Mobile AR News Features
News: Facebook Debuts Image Recognition in Camera AR with 'Ready Player One' & 'A Wrinkle in Time' Poster Promos
Despite the wide availability of markerless augmented reality experiences for mobile devices, there is still a market for scanned triggers for content, as evidenced by the new image recognition capabilities on Facebook's Camera AR platform.
News: Home Decor App Houzz Expands Augmented Reality Catalog to Include Virtual Floor Tile
Apps that can display virtual furniture in the home are one of the most popular applications of mobile AR today, but Houzz has decided to raise the stakes with its latest update.
News: Snow App Brings Animoji Alternative to Everyone with a Smartphone
Augmented reality avatars that mimic facial expressions are no longer the exclusive province of Animojis on the iPhone X or AR Emojis from Samsung. Camera app Snow has added its own alternative to Apple and Samsung's features, which it also calls AR Emoji, for iOS and Android.
News: Liverpool Soccer Fans Can Try on the Team's Uniform in Augmented Reality with New Balance Snapchat Lens
New Balance is helping Liverpool Football Club (FC) fans see how they look in the team's new kits with an augmented reality experience in Snapchat.
Building Next Reality: How the ARKit's Impressive Software Detects Surfaces Using Just the iPhone's Color Camera
I currently am and have always been what one might call a PC/Android guy. Many that know me well would likely even go so far as to say I am anti-Apple. About an hour after seeing the ARKit demo during the day-one keynote at WWDC, I became the owner of a brand new Mac.
News: Maroon 5 Dives into Augmented Reality with Music Video Created Entirely in Snapchat
Move over, Hype Williams, it looks like Snapchat is about to take some of your music video-making business, and pop rock group Maroon 5 is the proof.
News: Hang Out in Seinfeld's Apartment via an Augmented Reality Replica on Your iPhone or iPad
If you've ever wanted to barge into Jerry Seinfeld's apartment like Cosmo Kramer, you can now do so without having to book a ride on the Peterman Reality Tour.
News: This App Lets You Control Your Smarthome Lights via Augmented Reality
Voice-activated digital assistants from Amazon, Apple, and Google currently have the upper hand for home automation integrations, but a new augmented reality mobile app promises to give homeowners and renters visual control over their connected appliances.
News: YouTube App Lets You Put Yourself in the World of 'Stranger Things 3' via Augmented Reality
So you're all done binge watching Stranger Things Season 3 and you want to start sharing your personal review with friends.
Apple AR: Augmented Reality TARDIS Really Is Bigger on the Inside
If you're a Doctor Who fan, you've likely always hoped to see that iconic blue box appear on your doorstep with the Doctor asking you to come on an adventure. With the 13th Doctor just announced, this seems like the perfect time to tell you that thanks to Apple's ARKit, exploring the TARDIS is now possible!
News: 7-Eleven Joins Forces with 'Deadpool 2' for Augmented Reality App & In-Store Experience
With the theatrical premiere of Deadpool 2 less than two weeks away, the hype train for the sequel to 2016's surprise R-rated hit is gaining steam, and augmented reality is on board for the ride.
News: Lenovo Star Wars Jedi Challenges Update Lets You Turn to the Dark Side via Kylo Ren Lightsaber
Any real Star Wars fan knows that fear is a path to the dark side, as it leads to anger, and then suffering. For players of Star Wars Jedi Challenges, though, access to the antagonistic side of the Force is now available through their mobile apps.
News: Snapchat Gets Sweeter with Augmented Reality Experience for Ariana Grande's New Album
It looks like Snapchat is becoming the MTV of augmented reality. On Thursday, Ariana Grande, with her new album Sweetner, joined Drake and Nicki Minaj and other artists who are pushing new releases through Snapchat's Shoppable AR e-commerce platform.
News: Apple Granted Patent to Make Augmented Reality Maps—Hinting at a Cool, Futuristic Version of Our Well-Worn Maps App
Apple recently scored a patent (number 9,488,488) to create augmented reality maps, hinting at possible AR integration into the iOS Maps application for iPhone. Does this mean we'll be seeing super visionary projections of places in the app in the near future? Maybe.
News: Snapchat Summons Dragons from Westeros to New York for Game of Thrones AR Promo
Spring is here across the US, but, through the lens of Snapchat and augmented reality, winter is coming to New York.
Apple AR: Soccer Players Get to Test Their Skills via a Unique ARKit-Powered App
If you've been paying attention, you already know that ARKit can detect horizontal surfaces and estimate ambient light, but did you know that it can also help you improve your soccer game?
News: Apple Bursts onto Augmented Reality Scene with ARKit
During the opening keynote of their Worldwide Developers Conference today in San Jose, Apple introduced the ARKit for the new iOS 11 that will bring augmented reality apps to millions of compatible iPhones and iPads.
News: Google Wants Everyone to Try Scribble Art in Augmented Reality
As part of its ARCore push this week, Google has promoted Just a Line from one-time AR experiment to a full-fledged app.
News: 8th Wall Adds Another Brick to Its Web AR Platform with AR Camera for Easy Prototyping
In the past few years, augmented reality software maker 8th Wall has worked to build its platform into a cross-platform augmented reality toolkit for mobile apps, as well as web-based AR experiences.
News: 8th Wall Breaks Down Walls Between ARKit, ARCore & the Mobile Devices They Leave Behind
With Apple ready to unleash ARKit to millions of iPhones and iPads and ARCore on its way to supporting millions of Android devices, is there room in the world for a cross-platform mobile AR platform?
News: Hotstepper Dances Alongside You in Augmented Reality as You Walk to the Next Party
Sure, Blippar was first to market with an AR navigation app for iPhones (and iPads) compatible with ARKit, but does it know how to party? Hotstepper does.
News: Gym? WTF Is a Pokémon GO Gym?
Collecting Pokémon in Pokémon GO is only half the fun. Once you've reached Level 5, it's time to get your Pokémon ready to do battle with other Pokémon. This is where Gyms come in.
News: Snapchat Proves That No One Can Agree on How to Assemble a Burger
Tech companies are embroiled in controversy this week. No, not the hearings on Russian interference in last year's election; in this case, it's all about the burger emoji.
News: Puma Uses Zappar to Bring Web-Based AR Experience to Retail Store
When it comes to the athletic footwear retail game, it's just not enough to just sell shoes anymore.
Apple AR: LEGO AR-Studio Will Give Kids Free Virtual Sets to Play Alongside Real LEGOs
It appears that the new AR app from LEGO is inching closer to release.
News: Google Assembles Marvel's Surviving Avengers & Other AR Sticker Packs for All Pixel Devices via Playground Update
Owners of Google Pixel devices now have a plethora of imaginary friends to play with thanks to the Playground augmented reality app.
News: Varidesk Raises App to Visualize & Purchase Standing Desks
The standing desk movement has gained momentum over the past few years as research has pointed to the detrimental health effects of sitting at a desk all day.
News: Google Developer Days Sheds Some Light on ARCore
During Google Developer Days, taking place now at the ICE Congress Center in Krakow, Poland, an introductory session on ARCore provides some insights on how the platform operates.
News: iPhone X Can Record & Send Video Holograms via HoloBack App
If you find yourself on the run from the Empire, you no longer need a droid to send a holographic distress message, you just need an iPhone X and the HoloBack app.
News: Sony Pictures & Snapchat Serve Up Creepy Augmented Reality Lens to Promote 'Brightburn' Movie
The new film Brightburn, a horror take on the superhero genre produced by Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn, debuted in theaters on Friday, and it has some promotional backing from Snapchat to drive ticket sales.
News: Samsung Sends Family Guy into Augmented Reality to Showcase Connected Home Products
On Friday, at IFA 2018 in Berlin, Samsung invited attendees into the residence of Family Guy's Griffin family to learn all about its "smart home" products via augmented reality.
News: Cover Girl Opts for Browser AR Try-on Tool Instead of Mobile App & the Results Are Tragic
The latest cosmetics brand to launch its own augmented reality try-on tool is Cover Girl, which introduced its browser-based experience this week.
News: Noovie ARCade App Brings Wreck-It Ralph Movie Experience to Augmented Reality for Fans
One of the funniest scenes from the teaser trailer for the Wreck-It Ralph sequel is the basis for the new pre-show augmented reality experience via the Noovie ARCade app.
News: L'Oréal Brings Its Modiface AR Makeup Platform to Facebook Camera
Already one of the leaders in augmented reality for cosmetics, L'Oréal is extending the reach of its ModiFace virtual try-on platform through a partnership with Facebook.
Apple AR: Tim Cook Makes Rare Animoji Appearance, Pushes AR Amid Slow iPhone X Sales Reports
In the wake of reports of slow iPhone X sales and a possible early end to its shelf life, Apple CEO Tim Cook is on a public goodwill tour of sorts, espousing the virtues of Apple AR.
Hands-On: Niantic's Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Brings New Magic to the World of Augmented Reality
Can lightning strike twice? Niantic is betting that it can with its latest augmented reality game based on the best-selling multimedia franchise Harry Potter.
News: NBA AR App Launches on Android & Adds Portals to Playoffs
The NBA Finals is underway, and now basketball fans with iPhones and Android devices can get closer to the action for free than they ever could with expensive courtside tickets.
News: Google Releases ARCore 1.7 Update, Adds Face Filters & Expands Animation Support
Snapchat made augmented reality selfie effects famous, with Facebook copying the feature across its mobile apps. Of course, others have followed, but their face tracking apps often pale in comparison to the original.
News: Google Expands ARCore to More Android Devices, Adds iOS Support
The roster of handsets supporting Google's augmented reality toolkit now includes 46 Android models as well as support for ARKit-compatible iPhones and iPads.
News: Niantic Picks an AR Fight with Pokémon GO Players via Trainer Battles Rollout
Augmented reality gaming company Niantic Labs is now instigating conflicts between Pokémon GO players, but it's not as bad as it sounds.