Google launches a new Lens to explore cities, Snapchat enables its users to become 3D cartoon characters, and Niantic is soon launching another AR mobile game.
Read on for more!
Google extends AR search lead over Apple with Landmark Recognition for Google Lens
Google has launched a new feature for visual search tool called Places. This new search category can recognise landmarks and return information on them within the user's device's camera view.
Places for Google Lens uses image recognition and Google Earth's 3D map assets to identify locations. It identifies the landmark and adds a hotspot over the subject. The user can then tap the hotspot to retrieve relevant information from Google Search.
"Google Lens is now used over three billion times per month by people around the world. We hope Lens makes rediscovering and learning about a city even more enjoyable," wrote group product manager for Google Lens and AR Lou Wang in a statement.
The Places Lens is available worldwide.
This hilarious Snapchat Lens turns you into a Pixar character
Snapchat has launched a new Lens for all the Disney and Pixar fans out there: Cartoon 3D Style Lens.
The filter uses AR to transform the user into a cartoon character that looks like it was taken straight out of a Disney Pixar film. In addition, the user can jump back and forth between two different facial styles by tapping the screen.
Apparently, the Cartoon 3D Style Lens also works on 2D images. Some users have had fun with it and art, such as the Mona Lisa, a self-portrait of Vincent Van Gogh, and Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Niantic primes its Lightship AR engine for a Transformers game
Niantic, the company behind the hugely popular Pokémon GO mobile AR game, is working on a new application.
The company joins forces with toymakers Hasbro and Tomy and development studio Very Very Games to build Transformers: Heavy Metal.
The game follows the formula of location-based mobile AR. Centred on exploring real-world locations, the players collect virtual characters and resources and participate in turn-based battles.
The game is slated for a soft launch "soon," with a global launch before the end of the year. You can check the game's website and sign-up for updates.
That's it for now, see you next time!
