ARKit Roundup: Tesla Customization, Spatial Audio Recording, and Friend Locator [Updated]

ARKit demos have been popular over the summer, showcasing the features that iOS 11 users will gain on their iPhones once the new software update rolls out worldwide later in September. Today we've rounded up some of the latest tech demos of the software development kit, which you can check out below.

In the first ARKit demo, augmented reality and user experience designer Jelmer Verhoog has created an app that lets users design and customize a Tesla Model 3 car. This extends to the wheels, paint, and interior of the vehicle, and even includes driving controls. While Verhoog's demo is focused on the Model 3, it's easy to imagine other carmakers using Apple's ARKit to help customers when they're on the hunt for a new vehicle.


The next demo, by Zach Lieberman, shows off an interesting use of augmented reality and ARKit -- it allows users to record audio through the app, which is then visually represented by waveforms in an AR space. To play back the audio, users can physically move through it, with the ability to listen to the recorded audio both forwards and backwards. Check out the video below with audio to see Lieberman's demo in action.

An app called "Neon" was showcased recently, and it allows friends to find one another in the midst of overcrowded festivals. The app's Twitter page says it'll be out "this fall," and it appears to use its own social network to add close friends, find them through their own iPhones, and present their location to users as augmented reality chevrons that are easy to track down.


Augmented reality games will likely be a big part of the ARKit app market after the launch of iOS 11, and the developer of the new game Euclidean Lands is already working on an AR version of the puzzler. Since the iOS game's puzzles already float in space within the regular app, the developer has simply translated that concept into the real world with its ARKit demo, allowing players to walk around the puzzle, move characters, and rotate blocks.

Measuring apps continue to be consistently popular in the ARKit demo space, with a new app called MeasureKit having confirmed its launch for later in September alongside iOS 11. MeasureKit includes a bunch of detailed tools, including the ability to measure angles, make sure objects are hanging at the same level, and automatically detect someone's height. Watch a video of MeasureKit on the app's Twitter page here.

For more ARKit demos and roundups, check out our previous coverage in the articles below:

- Major App Developers Show Off ARKit Apps Ahead of iOS 11 Launch
- Latest ARKit Demos Include Sculpting, Food Ordering, Virtual Pets and Zombies
- Latest ARKit Demo Showcases Virtual Cosmetics Boutique
- Latest ARKit Demo Showcases Virtual Drawing
- Apple's ARKit Used to Recreate Classic A-ha 'Take On Me' Video
- ARKit Roundup: Turn-by-Turn Directions, Precise Room Measurements, and Pac-Man

Update: Tenor and digital studio Dift have partnered to create an ARKit-enabled GIF app, where users can place live GIFs in the real world.


Tenor said that its new SDK "is the first to let developers using Apple’s ARKit insert GIFs into AR experiences on iOS devices."

Tag: ARKit
Related Forum: iOS 11

Popular Stories

M3 iPad Air

Apple's Next Two Products Are Coming Soon

Thursday February 12, 2026 11:17 am PST by
Apple plans to release an iPhone 17e and an iPad Air with an M4 chip "in the coming weeks," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple retail employees say that inventory of the iPhone 16e has basically dried out and the iPad Air is seeing shortages as well," said Gurman. "I've been expecting new versions of both (iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air) in the coming weeks."...
Apple Sales Coach App

Apple Launching New 'Sales Coach' App

Friday February 13, 2026 2:01 pm PST by
Apple plans to launch a rebranded "Sales Coach" app on the iPhone and iPad later this month, according to a source familiar with the matter. "Sales Coach" will arrive as an update to Apple's existing "SEED" app, and it will continue to provide sales tips and training resources to Apple Store and Apple Authorized Reseller employees around the world. For example, there are articles and videos...
Coffee Burgundy and Purple iPhone 18 Pro Mock

Five iPhone 18 Pro Features Revealed in New Report

Friday February 13, 2026 8:43 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still seven months away, an analyst has revealed five new features the devices will allegedly have. Rumored color options for the iPhone 18 Pro models In a research note with investment firm GF Securities on Thursday, analyst Jeff Pu outlined the following upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro models: Smaller Dynamic Island: It has been rumored...
iOS 26 Home Feature

Three New Apple Home Products Rumored for 2026

Friday February 13, 2026 4:18 pm PST by
Apple has a long list of new products rumored for 2026, including a series of home products that will see the company establishing more of a presence in the smart home space. Robots are on the horizon for 2027, but the 2026 releases will be a little tamer. HomePod mini We're expecting a new HomePod mini 2 to launch at any time. Apple isn't going to update the device's design, but we could...
m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...

Top Rated Comments

MartinAppleGuy Avatar
110 months ago
God I really hope the Tesla Model 3 one comes out. Only way us on the UK will get to drive it before 2019 haha
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
110 months ago
The possibilities are endless!! I am amazed at the concepts that are being designed so far.

Good work!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
110 months ago
That car demo... wow.
We've seen the future of online-shopping.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
110 months ago
The audio in space is really intriguing. Not that I know what exactly to do with it - but I hadn't thought of stuff like that at all.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unami Avatar
110 months ago
wow, the reflections on the tesla look great. and the "neon" app is one of the few examples so far (besides measurekit), that seem to make the awkward experience of up holding your phone as a lens for reality worth it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
110 months ago
('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/09/07/arkit-roundup-tesla-friend-locator/')


ARKit demos have been popular over the summer, showcasing the features that iOS 11 users will gain on their iPhones once the new software update rolls out worldwide later in September ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/09/06/apple-ios-11-tips-app/'). Today we've rounded up some of the latest tech demos of the software development kit, which you can check out below.

In the first ARKit demo, augmented reality and user experience designer Jelmer Verhoog ('https://twitter.com/jelmerverhoog') has created an app that lets users design and customize a Tesla Model 3 car. This extends to the wheels, paint, and interior of the vehicle, and even includes driving controls. While Verhoog's demo is focused on the Model 3, it's easy to imagine other carmakers using Apple's ARKit to help customers when they're on the hunt for a new vehicle.



The next demo, by Zach Lieberman ('https://twitter.com/zachlieberman'), shows off an interesting use of augmented reality and ARKit -- it allows users to record audio through the app, which is then visually represented by waveforms in an AR space. To play back the audio, users can physically move through it, with the ability to listen to the recorded audio both forwards and backwards. Check out the video below with audio to see Lieberman's demo in action.



An app called "Neon ('https://twitter.com/neonapp')" was showcased recently, and it allows friends to find one another in the midst of overcrowded festivals. The app's Twitter page says it'll be out "this fall," and it appears to use its own social network to add close friends, find them through their own iPhones, and present their location to users as augmented reality chevrons that are easy to track down.



Augmented reality games will likely be a big part of the ARKit app market after the launch of iOS 11, and the developer of the new game Euclidean Lands ('http://appshopper.com/games/euclidean-lands') is already working on an AR version of the puzzler. Since the iOS game's puzzles already float in space within the regular app, the developer has simply translated that concept into the real world with its ARKit demo, allowing players to walk around the puzzle, move characters, and rotate blocks.



Measuring apps continue to be consistently popular in the ARKit demo space, with a new app called MeasureKit ('https://twitter.com/MeasureKit') having confirmed its launch for later in September alongside iOS 11. MeasureKit includes a bunch of detailed tools, including the ability to measure angles, make sure objects are hanging at the same level, and automatically detect someone's height. Watch a video of MeasureKit on the app's Twitter page here ('https://twitter.com/ARKitweekly/status/905747033067270144').

For more ARKit demos and roundups, check out our previous coverage in the articles below:

- Major App Developers Show Off ARKit Apps Ahead of iOS 11 Launch ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/08/29/big-companies-show-off-arkit-apps/')
- Latest ARKit Demos Include Sculpting, Food Ordering, Virtual Pets and Zombies ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/08/28/arkit-sculpting-food-virtual-pets-zombies/')
- Latest ARKit Demo Showcases Virtual Cosmetics Boutique ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/08/23/latest-arkit-demo-shows-virtual-cosmetics-boutique/')
- Latest ARKit Demo Showcases Virtual Drawing ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/08/09/latest-arkit-demo-showcases-virtual-drawing/')
- Apple's ARKit Used to Recreate Classic A-ha 'Take On Me' Video ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/07/26/apple-arkit-aha-take-on-me-video/')
- ARKit Roundup: Turn-by-Turn Directions, Precise Room Measurements, and Pac-Man ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/07/21/arkit-roundup-directions-pac-man/')

Article Link: ARKit Roundup: Tesla Customization, Spatial Audio Recording, and Friend Locator ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/09/07/arkit-roundup-tesla-friend-locator/')
[doublepost=1504801137][/doublepost]At first I thought magic leap would be the leader in Mixed Reality/AR (or even Microsoft with Hololens), but the fact apple Introduced ARkit it looks like this could be huge and can leverage these apps for future glasses/headsets

Follow @mixed_reality_hub on instagram for updates :)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)