The Junaio augmented reality browser for iPhone has been updated to version 2.0 to include content categories, event information, and social networking. If you don’t already know the shtick with augmented reality, you point your phone’s camera (iPhone or otherwise) and have an image of what it sees on the screen, only it’s overlaid with pertinent location-based data, and it all adjusts as you move around. Junaio’s claim to fame versus other apps in the category is their implementation of 3D objects. Neat as hell, but damned if I can tell what it would be used for. Games?
One of the problems with augmented reality browsing is that the screen can quickly become crowded with data, which is exactly why Junaio 2.0 is allowing you to pare down the display to news, culture, shopping, games, travel, or food channels of information. If you’re feeling a bit more sociable, you can create a personal channel, where you can post geotagged twitter updates, virtual 3D objects, and other notes. Junaio has also included some transit information for the San Francisco BART, if you need some help getting around. Finally, the Eventual channel is a new database of upcoming events that will pop up.
To kick this all off at SXSW, Junaio is having a scavenger hunt, where participants use Junaio to follow clues and gather virtual objects scattered around Austin. If you want to get involved, go to www.scavengar.com. Neat stuff all around. The APIs are pretty open, so if any developers out there feel like dabbling in AR, Junaio is probably worth a gander. For more information, go to junaio.com, or hit the link below to get downloading. If you like the sound of all this, an Android version should be coming soon.
[via Metaio]
Download Junaio for iPhone (Free) [iTunes Link]