Using Layar Vision to implement Augmented Reality

Layar Vision, which is an extension of the Layar Augmented Reality browser,  offers another means by which iOS and Android App developers can use Augmented Reality (AR) to interact with physical objects. Compared to the Qualcomm AR SDK, the Layar Vision API takes a different approach by pushing the image identification processes to the server-side and having a usage based freemium pricing mechanism.

Below are a few videos of the power and potential of this product.

 

Here is a video introducing Layar Vision.

 

More explanations of Layar Vision

 

A sample of three applications

 

Read more about the API and associated toolkit here.

Related articles

• Layar now augments reality on BlackBerry (intomobile.com)
• Qualcomm’s Augmented Reality SDK (abhishekkathuria.wordpress.com)
• Augmented Reality: Layar Creation Challenge winners (wired.com)

Qualcomm’s Augmented Reality SDK

Qualcomm‘s Augmented Reality (AR) SDK allows developers to design Android and iOS apps that can augment a live image from a camera  with superimposed virtual content (such as graphics, data, media, etc). The SDK, which is distributed free, provides several features, including virtual buttons, 3D objects, frame markers and targets.

Here is a video of the sample apps that are provided in the SDK

The below video of the winners of the Qualcomm AR Challenge (from Feb 2011) helps to fully appreciate the power of this toolkit.

Download the SDK here.

Read more at Augmented Reality | Products and Services | Qualcomm.

Related articles

• Amazon’s new augmented reality app (abhishekkathuria.wordpress.com)

Developing apps using Box.net API

Following its hugely successful 50gb giveaway, Box.net is an attractive platform with which to integrate mobile apps. The Box.net mobile API augments its base API to provide additional resources to mobile developers. However, compared to the recently released Dropbox API, this toolkit seems to be lacking in some security and usability features. Guess an update is round the corner.

Image via CrunchBase

Get sample code at Box Platform Developer Documentation / ApiExamples.

Read more at Box Platform Developer Documentation / BoxPlatformMobile.

Amazon’s new augmented reality app

Amazon’s subsidiary, A9.com has launched a new augmented reality iPhone app called Flow. The app uses visual image recognition and barcodes to detect any product the phone is pointed towards. It then overlays the image of the product with content from Amazon, which includes reviews, ratings, specs, pricing and immediate purchasing options. This will make price comparisons easier and faster, thereby helping to increase Amazon’s sales.

Image via A9.com

Users point to an item and Flow overlays pricing, availability, reviews, media content and other information directly over the item in view.

With Flow, customers can identify books, DVDs, CDs, video games, or millions of packaged household items like a box of cereal. Items can be recognized by pointing the iPhone toward the front cover or packaging, or by the UPC barcodes.

Read more at Flow Powered by Amazon App, Now Available for the iPhone and here.

Related articles

• New Amazon iPhone App Blends Augmented Reality With eCommerce (mashable.com)
• Amazon’s Flow iPhone App Brings Augmented Reality To Barcode Scanning (techcrunch.com)
• Shop In Augmented Reality With Amazon Flow for iPhone (readwriteweb.com)

Android Fragmentation

App developers and users have complained about the fragmentation of the Android market for a long time. This wonderful graphic and accompanying post clearly illustrates the extent of this problem and shows why many Android users are stuck with older versions of the OS.

 

Image via http://theunderstatement.com/

 

Read more at the understatement: Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support.

Web apps more accessible on Chrome

Google has redesigned Chrome’s New Tab page to enable tighter integration with web apps, which are now available on a separate page. This move comes in sync with a redesign of the Chrome Web App store – steps that further refine Google’s App strategy.

Read more at Official Google Blog: Making Chrome even more app-ealing.

DropBox API for Apps

Dropbox has released an API for mobile and web apps. This API will enable tighter integration of Dropbox with third-party apps due to its implementation of non-password security (no need to share your Dropbox password with third-party apps) and single folder access. The API also allows search and sharing of Dropbox documents from within other apps.

Image by darkpollo via Flickr

Read more at The Dropbox Blog » Blog Archive » The Dropbox API!.

Related articles

• Dropbox Raises $250M In Funding, Boasts 45 Million Users (techcrunch.com)