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Augmented Reality has mostly found its niche as a way to bring virtual characters to life through a mobile device. But a Japanese developer has found a more clever use. Crossfader’s AR-MAPS app syncs Apple or Google Maps to a live video feed from your iPhone’s camera, so you can visualise how you’re oriented, and easily locate destinations.
Using the device’s GPS, compass, and gyroscope, the app automatically switches between a split-screen map/video view of your surroundings, or just a flat map depending on if you’re holding your device vertically or horizontally. And not only does it let you search for a specific address or landmark, it uses augmented reality to overlay markers on the video feed so all you need to do is spin around until it highlights your destination. And best of all, it’s currently available free of charge on the iTunes App Store, providing yet another alternative to Apple’s Maps offering.
[iTunes App Store via DigInfo TV]
Am I the only one who doesn’t see the point in these features? Not like they’re any thing new but because it’s on the iPhone apparently it is innovative.
I’m not going to hold up my phone and walk around as a UI pops up to tell me what is there….. I have eyes! What would be better is to have a good built in GPS navigator instead lol.
Doesn’t it come with one?
Blindingly slow. Unable to zoom out beyond the immediate area. Largely pointless.
So its a bit like Google Maps layers (just more up to date.
Only tried it once about a year ago but didn’t google goggles do this? I’m sure I was holding my phone up to see what direction each ‘result’ was in when I searched for pubs or restaurants or something.
Also, just had an amazing idea; they should put a camera in the top edge of the phone (so it’s pointing ‘upwards’), so you don’t look like such a bellend holding the phone up at eye level with all this AR stuff!! iPhone 6, you heard it hear first!
hear? what? idiot.
*here.
It’ll be on an Android handset 2 years before Apple decide to do that (but they have probably just tried to patent your idea)
That could be pretty useful for people with no sense of direction/can’t read maps properly
That is, as long as Apple Maps doesn’t think you’re in Siberia when you’re in Piccadilly Circus
Nokia’s City Lens does something similar. If you hold the phone up, it uses augmented reality to overlay places over the camera view and if you hold the phone horizontal, it reverts to a map view.
Referral links are naughty.