Another Augmented Reality Check for iPhone Users

**Michael Essany** · 10-16-2009, 05:06 AM

Image via Wired

More now than ever, the iPhone 3GS finds itself toiling in the world of augmented reality, a unique genre comprised of mobile applications capable of superimposing contextual digital information directly over your real environment as perceived through the eyes of your smartphone.

For fans of augmented reality, Google's Android platform has had the iPhone beat in this department thanks in no small part to the augmented-reality juggernaut known as Layar.

But as the New York Times and Gadgetwise reported this morning, Layar is out with version 2.0 of its popular app for the iPhone 3GS.

Previously available to Android users, Layar uses the iPhone’s live camera feed (and its GPS and compass capabilities) to superimpose data and graphics, meaning users can select a layer from sites like Wikipedia, Flickr and Twitter, then point their phones at surrounding points of interest to get information about the selected target.

Although Layar 2.0 just became available as a free download from Apple's App Store, we will have to wait a while for the
iPhone version of 3.0, which comes to the Android next month. (3.0 will be exponentially cooler, as 3D capabilities
will be added).

At its most basic, the app is useful for finding information like restaurant reviews and real estate listings. It is a free download that requires O.S. 3.1 and an iPhone 3GS to work.

While certainly not for everyone, augmented reality apps like Layar represent the future of apps - those that fuse a variety of features (compass, GPS, camera, etc.) for awesome and equally innovative uses.

**spazturtle** · 10-16-2009, 05:27 AM

Cool, I only wish my iTouch had a camera so I could use it.

**dris** · 10-16-2009, 05:46 AM

You'd need built in gps and internet connection also for the content to be loaded up (thats why its specificaly aimed at 3GS).

These type of apps are great but you always need to be 'online' to get the information (very costly when roaming!).

An app that would come complete with wikipedia content for a particular country would be great. Then you would not need to be 'online' all the time.

**spazturtle** · 10-16-2009, 06:01 AM

Wikipedia database on the iPhone, do you have a 50TB iPhone?

**billchase2** · 10-16-2009, 07:20 AM

I'd use it if I didn't have to upgrade to 3.1... Why not just make them compatible for 3.0+?

Originally Posted by spazturtle

Wikipedia database on the iPhone, do you have a 50TB iPhone?

It doesn't need to be nearly that big. Here's iPhonePedia which has the English version for 180MB: http://trac2.assembla.com/iPhonePedia/wiki

**rwin84** · 10-16-2009, 08:21 AM

i was irked when yelp got updated and itunes took it off my phone because i am on 3.0 and it is now 3.1 dependant. its garbage! myspace mobile did the same thing

**gillyweed** · 10-16-2009, 09:05 AM

You may still be able to find those apps in your recycle bin on your computer. If you just restore them back to your iTunes folder you can double click them and get them back on your phone. You'll just have to be careful about updating.

**spazturtle** · 10-16-2009, 09:19 AM

Why didn't you disable Apple kill switch?

**ecd5000** · 10-16-2009, 09:34 PM

just one more reason i wish i had a 3gs instead of a 3g just to try this junk out and see what all the buzz is.

**kaaroFC** · 10-18-2009, 10:38 PM

Augmented reality is really cool

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