Nestled between two convention halls at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona is a pathway lined with Google’s newest tech — and its cutest robotic figures. Right here, spectators can step inside homey, wood-paneled cubicles and check out options throughout Pixel, Android XR and Search. Welcome to Android Avenue.
I swung by Google’s setup to take a look at demos for its newest merchandise and options. Greeting me on the entrance and setting the scene was an adorably colourful Android statue waving hi there.
CNET’s Tara Brown and I maintain up our entry stickers in entrance of an identical Android.
In a single sales space, I attempted on the Android XR smart glasses prototype for the primary time and explored some promising use instances. I noticed and heard real-time, AI-powered translations by way of the glasses as a Google worker spoke to me in Spanish. I additionally adopted a Google Maps overlay that guided me alongside my route with out obstructing my imaginative and prescient, due to the show projected onto the best lens.
Android XR glasses faucet the Gemini AI assistant.
Scorching off the heels of Samsung’s S26 launch, Google demoed a brand new Gemini functionality that takes on a extra assistive position. You possibly can long-press the facility button and ask Gemini to plan a vegetarian tapas tour, as an example, then have it drop that data in a Google Maintain be aware, all by way of voice command.
Different use instances embrace having Gemini e book an Uber for you, which it will do within the background so you may hold utilizing different apps in your Galaxy S26 telephone.
Gemini handles duties like calling an Uber or serving to to plan and jot down an tour.
In one other sales space, I toyed round with an replace to Google’s Circle to Search that’ll concurrently discover all of the items of an outfit in your display, then allow you to strive them on nearly.
After long-pressing the house button and circling an image of an ensemble I preferred, Google confirmed a listing of product outcomes for every aspect. Tapping “strive it on” generated a lifelike picture of me sporting the orange-red pants I used to be eyeing.
Amusingly, the AI took the freedom of changing my real-life costume and jacket with a black T-shirt. It isn’t the primary time Gemini has determined to play around with the parameters of my modest clothing, however hopefully it will get higher at avoiding these gaffes with time.
The Circle to Search update is rolling out on the Galaxy S26 sequence and Pixel 10 units.
These arms are AI-generated — as is the entire outfit.
Circle to Search could have accomplished a greater job with Patrick Holland’s ensemble.
Considered one of my favourite Pixel options allows you to use Apple’s AirDrop and Android’s Quick Share throughout both ecosystems. With a few faucets, I despatched a picture from a Pixel 10 telephone to an iPhone, and in addition acquired one in return. The function is also available on Pixel 9 devices.
Fast Share/AirDrop compatibility makes it simpler to switch media between newer Pixel telephones and iPhones.
Seeing new tech is at all times neat, however what I actually cherished had been these Android collectible figurines that gave the impression to be cleansing a demo sales space window. Such diligent little staff.
I am unable to get sufficient of those little guys.
And that wrapped up my tour of the block. At a tech convention largely dominated by monotonous cubicles, it was good to get some contemporary air, discover just a few demos and, primarily, fawn over cute statues massive and small.
