The dazzling new trend of "augmented reality" mobile applications, software that puts layers of information on top of a mobile device's camera viewer, is something that's left iPhone owners feeling out of luck. Now one company developing such an app says Apple has said the technology required will be officially enabled in the next version of the iPhone OS - which is expected out in September.
Developers are able to access the necessary controls in the phone illicitly, but when Apple offers a stable and official Application Programming Interface (API) for layering data over the camera viewer - that's going to be game changing. The particular app in question is a subway route finder that shows route signs when you point your phone one direction or another. The list of possibilities is long, though, so we hope this September date is for real.
The rumor was first unearthed on Friday by Mark Milian of the LA Times:
Apple told Acrossair, developer of the Nearest Tube train finder, that the app will be approved for distribution after Apple releases version 3.1 of the iPhone software, which the developer expects will land in early September.
The availability of the requisite official tech hooks in September remains for now a rumor. It's a little hard to imagine Apple telling one particular vendor about a major platform change, and it's a little hard to imagine a vendor genuinely trusted with that kind of information telling the LA Times about it. Anything is possible, though.
We've written extensively about Augmented Reality before. Here's our wishlist of apps we hope that someone builds. Cross your fingers, some of these crazy apps could be coming as early as this Fall.
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Looks cool but if you think about it, pretty useless.
I am yet to own an i phone and i am feeling lucky right now. Seems like my version of iPhone will have some cool features that i am exited to try.
Its features seems very advance i am waiting for the launching.
iPhone Glitching. Make it happen.
http://vfte.cyberpunk.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=7221
Please write one of those top-N-list type articles that lists the best existing Augmented Reality applications.
So far as I know, there is not a single really useful app of this type in existence yet, outside of a Vernor Vinge novel.
For some reason there seems to be a lot of hype about AR around at the moment, and if there is any legitimacy to this so-called trend, perhaps you can support it with data and an actual example of an application someone might realistically use.
Subway routes suggested via cellphone camera don't cut it, by the way. They have these things called "maps" online already.
iwound a wonderful app of fashion and art magazine on itune, but it cost 5$ can i get it cheap from some where?
Apple is SO close to opening up AR to the world, it's hard to believe that just a couple of years ago this stuff was a pipe dream!
AR is very interesting and delivers all kinds of possibilities. Check out this http://chaletstu.blogspot.com/ for other examples of this technology in action and the potential uses in future.
I love you more ideas. it seems like another blog I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
From an iphone developer standpoint this is extremely innovative. I am anxiously anticipating its release.