When do we get Layar ?(Augmented Reality browser)

[santod]

Availble now for Android and iPhone. Looks interesting and would like to see a WinMo version developed.




Layar is a free application on your mobile phone which shows what is around you by displaying real time digital information on top of reality through the camera of your mobile phone.
Layar is a global application, available for the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic and other Android phones in all Android Markets. It also comes pre-installed on the Samsung Galaxy in the Netherlands.

How do you use Layar?
By holding the phone in front of you like a camera, information is displayed on top of the camera display view.
For all points of interest which are displayed on the screen, information is shown at the bottom of the screen.
What do you see in the screen?
On top of the camera image (displaying reality) Layar adds content layers. Layers are the equivalent of webpages in normal browsers. Just like there are thousands of websites there will be thousands of layers. One can easily switch between layers by selecting another via the menu button, pressing the logobar or by swiping your finger across the screen.
Added features of Layar Reality Browser 2.0:
Layar has some cool features which include:

• Unique layer specific icons/markers
  
• Featured and Popular section
• Search function
• Add layer to favorites
• Map view and list view
• Enhanced AR view
• Accuracy information
• “Take me There” function
  

Who is the team behind Layar?
Layar is run by Raimo van der Klein, Claire Boonstra & Maarten Lens-FitzGerald.

[the7thson]

Their website says it's coming soon to other platforms, but no clue when exactly. I tried it a few days ago on an Android phone and it didn't seem to pick anything up for me..

[santod]

Yeah, I figure it's gonna take some time for the database to grow. The moreplatforms and users that use it,the bigger the databas gets. If I understand it right, that is.

Probably just a gimmicky type thing for now, I guess.

[Erythros]

Unfortunately for us Winmo users, the functionality of a program like this will be much more limited than on an iPhone or Android phone.
There is a similar program that was developed for the iPhone 3GS since it has both a GPS and a 3D compass using magnetometers and the internal levels. This allows the phone to know not only if it is pointing N,S,E,W, but also up or down. Most of the phones represented here on this site do not have this functionality. If we are moving it would be possible to guesstimate what lies ahead, but no such luck if standing still.

[santod]

Thanks for that Erythros, it makes good sense. After you put it like that, I guess that's a feature that future WinMo device may support. Around WinMo 7 perhaps. If more manufacturers continue to add such functionalities and hardware.