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Google Releases ARCore AR Platform for Android

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Author Published 12:00 PM

Google ARCore
A few months ago at WWDC, Apple introduced the first Arkit Augmented Reality platform made by Apple. With ARKit developers will be able to develop AR apps easily especially since devices with iOS 11 will already be compatible with ARKit.

Not to be outdone Google launched their own AR platform called ARCore. ARCore is not the same as Tango, which is another AR project from Google. 

Tango requires special hardware such as sensors and cameras, while ARCore does not. Just like ARKit the only thing required to use ARCore is a mobile phone.

While iOS developers have to wait until iOS 11 launch to try ARKit, ARCore made by Google is available now. Starting today, developers will be able to use ARCore on Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy S8 provided they are already using Android 7.0 Nougat or newer Android version.

Later, Google hopes ARCore will be used on millions of Android devices from various manufacturers, such as Samsung, Huawei, LG and ASUS.

Just like ARKit, ARCore can be used with Java or OpenGL, Unity and Unreal. Basically this Google AR platform offers three main functions. First, it will be able to track movement, this platform will use the camera phone to detect your position in the room.

Both platforms can understand the surroundings so that it can detect horizontal surfaces. Third, it will be able to estimate the light so that the lighting and shadow of the virtual object will match the lighting around you.
 
Google mentioned, previously, they have released 3D tools like Blocks and Tilt Brush that are compatible with ARCore and will make it easier for developers to create AR content. In addition, Google is also developing other AR technologies, such as AR-compatible browsers.
 
When Apple released ARKit on WWDC, SVP Craig Federighi claims that the platform is the largest AR platform in the world, as there are many iPhones and iPads available in the market. However, given the number of Android smartphones more than iOS users, that means, ARKit is no longer the largest AR platform. 

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