Filed under: iPhone, App Store
Augmented reality apps on hold until 3.1?
It was only a couple of weeks ago that straphanger hopes for an augmented reality guide to the NYC subways were flying high... and now it looks like they may have to wait for Labor Day before they can amaze their friends and stun their enemies. The LA Times is reporting a conversation with Acrossair developers where they indicate that the full-screen video features of the app can't ship before Apple releases iPhone OS 3.1 -- which they expect to drop in early September, in case you're marking your calendar.
According to the story, the live video/augmented reality approach depends on an unpublished camera API, hence the apps cannot be set free in the wild just yet. That may explain why several other inside-the-Matrix apps haven't cleared the store... and why September may see a bit of a surge in admissions to hospital emergency rooms for people with bruised foreheads and sheepish expressions.
Update 7/25: While the LA Times story is (so far) not yet updated, we have gotten feedback from a developer who insists that the 3.1 update will not provide additional hooks for AR apps; specifically, that the live camera view APIs are going to remain private and will not be exposed for third-party development. This source suggests that Acrossair is confused about Apple's position, and that the approval schedule aligning with 3.1 is a coincidence and not a technical restraint. We will try to reach Acrossair to confirm.
[via MacRumors]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Binja said 9:58AM on 7-25-2009
Is it a bad thing that I want to move into the city, just so I can use my frickin phones nifty features?
I think....
I might be an Apple fanboy. I told myself I wasn't. I am respectful to my friends with Windows. And I bow to those on Linux. I never act smug at all. But, in my head, I do backflips over how cool my tech toys are compared to theirs.
Help me. Please.
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dagamer43 said 10:50AM on 7-25-2009
Early September probably means September 6th, which is the likely day of Apple's iPod event.
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James Donevan said 11:54AM on 7-25-2009
"September 6th, which is the likely day of Apple's iPod event."
On a Sunday? Doubt it.
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Greg said 12:00PM on 7-25-2009
They're waiting for the iPod Touch to have a camera.
Of course, 1st gen iPod Touch users, with OS 3.0, like myself, WOULD be able to use a camera accessory, but no one's made one, forcing me to buy the new ones -_-
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Hal said 8:03PM on 7-25-2009
I don't understand why the camera part is so important. It's a neat gimmick, but I can already see what's in front of me. Much more useful would be a 3D map (kinda like Mastercard's Priceless Picks app).
With the camera on, you know which direction to travel to get to a subway station, but with a map you'd actually be able to accurately navigate there.
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