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Apple AR: Star Wars Holograms Are Now a Real Thing on iPhone X via Clips App

Nov 9, 2017 09:31 PM

Nov 9, 2017 10:05 PM

Augmented reality is making many of our childhood dreams from Star Wars come true. A week after Lenovo gave us the ability to actually play Holochess, Apple has now made it possible to take live video of ourselves and layer on a (non-3D) hologram-like effect, closely resembling the famous Star Wars hologram scene featuring Princess Leia decades ago.

With an update to its Clips video editing app, users can also now transport themselves onto the deck of the Millennium Falcon or the Mega Destroyer from the forthcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi. In addition, users can even flip to the rear camera to view the entire scene in action, but it won't transport any real-life humans into the scene.

Selfie scenes mode (left) vs. scenes with the rear camera (right).

There is a catch, though: the capability is limited to the iPhone X. The app uses the device's TrueDepth camera to simulate a green screen effect, transporting the user's mug into a 360-degree scene. Like already mentioned, flipping to the rear camera will omit you or any other people in front of the camera.

In addition to the Star Wars backgrounds, there are other new 360-degree backgrounds and video filters, but none of them can make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. Examples of the other scenes include an 8-bit look, a tea garden, riverfront, metropolis, and outer space.

While the price tag may have scared off many consumers from throwing money at the iPhone X, the AR possibilities with its TrueDepth camera may bring them back to the table, with Animojis providing iPhone X owners with additional voiceover fun.

While the Clips update brought some amazing skills to the iPhone X, all iPhone users can still take advantage of some other new features, like Star Wars stickers and posters, new effects and filters, and ability to take a quick picture.