While browsing your app store, you may have come across AR (augmented reality) supported apps. But what exactly is AR technology and how does it affect our apps and games? Augmented reality is digital technology that combines real-world environments and objects with virtual elements enhanced by computer-generated graphics. Installing AR apps and games gives you a sense of mixed reality, but not to the point of virtual reality where everything in these apps will mimic the real world environment.
One of the most important contributors to AR technology is Google. Google developed and released ARCore (Google Play Services for AR), a platform designed for AR functionality where developers can access the necessary APIs to make AR apps and games. Thanks to contributors like Google, AR-based apps and games have seen significant growth over the years.
well, reliable to our Android phones Why do we care about adding AR games and apps? One of the best Android apps some depend on AR technology to add a creative flair to ordinary photos, train users with realistic AR models, and consult ideas for future purchases without leaving your home. With AR, the world is at your fingertips.
As part of the Mobile Photography week project, we were inspired to select the best AR-powered apps and games with impressive photo capture modes that work great for screen capture on your Android device.
Pikmin Bloom
Niantic knows its way around augmented reality by offering lots of familiar IPs in AR games, particularly Pokémon GO. But you actually bring the magic of Nintendo Pikmin wherever you go, including your backyard, your garden, your family’s picnic table, and literally anywhere else. If you’re not familiar with Pikmin, these are small half-plant half-animal species in bright colors.
In Pikmin Bloom, you are responsible for planting saplings, plucking Pikmin and feeding nectar to your Pikmin to collect the flowers that bloom on his head. So, as you recruit and raise an army of Pikmins, take them out for a photo shoot that showcases your favorites in a real-world setting. After all, having your own herb protectors pictured next to your garden can bring some luck for your summer crop.
Jurassic World Alive
Have you ever dreamed of seeing a T-rex come to life as you wander through your nearest urban city, almost as if you were inside a Jurassic Park movie? Jurassic World Alive is a Pokémon GO-like game where you collect different types of Dinosaurs and fight other dinosaurs.
The AR mode isn’t initially enabled, but it’s easy enough to turn on. Go to Collection and tap the AR button. Activating the AR mode allows you to create any dinosaur in your collection in the surrounding real-world environment, and then you can take a photo or record a video within the app.
Ingress Prime
Another product of Niantic, Ingress’ gameplay is on the slightly lighter side (you don’t necessarily fight and collect) where you compete against an opposing faction for control of a resource known as the Exotic Matter (XM). Your task is to work with your faction and claim the portals (hotspots around you) so you can help your faction gain the upper hand over the other.
Ingress Prime is more of a form of reality than a game. Taking photos of portals and getting them approved helps you gain experience points. Most importantly, you open a window of opportunity by producing new portals that your faction can capture. Even if the proposition seems (superficially) simple, the next time you’re looking for an incentive to go out and take pictures of the objects around you, Ingress Prime may be the app to try.
Inkhunter – try tattoo designs
Tattoos are great items to preview before rendering as you play with AR experiences to see how things might look. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see how they look like Mike Tyson with a tattoo on their face? So, no matter what part of your body you choose, seeing which art looks good on your skin, this is where lots of fun can be found.
If you’ve always wondered what your, your friend’s or your family’s skins look like with ink all over, Inkhunter is a fun app to play. And you can take screenshots while previewing so everyone can have a good laugh.
Knightfall AR
Have you thought about recreating a tower defense game on your living room table? With Knightfall AR, you can do just that by taking on the role of the Knights Templar protecting the Holy Grail from the Mamluk Warriors. Outside of the primary game mode, you can place your unlocked characters on any flat surface. It can be your bathroom floor, dining area or patio. Any choice will suffice to take pictures of your characters showing off their most daring poses; this may be what you need to jumpstart your role-playing career.
Google Lens
Can’t you say the name of an object you see every day because you don’t pay much attention when passing by? Or maybe you’re traveling and can’t read the billboards and signs nearby. It will be useful to have this text translated into your native language. Google Lens may be the right app for you. Knowledge is power, and your stylish mobile device holds the key to unlocking that knowledge.
Google Lens lets you scan anything using a picture or your built-in camera. This is useful when you need precise information about something you’ve seen before, but can’t put your finger on what it is. Pictures are worth 1000 words after all.
Snapchat
You may have heard or heard of Snapchat, the popular instant messaging app that allows users to create shared stories, often consisting of video and photo uploads. If you’re shy about taking selfies, you can add silly filters to lighten the mood when taking pictures from within the app. Snapchat has loads of fun filters to try and has recently rolled out more AR features, including Custom Landmarker (part of Lens Studio) to create your own AR effects and experiences for local places around you.
Next time you’re out and about, use this AR creation tool to animate your pictures and then see how your friends react after sharing the story.
Wayfair
Have you ever wondered how a new leather sofa will fit and look in your living room, or whether a mahogany dining table will fit in your new cabinets? Wayfair gives you access to a huge selection of home furnishings and decor in any price range and style you want. This is where AR technology comes into play. You can choose from the furniture of the store and add it to your home without leaving the house, moreover, via AR. This way, you can examine how your new product looks before you buy it.
You can secure time-saving in-app deals and bargains, as well as helping you visualize upfront what you’re buying. You can also take screenshots of how this furniture looks on your screen and share it with your friends and family for advice on your next purchase.
Civilizations AR
Get a museum-like experience in the palm of your hand by viewing the BBC’s virtual history collection. More than 30 historical treasures to be discovered in this app. You can move these objects, take pictures and learn more about these ancient civilization artifacts with the widgets added from the app. Examples of AR objects in this collection that you will find in the app are the ancient Egyptian mummy from Torquay Museum, Rodin’s The Kiss from the National Museum of Wales, and some iconic sculptures by Henry Moore.
Phones no longer have to interfere with learning. The next time you teach history, ask your class to download the BBC’s Civilizations AR app. Maybe this time they will be interested and appreciate the history lesson.
inkhunter
Getting a tattoo has its pros and cons and deciding on a design can be difficult. You don’t want to regret later. Inkhunter is an application that you can refer to when making this decision. The app places a virtual design (a custom or a chosen preset) on the surface of your skin, as if it were yours without actually getting the tattoo done. You can take photos, share your design expectations and analyze the angle of your virtual tattoo.
The next time you’re unsure whether a tattoo is right for you or your body, take a look at this app and preview how it looks! Remember, let’s not rush into permanent body art.
We open our eyes to AR technology
Whether you’re recording memories, capturing photos while traveling, or adding a new form of media to broadcast your adventures, mobile photography is a relaxing activity. Sometimes, however, we shoot stark and uninspired photos or images that are difficult to distinguish, which may prevent us from making a lasting impression on our audience.
This is where we turn to AR functionality for extra help. Now we can turn things around by adding a clever angle and a unique flair to our gallery. Lots of great things to keep you busy when you need creative encouragement for your photography sessions. Our AR powered Android game there is.