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Google ARCore: Everything you need to know about the augmented reality platform
ARCore is a pretty cool technology that allows for augmented reality wizardry on any Android phone. Learn more about it here!
Google has tried to tap into the augmented reality world several times. Augmented reality, commonly known as AR, can potentially be life-changing technology if used properly, but no tech company has managed to master it yet. Apple, for example, uses dedicated hardware, such as the LiDAR scanner included in iPads and iPhones, while other companies, like Google, are pulling everything off through software only. We're definitely getting closer to perfect AR, however, and Google is one of the companies leading the pack with its augmented reality SDK and technology, which it dubbed ARCore.
Android users have numerous options when it comes to devices, with a diverse combination of specifications, features, and of course, budgets. Not only the regular customers are spoiled by choice, but this also confuses veteran users when it comes to features that cannot be easily measured and compared. Take, for instance, the camera performance. Thanks to improved hardware and computational photography, the Android side has earned a reputation for having some of the best smartphone cameras on the market. That said, the current state of Android's camera processing is far from an open standard, and the situation becomes even more complex across different OEMs.
Google kills off its augmented reality measuring app
Google is shutting down development of its AR-based Measure app. The app has been removed from the Google Play Store. Read on.
It’s been a while since Google killed off a perfectly functional app or service for no apparent reason. But the dry spell is finally coming to an end as the company prepares to shut down the AR-based Measure app. The Measure app has been around since the Project Tango days. Back then, it was exclusive to select Tango-powered devices. However, it made its way to millions of Android phones as Google put an end to the Project Tango initiative and replaced it with ARCore. But it appears the app has reached End of Life (EOL).
Google I/O 2021 Recap: What you need to know from Google's big tech event
Google I/O 2021 is underway, and here's a recap of all the major news and announcements from the biggest Google event of the year!
Google I/O 2021 kicked off on Tuesday, and we’re already on cloud nine seeing all the exciting stuff that has come out from the event. In fact, there’s so much to unpack here, it’s hard to even know where to begin. From a radical Android 12 redesign with Material You, to the biggest Wear OS update in years, to a groundbreaking language model, and onwards to quality of life improvements to Maps and Google Photos, pretty much every major Google product and service is getting better.
Google upgrades Android's augmented reality API with new features to immerse users
At Google I/O 2021, Google is announcing some notable updates to the ARCore platform to help developers build more realistic AR experiences.
At Google I/O 2021, Google is announcing some important upgrades for ARCore, the company’s augmented reality platform that powers more than 850 million Android smartphones worldwide. Unlike Project Tango, which required specialized hardware, ARCore relies on your phone’s existing hardware and sensors to collect data on depth, motion tracking, and light estimation to help developers build interactive AR experiences.
Google Search now shows Pac-Man, Ultraman, Hello Kitty, and other iconic anime characters in AR
Google Search adds new AR experience that lets users view some of their favorite anime characters in AR. Follow the instructions in the post to try it out.
In December last year, Google added a new augmented reality experience to Search that let users view a 3D animated version of Baby Yoda on their devices. The company is now giving a similar treatment to several iconic anime characters, including Pac-Man, Ultraman, Hello Kitty, and more.
Google's augmented reality API will soon use two cameras to make better depth maps
Google is rolling out ARCore SDK version 1.23 which adds dual camera support for the depth API on supported devices such as the Pixel 4.
ARCore is Google's SDK for creating augmented reality apps, and it doesn't require specialized hardware to work, unlike Google's failed Project Tango experiment. All your phone needs is a single RGB camera, an IMU sensor providing accurate gyroscope and accelerometer readings, and extensive calibration data. Using these basic sensors and a single camera, ARCore's Depth API can create depth maps for enabling features like occlusion, more realistic physics, path planning, surface interaction, etc. While it's impressive how immersive the experience already is with just a single camera, the experience would be even more immersive if you could introduce another camera to the mix. That seems to be exactly what Google is planning to do with the latest version of its augmented reality SDK.
Galaxy S21 series, Mi 10i, OnePlus Nord N10 5G and more gain AR apps support
The Samsung Galaxy S21 series, Mi 10i, OnePlus Nord N10 5G, Moto G Power (2021) and more can now run AR apps. Read on to know more.
Following up on the last update, which saw twelve Android smartphones gaining support for the Google Play Service for AR, Google is back again with augmented reality SDK support for some more phones. 28 new devices have been added to the official list, including the Galaxy S21 series, Galay F41, OnePlus Nord N10 5G, Mi 10i, Reno 5 Pro 5G, Moto G Power, and more. With the Google Play Services for AR, owners of these phones can now create and enjoy immersive augmented reality experiences using their existing cameras and sensors.
Baby Yoda can live in AR at your place, with Google Search
Google has teamed up with Disney+ to create an ARCore powered version of Grogu 'The Child' from The Mandalorian, better known as 'Baby Yoda'
Google is no stranger to a bandwagon or two, and today it's hooking up with Disney+ to celebrate the Season 2 finale of its hit Star Wars spin-off 'The Mandalorian'. Google recently celebrated the one billionth device running its ARCore framework. Put the two together, and what do you get? Your very own Grogu (alright, Baby Yoda, if you must), living in 3D augmented reality, wherever you are.
Google officially announces Connected Photos mode for Street View contributors
Google has officially announced "connected photos" for Street View, which lets users add their own street photos with no special equipment.
Google has officially announced a Connected Photos Mode add-on for Google Street View, allowing users to add photos of their travels without the need for a panoramic camera. We first reported on the feature last month, when it was spotted in testing under the name "Driving Mode", but this morning, Google’s Keyword Blog took the covers off its official launch.
OnePlus 8T, Moto G 5G, Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro, and 12 others now support AR apps on Android
15 new devices received support for Google Play Services for AR this month, including the OnePlus 8T, Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro, Moto G 5G, and more.
Google Play Services for AR (formerly Google ARCore) is a software service that enables applications to create augmented reality experiences on devices without any dedicated AR hardware. While the service uses a device's existing cameras and sensors for the AR experience, Google has to work with OEMs to create custom calibration profiles for each device. This ensures that AR features work properly on the device, and users don't face any issues. As OEMs release several new devices each month, Google keeps updating the list of supported devices ever so often. Since our previous coverage last month, 15 new devices have made it to the list.
Mandalorian Fans: Check if the Google AR Experience works on your device
Google has released a Mandalorian interactive AR experience for select 5G Android handsets. Check if your device can run it and find out more
The Mandalorian has been the highlight of streaming service Disney+ during its first year, and as we approach Christmas, supplies of toys and other merchandise are already running out in many places. But no such problem for Google’s Mandalorian Augmented Reality Experience (AR), which launched yesterday. The collaboration between Google, Disney, and Lucasfilm lets you place life-sized virtual characters from Season 1 of the hit show into your real-world environment and interact with scenes from the story.
POCO X3, Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, and 10 others now support augmented reality apps via ARCore
Several new devices this month gained support for Google Play Services for AR, and even more devices now support AR apps via ARCore.
The list of devices that support Google Play Services for AR is growing so quickly it’s hard to keep up. Earlier this month, Google added support for over two dozen new devices, and even more support was added just the other week. Now, even more handsets are getting support for augmented reality apps via Google's ARCore SDK.
Android's augmented reality features are now available on the ASUS ZenFone 7, LG Wing, and others
Android's augmented reality features (Google Play Services for AR) are now available on the ASUS ZenFone 7, LG Wing, and more.
Google Play Services for AR (formerly Google ARCore) is a software service that enables applications to create augmented reality experiences on devices without the need for any dedicated AR hardware. While the service uses a device's existing cameras and sensors for the AR experience, Google has to work with OEMs to create custom calibration profiles for each device. This ensures that AR features work properly on the device and users don't face any issues. Due to the fact that several new Android devices are released each month, Google regularly adds new smartphones to the list of supported devices. Since our previous coverage earlier this month, Google has added support for 16 new devices.
Google makes persistent Cloud Anchors widely available for developers with ARCore 1.20
Google is making Cloud Anchors more widely available for developers with ARCore 1.20, allowing AR content to persist over a period of time.
Back in 2018, Google introduced the Cloud Anchors API in ARCore, which made it possible for users to share the same AR content across devices. Starting today, Google is making Cloud Anchors more widely available for developers with ARCore 1.20, allowing more apps to create AR content that can persist over a period of time.
You can now use augmented reality apps on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, Xiaomi POCO M2 Pro, ASUS ROG Phone 3, and much more
The list of devices that support Google Play Services for AR includes the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, POCO M2 Pro, ASUS ROG Phone III, and more.
The list of devices that support Google Play Services for AR is growing. The app, formerly Google ARCore, provides the ARCore SDK for developers to build augmented reality apps on Android.
OnePlus Nord now supports Google AR Core
The OnePlus Nord now supports Google AR Core, enabling key AR functionality on the device with the blessings of both OnePlus and Google.
The OnePlus Nord was announced in July 2020 with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC, 90Hz display, and a quad rear camera setup at an exciting starting price of ₹24,999/€399. The phone has made its way into the hands of reviewers and users alike, and the reception for the smartphone has largely been positive so far. OnePlus has also been updating the device frequently to improve upon the complaint points of early adopters. Now, the OnePlus Nord has gained support for Google AR Core.
Google Pixel 4a, LG Velvet, Redmi K30 Pro, and 25 more now support Google ARCore
Google Play Services for AR, formerly known as Google ARCore, has added official support for 28 new devices, including the Google Pixel 4a.
Nowadays, you don't have to buy a phone with specialized hardware to enjoy augmented reality applications on Android. Modern smartphones, even mid-ranger ones, are equipped with the necessary hardware to handle AR. All a device really needs these days is an RGB camera, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope. Google has decoupled all the AR-related software components from Android itself into Google Play Services for AR (formerly called ARCore), an app that's available on the Google Play Store and which provides an SDK for developers to build AR experiences into their apps.
Google's ARCore Depth API is now available for developers to make realistic AR experiences
Google is making its Depth API in ARCore available for all developers to create more realistic augmented reality experiences.
ARCore is Google's SDK for creating augmented reality experiences on Android and iOS. On Android devices, it's delivered as part of the Google Play Services for AR app. Late last year, Google previewed the ARCore Depth API which improves the immersion for devices with a single camera. Now, this API is ready for a public launch for developers on Android and Unity, according to a blog post from Google.
Google Play Services for AR now supports the Motorola Edge, Realme 6, Samsung Galaxy A31/41, Sony Xperia 1 II, and more
Google Play Services for AR (formerly Google ARCore) adds support for Motorola Edge, Realme 6, Samsung Galaxy A31, and more.
Google Play Services for AR (formerly Google ARCore) is a software service from the company that enables applications to create augmented reality experienced on devices without any need for dedicated hardware. While the service uses a device's existing cameras and sensors for the AR experience, Google has to work with OEMs to create custom calibration profiles for each device in order to ensure that the AR features work properly. Due to the fact that several new Android devices are released each month, Google regularly adds new smartphones to the list of supported devices. Since our last coverage earlier this year in April, 21 new devices have gained official support for the service.