When CEO Lv Cheng boasted earlier this year, he promised the device would run on the brand-new Rabbit OS.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Android expert Mishaal Rahman uncovered a significant detail just these past few days—
It turns out, the device is actually running on a shell of Android!
In Lago's words:
Not only are the internal systems Android-based, but the entire interface is also supported by Android apps.
And Lago successfully "ported" Rabbit R1 to the Android system, which can now run on the Google Pixel 6a phone...
The recent revelation finally explains the long-standing question: Why isn't Rabbit R1 an app?
Because it is an app!
This news has truly caused a stir in the tech community.
The Verge even sharply commented:
Artificial intelligence is in the Juicero era.
(Juicero: a "smart tax" juicer, now referring to unnecessary complex technological innovations, overpricing, and excessive hype.)
In the end, Rabbit R1's CEO, Lv Cheng, also responded.
Exposed for using a shell Android
In fact, Lago's experiment this time is also based on the confusion that everyone has had about Rabbit R1 for a long time.
Although in Lago's actual experience process, he acknowledged some functions that Rabbit R1 can achieve, including:
Communicating with large language models, taking photos to get object information, playing music on Spotify, calling an Uber, and ordering food with Doordash, and so on.
But basically, that's about it. It seems that everything Rabbit R1 can do can be replicated on an Android app.
So Lago also had a similar question: Why doesn't Rabbit R1 make an app instead of making it a $199 hardware, which also requires a separate network, and has average battery performance?
By a stroke of luck, a netizen shared the launcher APK (Android application package) of Rabbit R1 with Lago.
So, with a sudden inspiration, Lago, after some patching work, plans to somehow install Rabbit R1 on an Android phone - the Google Pixel 6a.
When LaGe installed this APK on the phone, the Pixel 6a transformed into the Rabbit R1 instantly!
Moreover, in terms of device operation, the volume up button on the Pixel 6a corresponds to the side button of the Rabbit R1.
By tapping this button, Lago can follow the prompts to complete the setup wizard step by step and create an account for Rabbit R1.
Due to the much smaller screen and lower resolution of the Rabbit R1 compared to the Pixel 6a, the main screen interface only occupies a small portion of the phone's display.
After installation and setup, you can start asking questions and communicating with the AI assistant using the Android version of Rabbit R1.
Lage did not test other functions on this Android device, such as Spotify or photo recognition, but he mentioned that he wouldn't be surprised if other functions didn't work properly.
Since the launcher APK of Rabbit R1 is pre-installed in the firmware, there may be some permissions that users cannot access.
Nevertheless, Lage believes that the current experiment is sufficient to prove a humorous fact:
Essentially, many niche AI hardware products, including Rabbit R1, run on modified versions of AOSP.
Furthermore, Lage provided evidence of a reverse operation - some users have already run Android apps on Rabbit R1.
Unfortunately, the user has now taken down the posted video...
Before that, many netizens have also gradually posted evaluations about the Rabbit R1.
Evaluation Results from Various Netizens
For example, the renowned foreign reviewer Marques Brownlee (referred to as "Bro Brown" below) released a 20-minute evaluation video of the Rabbit R1 just yesterday.
Brown first objectively tested the existing functions of the Rabbit R1, including conversing with large models, taking photos for object recognition, and more.
In the video, Brown separately opened a section titled "It's Also Bad."
First, he criticized the battery of the Rabbit R1:
It's already a bad thing to have to carry this device along with your phone when you go out.
Even if you don't use the Rabbit R1, its battery drains quickly, almost running out of power in about 4 hours, needing to be charged several times a day.
Not only does it consume power at an astonishing rate, but it also takes 45 minutes to fully charge such a small device.
Furthermore, in terms of functionality, Brown believes that the Rabbit R1 lacks many basic features he deems essential, such as the inability to set alarms, timers, take videos or photos, send emails, or have a built-in calendar...
Many of the basic functions I desire are missing on the Rabbit R1.
If it's not there, it's not there. Brown also finds the Rabbit R1's main feature, the large language model conversation, to be quite flawed: "Confidently providing incorrect answers."
Moreover, in terms of operation, there is no "back to previous menu" button, requiring scrolling to the top of the menu each time.
Adjusting the screen brightness also requires using both hands together:
Based on this, Brown also raised a soul-searching question:
You have a touchscreen, but can only use it for typing.
Why can't the touchscreen be used for other functions? Using a scroll wheel and buttons is just too cumbersome, isn't it?
...
In conclusion, Brown's assessment of the Rabbit R1 is: Spend $200, but not sure what to do with it.
Apart from Brown Brother, many netizens on X have also shared their experiences using the Rabbit R1.
However, it's a bit polarizing, like this one:
"I'm tired of so many people on X saying R1 is useless.
It has positively impacted my lifestyle."
Take a closer look at the image, "This is not a hot dog"... Well, a word to the wise is enough.
However, in response to netizens' criticism of the battery issue, it seems that the Rabbit R1 official side has provided a fix.
After the update, the battery life will significantly improve.
But besides the Rabbit R1 itself, the CEO behind it, Lv Cheng, has once again been in the spotlight these days — this time overseas.
Lv Cheng's AI hardware, once again entering the same river
The reason is Lv Cheng's performance at a recent press conference.
He appeared very confident, facing the question from the camera, "Do you think these (big players at the same event) will pose a threat to you?" He said:
I don't care, they do their thing, I do mine.
However, when it came to the presentation, things took a turn for the worse...
He tried to order McDonald's through Rabbit R1 on the spot, but the first attempt ended in failure; and the second try also involved quite a wait:
However, this wasn't the first time Lv Cheng had encountered setbacks in AI hardware. Looking back at his past experiences, the process from beginning to end seems to be repeating the same pattern.
Lv Cheng, a Chinese entrepreneur in the field of AI, graduated from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and founded Raven Tech.
Raven Tech was focused on AI voice interaction, aiming to bring the next generation operating system for smartphones. The product exuded a futuristic vibe in demos and presentations.
Being a post-90s individual, Lv Cheng garnered significant market attention. He and his team also made efforts to gain recognition from renowned overseas incubators like Y Combinator, shining with a captivating aura.
In 2017, Baidu acquired Raven Tech entirely, with Lv Cheng appointed as the General Manager of Baidu's Smart Home Hardware. That same year, he led the team to launch Baidu's first smart speaker, Raven H.
The unveiling at CES in 2018 led The Wall Street Journal to crown this speaker as the best product of the year.
Despite the initial success, the consumer market did not fully embrace the product, and it never achieved large-scale production.
At a subsequent Baidu World Conference, Lv Cheng took the stage with wheeled robots, envisioning the future of home pet robots... but this also faded away.
Perhaps aiming to truly prove himself, a year later at Baidu, Lv Cheng chose to leave and founded Cyber Manufacture Co. in the United States, which is the predecessor of Rabbit today.
Lv Cheng has a hobby - he loves collecting vintage synthesizers, which connected him with Jesper Kouthoofd, the founder of the Swedish audio hardware company, Teenage Engineering.
Teenage Engineering specializes in designing and manufacturing electronic devices and related products. The handheld gaming device Playdate, a joint venture with software development company Panic, is one of their creations.
However, the current sales figures suggest it has been relatively average.
Moving on to Rabbit R1, Lv Cheng once again chose to collaborate with Teenage Engineering on the design.
Regarding the initial idea for this product, Lv Cheng explained:
While phones are a "necessity" in life, subscribing to the annual upgrade service for the iPhone made him feel increasingly disconnected emotionally from the device.
In other words, his interest in phones has gradually waned.
After discussions with the Teenage Engineering team, both parties quickly agreed on the concept and design of Rabbit R1 - creating a small gadget that combines AI and retro elements.
And that's how Rabbit R1 came to be.
As for how Rabbit R1 will perform next and whether it will change its current reputation, only time will tell.
One More Thing
Shortly after Lago posted the leak, his status was updated again.
First, his IP or device ID was blocked:
"My Pixel 6a now 'cannot connect to Rabbit OS,' so I can no longer send any queries."
Following that, Lago received a personal statement from Lv Cheng, which roughly stated:
The Rabbit R1 is not an Android app. We are aware of some unofficial Rabbit OS applications/websites emulating it.
Rabbit OS and LAM run in the cloud with highly customized AOSP and low-level firmware modifications, so unauthorized local pirate APKs without proper operating systems and cloud endpoints will not be able to access our services.
After today's OTA, we have implemented multiple cloud verification enhancements to authenticate device/client requests.
Reference links:
[1] https://www.androidauthority.com/rabbit-r1-is-an-android-app-3438805/
[2] https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/30/24145838/rabbit-r1-android-app-pixel-6a
[3] https://twitter.com/MishaalRahman/status/1785416631818064341
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddTV12hErTc
[5] https://twitter.com/MarcelD505/status/1785346490635878837
