience not locked to a single store or tied to one device,” Bond concluded. “The next generation of Xbox is coming to life and this is just the beginning. We can’t wait to show you what’s next.”

Source link

June 17, 2025 0 comments

Google's Android XR prototype demonstrated at Google I/O 2025

Product Reviews

Hands on: I tried Google’s Android XR prototype and they can’t do much but Meta should still be terrified

by admin May 21, 2025

Why you can trust TechRadar

We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The Google Android XR can’t do very much… yet. At Google I/O 2025, I got to wear the new glasses and try some key features – three features exactly – and then my time was up. These Android XR glasses aren’t the future, but I can certainly see the future through them, and my Meta Ray Ban smart glasses can’t match anything I saw.

The Android XR glasses I tried had a single display, and it did not fill the entire lens. The glasses projected onto a small frame in front of my vision that was invisible unless filled with content.

To start, a tiny digital clock showed me the time and local temperature, information drawn from my phone. It was small and unobtrusive enough that I could imagine letting it stay active at the periphery.

Google Gemini is very responsive on this Android XR prototype

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The first feature I tried was Google Gemini, which is making its way onto every device Google touches. Gemini on the Android XR prototype glasses is already more advanced than what you might have tried on your smartphone.

I approached a painting on the wall and asked Gemini to tell me about it. It described the pointillist artwork and the artist. I said I wanted to look at the art very closely and I asked for suggestions on interesting aspects to consider. It gave me suggestions about pointillism and the artist’s use of color.

The conversation was very natural. Google’s latest voice models for Gemini sound like a real human. The glasses also did a nice job pausing Gemini when somebody else was speaking to me. There wasn’t a long delay or any frustration. When I asked Gemini to resume, it said ‘no problem’ and started up quickly.

That’s a big deal! The responsiveness of smart glasses is a metric I haven’t considered before, but it matters. My Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses have an AI agent that can look through the camera, but it works very slowly. It responds slowly at first, and then it takes a long time to answer the question. Google’s Gemini on Android XR was much faster and that made it feel more natural.

Google Maps on Android XR wasn’t like any Google Maps I’ve seen

Celebrities Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dieter Bohn wear Android XR glasses and shake hands with the crowd (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Then I tried Google Maps on the Android XR prototype. I did not get a big map dominating my view. Instead, I got a simple direction sign with an arrow telling me to turn right in a half mile. The coolest part of the whole XR demo was when the sign changed as I moved my head.

If I looked straight down at the ground, I could see a circular map from Google with an arrow showing me where I am and where I should be heading. The map moved smoothly as I turned around in circles to get my bearings. It wasn’t a very large map – about the size of a big cookie (or biscuit for UK friends) in my field of view.

As I lifted my head, the cookie-map moved upward. The Android XR glasses don’t just stick a map in front of my face. The map is an object in space. It is a circle that seems to remain parallel with the floor. If I look straight down, I can see the whole map. As I move my head upward, the map moves up and I see it from a diagonal angle as it lifts higher and higher with my field of view.

By the time I am looking straight ahead, the map has entirely disappeared and has been replaced by the directions and arrow. It’s a very natural way to get an update on my route. Instead of opening and turning on my phone, I just look towards my feet and Android XR shows me where they should be pointing.

Showing off the colorful display with a photograph

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The final demo I saw was a simple photograph using the camera on the Android XR glasses. After I took the shot, I got a small preview on the display in front of me. It was about 80% transparent, so I could see details clearly, but it didn’t entirely block my view.

Sadly that was all the time Google gave me with the glasses today, and the experience was underwhelming. In fact, my first thought was to wonder if the Google Glass I had in 2014 had the exact same features as today’s Android XR prototype glasses. It was pretty close.

My old Google Glass could take photos and video, but it did not offer a preview on its tiny, head-mounted display. It had Google Maps with turn directions, but it did not have the animation or head-tracking that Android XR offers.

There was obviously no conversational AI like Gemini on Google Glass, and it could not look at what you see and offer information or suggestions. What makes the two similar? They both lack apps and features.

Which comes first, the Android XR software or the smart glasses to run it?

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Should developers code for a device that doesn’t exist? Or should Google sell smart glasses even though there are no developers yet? Neither. The problem with AR glasses isn’t just a chicken and egg problem of what comes first, the software or the device. That’s because AR hardware isn’t ready to lay eggs. We don’t have a chicken or eggs, so it’s no use debating what comes first.

Google’s Android XR prototype glasses are not the chicken, but they are a fine looking bird. The glasses are incredibly lightweight, considering the display and all the tech inside. They are relatively stylish for now, and Google has great partners lined up in Warby Parker and Gentle Monster.

The display itself is the best smart glasses display I’ve seen, by far. It isn’t huge, but it has a better field of view than the rest; it’s positioned nicely just off-center from your right eye’s field of vision; and the images are bright, colorful (if translucent), and flicker-free.

The author in Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses looking dumbfounded (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

When I first saw the time and weather, it was a small bit of text and it didn’t block my view. I could imagine keeping a tiny heads-up display on my glasses all the time, just to give me a quick flash of info.

This is just the start, but it’s a very good start. Other smart glasses haven’t felt like they belonged at the starting line, let alone on retail shelves. Eventually, the display will get bigger, and there will be more software. Or any software, because the feature set felt incredibly limited.

Still, with just Gemini’s impressive new multi-modal capabilities and the intuitive (and very fun) Google Maps on XR, I wouldn’t mind being an early adopter if the price isn’t terrible.

My Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are mostly just sunglasses now (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

Of course, Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses lack a display, so they can’t do most of this. The Meta Smart Glasses have a camera, but the images are beamed to your phone. From there, your phone can save them to your gallery, or even use the Smart Glasses to broadcast live directly to Facebook. Just Facebook – this is Meta, after all.

With its Android provenance, I’m hoping whatever Android XR smart glasses we get will be much more open than Meta’s gear. It must be. Android XR runs apps, while Meta’s Smart Glasses are run by an app. Google intends Android XR to be a platform. Meta wants to gather information from cameras and microphones you wear on your head.

I’ve had a lot of fun with the Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses, but I honestly haven’t turned them on and used the features in months. I was already a Ray Ban Wayfarer fan, so I wear them as my sunglasses, but I never had much luck getting the voice recognition to wake up and respond on command. I liked using them as open ear headphones, but not when I’m in New York City and the street noise overpowers them.

I can’t imagine that I will stick with my Meta glasses once there is a full platform with apps and extensibility – the promise of Android XR. I’m not saying that I saw the future in Google’s smart glasses prototype, but I have a much better view of what I want that smart glasses future to look like.

You might also like…

Source link

May 21, 2025 0 comments