Layar Reality Browser is a free augmented reality app that helps you discover what's around you, wherever you are in the World.
Layar Reality Browser displays real time digital information on top of the real life world as seen through the lens of your phone's camera. The spectacular augmented reality technology in Layar Reality Browser uses the camera, along with GPS and the built-in compass to map the area around you and display layers of data over the live image you're seeing on the screen.
For example, Layar Reality Browser could show you where all the nearby cinemas are based on your current location. It will display icons on screen in their real world physical location. You can click on any of these icons to display more information about that cinema in the Layar Reality Browser window. The same principle applies to a whole host of other categories, such as architecture, food and drink, health, nature and parks, transport, nightlife, and much more.
Besides these categories, Layar Reality Browser allows you to choose from a multitude of free and paid-for 'layers', covering a range of weird and wonderful information. For instance, you can view photos taken in the area around you by Mobypicture users, see Twitter users near you and post geotagged tweets, access Wikipedia entries about places nearby, and even meet potential dates by adding a Happy Meet layer.
There are so many possibilities with Layar Reality Browser and the app is so customizable that it can be a little daunting to use at first. The interface is quite clearly laid out though, so it won't take you too long to figure out where everything is. Settings in Layar Reality Browser include the ability to switch between miles and kilometers, toggle the grid on and off, and enable/disable automatic launching of actions.
It's hard to find fault with anything in Layar Reality Browser, aside from the fact that some of the distances shown seemed a bit off during our tests.
Augmented reality is a technology that could change the way we live our lives. It's still in its infancy, but Layar Reality Browser is without doubt the best example of this amazing new way of exploring your surroundings
