"Welcome to a new way of seeing the world..." This is the official app for Google Glass
All indications suggest that smart glasses will become one of the biggest trends in 2026, as many manufacturers prepare to launch their devices, coinciding with the global launch of Android XR, the new version of the operating system dedicated to augmented reality.
These wearable devices are being presented as the "end of smartphones," as they have the potential to radically change the way we interact with apps, because we will no longer have to look at the screen.
It is clear that this transition will be lengthy and that initially we will have to continue carrying our mobile phones, as they will be linked to the glasses; now, we can form an idea of what this experience will look like.
Android Authority has discovered that the latest version of Android Canary has a new app pre-installed on the operating system, called "Glasses," which, as its name suggests, will be the starting point for connecting our smart glasses to the mobile phone.
With a welcome message that says, "Welcome to a new way of seeing the world," this app sets high standards, and that's understandable.
Smart glasses will enable advanced experiences, whether through voice commands with assistants like Gemini or by using built-in augmented reality displays to show floating objects in our surroundings.
But first, we need to set them up using our smartphones, and that's where the need for an app like "Glasses" comes in, which will also help us discover the world of smart glasses and their capabilities.
When we launch the glasses app, it will allow us to connect the glasses to our smartphone. First, we'll put them on, then simply turn them on using the button on the temples, and we'll see a blue light indicating that they are searching for a phone to connect to.
After the pairing process is complete, we can start adjusting the various settings of the glasses, such as the camera and notifications.
For example, we will be able to choose whether we want all the photos we take with the glasses to be automatically uploaded to the phone's memory or whether we prefer to do so manually or only while the glasses are charging.
It's clear that the app is still under development, as features like Gemini's settings and notifications are unavailable. Furthermore, the app is very basic and lacks many features.
Analysis of the app's code revealed this, along with indications of new features such as conversation detection. Gemini will be able to automatically mute notifications during conversations to avoid distractions.
An important detail is that this and other functions work locally on the glasses, not on the smartphone, to protect our privacy—an aspect that Google seeks to protect to avoid the controversy that arose over Google Glass.
For example, Google guarantees that no audio, images, or conversations will be sent to the company's servers or other services.
The first smart glasses with Android XR will be released in 2026 by manufacturers such as Samsung and Real, at which point this application will be available to Android users.