Comments on: Layar 3 Back To The iPhone – worth the wait?

By: http://layar.node64.com

http://layar.node64.com — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:34:46 +0000

Video review on the new Layar for Iphone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnO62d44NI8

By: Augmented Reality Dating For The iPhone | Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality Dating For The iPhone | Augmented Reality — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:47:02 +0000

[...] Layar 3 Back To The iPhone – worth the wait? [...]

By: Howard

Howard — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:28:26 +0000

@Paul – Ah sorry, we are looking at news volume not search volume. But having checked more carefully for News Articles on “mobile augmented reality” there has been at least 80% of the total number of 2009 articles this year already

http://www.google.com/archivesearch?q=Mobile+augmented+reality&btnG=Search+Archives&scoring=a

As for explaining to John Doe about GPS/compass interference – there’s an FAQ built into the app. Explains what to do. RTFM as they say.

The sphinx floats because the models are rendered at the same altitude as the user – and the case of this screenshot – it looks like the user is looking out of a 2-storey window. Again I will say use this outside and you will get the optimum experience. It is not designed for indoor use and anyone reviewing a mobile AR product should at least give it the opportunity to perform well by using it in the conditions it was designed for.

I am not saying the technology is perfect – but it’s only 9 months old! Already you are nay-saying, deriding and doom-harbouring. Open your mind.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:45:35 +0000

@howard The Beatles crossing Abbey Road is a nice screenshot… done in carefully prepared conditions. See the capture above, where the Sphinx is floating around and this is what users will mostly get.
Re: WLAN positioning, it works “pretty well” indeed, as GPS does! So try to explain John Doe that it’s possible that his location is inaccurate and that he also needs to wave his phone in figure of eight in order to get this working…
Also, take your time and take a proper look at Google Trends and see the “News reference volume” graph. And mind you, even though the Internet had limitations in 1994 -as it has now in some ways- it was pretty useful at least…

By: Layar 3 Back To The iPhone – worth the wait? | Augmented Reality

Layar 3 Back To The iPhone – worth the wait? | Augmented Reality — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:31:54 +0000

[...] View full post on Augmented Planet [...]

By: howard

howard — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:29:32 +0000

@paul a map can not show me The Beatles crossing Abbey Road. Using AR to find local restaurants is an enormous waste of the potential of this technology. Re: the indoor issue – wifi, to quote you, only works “pretty well”. I also mentioned could be a compass interference problem – solved by waving the phone in a figure of eight.
If, as you say, the media has stopped writing about mobile AR – (a quick look at Google Trends suggests otherwise) I would welcome it.. it would allow the technology can evolve in peace. Maybe you are right and we’re all daft… but I’m guessing you would’ve called the Internet “dull” and “useless” in 1994 too.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:30:35 +0000

I agree with Jim. This post reflects in an excellent way how dull and simply useless these apps are. First time you see it you get impressed but afterwards you end up using a good old map. See how the media is also starting to calm down about this, compared to last year where a new article featuring AR would be written on a weekly basis.

@Howard: Testing indoors shouldn’t give problems. iPhone uses WLAN positioning which works pretty well in urban areas.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:49:05 +0000

It’s a very dull application that is barely usable. Everyone uses it once but beyond that, what’s the point?

By: Howard

Howard — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:26:55 +0000

Thanks for mentioning our Screenshots Layer – sorry you were having trouble with the fish. I think, judging from the screenshot, you were testing indoors, not good for GPS, possibly you also had some compass interference hence the cluster. As you know location based AR is not suited for indoor use – due to the requirements of GPS fixing. It’s like trying to use a TomTom indoors. Hope it works for you on your next attempt.
Be interested to know, between Wikitude and Layar, which one you think is Microsoft and which one Apple?