TwittARound and AR Apps on the iPhone

Will augmented reality apps come to the iPhone?

There are already multiple AR apps on the Google Android platform (eg. Layar and Wikitude), but no true AR apps on the iPhone.  

Why aren’t there augmented reality applications on the iPhone?  Applications on the iPhone aren’t allowed to access other parts of the phone’s operating system.  In the case of AR, there’s a need for an app to access the video capabilities of the phone which has yet to be permitted by Apple.

But don’t worry, the developers are asking for permission.  Very prominent augmented reality developers want to get AR on the iPhone, and have started creating apps for it, even though they haven’t been Apple-approved.

If their request is granted, we’ll start to see augmented reality apps approved and in the iTunes store. 

UPDATE on another potential issue with the iPhone and AR: http://weareorganizedchaos.com/index.php/2009/07/21/iphone-and-augmented-reality-could-battery-life-heat-issues-kill-consumer-adoption/

TwittARound is one example of an iPhone AR app.  It shows you live tweets happening around you — their direction and distance from you.  It’s in beta, and not approved for purchase, but there’s lots of potential here…

Thanks to Larry Corwin for the TwittARound link!

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