Yelp iPhone Application Adds Augmented Reality Easter Egg
Mashable reports on a discovery that the latest update to the iPhone application from popular business establishment review site Yelp [App Store, Free] contains an augmented reality easter egg called "Monocle" that allows users to view business ratings overlayed on a video stream from their iPhone's camera. The feature is only compatible with the iPhone 3GS, which contains the necessary digital compass for properly assessing the device's orientation.
Mashable has also provided screenshots and put together a brief video demonstration of how the feature works.
Download the new Yelp app (came out yesterday). So you shake your iPhone 3 times. That activates a feature called Monocle. A message should come up if you activated it. A blue box will come up saying "the Monocle has been activated." It will create a button in the top right corner. Now you should be able to look at the bars, restaurants, etc. Only works on iPhone 3GS.
Augmented reality applications have been under development for some time, but Apple is waiting for the release of iPhone OS 3.1 to officially enable the feature, which explains why the augmented reality feature in the Yelp application was included as a hidden easter egg to avoid detection by Apple's reviewers.Mashable has also provided screenshots and put together a brief video demonstration of how the feature works.
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36 months ago
This is neat. Wish I had a 3GS totry this out. I think that these augmented reality things are going to catch on.
36 months ago
"which explains why the augmented reality feature in the Yelp application was included as a hidden easter egg to avoid detection by Apple's reviewers"
Hilarious! I wonder how long before this gets pulled down.
On a side note "For iPhone 3Gs only" Boo!!:mad:
Hilarious! I wonder how long before this gets pulled down.
On a side note "For iPhone 3Gs only" Boo!!:mad:
36 months ago
^^^^^ You need the compass- there's no other way of implementing it. That's like being mad that you can't use 3G on a 1st generation iPhone.
Wow, it is pretty amazing. :eek:
Works very well for me, very cool!
I was already an avid Yelp user, but now I'll get even more use out of that app!
Wow, it is pretty amazing. :eek:
Works very well for me, very cool!
I was already an avid Yelp user, but now I'll get even more use out of that app!
36 months ago
On a side note "For iPhone 3Gs only" Boo!!:mad:
None of the other models offer the compass which is needed for this feature to be used. Sorry. :(
/vjl/
36 months ago
Quite frankly I do not see the point.
If you were vistiting a new town and needed to go to a good bar with ratings for you to see in real time. I bet if you would THINK about it you would see a million of uses for it.
36 months ago
I just redownloaded Yelp and tried it. The compass directions are off even after calibration. Seems kind of useless unless you have no idea where you are and need to find food/bar.
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