10 can’t-miss augmented reality apps

By Heather Hamilton, contributing writer

Apps have come a long way since the early days  — apps for eBay and Super Monkey Ball replaced by augmented reality and serious innovation. While there are tons of AR apps available, some stand out above the rest. Here are 10 that you can’t miss.

SpotCrime
Sure, this app isn’t particularly fun, but it is certainly useful. Through the SpotCrime app, users gather real-time crime data and alerts from locations across the United States, United Kingdom, and parts of Canada. By identifying your location via smartphone GPS, the app pulls crime data (from robberies to sexual assaults) from police departments, news, etc. You can also set up alerts for specific areas that will link to additional information.

Star Walk 2
StarWalk 2 is a great way to get acquainted with the night sky. Simply load the app, point your phone upward, and see stars, planets, and constellations displayed right before you. Called a “pocket planetarium ,” this app gives great insight for students, teachers, or hobbyists interested in the solar system but with minimal equipment.

Lumyer
Lumyer has filters similar to those on Instagram and Snapchat but doesn’t apply them in real time. You simply take a photo, play around with it by adding silly hair or googly eyes, and save it as a GIF. If you want to use the app with video, you can apply filters in real time, adding effects as you wish.

Google Translate
Google Translate is probably one of the more well-known augmented reality apps, but that doesn’t diminish its usefulness. It’s great for travelers in countries where they don’t know the language, allowing full conversations to happen with a few clicks. It also allows you to use your phone’s camera to translate any piece of text instantly, which can be a huge help. The camera feature works in 38 languages, and the app supports 103 in all. There are also offline language packs available for download for your convenience.

Inkhunter
Tattoos are permanent, so most people want to think long and hard about what they’ll get and where. Inkhunter uses augmented reality to place the design you choose on your body so you can look at it before you make it permanent. You can move your arm or phone and examine your artwork from multiple angles, even saving and sharing with friends if you choose.

Find Your Car with AR: Augmented Car Finder
While there are several ways to utilize your phone to find your car, Find Your Car with AR is a great one (and it rhymes!). When your car is parked, you set your location and the app creates a visible marker showing where your car is, the distance you are from your car, and even the direction you need to travel in order to find it. If it’s helpful, the app can also be used to track down seats in stadiums and theaters.

Wikitude
An original in the world of augmented reality smartphone apps, the Wikitude SDK utilizes local search and AR to provide a larger picture of what’s around you. If you’re looking for a movie theater or restaurant, the app pulls data from Google Maps, Wikipedia, and Trip Advisor. If you’re walking, these recommendations will update as you travel around. The app can also be used to find information on and directions to businesses in the surrounding area.

Pokémon Go
If you can recall, just a short while ago, hoards of people traipsing through your neighborhood or strip mall, you can appreciate all that is Pokémon Go . The game was played by people who had never paid Pokémon much attention and temporarily captured the hearts of many. By using GPS to mark your location and control your avatar, the smartphone’s camera actually shows Pokémon in the world. If you look hard enough, there are still people playing.

Ikea Catalog
As if Ikea didn’t offer enough, their augmented reality app serves up a version of their catalog that is highly useful. By placing any of 300 items in a room, users can get a feel for color scheme, spacing, and overall feel in a 3D immersive room.

Roar
Roar is an AR app SDK designed for businesses, consumers, and retailers. On the consumer end, the app lets you photograph food and drink, instantly revealing prices, ingredients, reviews, and coupons/promotions. If a product is in the Roar database, you can compare using price or retailer and even buy the product within the app. Roar can also scan movie posters and buy tickets to a showing, and Digital Trends reports that it has more features on the horizon.

Sources: Phone Cruncher, Make Use Of, PC Mag, Digital Trends
Image Source: Pixabay