Augmented Reality: Practical Guide

Motorola Milestone Quad-band Cell Phone- Unlocked

Archos 5 32GB SSD Flash Internet Tablet

HTC Touch HD T8282 Unlocked Phone

Motorola GSM with 5 MP Camera, MP3, GPS, Android, AR

Archos 5 250GB Android Internet Media Tablet

Acer AOD250-1613 10.1-Inch Black Android/XP Netbook

iPhone AR SDK

Professional Android Application Programming

Android Wireless Application Development

Android: Googles Mobile Development OS

Android Application Programming Development

SimpleGeo Open Sources AR SDK

SimpleGeo, the location database company founded by previous Digg and Social Thing geekerati, is setting up to OS their Augmented Reality SDK. From the site: "SimpleGeo is ready-to-use location infrastructure. They currently have three products: a geo-spatial Context Engine, Storage Engine and a comprehensive SDK. The SimpleGeo Context Engine enables application developers to quickly and easily get relevant information about specific locales including (but not limited to) ZIP codes, real-time weather, and geo-tagged media. Additionally, the SimpleGeo Storage Engine makes it possible to store and query location data in a scalable fashion, as well as perform complicated geospatial operations effortlessly." [Visit SimpleGeo]

Augmented Reality Contact Lenses

Augmented eyes for augmented androids: University of Washington research labs are working on contact lenses burned with a thin film, allowing for basic visual overlays: [read full article]

Nexus One for AT&T 3G, now also available for Rogers (Canada):

More Android Love: the google gods have given the Nexus One a global GSM version that handles 3G. From the blogpressrelease: "Starting today, an additional version of the Nexus One is available from the Google web store that is compatible with AT&T's 3G network. This new model can be purchased as an unlocked device without a service plan. In addition to AT&T's 3G network, this device will also run on Rogers Wireless in Canada. And like the first version of the Nexus One, it can be used with most GSM operators globally." [read full article]

GM Augmented Reality for Cars and Autos:

An article about GM, Carnegie-Mellon, and USC collaborating on augmented rality heads up display systems for cars and drivers is on the BITS blog of the Times today, and its pretty cool stuff. FTA: "The new system, called the enhanced vision system, would embed an array of sensors and cameras inside and outside vehicles that could monitor a drivers eye and head movements and provide relevant additional information to help him deal with current driving conditions." [article]

MSI Android Tablet:

Tablet computers represent the push for visual squeeze and pinch iphone (and now iPad tablet) interface users to obliterate the horizontal evolutionary line of the keyboard. Independent of the battle between the two camps, tablet computing, outside of the medical profession and television anchors, is really being promoted as a prime opportunity for augmented reality application developers. Previously, its been the Archos 5 internet tablet with Android OS thats held the spot open, and now, theres an open source tablet coming out from MSI (netbook design competitor) in 5 months that will run the android software platform. What will this do for such toolkit projects as (gnu licensed) ARToolkit? From the looks of early presentation models, theres clearly some memory management issues to deal with. Also, the SSD Solid State Flash drive industry can always use a kick in the tuch. But the freedom to play around with platforms without licensing overhead cant be overlooked. The Android Tablet Rumor is it might run around $500.

are2010 conference:

finally, Augmented Reality Events and Conferences get their own. ARE2010, a promo event to network "the business of augmented reality" into existence, is going to be held at the Santa Clara Convention Center, June 2 - 3, 2010. Naturally, they have recruited a primary Augmented Reality recruiter to keynote it,Bruce Sterling (although, a Rudy Rucker might be somehow fitting also, for the more "augmented" aspect...) Either way check it out at the promoters website. Look for an AR amalgam of industry sectors, as in government, healthcare, tourism, education, cross-media, hollywood, startups, augmented reality developers, and cool AR mobile software and hardware gadgeteers. Virtual or Real Schwag? A new question for conference designers.

ARMAR: Augmented Reality for Maintenance and Repair on Android

Columbia Universitys Computer Graphics and User Interface Lab created this cool interface for mechanical repairr, and call it ARMAR (Augmented Reality for Maintenance and Repair). ARMAR works as a head mounted display with graphic popups overlaying the "reality" camera output. It uses, awesomely enough, an Android phone for interface control. See the IEEE for more info, or watch this augmented reality android video:

Augmented Reality iPhone RC Controlled Helicopter:

This new gadget from Parrot combines an iphone controller (no android app yet?) for a remote control helicopter toy... with a caveat: the rc copter has an embedded webcam the phone controller can access and view in realtime. The camera also allows augmented reality games to be played on your rc controller.