Category: Augmented Reality Technology

The popular mobile app is reportedly working on its first ever hardware product which will provide AR.

Snapchat is reportedly in the midst of developing its first hardware offering in the form of an augmented reality headset. Reports have stated that it will arrive in the form of AR glasses that will be comparable to the HoloLens from Microsoft or even Google Glass.

As of yet, Snapchat has yet to officially confirm that it is indeed pursuing this type of device.

At the same time, more fuel was added to the fire behind the claim that Snapchat was coming up with an augmented reality headset following a recent move. The disappearing photo app joined the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. That is a wireless technology industry body. It suggests that, at the very least, Snapchat is working on a device of some kind.

Moreover, this would not be Snapchat’s first foray into the world of augmented reality technology. It has already added a spectrum of new filters – called Lenses – within its mobile app.

The augmented reality headset would take the experience beyond accessorizing selfies.

While the Lenses make it possible to add drawings, masks and other kinds of alterations and accessories to photos, the device would take digital enhancements beyond pictures. The company would be able to take a similar concept to Lenses and apply it to wearable technology. It would be possible without needing to look at a smartphone screen.

The company has also reportedly been hiring from augmented reality departments of large tech firms. These include Google, Logitech and even Nokia. While there has been some interest in AR expressed by Apple, Google, Facebook and Microsoft, none of these giants have yet to launch a successful product based on that tech.

Google had a limited launch of its Google Glass wearable technology, having unveiled it in 2012. However, it halted its sales only three years later in part because of the criticism it drew regarding its hefty price and certain usage habits. For instance, drivers were being pulled over for being behind the wheel while wearing it. People were being questioned by police when wearing them into movie theatres. Moreover, the general public disliked the fact that they could be filmed by a wearer without knowing it.

In 2014, Snapchat acquired an augmented reality headset product making company called Vergence Labs. Ahead of the acquisition, the company launched a fashionable glasses range called Epiphany Eyewear which can record up to 32GB of footage and store it.

Move over Candy Crush, Pokémon Go has become the biggest mobile game in the US.

Pokémon Go has been steadily breaking records since the first day it was released. The augmented reality scavenging game broke download records on its launch day. Now, the game has 21 million active daily users in the United States. It is the nation’s top mobile game, successfully surpassing Candy Crush Saga’s 20 million peak active user total.

Pokémon Go may even surpass SnapChat.

In addition to leaving Candy Crush in its dust, Nintendo and Niantic’s crown jewel is also squashing other hugely popular mobile games. Both Supercell’s Clash Royale and Slitehr.io were big candidates for 2016’s top mobile game title. Not anymore. These games don’t have a chance to compete with the all-out sensation that Pokémon Go has become.

In fact, according to data from SurveyMonkey Intelligence, the Pokémon mobile game phenomenon is predicted to beat the number of Snapchat active daily users on Android devices within the next couple of days.

If this should happen, the augmented reality mobile game will also surpass Google Maps active daily Android users. More smartphone users will use maps to find Pokémon than anything else. This is quite remarkable to say the very least.

This top mobile game is even more engaging than Facebook.

The AR game doesn’t only have more active daily users than any other mobile game. It is also proving to have better average user engagement than social media giant Facebook. A news article from Forbes noted that according to Sensor Tower data, the game is more engaging and taking up more user time than Facebook.

If Pokémon Go continues with its latest trend, it will no doubt continue to become more popular than social media apps. It should be noted, however, that even though the game is toppling social media apps, it isn’t surpassing other mobile games in terms of time spent playing. For instance, the average Game of War player spends 2 hours daily playing. Even Candy Crush Saga players average approximately 43 minutes daily, which still exceeds Pokémon’s 33 minutes daily average.

Pokémon Go will soon be launched in other major countries and has recently been released in Germany. It will be interesting to see if the game manages to claim the top mobile game spot in these other countries as well.