Layar Reality Browser 2.1 launched
We just uploaded an updated version of our browser. Next to some little bug fixes (thanks everyone for your feedback) we added some cool new sharing features.
Archive for August, 2009
Layar in Barcelona
Big thanks to the guys from And.roid.es!
They made a great demonstration video of the application. It’s probably the best demo video showing all functionalities of Layar.
No idea what they are saying bytheway.. 
I hope they liked the application.
Invitation to the Layar developers conference call
All the developers are invited to talk to the Layar team next week, to discuss building layers. If you are not a developer yet, go to www.layar.com/api to read the documentation and request a key.
Augmenting Your Brain with Smartphones and Semantic Technologies
Now that’s a funky title, isn’t it! It’s a proposed panel by Steve Brown for the SXSW conference in 2010. Layar is invited to be part of this. In order for it to happen we need your vote: Please go here, register and vote for the panel.
Panelists
Jeff Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Smule (Ocarina & Sonic Lighter)
Maarten Lens-Fitzgerald, Co-Founder of Layar, (Augmented reality)
Nova Spivack, Founder and CEO of Twine (Leading semantic web company)
Steve Brown, Co-Founder and CEO of 3banana (Smartphone application innovator)
Description
We all have two brains: one in our head and one in our pocket. At least one is getting smarter every day. How can we augment the squishy one? Learn how context-aware mobile devices connecting to semantic web services can give you ESP and untold powers.
Questions Answered
1. What are semantic web technologies?
2. What is augmented reality?
3. How can I augment my brain with technology?
4. How does context awareness change every application?
5. What is the bridge between human brains and silicon brains?
6. How will new media and semantic technology make me smarter?
7. What is brain plasticity?
8. How might semantic mobile technology change my brain?
9. What are the best use cases to illustrate the power and potential to augment our brains?
10. What happens when we connect a billion brains using mobile and semantic technology?
Twitterers eager on Layar
Are you interested in exchanging your Layar experiences with other users? Or want to share your ideas for new layers? Then follow @layarmobile on Twitter!
Layar founders Raimo van der Klein, Claire Boonstra and Maarten Lens-Fitzgerald also post their thoughts on Twitter. You can follow them at: @rhymo, @claireboo and @dutchcowboy.
| racchio | Is trying #Layar on his #android phone and is amazed! |
| RobIsIt | I think this is the killer application for mobile, local information |
| AndrewBonner | Augmented reality looks awesome! |
| comgoran | I just saw a youtube clip about Layar. Wow. The future is here! Im so going to get a Hero all thanks to you! |
| jvandisseldorp | Just tested out Layar on Android and saw my own house in augmented reality through Funda feed. Very cool! |
| HendrikCBos | Yesterday I saw it in real and it worked beautifully, layar is still King Marketing & AR |
| MBerman1 | I played with the layar phone at the office. It really is incredible. |
| marcfonteijn | Buffy the Vampire #layar … |
| netherlandy | Playing with layar on Android. Augmented reality is fun! Halifax needs more layers. |
| tomklaver | #layar is the first pants tighteningly cool thing for the iPhone 3gs. The term killer app doesn’t quite express how excited I am |
| herbertherbert | This tech’s just awesome. |
| infophage | Just tested #Layar Reality Browser for Android http://layar.com/ Just amazing, it’s one of those Science Fiction moments  |
| sarisignorelli | I’m so excited about #Layar ! Imagine the possibilities. |
| leoverdonck | Been to #layar 2.0 ….Impressed…. |
| csoren | #Layar for Android is seriously impressive! |
| paulusveltman | Thx for yet another awesome event. Loved Bruce and was impressed by all #layar announcements. |
| jspinney | very very very cool AR stuff coming out of #Layar unveiling in Amsterdam |
| andrevanhoepen | Ziet er strak uit dat Layar:) |
| tuzonghua | Android Layar reality browser is back out on the Market. Sweet! |
| danischouten | we got a winner. |
| doxaras | Hilarious. Samsung provides with Galaxy a custom layer for Durex points of sale in Amsterdam. |
| marcfonteijn | I will bet you a big yellow smily that a pacman #layar will be just THE killer #layar |
| benjami | Impressed with Layar |
| nasnl | 105 layars (soon) is impressive in just 2 months |
| micheloptlandt | Next version of #Layar looks nice. Process for adding and publishing a new layer looks pretty straightforward. |
| delchoness | I was quoted at #layar next. holy cow! |
| thedoc | Trying out Layar for Android. Awesome stuff. |
| maartenkes | Layar heeft “quite a buzz” veroorzaakt, rode hoed barst zowat uit z’n voegen |
| dymetzer | The Layar App for Droid is pretty impressive |
| nymphobraniac | An Augmented Reality browser for Android and iPhone 3GS? This is a game changer |
| damonoehlman | Layar is the first app to really make me want an android based phone. |
| mayito97 | did you try layar at the strip its insane especially twitmondo |
| jogonzal | Just discovered Layar. Its creepy but cool. |
| alwaystyred | Chilling in the yard, checking out Android apps! Get involved with Layar, looks ace! |
| thelazzyone | Layar for android is amazing! I love that it is some many different augmented reality apps in one. |
| jeffberezny | is perplexed by layar reality browser. 2.0 check it out! |
| thethomaspeters | Layar shows the Augmented Reality – This is getting fun! WoW – how fast we are advancing |
| tompolk | Layar looks to have all ingredients to be THE mobile marketing delivery platform. |
| uniquelyeric | about time android getting some better apps… http://layar.eu/ is hot as HELL!!! |
| negativek | Mmm, Twitter plus Layar really is sexy. |
| thesreichert | Layar looks pretty damn cool… |
| wonvankalsbeek | GEWELDIG: http://layar.com/ augmented reality for Android |
| ivansmith | this thing looks pretty cool |
| ibsmohammed | Wow…layar is a very impressive app |
| michaeljbyers | Downloaded Layar for my phone last night. It looked great, I think Augmented Reality (AR) is going to be BIG!! |
| kiteaton | Just concluded speaking with Maarten Lens-Fitzgerald of Layar–a very cool guy, with a very cool app. |
| baslangenberg | Layar is de shit! |
| theokroese | Layar, the next generation of interaction, pretty cool |
| r3vmixman | This new app on my phone is awesome. Its called “Layar” and it let’s me find people near me using twitter, reviews, shops, etc. Fun stuff. |
| orchardonline | Layar Reality Browser – it’s augmented reality taken to the next level… |
| digisal | wow Layar for the G1 is pretty awesome. Brightkite has a featured layer. so cool. |
| zlp | Layar augmented reality browser for your phone… UNREAL… |
| gartenberg | Thanks to @Rhymo I’m now augmenting my reality with Layar. One of the coolest mobile apps. EVER. |
| asgodfrey | Layar’s gone global. Sooooo happy. Apple still doesn’t support video API’s for iPhone. Soooooo angry. |
| appholic | Layar is great! Makes places a lot more interesting! Gonna stroll in NYC to play w/ it some more! Gotta bring my charger tho’! |
| simonds | Going to walk around downtown and play with Layar, new augmented reality browser. Only on Android for now (suck it iPhone). |
| snafilter | Can’t wait to try out Layar and the Trulia Layer next time we go house shopping! Goosebumps I tell you, goosebumps! Augemented Reality |
Video: Bruce Sterling's Keynote – At the Dawn of the Augmented Reality Industry
Registration of the amazing keynote by sf author and design critic Bruce Sterling, “At the Dawn of the Augmented Reality Industry”. He talks about its history, the cool side, the dark side and gives the industry some pointers to be successful.
Recorded at the Layar Launch Event on August 17th in Amsterdam where the Layar Reality Browser was launched for the world.
Some quotes:
“Right now this is the peak of my interest”
“A techno visionary dream come true”
“People can actually, conceivably make some money off of this”
“It’s not too geeky” “It’s Artsy”
“It’s Girls, Money and Fame!”
“It’s happening” “I put on a tie”
“New names will not work”
“It’s a tag”
“AR language top 3 at Google Trends: 1: Korean, 2: Dutch & 3: English”
“Do some high culture things”
“Criminals are going to come…”
“You are going to get the four horse men of the infopocalypse”
“You are going to get the fear about…”
“Don’t be a deer in the head lights about it”
“You are going to need an industry journal”
“You are going to need an industry code of ethics”
“You are heading for the trough of disillusion” “It’s human nature”
“Be prepared to work for the other guy” “Be prepared to hire the other guy”
“The majors will buy you out”
“It’s gonna happen, get ready for it”
“Augments eat batteries like popcorn”
“Is there an Augmented Reality system for building Augmented Reality systems?”
“Do you have your own language?”
“You need to have a look”
“You are gonna be glamorous”
“Pretty chique… you are video people”
“…hot Dutch augmentation chicks”
“You are in for a wild ride”
Event Video: Layar 2.0 Walk Through
Raimo van der Klein, CEO of Layar, announces the new global release of the Layar Reality Browser and walks through the new features. The video is less than 10 minutes.
View the slides here in pdf or as a webversion
This is the rough cut of the video. More coming soon.
In the mean time check the content catalog, over 87 examples of layers available all over the world.
Press Release: Layar Reality Browser Announces Global Launch and New Features in the Latest Release
Over 100 partners worldwide developing content layers including well known brands
AMSTERDAM, August 17th 2009. Layar, which was first launched in June 2009 in The Netherlands, announces that its second generation Reality Browser is now available globally on Android devices. Many new content layers are available in the Reality Browser which vary from Wikipedia, Twitter and Brightkite to local services like Yelp, Trulia, store locators, nearby bus stops, mobile coupons, Mazda dealers and tourist, nature and cultural guides.
Layar Reality Browser 2.0
To discover new content quickly and with ease, the new Reality Browser includes sections for ‘Featured’ and ‘Popular’. All layers are also accessible via a keyword search in the search function. Layers that are used often can be saved to ‘Favorites’. In addition to the enhanced augmented reality camera view, it is now possible to select Map or List view. For every Point of Interest (POI), several actions can be taken such as: linking to a mobile site for more information, playing a live location based trivia game, linking to a video or sound clip, clicking to call for reservations, and looking at a route description to the POI. Content partners can fully customize their layer to provide a distinctive experience for the user.
500 more developers
Over 100 developers worldwide have been given access to the Layar platform by means of an API key, and are currently developing layers.
Scott Halcomb of SystemK from Japan, who developed 22 layers including the ‘Sapporo Hotspots’ layer:
“With the Layar API and support of the developers community, creating layers has been a pleasure.”
Dave Elchoness of GoWeb3D from the USA/ India, with 11 layers published including FlickAR:
“We strongly believe that Layar represents the next evolution for mobile applications and feel privileged to participate.”
Michael Coutinho, Technical Manager at Trulia, USA:
“This is a great idea. I was able to develop our layer in about three hours.”
To further grow the community of developers, Layar has released an additional 500 new API keys. The supporting wiki (http://layar.pbworks.com), with developer instructions and documentation, is now available.
Layar for all
Starting from today, Layar is available for everyone with an Android phone anywhere in the world. The Reality Browser can be downloaded in all local Android Markets and is pre-installed on the new Samsung Galaxy (i7500) in The Netherlands.
Dirk Groten, CTO:
“The next platform on which Layar will be available is the iPhone 3GS. We are currently investigating other platforms that support our functionalities.”
Raimo van der Klein, CEO:
“With the release of this Reality Browser we believe we have created a worldwide platform that will bring both fun and relevant Augmented Reality experiences in one application to a growing audience of users.”
Boilerplate
The Layar Reality Browser displays real time digital information on top of reality in the camera screen of the mobile phone. While looking through the phone’s camera lens, a user can see houses for sale, popular bars and shops, tourist information of the area, play a live game, etcetera. Layar first launched on June 16th, 2009 and announced the opening up of its platform by means of an API on July 8th, 2009. The Layar platform serves as an enabler for mobile location services – any database with geo-location information can easily be turned in a content layer. The Layar Reality Browser is globally available for mobile phones running the Android operating system. Layar is a company based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Contact Maarten Lens-FitzGerald at press@layar.com for press inquiries
All press material is on www.layar.com/press
View all new content layers here: http://layar.com/layar-20-content-catalog/
View all new functions here: http://layar.com/layar-20-functional-screens/
View all developer videos here: http://layar.com/7-layar-20-videos/
Layar 2.0 Functional Screens
View all functional (navigational) screens in this presentation.
Choose the web/HTML version by clicking the image below or download the PDF version.
An overview of the functional screens as direct downloads.
8 Layar 2.0 Videos
From Magazine to Mazda in 80 Seconds. Powered by the Layar Reality Browser.
Find the closest Mazda dealer by scanning a QR-code in a magazine ad. The link in the QR code starts up the Layar Reality Browser in the Mazda content layer. When you find the one you want, select more information, directions or simply call them with one click. A great example of how the Layar Reality Browser can be used in a relevant manner in traditional media.
Production: Lemonade.nl & DSRPT.COM, Music: www.jessekoolhaas.com, Agency: JWT International, Client: Layar.com
Layar Man Episode 1
Layar in Japan, the series…. by Systemk.co.jp, also see layar.jp. Episode 2 coming soon.
Why we love Developing our Brightkite Layar
Video: Brightkite
Brightkite on Layar
Video: Brightkite
Tweetmondo on Layar
Video by Tweetmondo
Developing the Stuttgart layer
Video and layer by de.hoppala.eu
EyeTour Tourist Guide and Layar
Video of the tourist guide layer of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Video by EyeTour.
Real Estate Prices in France
Layer & video by Meilleursagents.com
