News

Apple restricting use of augmented reality applications on iPhone

Until the release of the 3.1 software, that is

Apple restricting use of augmented reality applications on iPhone
|

Augmented reality is rapidly becoming the new buzzword of the software industry. The concept is to overlay information on a real-world image using, or instance, the camera on the iPhone 3GS.

The augmented reality system makes heavy use of a combination of other features too, such as GPS tracking, the Internet and - perhaps most importantly of all - the new digital compass built into the iPhone hardware upgrade.

Examples of an augmented reality would be looking at a street through the iPhone's camera while the application were always the location of friends, or bus stops, other geographical information as you move the handset around, adding a digital layer to the real world around you.

Developers are apparently itching to start putting this concept to use in their iPod applications, though Apple apparently isn't quite so keen. According to LA Times, the iPhone manufacturer has told developer Acrossair (which created the Nearest Tube train finder application) but it won't be approving any augmented reality applications until version 3.1 on iPhone software has been released.

The update is expected around September, and in the meantime, here's a video demonstrating the sort of applications augmented reality could be put to.

yt
Subscribe to Pocket Gamer on
Spanner Spencer
Spanner Spencer
Yes. Spanner's his real name, and he's already heard that joke you just thought of. Although Spanner's not very good, he's quite fast, and that seems to be enough to keep him in a regular supply of free games and away from the depressing world of real work.