ARKit 2.0: Apple bets big on Augmented Reality with iOS 12
  • 6 years ago
Augmented Reality. That's one word you're going to hear more often now. At the annual developer conference WWDC 2018, Apple announced a number of new features for its new iOS 12. And Augmented Reality or AR is going to be the key part of the new mobile operating system. The AR integration started with iOS 11 with ARKit developer platform at its core. And the version 2.0 of ARKit is to change the way Apple users interact with their phones. Take Measure application for example. The application can measure items around you by just pointing the camera at it. Similar to a lot of Ruler apps, but with more precision and then ease of use. Lego is also leveraging this technology and you'll see more of AR Legos in the future.

The Lego AR experience will allow users to add virtual Lego pieces, characters, and buildings to work alongside the set itself creating almost unlimited gaming experiences. And Apple is serious about its AR efforts. It has created a new file format for that. Called usdz, the format has been optimized for sharing in apps like messages, Safari, and mail. Pixar is among the first ones to implement this. So, you know, AR isn't just about face filters and animojis.