Layar has rolled out a new version of its augmented reality browser, and it’s packed with new features. It won’t wash the dishes (not yet, anyway), but Layar 3.0 should make up for that failing with its ability to place 3D objects into real-space, guide you on tours and personalize a particular layer. Imagine walking around a city, pulling out your smartphone and finding interesting art and “fun objects” floating around. Or, imagine touring a city and using your smartphone to find places of interest along the way – like the “Abbey Road” that was made famous by the Beatles. Layar 3.0 does all that.
One of the best examples of Layar 3.0’s 3D Objects feature is the virtual mockup of the new Market Hall in Rotterdam. The building is still under construction, but if you point your Layar browser at the construction site, you’ll see a 3D model of the building that you can walk around and even peek within. Or, if you happen to be in Rome, you might soon be able to point Layar at the Colosseum and see an overlaid image of what it would have looked like a millennium ago.
Layar 3.0 also gives developers the power to add personalization features to their layers, allowing you to view tweets from only the tweeps you follow or view check-ins from your Foursquare friends.
At the moment, Layar 3.0 is available for Android 1.5 and Android 1.6 devices. You can download it free from the Android Market. Android 2.0 users (Droid fans, we’re talking to you), hold tight, Layar’s got a compatible version in the works. iPhone 3GS users will have to wait on Apple’s approval of the new Layar 3.0 app – so expect it anytime between now and never.
[Via: Layar]