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Next level augmented reality arrives on the smartphone

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Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/business/06/03/augmented-reality-menu.jpg"/></figure></div><p>MANILA - A lot of people got their first taste of augmented reality (AR) last year when Pokemon Go became a runaway hit on smartphones. </p><p>But the popular mobile game barely scratched the surface of the possibilities of AR. The Nintendo game just layered two-dimensional animation over footage being captured by the smartphone camera.</p><p>That is all about to change as Google&#x27;s Tango AR platform becomes more widely available for mobile devices. Tango will allow 3D mapping, physical space measurement, environmental recognition, and indoor navigation, among others, all of which promise a much more immersive experience. </p><p>Among the first devices to take advantage of Tango is the Asus Zenfone AR, which was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January this year. </p><p>This new flagship phone from Taiwanese tech giant Asus, was hailed as the best smartphone product in CES. </p><p>Last week, we got to try the Zenfone AR, in Taipei during Computex. </p><p>On specs alone, the Zenfone AR is already a pretty impressive beast. </p><p>It&#x27;s got a 5.7 inch Super AMOLED screen with a 1440 x 2560 pixel (WQHD) resolution. It&#x27;s got a fast Snapdragon 821 processor with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. And it boasts of a 23MP f/2.0 main camera that can also shoot 2160p at 24fps. </p><p>Like other mid-end and high-end phones built by Asus, the Zenfone AR has a sleek design that feels premium to the touch.</p><p>But where this phone sets itself apart is its capability to run AR apps via Tango. </p><p>In Taipei during Computex, we got a first hand experience of just what AR could do. We interacted with an augmented reality BMW car. </p><p>The Zenfone AR uses three cameras to track your movement, reacting to forward, backward, and sideward motions. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><div style="padding-top:66.375%"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1452766" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></div></figure><p>We could open its door and even look inside the car. Unlike Pokemon Go, the Zenfone demo made you feel immersed in the AR. </p><p>&quot;The high-resolution 23MP camera lets you view virtual objects in your actual environment in stunning detail,&quot; says the Asus flyer on the Zenfone AR. </p><p>The BMW augmented reality demo by Asus did not disappoint. Tango AR is a really promising technology that makes you excited about the quality of apps that can be developed with it.</p><p>But besides AR, the new Zenfone is also a very capable virtual reality (VR) device. </p><p>It is actually the first smartphone to incorporate both AR and VR via Google&#x27;s Daydream platform. </p><p>You could strap on the Zenfone AR to a separate goggle system and use it for VR content. </p><p>Asus said the Zenfone AR will become available this month in the Philippines. There is no word yet on how much it will cost. </p><p>Admittedly, a lot of everyday users will probably not be enticed by the Zenfone AR&#x27;s cutting-edge capabilities. But gadget enthusiasts who want to stay on the bleeding edge of mobile technology will find the Zenfone AR very intriguing. </p>

<p>A lot of people got their first taste of augmented reality (AR) last year when Pokemon Go became a runaway hit on smartphones. </p><p> </p>

A lot of people got their first taste of augmented reality (AR) last year when Pokemon Go became a runaway hit on smartphones.

Next level augmented reality arrives on the smartphone

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Next level augmented reality arrives on the smartphone

Art Fuentes,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 03, 2017 04:02 PM PHT

Read More:

augmented reality

smartphone

virtual reality

Google

Tango

Daydream

Asus

Zenfone

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