Although augmented reality sounds a lot like a wild futuristic concept, the technology has actually been around for quite some time now, and software developers have come up with all kinds of creative uses for it. Agumented reality apps run the gamut from interactive map overlays to massive multiplayer king of the hill games, and we’ve done our best to assemble a list of the best ones out there. Read on to find out our top picks!
Wikitude World Browser
Wikitude World Browser is widely regarded as the king of all augmented reality browsers. As you travel around any given area, WWB will provide you with just about any geographically-relevant information you need — Wikipedia articles for landmarks, ATM locations, Youtube videos, Tweets, Foursquare locations, and whole lot more. It’s like an AR Swiss army knife, and the best part is it’s completely free.
WorkSnug
WorkSnug is one of those apps that comes in handy often enough to earn a spot on my phone’s homescreen. Essentially, its an AR app that sniffs out free WiFi near you and helps you navigate to suitable workplaces in whatever city you happen to reside in. It’s even got a decibel meter that assesses the general noise level of locations tagged by users, so you can know beforehand if you’ll need headphones.
AugMeasure
The AugMeasure app is a handy little tool that can measure short distances with just your iPhone. The app displays distances on screen by using your iPhone’s camera and overlaying the measurements on screen with live pictures from the phones camera. The picture will adjust in real time to measure wherever’s in front of your camera. It comes in handy more than you’d think, especially since most of us don’t walk around with a ruler in our pocket.
Acrossair Nearest Tube App
One of the first augmented reality apps to go live in the iPhone AppStore, this handy app will pinpoint where the nearest subway or light rail stations are. Acrossair also has specific apps, similar to this one, for the Pairs Metro, Tokyo Subway, Barcelona Metro, San Francisco Transit, Madrid Metro, and New York Subways. Check out their site for more info and other useful AR apps.
Yelp Monocle
Social reviewing service Yelp provided the iPhone with its first augmented reality app, the Yelp Monocle. If you’re in a strange city and you’re looking for good eats, Monocle is your best friend. It’ll use the phone’s GPS and compass to display AR markers for nearby restaurants, bars, and other businesses in real time. Given how Yelp’s high level of success as a user-generated restaurant review service, Monocle is hands down the best app for finding a quick bite to eat.
Layar
Layar is another all-purpose AR browser, and although it’s got many of the same functions as Wikitude World Browser, it does them all with a different style and UI. In addition to giving you detailed information on your surroundings, it can also be used to create ‘interactive print’ on pages that would otherwise be static. Check out this video for an example. You don’t have to be a coding whiz to use these features either — the app’s developers have gone out of their way to make using Layar extremely simple.
So how much did Apple pay you for list virtually only iPhone apps?
Ah, that's interesting. It would suck to get a call or text message right then, I can imagine even buzzing might scare em.
Hunt-n-Scope is worth a look too. It gives real time distance to target estimates on the iPhone using the camera.
Wikitude, Worksnug and Acrossair Twitter App are awesome. But sadly Twitter App isnt of much use to me, there are only few handful people who use twitter in my city.
By the way, I’ve found some more AR Apps – http://techsplurge.com/featured/7-amazing-augment…
Is hunt-n-scope really meant to be used while hunting? I can't imagine sitting up in a tree waiting for deer and when you see one, whipping out your iphone, unlocking it, launchign the app, raising it up to view the deer through the camera and getting the distance.Seems like a lot of work where you might end up spooking the animal instead.
Why are Bloody Yanks obsessed with killing things? Just cause you can don't mean you should.
I'm from the UK, you jerk. I'm not interesting in killing things. Instead I use hunt-n-scope to virtually hunt. Besides it is just a fun app.
THe user just suspends the phone with the app running. Just power back on and the app is instantly ready for action. Volume always turned down or off. The UI was designed based on field testing by hunters.
I just added Layar in– that's a good one to. They just launched Layar 3.0 i think. There are so many great apps out there it's hard narrow down “the best”great suggestions, Thanks!
Interesting article but you omitted Sekai Camera from Japan
Hey, we were just naming our picks for the best, but please keep commenting guys and tell us YOUR top picks! There are some great ones out there, please share if there is an AR app you consider to be on you “best” list
What about Layar or Toozla?