Apple announces that iOS 11.3 will be rolled out to users starting today. The update includes version 1.5 of ARKit, which supports 2D image recognition and can now also use vertical surfaces such as walls and doors as a reference layer for digital extensions. iPhone X owners can also look forward to four new Animojis.
Augmented Reality: iOS 11.3 is rolled out, brings ARKit 1.5 and new Emoji
On Twitter, developers show first demos of Apple’s new Augmented Reality function. The following video shows that ARKit 1.5 now also recognizes spherical surfaces and walls and no longer only rectangular, horizontal surfaces.
Two more videos show the image recognition in use. ARKit 1.5 is included in iOS 11.3 and is expected to be released in March.
Original article dated 24 January 2018:
iOS 11.3 will be released in the spring of 2018. iOS 11.3 features a wholly improved ARKit and new Animojis.
With the update comes version 1.5 of ARKit. The AR platform no longer only recognizes floors, tables, and chairs, but also vertical surfaces such as walls and doors. Google’s ARCore has no equivalent function yet.
The Verge visited Apple to test the new feature. The tech magazine describes an AR demo in which balls were thrown against a virtual board on a wall and stuck to it.
Another new feature of ARKit 1.5 is 2D image recognition. The software can now identify signs, posters, and works of art. Information about the object can then be displayed, brought to life by animations or interactive elements can be activated.
The Verge tested an application that recognized an image of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, which triggered a virtual tour of the space module.
2,000 apps benefit from ARKit
The standard functions of ARKit have also been improved. The image on the smartphone display is now twice as high at 1080p and supports autofocus, making the image sharper. Also, more surfaces such as roundtables are better recognized by the software.
According to Apple, since the launch of the ARKit in September 2017, 2000 AR apps have been released or enhanced with ARKit functionality. According to App Store analysts, there were only 825 apps by the end of 2017. As a result, the number of published AR apps must have risen sharply.
The iOS update also brings new animojis for iPhone X owners. The previous twelve Animojis are joined by a lion, a bear, a dragon and a skull. What users do with Animojis can be seen here.
Developers can already experiment with ioS 11.3; the open beta test will start soon. The update will be rolled out to regular users during the spring. The other new features of iOS 11.3 can be found in Apple’s press release.