Rabbit R1 as an Android App

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  "title": "Rabbit R1 as an Android App",
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  "url": "https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/30/24145838/rabbit-r1-android-app-pixel-6a"
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{
  "author": null,
  "date": "2024-05-01T03:23:28.458Z",
  "description": "Looks like this gadget could have just been an app.",
  "image": "https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WpdWEpyvFtbDQbr2sbV4t2SB7E4=/0x0:6000x4000/1200x628/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG",
  "logo": "https://logo.clearbit.com/theverge.com",
  "publisher": "The Verge",
  "title": "Turns out the Rabbit R1 was just an Android app all along",
  "url": "https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/30/24145838/rabbit-r1-android-app-pixel-6a"
}

{
  "url": "https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/30/24145838/rabbit-r1-android-app-pixel-6a",
  "title": "Turns out the Rabbit R1 was just an Android app all along",
  "description": "Turns out the Rabbit R1 was just an Android app all along / AI is in its Juicero era.By  Allison Johnson, a reviewer with 10 years of experience writing about consumer tech. She has a special interest in...",
  "links": [
    "https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/30/24145838/rabbit-r1-android-app-pixel-6a"
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  "content": "<div><article><div><div><div><h2>Turns out the Rabbit R1 was just an Android app all along</h2><p><span><span> / </span><h2>AI is in its Juicero era.</h2></span></p></div><div><p><span>By</span> <span><span></span> <span><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.theverge.com/authors/allison-johnson\">Allison Johnson</a></span><span>, <span>a reviewer with 10 years of experience writing about consumer tech. She has a special interest in mobile photography and telecom. Previously, she worked at DPReview.</span></span></span></p><p>Updated May 1, 2024, 3:23 AM UTC</p><div><h2>Share this story</h2></div></div></div><div><figure><span><span></span><img alt=\"The Rabbit R1 in front of a window.\" srcset=\"https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/16x11/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 16w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/32x21/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 32w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/48x32/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 48w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/64x43/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 64w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/96x64/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 96w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/128x85/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 128w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/256x171/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 256w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/376x251/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 376w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/384x256/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 384w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/415x277/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 415w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/480x320/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 480w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/540x360/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 540w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/640x427/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 640w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/750x500/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 750w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/828x552/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 828w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/1080x720/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 1080w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/1200x800/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 1200w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/1440x960/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 1440w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/1920x1280/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 1920w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/2048x1365/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 2048w, https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/2400x1600/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG 2400w\" src=\"https://duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0x0:6000x4000/2400x1600/filters:focal(3000x2000:3001x2001):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25415491/DSC08587.JPG\" /></span><div><figcaption><em>I mean, at least it’s just $200?</em></figcaption> <p>Image: David Pierce / The Verge</p></div></figure></div></div><div><div><p>Over at <em>Android Authority, </em>Mishaal Rahman managed to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.androidauthority.com/rabbit-r1-is-an-android-app-3438805/\">download Rabbit’s launcher APK on a Google Pixel 6A</a>. With a little tweaking, he was able to run the app as if it were on Rabbit’s own device. Using the volume-up key in place of the R1’s single hardware button, he was able to set up an account and start asking it questions, just as if he was using the $199 R1. </p><p>Oh boy. </p><p>Rahman points out that the app probably doesn’t offer all of the same functionality as the R1. In his words: “the Rabbit R1’s launcher app is intended to be preinstalled in the firmware and be granted several privileged, system-level permissions — only some of which we were able to grant — so some of the functions would likely fail if we tried.” But the fact that the software runs on a midrange phone from almost two years ago suggests that it has more in common with a plain ‘ol Android app than not. </p><p>Rabbit founder and CEO Jesse Lyu disagrees with this characterization. He gave a lengthy statement to <em>The Verge </em>that we’ve partially quoted below — it was <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://twitter.com/rabbit_hmi/status/1785498453097009473?t=nDKpTRwNIuGV285GDT2Ajg&amp;s=19\">also posted to Rabbit’s X account</a> if you want to read it in full. </p><div><blockquote><p>“rabbit r1 is not an Android app... rabbit OS and LAM run on the cloud with very bespoke AOSP and lower level firmware modifications, therefore a local bootleg APK without the proper OS and Cloud endpoints won’t be able to access our service. rabbit OS is customized for r1 and we do not support third-party clients.” </p></blockquote></div><p>The R1 isn’t alone; Humane’s AI pin <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.threads.net/@marvinbernal/post/CzhAJ1hxktP/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">appears to run on a version</a> of Android’s open-source software, too. But it’s the R1 in the hot seat right now as the first reviews have started to trickle out — and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddTV12hErTc\">they’re not great, Bob</a>. Rabbit issued <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/30/24145442/rabbit-r1-ota-software-update-battery-drain-fix\">its first software update</a> earlier today to address some complaints, including a fast-draining battery. <em>That</em> issue seems to be better controlled post-update; my R1’s idle battery performance is vastly improved after downloading the update this morning.</p><p>But the bigger problem is that the R1 just doesn’t do enough useful things to justify its existence when, you know, <em>phones</em> exist. It looks like this AI gadget <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/21/24134967/ai-gadgets-humane-pin-android-pixel-gemini\">could have just been an app</a> after all.</p><p><em><strong>Update April 30th 11:23PM ET: </strong>Added a statement from Rabbit CEO Jesse Lyu.</em></p></div><div><p>Most Popular</p><p>Most Popular</p><ol><li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/21/24326402/google-search-antitrust-remedies-proposal-browser-default-android\"><h2>Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps</h2></a><hr /></li><li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.theverge.com/24313084/smart-lock-home-preview-2025-matter-apple\"><h2>2025 will be the year of the smart lock</h2></a><hr /></li><li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/20/24325923/cfpb-zelle-lawsuit-widespread-fraud\"><h2>Three of the biggest US banks are facing a lawsuit for ‘widespread fraud’ on Zelle</h2></a><hr /></li><li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.theverge.com/24303052/modretro-chromatic-review-game-boy-color-handheld-palmer-luckey\"><h2>ModRetro Chromatic review: an arms dealer’s Game Boy is among the best ever made</h2></a><hr /></li><li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/21/24326557/asus-copilot-plus-nuc-mini-pc-intel-core-ultra-series-2-processor\"><h2>Here’s the first CoPilot plus mini PC with Intel’s new Core Ultra 9 processors</h2></a><hr /></li></ol></div></div></article></div>",
  "author": "Allison Johnson",
  "favicon": "https://www.theverge.com/icons/android_chrome_512x512.png",
  "source": "theverge.com",
  "published": "2024-04-30T22:58:05.143Z",
  "ttr": 104,
  "type": "article"
}