We’ve released a big update to the Layar SDK, which lets you easily embed AR and interactive print functionality into your own mobile apps.

As the popularity of AR and interactive print continues to grow alongside mobile innovation, more and more consumers across the globe are looking for instant, real-time data about their surroundings. Layar’s widely popular Geo Layer technology allows location-based information to be displayed in a “heads up” augmented view of the real world. Popular examples include Funda, a collection of local real estate properties, and archINFORM, which displays architectural information for nearby buildings.

Brands have been turning to the Layar SDK solution to provide their own custom interactive print app experience to customers while maintaining their brand identity. Now, brands can also use the SDK to display relevant, real-time location-based data with the inclusion of Geo Layers.

With the new Layar SDK, either scannable content or Geo Layers can be used on their own, but when used together, the combination of opens up exciting new possibilities. Imagine scanning an ad for a shop to see a Geo Layer of nearby locations, or viewing the locations of nearby events by scanning an event calendar.

But that’s not all that’s new. Here’s a breakdown of what’s included in the new Layar SDK…

Location-Based Geo Layers
In addition to scannable images, you can now also use the SDK with Geo Layers, which are great for displaying location-based content like nearby shop locations, real estate information and more! When used together with scannable content, the combination opens up exciting new possibilities. Imagine scanning an ad for a shop to see a Geo Layer of nearby locations, or viewing the locations of nearby events by scanning an event calendar.

New Layar 8.0 Look and Feel
The SDK has been updated to including the more responsive and user-friendly “Scan” animation, which has shown to not only “wow” users but also help them keep their device correctly pointed at the scannable content. The SDK now also includes improved feedback messages which help users achieve better results with the application.

Enhanced Options and Functions
Brands will now be able to more deeply integrate the Layar SDK into their own apps by making use of new advanced features. App developers can create a history of recently viewed content for the user, implement their own custom feedback messages and more.

“With our unique SDK solution, we enable developers and organizations to reach out to consumers in their everyday life,” says Layar CEO Quintin Schevernels. “By combining the collective data of your surroundings, information becomes meaningful, real-time and instantaneous.”

Over 35 million users have downloaded the Layar App for iOS and Android, and over 64,000 publishers and marketeers are using Layar’s technology to build and manage interactive print campaigns.

The new and improved Layar SDK is available now by request at layar.com/sdk.

Today in the Creator, we’ve added a handy new feature that gives you the ability to quickly and easily promote your interactive print campaigns on the web and social media.

If you’re familiar with our Inspiration Page, you’re aware of how nice it is to share campaigns in a way that lets anyone quickly scan and experience the interactive print content. Now, we’re bringing this great feature to you, letting you build your own inspiration page for your campaigns.

As of today on the Campaign Overview screen, you’ll see a “Promote” button next to published campaigns above the “Archive” button. This lets you create a unique landing page for your campaign in which you can include a description and up to 3 preview images from your campaign that visitors can scan with Layar.

Your description can describe the content in the campaign, tell readers where they can find your campaign or anything that you see fit to your promotion page. Then just select up to 3 images to include, and you’re done!

You can share the link to this page however you like, but we make it easy to share on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

We hope you enjoy this handy new feature, and can’t wait to see the campaigns you share!

SoundCloud is a great way for anyone to upload, listen and share audio, from music to podcasts and more. Now, in the Layar Creator, you can easily add SoundCloud audio to your interactive print.

As of today in the Layar Creator, you’ll find our new SoundCloud widget in the Media section of our Standard buttons. Here’s how to add a SoundCloud audio file to your campaign:

1. Enter the SoundCloud URL for the piece of audio you want to add.
2. Choose whether the audio should autoplay or not.
3. Hit “Apply changes” and you’re done!

You’ll see a nice little SoundCloud widget appear on your page, complete with the track’s artwork, name, artist and duration. When a user scans your page, they can tap the orange play button to listen to the audio or tap the SoundCloud logo to view the track on the web.

ALSO! We have new sharing options right here on the blog!

If you look below this post, you’ll notice that Facebook and Twitter have been joined by LinkedIn, Pinterest and Email sharing options. We hope you find these added options useful for sharing our posts with your friends, family, followers and contacts! 

Now in the Layar Creator, you can choose to auto-play audio files when a page or reference image is scanned.

Previously, playing audio files in interactive print campaigns meant having the user tap a button, like the blue “Listen” button in the screenshot above. We received a lot of feedback from users that wanted the option to skip this step and jump straight to playing the audio once the page is recognized. 

It’s our goal to take your feedback and use it to help make the Creator the best tool for AR and interactive print creation there is. So as of today, we’ve added the ability to have audio play automatically.

This functionality is especially handy for audio tours. By adding scannable objects (like a plaque, sign or sticker) to a museum tour, walking tour, etc., you can allow users to scan the object and instantly hear the next step in an audio tour!

Do have a great idea for an audio tour or other auto-played audio experience? You can easily create such an experience with the Layar Creator! Get started today!