Junaio's augmented reality app for iPhone and Android can add cartoons to your otherwise-boring existence
By Chris Ziegler 
posted July 7th 2010 6:14PM
posted July 7th 2010 6:14PM
In Junaio's demo, pointing the camera at a superhero-type cartoon dude causes a 3D representation of him to be rendered on the phone's screen; when you tap on him, he'll point his gun. It's an interesting concept that could eventually have some commercial implications, but in the short term, the company just needs to improve the app -- it crashed several times for us, and its support for changing orientation is a little wonky. If you want to check it out, it's a free download for both the iPhone and Android; while you wait for the install, check out our quick video demo after the break.
BUT CAN IT PLAY DOOM?
@Loud Howard Need a mod so we can augmentally blow away hipsters with a BFG!
@nefnet13
DO YOU MEAN LIKE THIS?
http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=58462
@Loud Howard Good stuff. Now I grok your avatar.
@Loud Howard what about augmented reality pr0n?
:D
I can't wait to see Layar further advance on this with more features. The new gyroscope will allow for incredible immersive augmented reality apps!
@Antrak Junaio* instead of Layar.
I didn't have time to watch the video because my Nexus One (with CyanogenMod 6) installed it too fast.
Augmented reality ads, noooooO!
@One Love
"Did you like those jeans you bought at Gap, John Anderton?"
seems like this could have some cool (and annoying) potential once it gets a little more dialed in. just hope they don't end up abusing ads with it.
@pufflye you digging a bit? they mentioned android too.. and were using an android phone in the video. sigh.
@system22 oh my bad - it is an iphone. they still mentioned android tho ;)
@system22
Yeah and doesn't the letter A come before i in the alphabet, but why do they mention the iPhone beforehand in any post
http://gizmodo.com/5580587/applecare-the-iphone-4-update-wont-solve-the-antenna-problem?skyline=true&s=i
@pintonion okay?
This is pretty damn awesome. :)
Mattel and Qualcomm has something in the works for this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXtq1qBMLIw
@EggoEspada
Hell, PalmOS had something like this and it worked better.
http://www.toyspring.com/arcade/
@pufflye are you kidding me? has the iphone/android war really gotten this petty? are you not getting enough hugs? ha. lighten up, buddy :)
@pufflye what people don't seem to realize is that just because apple is popular and some ppl dig it doesn't mean that gives other people the right to hate on them for thinking differently (ha. i actually didn't mean that in a clever way). the iphone just draws more attention. why do you think people are hyping the shit out of all these "problems" when at the end of the day even consumer reports says are "non issues". people go to extremes to defend the platform of their choosing when at the end of the day they don't need to. be comfortable in your decision. if it makes you happy, thats all that matters - but you have to accept for now that iphone is the #1 seller whether or not its actually the best or whether you chose something else. the media always follows #1 the most.
Well i dont want nothing to do with it cause he sounds like a mexican
If people are soo tired of reading iPhone related articles. I have a great idea! DONT READ THEM. It's a choice. I chose to not read android articles for the mere fact it doesn't pertain to me. So therefore o don't go on and bitch about it being a droid article. Just sayin.
@Dev one
Finally a post that makes sense. It's like going into a coffee shop and getting pissed at the owner because he serves too mochas cause you don't like mochas.
Two out of five stars on the app store.
@pufflye i can respect that. cheers.
Put this in a pair of sun glasses, and I'm sold.
@pufflye It's like watching boyz in the hood and saying why do all black people gang bang.
That's rediculously ignorant to feel I one own an iPhone they must be mindless. You don't own neither playform, so how can you even give a valid opinion on the matter. To me, how the reactions have been for all those android fanboys, they seen like they would be what they're claiming apple fanboys to be. They seem as though they would go into a store and ask the clerk to hand them a droid x, sorry we don't have any, what no droid x, I want my droid x, I need it now. We can provide you with this widows 7 series phone. No I want the droid x. I need it. I need it now...and etc. From what I've been reading. Both sides need to get a life and stop worrying about who's better. Cause in the next year. None of the shit you have now will be worth shit. Becauae they're will always be something "better" coming out.
How long till Bonzi Buddy is back?
this is nice i think they can use this for advertising or games also. find this some where take a picture and win millions of pounds.
@jukah thx I luv to c things old palm phones can do that my pre can lol .... That game looked fun!!!!
@ jukah thx I luv 2 c things old palm phones can do that me Pre can't ;,( lol .... Looks like a fun game to wish I had it!!!!!
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the write-up and trying out junaio. junaio is the most advanced augmented reality browser to date and is developed by metaio, who has over 10 years of experience in developing commercial AR applications for clients / brands. junaio is the only AR browser on the market that uses both LLA markers and natural feature tracking to deliver highly accurate positioning when GPS falls short indoors, or digital content associated with any print / images.
An example of GLUE use-case we recently finished is with Time Out New York Kids for their August issue that leverages image recognition to tie digital content such as videos to the magazine itself: http://newyorkkids.timeout.com/articles/features/87347/use-the-junaio-app-to-play-the-ps-22-video-on-your-smartphone
If there are specific areas where you think we can improve, please let us know. We are always looking for ways to improve.
-Lisa
lisa.murphy@metaio.com