Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Augmented Reality Puzzles First-Ever Electronic Labyrinth Game

Ravensburger Wows With Interactive 'Augmented Reality' Puzzles, First-Ever Electronic Labyrinth Game and More


Global Puzzle, Game and Toy Leader Showcases Thomas & Friends™ Line with Debut CGI Artwork Under Newly-Extended Contract, Presents Live Demos by Make 'N' Break Game Developers


NEWTON, N.H., Feb. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fun with family and friends is moving into high gear with Ravensburger!  Known for its high-quality puzzles and playthings, Ravensburger launches its Augmented Reality line of interactive puzzles that come to life with a free app from the App Store that utilizes the camera function of the iPhone® or iPad®2 to animate the scene.  Also debuting is the first-ever Electronic Labyrinth game and a gorgeous new line of Thomas & Friends puzzles featuring new CGI artwork.  Ravensburger's lineup of puzzles, games and WOW brand toys will be on display at the 2012 American International Toy Fair, February 12-15 at the Javits Convention Center, Booth #441.

[caption id="attachment_216" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Ravensburger Wows With Interactive ‘Augmented Reality’ Puzzles Augmented-Reality-Technology-012 Ravensburger Wows With Interactive ‘Augmented Reality’ Puzzles[/caption]

In addition, Andrew and Jack Lawson, creators of Ravensburger's award-winning game series, Make 'N' Break, will be at the company's booth, Sunday, February 12, from 10am-12pm, and Monday, February 13, from 9am-2pm, conducting demonstrations of the popular line.  Each Make 'N' Break game features wooden building blocks that players use to assemble the structures shown on the game cards.

"For the first time, Ravensburger is presenting a collection of puzzles and games that encompass both traditional and digital features, helping to take family enjoyment to a whole new level," said Thomas Kaeppler, CEO of Ravensburger.  "Our 2012 offerings provide endless opportunities for learning, sharing – and creating lasting memories together."

Especially exciting for Ravensburger is the launch of its groundbreaking Augmented Reality collection of four, 1,000-pc puzzles that combine traditional puzzle play with an innovative digital component.  Available this fall, the new AR puzzles include: Above the Roofs of Paris; Colorful Underwater World, African Animals and Lofoten, Norway.

Ravensburger also is thrilled to introduce its Thomas & Friends™ puzzles, featuring new CGI artwork, fresh designs and innovative packaging.  A cornerstone license for the company through 2014 under its newly-extended contract, Ravensburger will debut nine items at Toy Fair, including four 4-in-1 shaped puzzles, four 24-pc floor puzzles and four 35-pc puzzles.  This premiere range will be followed by the launch of more new Thomas & Friends products this fall.

Other licensed lines debuting include: the Chuggington collection with seven brightly-colored puzzles based on the CGI-animated children's TV hit from Ludorum, and Me to You from Carte Blanche Greetings Limited, one of the fastest-growing non-media-based brands in the world.

Also, Ravensburger has put the pieces in place for an expansive puzzle collection that pushes the boundaries of design with eye-catching offerings such as the American Heritage Series, American history-inspired puzzles perfectly timed for this presidential election year; Wooden Structure Puzzles, featuring a wood grain look; Chromadepth Puzzles with 3D Glasses;Krypt, a supremely-challenging 654-pc monochromatic concept; and 3D Building Sets, a collection of four of the world's most recognizable structures – Empire State Building, Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and a New England Lighthouse – that takes puzzle-building skyward, to display-worthy structures that stand up to 18" tall with exacting details.

New games are highlighted too, with Electronic Labyrinth, the latest in Ravensburger's best-selling shifting maze series.  The interactive board game features an electronic book that helps players free the wise wizard from the evil witch who banished him to the labyrinth.  Also now available in the U.S. are three of Ravensburger's most popular European strategy games: The Castles of Burgundy, which immerses players in 15th Century European aristocracy where they must build and manage their estate; Asara, in which players take on the roles of famous architects who compete to build the grandest tower; and Seeland, where players assume the roles of 19th Century Dutch merchants striving to harvest the most crops.

And, for preschoolers, Ravensburger is showcasing a new assortment of WOW brand toys.  Each ultra-durable WOW toy comes with a ten-year satisfaction guarantee and features "push and go" friction motors and realistic sounds.  Among the 2012 offerings are Jurassic Jimmy, a dinosaur-themed play set, and Cupcake Chloe, a pretty-in-pink bakeshop set for young chefs-in-training.

About Ravensburger

Newton, NH-based Ravensburger is the U.S. subsidiary of Ravensburger Spieleverlag GmbH, a German toy and game manufacturer with a 125-year history of tradition.  Founded in Ravensburg, Germany in 1883, Ravensburger is a leading producer of toys loved the world over and celebrated for its meticulous commitment to detail, high production standards and superior quality control.  In addition to Ravensburger-branded puzzles, games and arts & crafts, the company is the exclusive distributor of WOW Preschool Toys and holds licenses for such well-known brands as Chuggington, Thomas and Friends, Animal Planet, Highlights, Me to You® and more.

 

SOURCE Ravensburger

News Release Source : http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ravensburger-wows-with-interactive-augmented-reality-puzzles-first-ever-electronic-labyrinth-game-and-more-139179379.html

MushABellies Come to Life With 3D Augmented Reality Game

Best-selling collectible plush includes a new twist.


Augmented Reality technology now included with MushABellies.


NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- New York International Toy Fair -- More than 4.5 million MushABelly® plush collectibles have already captured hearts worldwide. Now all new MushABelly collectibles will include a cutting-edge 3D augmented-reality game that makes kids' favorite MushABellies come to life, right in their own living room, as they watch "Magic Before Your Eyes"™.

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Augmented-reality (AR) technology is the hottest trend in apps, and Jay@Play is the first toy manufacturer to combine plush with a game experience for the entire family. MushABellies' new 3D augmented-reality game, powered by Jay@Play's ToyTube Network™, blends the game world and the real world using a smartphone device and exclusive, patented augmented reality from Gravity Jack.

Play right on your coffee table, rug, bedspread or anywhere you choose! Hold the virtual MushABellies in the palm of your hand or play catch with them in your kitchen, and listen to their hilarious sound effects. MushABellies love to be tickled, and each character has unique behaviors, sounds and treats.

Using a Toy Tube Tracker Card, launch MushABelly Mungo Monkey at the target barrel to score lots of banana points. Quickly tap them with your fingertip to earn more points. Move the Toy Tube Tracker Cards to make the game more challenging.

Six new MushABelly characters will debut in 2012: Heckle the Hedgehog, Buzzie Bee, Mungo Monkey, Racket Raccoon, Finless Frog, and Conan Cow. All are featured in the MushABelly games.

The Free MushABelly App is now available in the Apple App Store and soon to be in the Android Marketplace. At launch, supported devices will include the iPad 2, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and soon to include Android 3.0+ operating systems and more.

To see a demo of the app right in the toy aisle, simply download the MushABelly app and aim your device at the ToyTube logo on the MushABelly package. Or visit www.toytubenetwork.com.

The MushABelly augmented-reality app was developed in partnership with Gravity Jack, the industry's leading developer of augmented-reality games and apps. Gravity Jack's patented augmented reality technology allows for the recognition and tracking of real world images and objects, instantly displaying fully interactive games, multimedia content, and more. As seen in the MushABelly App, this one-of-a-kind technology allows this information to be displayed, directly in a real-time scene, when viewed with a smart device. The MushABelly App promises to be just the start of many revolutionary new interactive ways to play, thanks to the ongoing partnership between industry leaders Jay@Play and Gravity Jack.

Come play with us at Toy Fair! Press samples and high-res images are available upon request.

Toy Fair – Booth 1783

Download MushABellies in the Apple App Store

Jay@Play Toy Fair 2012 Virtual Press Office

About Jay@Play:

Jay@Play International was established in 2004 and is a Hong Kong-based company with a showroom in New York City. The company's products are distributed internationally through companies that promote all of their brands on television. Following the worldwide success of its best-selling MushABellies, Totally KooKoo and Happy Nappers product lines, Jay@Play is now launching TV campaigns in the US for its Pop 'n' Play Village" brand, Cuddleuppets, and Skooligans. Jay@Play introduced the ToyTube network, which is a platform for cutting-edge 3D augmented-reality (AR) gaming for the popular MushABelliesbrand. Jay@Play International is a subsidiary of Jay Franco & Sons, the industry leader in the home-furnishing industry.

About Gravity Jack:

Gravity Jack designs and develops robust, custom augmented reality software solutions for the iPhone, iPad, and Android operating systems, using the company's exclusive, patented technology. President and CEO, Luke Richey, founded the company in 2009, assembling a local dream team in software development. Clients of Gravity Jack come from a wide range of industries, and include some of the biggest names in the entertainment, gaming, and retail space. For more information, visithttp://www.gravityjack.com.

 

SOURCE Jay@Play International

News Release Source : http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mushabellies-come-to-life-with-3d-augmented-reality-game-139210509.html

Augmented Reality Helps Intellectually Disabled Workers Perform Their Daily Jobs

Vodafone Spain Foundation and Qualcomm Collaborate to Help Intellectually Disabled Workers Perform Their Daily Jobs


Augmented Reality Improves Individuals' Autonomy at Work and Quality of Life

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), through its Wireless Reach™ initiative, Vodafone Spain Foundation (VSF) and the APROCOR Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at improving the quality of life of the intellectually disabled and their families, today presented the Augmented Reality for e-labora project, which aims to help workers with intellectual disabilities integrate into the labor market.

[caption id="attachment_222" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Augmented Reality Helps Intellectually Disabled Workers Perform Their Daily Jobs  Augmented-Reality-Technology-014 Augmented Reality Helps Intellectually Disabled Workers Perform                  Their Daily Jobs[/caption]

People with intellectual disabilities need assistance to perform work tasks, such as how to replenish depleted products on store shelves or what to do when a copy machine runs out of paper. With this in mind, the Augmented Reality for e-labora project, implemented by VSF and the APROCOR Foundation and supported by the Spanish Government through the Avanza 2 Plan (TSI-040500-2010-85), seeks to develop a new paradigm of accessible work environments.   This project will work to improve the integration of intellectually disabled persons in the workplace, creating an environment that enhances their safety, emotional stability, communication, self-determination and participation.

Using Qualcomm's Vuforia™ augmented reality (AR) platform, 3G-enabled smartphones and tablets, and applications and content created by VSF, the project incorporates AR into job coaching and training activities.

With a grant from Qualcomm's Wireless Reach initiative, these AR-enabled devices will be used as personal support tools that provide communication, scheduling functions, on-location tutoring, step-by-step training, task descriptions and other relevant information. Applications include an office navigation tool, a printer instruction guide, and a manual to help gardeners and supermarket stockers through their daily tasks. For example, with the EasyUse AR application, the user points a mobile device at a printer to access an interactive instruction guide with easy-to-understand learning commands that have been digitally superimposed onto the physical environment.

"Qualcomm's Vuforia platform improves the autonomy and integration of the intellectually disabled in the work environment," said Ramon Corral, chairman of the APROCOR Foundation. "It's very helpful for identifying people, giving information about their responsibilities, describing the space they are working in, or offering advice on how to use a device."

"Augmented Reality enabled through 3G connectivity offers new opportunities to improve people's lives," said Shawn A. Covell, vice president for Qualcomm's Wireless Reach initiative.   "We are very pleased to collaborate again with our long-term partner Vodafone Spain Foundation and APROCOR Foundation on this project to support an important community of workers. This project demonstrates how AR on mobile devices can be an effective tool to allow people to achieve their full potential."

"The Augmented Reality for e-labora project is a good example of how VSF helps build strategic collaborations across relevant stakeholders to match social knowledge with technology in order to achieve as a team what we can't do individually," saidSantiago Moreno, general manager of Vodafone Spain Foundation. "With this project, we have the opportunity use technology to change the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and make a difference by promoting independent living and personal autonomy."

Qualcomm's Vuforia platform is among more than 30 innovative wireless solutions the company is demonstrating during Mobile World Congress 2012, February 27-March 1 in Barcelona, Spain. In addition to this project, Wireless Reach will demonstrate how a 3G-enabled cardiovascular monitoring system is helping patients within rural regions of China, and how a mobile phone and microfinance loan is enabling entrepreneurs in Indonesia to operate businesses through the re-selling of airtime minutes to neighbors. To view the demonstrations, visit Qualcomm's exhibit in the Fira Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 8, #8B53.

Additional information on the project is available at www.qualcomm.com/vsf-project

About APROCOR Foundation
APROCOR Foundation is a private non-profit organization with the objective of promoting and executing activities in different fields, aimed to improve the quality of life of the intellectually disabled and their families, supporting everyone's life plan and promoting, in all situations, a more inclusive social model. APROCOR is focused in offering opportunities that promote personal fulfilment, personal independence and social and labour integration. For more information, visitwww.fundacionaprocor.com

About Vodafone Spain Foundation
Vodafone Spain Foundation aims at promoting accessible ICT and using ICT for providing accessible solutions for the elderly and people with special needs. Its programmes comprise the development of innovative projects for the promotion of active and healthy ageing, independent living and personal autonomy. It is committed to improving the social and labour integration of vulnerable groups training them on ICTs and helping to advance their careers. For more information, visitwww.fundacionvodafone.es

About Qualcomm and its Wireless Reach Initiative
Qualcomm believes access to 3G and next-generation mobile technologies can improve people's lives. Qualcomm's Wireless Reach initiative is a strategic program that brings wireless technology to underserved communities globally. By working with partners, Wireless Reach invests in projects that foster entrepreneurship, aid in public safety, enhance the delivery of health care, enrich teaching and learning and improve environmental sustainability. For more information please visitwww.qualcomm.com/wirelessreach

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G and next-generation mobile technologies. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm's websiteOnQ blogTwitter andFacebook pages.

Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Vuforia and Wireless Reach are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Qualcomm Contacts:
Tina Asmar, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-845-5959
Email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com

Warren Kneeshaw, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: ir@qualcomm.com

Vodafone Spain Foundation Contact:
Concha Serrano, Corporate Communications
Phone: +34 610 513 474
Email: concha.serrano@vodafone.com

SOURCE Qualcomm Incorporated; APROCOR Foundation; Vodafone Spain Foundation

News Release Source : http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vodafone-spain-foundation-and-qualcomm-collaborate-to-help-intellectually-disabled-workers-perform-their-daily-jobs-140676323.html

Augmented Reality : real world to be merged with live, dynamic web updates

Aurasma Augments the Real World With Real-time Web Updates


**Company unveils new live update feature at MWC for its free augmented reality platform**

**Feature enables the "Internet of Things" to become an Augmented Reality**

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aurasma, the world's leading augmented reality platform, has announced today at Mobile World Congress (MWC 12) a new feature that enables the real world to be merged with live, dynamic web updates. This announcement follows hot on the heels of Aurasma's launch of its 3D engine at CES 12, since rolled out by commercial partners including Bandai – one of the world's largest toy manufacturers.

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The new feature, powered by HTML5, allows partners to deliver live web updates augmented into the real world. When viewed with Aurasma, print, products and even places can show live twitter feeds; buildings can be augmented with real-time information from social networks to show who is inside; share prices can be continually updated in newspapers; and tickets for public transport can show travellers the latest travel information. Being able to view live web updates using a mobile device in this way enables the "Internet of things" to become an augmented reality.

Launched in June 2011, Aurasma now has over three million users and three thousand commercial partners are also using Aurasma's free technology to merge their online and offline activity, making it one of the fastest growing platforms in the world.

With Aurasma, even everyday items can have digital depths.  The MWC delegate badge now delivers twitter updates of tweets that include the hashtags #MWC12 and #Aurasma. The back of a 20 Euro note transforms into an interactive audio-visual experience. To watch a video, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izjbnI_JTgw

Available as a free app for iOS and Android devices or as a free SDK for app developers, Aurasma uses advanced image and pattern recognition technology combined with a meaning-based approach to computing to recognise and understand images and objects in the real world.  It then augments the real world with interactive digital content, such as videos, 3D animations and now, live web updates.

James Loxam, Chief Technology Officer at Aurasma said:

"Integrating live web updates into the platform allows partners to deliver up to the minute content within an 'Aura' – our name for when the physical and virtual worlds merge.  This feature, powered by HTML 5, adds a new, real-time dimension to the augmented Aurasma experience and opens up a host of new use-cases – we're looking forward to seeing how our partners innovate around it."

Martina King, Managing Director at Aurasma said:

"There are a host of applications for this new live feature on the Aurasma Platform. It enables the 'Internet of things' to become an augmented reality, with print, products and places delivering real-time information and to access it, you just point your mobile phone at them.  Aurasma is changing the way millions of people see and interact with the world using their mobile devices and this new feature looks set to spark a new wave of innovation on the platform by our partners."

Aurasma will be demonstrating on the HP Stand (7C37) at Mobile World Congress (27 Feb – 1 Mar)

For Aurasma enquiries at Mobile World Congress 2012 please contact Tamara Roukaerts, Head of Marketing at Aurasma on +44 7795 463 276 or Tamara@aurasma.com

For further information or visuals, please contact the Aurasma team at Mischief PR on +44 203 128 6600 orAurasma@mischiefpr.com

ABOUT AURASMA

Aurasma is the world's leading augmented reality platform, using mobile devices to merge the physical world with the virtual. Available as a free app for iPhone3G, 4 and 4S, iPad2 and high-powered Android devices or as a free kernel for app developers, Aurasma uses advanced image and pattern recognition to recognise and understand real-world images and objects in much in way the human brain does. It then seamlessly blends the real-world with rich interactive content such as videos and animations called "Auras". Auras can be created for printed images, product packaging, clothing, physical places and users can even use the app to create and share their own.

Since its launch in June 2011, Aurasma has had more than three million downloads. Over 3,000 partners in more than 70 countries worldwide are using the free technology in their campaigns or embedding the technology in their own applications, including global brands such as Panasonic, Mazda, Virgin Atlantic, Sky, BMW, Procter & Gamble, NET-A-PORTER, BBC Worldwide, Hyundai, UniCredit and Universal Pictures. Aurasma was developed by software company Autonomy – an HP Company.

Links
MWC 12 badge shows twitter updates: http://vimeo.com/37539813
20 Euro note comes to life when viewed with Aurasma: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izjbnI_JTgw

Aurasma:
http://www.aurasma.com
http://www.facebook.com/aurasma/
http://www.twitter.com/aurasma/
http://www.youtube.com/user/AurasmaLite
http://aurasmalite.tumblr.com/

SOURCE Aurasma

News Release Source : http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aurasma-augments-the-real-world-with-real-time-web-updates-140710813.html

Location Based Augmented Reality Gaming

Location Based Augmented Reality Gaming Company Borglar Launches at SXSW 2012.


Borglar is proud to announce its foray into the realm of location-based augmented reality.


San Diego, California (PRWEB) February 23, 2012

Borglar is proud to announce its foray into the realm of location-based augmented reality. Borglar exists in the space between real and virtual worlds. Borglar wants to accompany it's gamers on a real-life adventure while along the way guiding them in collecting virtual coins, medallions and other special items, allowing the gamer to exchange them for real-world rewards.

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The Borglar gaming application is powered by a proprietary, patent-pending hyper geo-location based augmented reality cross promotional delivery system. Borglar allows virtual goods to be placed on specific GPS coordinates ensuring unique users are exposed directly to marketing messages at the precise location of the merchant’s choosing.

“We want to give our players a fun and interactive gaming experience and combine that with tangible items to be acquired in the real world. Whether it is actual items, discounts or location-based information about something in their local area, we believe this interaction between the real and virtual is what people have wanted to see in augmented reality games, but the technology wasn’t quite there yet. It is very exciting we are able to give it to them now”. Founder and CEO Andrew Couch

The application is a real-time, multi-dimensional cross-promotional platform that can be easily integrated or added onto any current two-dimensional promotional campaign to ensure direct brand visibility in a non-intrusive, fun and interactive environment for the game player.

For the merchant, login to Borglar on your computer anytime from any place to start a new campaign with immediate implementation of promotions and watch as Borglar players interact with them. Borglar delivers real-time promotions and brand communication through a highly functional, incentive-based game layer where the environmental factors facilitate immediate interaction between virtual and real world goods and services in real-time.

Interact with the Borglar yourself when the Android application launches at SXSW in Austin, Texas on March 9th. A press conference will be held in the Palmer Events Center rooms 4&5 on Friday March 9, 2012 from 1:30 to 2:30PM – lunch will be provided for the press.

To gather more information about Borglar or to schedule an interview with Andrew Couch, please call 619.379.007 or email at contact(at)borgar(dot)info

Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/2/prweb9224157.htm

Monday, February 27, 2012

Apple iPhone Applications Vs Google Android Applications

Future of the Mobile Ecosystem – Apple iPhone Applications Vs Google Android Applications


Author: hunkatech


Entire ecosystem is becoming stable and mature constantly. Social media is going mobile. Smartphones are no more a luxury and have become need of the day. Social, deals, B2B segments are changing this world.




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The DNA of the mobile ecosystem is changing. What opportunities will emerge during the course of this decade? Where are the new billion dollar markets? We will explore these questions and more throughout the article with the influential minds who are shaping the mobile industry.






The entire mobile ecosystem is going to hit $1 trillion market by 2014, according to Gartner who is a well-known market- researcher in the mobile world. Gartner advises enterprises to develop a "high-level mobile strategy," rather than committing to any particular device or platform.




What does it mean? It has been a long time that the mobile industry has set in this world. It first started off with the features of devices. Mobile devices like Motorola RAZR have changed the perception of the people using the device. The sole dominance during this phase was of the device manufacturers. This was followed by a phase in the mobile applications market that revolutionized the mobile market. A new phase of the mobile ecosystem emerged with the launching of iPhone in 2007 by Apple. The iPhone that was created by Apple gave a complete new user experience which was unmatched to the experience that was there in all other previous phones. This was the time when the mobile industry saw a new beginning. We say this as an ecosystem because Apple had created its own environment wherein nobody else other than Apple can participate. The ecosystem was closed and Apple had the sole rights of its device. Though other developers were also given a share to contribute to the system but the share is pretty small.

Now with the sole dominance of Apple , with its varied range of iPhone, iPad and iPods other competitors also came up with the market with some awesome features and here is where Google took a plunge and created Android . As a result of this there has been a sudden surge of demand for iphone applications and android applications. Google’s was a more open approach and it invited people from all sorts to take part in its development. There was an opportunity for a third ecosystem and saw the dawn of Windows. This is the third ecosystem that is emerging with a slow and steady pace. Nokia has surprisingly tied up with Windows to get their smartphones and to re-estabilish their position in the market. This phase is traditionally characterized by applications.

Going forward, the emerging phase is that of cloud services and streaming videos. The new era would be dominated by high-end applications and more complex end- to end experience including the cloud. Many mobile business systems will explore contextual cloud services hosted by others. In mature markets, including the U.S., smartphones will dominate device sales for the foreseeable future. Gartner analysts predicted. Many new device types such as tablets and e-book readers will emerge through 2012 but none comparable to the market share of smartphones and laptops. The smartphones market is very competitive with Apple’s OS (iOS) loosing to Google’s Android and onset of Windows

About Hunka Technologies

Hunka Technologies is on one of the leading mobile applications development company based in India. Hunka specializes in Apple iphone application development, android application development, windows mobile application development and HTML 5. Hunka also has a specialized team for iphone game development, ipod & ipad game development and android game development. For more information please check our website: http://www.hunkatech.com


Augmented Reality for Mobile Applications Development

Augmented Reality – A Core Concept for Mobile Applications Development


Author: hunkatech

You are already aware about augmented reality. You have seen it so many times; it’s just that you don’t know what it is called. Putting up in simple words, Augmented Reality is about creating an extended environment for what you see in the reality. Augmented Reality can also be understood as a combination of the real and the virtual world. It is a fine blend of real time environment and computer-generated data.

[caption id="attachment_234" align="aligncenter" width="468"]Augmented Reality for Mobile Applications Development Augmented-Reality-Technology-018 Augmented Reality for Mobile Applications Development[/caption]

An augmented reality application has to be interactive in real-time and it should be in 3D.A well known example of Augmented Reality which almost everyone might have seen but not noticed till date is the analysis used while showing sports such as football, rugby, cricket and swimming. Swimming telecasts often add a line across the lanes to indicate the position of the current record holder as a race proceeds to allow viewers to compare the current race to the best performance which can be taken as an example to understand Augmented Reality.


Augmented Reality is an enhancement of real time objects and real- time environment with the help of digital technology. It can provide you with the information present in a real time object which you cannot see otherwise. In other words, augmented reality uses technologies to deepen your understanding by furnishing details about a real-time object or space.

There are two types of augmented reality- desktop augmented reality and mobile augmented reality. Major mobile application development companies focus on mobile augmented technology with provisions for both iPhone and Android users. Augmented Reality can be classified into Marker based, Markerless and Location –based. Technologies. In the Marker- based AR a visual marker is embedded into the contents that the marketer wants to showcase. Markerless AR uses graphics instead of a marker to showcase their ads. This type of AR has been used by Starbucks with their Starbucks Cup Magic app. When a Smartphone is positioned over the Starbucks Valentines Day Cup, the heart present on the Starbucks cup multiplies and starts flying in a 3D fashion which is quite amazing. In location based AR, which is free for android and Apple devices, the user can point their Smartphone in any direction and look through the camera viewers and get information they want. This utilizes features GPS and the sensors that are in-built in the smart phones. Location based AR enables you to get information about local restaurants or search property and their details by getting the latitude and longitude of the location.

Augmented Reality is the technology of the future. It has already been put to use in various fields including the mobile phone market. Augmented Reality is also being used by Toy companies. It is being used for marketing purposes by companies such as Starbucks and BMW. Augmented reality can be used in video- games to add on to the fun –factor. AR may also be used for real-time navigation information that may be in-built in the car for entertainment and guidance purposes. All –in-all, augmented reality has a lot of untapped potential which when put to use can work wonders for the society. Augmented reality has the power to benefit everyone from a visitor, doctor, soldier or a local looking for a closest subway. There is no single place where augmented reality can’t be applied. Augmented Reality has the ability to change the way one perceives the world.

About Hunka Technologies

Hunka Technologies is on one of the leading mobile applications development company based in India. Hunka specializes in Apple iphone application development, android application development, windows mobile application development and HTML 5. Hunka also has a specialized team for iphone game development, ipod & ipad game development and android game development. For more information please check our website: http://www.hunkatech.com