Over at Android Authority, Mishaal Rahman managed to download Rabbit’s launcher APK on a Google Pixel 6A. With a bit tweaking, he was capable of run the app as if IT have been on Rabbit’s personal gadget. Utilizing the volume-up key instead of the R1’s single {hardware} button, he was capable of arrange an account and begin asking IT questions, simply as if he was utilizing the $199 R1.
Rahman factors out that the app in all probability doesn’t supply the entire similar performance because the R1. In his phrases: “the Rabbit R1’s launcher app is meant to be preinstalled within the firmware and be granted a number of privileged, system-level permissions — solely a few of which we have been capable of grant — so a few of the capabilities would probably fail if we tried.” However the truth that the software program runs on a midrange telephone from virtually two years in the past means that IT has extra in frequent with a plain ‘ol Android app than not.
Rabbit founder and CEO Jesse Lyu disagrees with this characterization. He gave a prolonged assertion to The Verge that we’ve partially quoted under — IT was also posted to Rabbit’s X account if you wish to learn IT in full.
“rabbit r1 just isn’t an Android app… rabbit OS and LAM run on the cloud with very bespoke AOSP and decrease stage firmware modifications, subsequently a neighborhood bootleg APK with out the right OS and Cloud endpoints received’t have the ability to entry our service. rabbit OS is custom-made for r1 and we don’t help third-party purchasers.”
The R1 isn’t alone; Humane’s AI pin appears to run on a version of Android’s open-source software program, too. However IT’s the R1 within the scorching seat proper now as the primary opinions have began to trickle out — and they’re not great, Bob. Rabbit issued its first software program replace earlier at present to deal with some complaints, together with a fast-draining battery. That concern appears to be higher managed post-update; my R1’s idle battery efficiency is vastly improved after downloading the replace this morning.
However the greater downside is that the R1 simply doesn’t do sufficient helpful issues to justify its existence when, you realize, telephones exist. IT seems to be like this AI gadget may have simply been an app in any case.
Replace April thirtieth 11:23PM ET: Added a press release from Rabbit CEO Jesse Lyu.