iPhone in iPhone app is useless, but mesmerizing
By Vlad Savov 
posted December 23rd 2009 6:01AM
posted December 23rd 2009 6:01AM
Here's the premise: you take a good old fashioned augmented reality setup, the likes of which we've seen all over the land, and attach a three-dimensional, rotatable iPhone to it. Not impressed yet, are you? Neither were we, but there's some secret sauce to this one: you can actually launch apps on the simulated iPhone. That extra layer of interactivity makes the video after the break a lot more fascinating than it has any right to be, though it's worth pointing out that we don't think the apps are actually usable -- they just give the illusion of launching. Anyhow, don't wait around while all the cool kids are watching it, go have a gander yourself.
Oooh this is neat! Totally useless but nice to see some thought put into it
@thelongmile
Possibly useful... Get two or more virtual iPhones at the same time and you can do some basic multitasking.
Perhaps those who do Second Life could find a use.
@thelongmile
It's like getting two iPhones for the price of one. Awesome. Yawn.
@Clubbubavich Good point actually, and as others have said, use this as an advertising platform, Hmm, lot's of potential now!
@thelongmile The virtual iPhone didn't DO anything. It just loaded pictures when you clicked on certain areas that were mapped to app icons. I'd be more impressed if there was actual interactivity with the apps, even if it was just scrolling the pic or zooming.
@thelongmile How about we run this app within this app.
@(Unverified) might create a wormhole that could kill us all, i wouldn't risk it.
@Clubbubavich i also agree with this.. we can use in this way.
There should be a DROID in an iPhone: that would actually make sense :)
@(Unverified) Don't worry - I've spoken to people over at Partner (the Israeli owner of the Orange brand), and they've specifically mentioned a feature that will let people try other mobile devices' interface before they buy them (but they didn't promise a similar capability of using iPhone within Android machines... bugger!).
sup, AppleGadget
@Dudeman
In the news today: "Apple's iPhone Is 2009's Most Popular Mobile Phone"
I think most here would agree that when a device has that kind of success, a proportional amount of coverage is required. I think most would also agree that this has always been what Engadget has done.
@KarlW
Right, because the `breaking news` warrants everyone, iPhone owner or non-iPhone owner to care much for entirely useless and unnecessary app news such as these.
@MegaJapan
Well to be fair, I'm not an iPhone owner and thus have little interest in iPhone app stories, but I found this video pretty cool and interesting. So I'm glad they posted it.
Sometimes I see Engadget post news stories that I have no interest in, and what I do is, I scroll past it down to the next story. Anyone who has similar problems could try this.
@Dudeman
You don't have to like Apple. In fact, lots of people don't like Apple. But enough people /do/ like Apple, so clicky [http://engadget.com/exclude/apple/] and relax.
Virtual Machine taken to the next step.
@Hazdaz This is the next step? Where were you for all the other virtual machine advances in the past few years?
@Hoobaloo Like the first time we virtualized a virtual machine, or when we virtualized a virtualized virtual machine, or when we virtualized a virtualized virtualized virtual machine?
Can't wait to hear about a virtualized virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual virtual machine!!!
They should simulate that app itself into the virtual iPhone, then you get an iPhone inside an iPhone inside an iPhone... LOL.
@pika2000
HURRRR
@pika2000 Umm the apps won't be functional because the iPhone can't multitask. Also, you'll need a "virtual camera" on the virtual phone.
@Gilad The iPhone most certainly can multi-task. Just not in stock form. I've got 5 apps running right now, and can flip between them with ease.
@icase81 wait you can do that?! And here I was thinking I was clever by buying 3 iphones, so I can run THREE whole apps at once
@pika2000 you posted that from your iPhone didn't you....
cool!!!!
Yo dawg.
@tobz1000
I am amazed that this meme wasn't used in the article!
@tobz1000
classic!
@tobz1000 the best part is, he didn't even need to finish it, everyone here was probably thinking the exact same thing!
This is actually a really good way to advertise products and get a good look at them before ordering them.
@(Unverified) Orange isn't the first company to try augmented reality ads, but it is a nice way to go about it...
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/06/best-buy-goes-3d-even-augmented-reality-isnt-safe-from-adverti/
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?pn=GC_Augmented_Reality&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
I don't guess it's available yet.
what if you open up the 3D app in the virtual iphone? does it make a black hole? O_O
@bohoy2k Cool... i like it!
Obligatory yo dawg joke:
Yo dawg I heard you like iPhone, so I put an iPhone in your iPhone so you can use your app while using your app.
Are you allowed to run google voice in the iPhone in iPhone app?
Just shows that the iPhone is just as narcissistic and self loving as its owners are
Is 3G coverage any better on the virtual one? All bars, all the time you say? Take that Verizon!
If I turn the phone's camera to face me, will it do a 3D model of me?
There's an app for that!
annoying?
Nice!
If you have nothing to do other than twilling your thumbs.
If it was able to launch the video recorder or the photo camera it would be ridiculous. Until then, pat on the back for good efforts.
My biggest wonder is why useless stuff like this is even a blog entry.
yo, dawg! i heard you like iphones. so i got you an iphone for your iphone!
@alkaline someone beat me to it. i should have known. d'oh!
Hey iPhone, stop playing with yourself!
another useless app? you don't say!
This is more dangerous than the Hadron Collider!!! Everyone run!