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Samsung Just Gave Us the First Snapchat AR Smartphone, Sort Of

During this week’s unveiling of the new Samsung A Series of smartphones, much of the focus was on the high-end features at a more affordable price as the South Korean tech giant looks to regain its status as the world’s top smartphone maker versus Apple’s iPhone. But buried in the range of features mentioned in the new Samsung A Series was a surprising and very big feature addition: native Snapchat augmented reality lenses. • Don’t Miss: This Atari 3D Sneaker NFT Auction Is Using Snapchat to Let You Try Before You Buy on the Blockchain The line-up, which includes the Galaxy A52, A52 5G, and… more

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Facebook Plans to Enhance Hand Gestures for Future AR Smartglasses with Wristband That Can Read Nerve Signals

While Apple has been rather secretive about its work on AR wearables (despite the abundance of leaks revealing details about their unannounced devices), Facebook has been rather chatty about its plans for smartglasses. The company’s latest missive on its AR wearables development focuses not on the smartglasses but on a peripheral that would improve gesture recognition for virtual interfaces. Don’t Miss: Why Facebook Co-Founder’s Call for a Breakup Is Focused on the Wrong Target — AR Is Zuckerberg’s Next Big Data Bonanza On Thursday, Facebook Reality Labs published a preview of the progress… more

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This Atari 3D Sneaker NFT Auction Is Using Snapchat to Let You Try Before You Buy on the Blockchain

When you’re talking about collectibles, in 2021 it’s heresy not to include the world of sneakerheads. Nowadays, a single, limited batch of newly designed sneakers from Nike can quickly sell out and then go on to be resold for many thousands more than they were purchased for at launch. Predictably, the sneakerhead world is now converging with the hot new world of NFT (non-fungible tokens) auctions. One of the most recent and prominent auctions comes in the form of a concept Atari sneaker that looks like something out of a retro science fiction film. • Don’t Miss: Looking Glass Teams with… more

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Pizza Hut Delivery Now Comes with Slice of ’80s Gaming via Pac-Man in AR

What is old is new again. In this case, a classic arcade game gets the augmented reality treatment. In a new promotion playing off its ad campaign featuring actor Craig Robinson (The Office, Hot Tub Time Machine), Pizza Hut has turned its pizza boxes into a virtual Pac-Man game via web-based AR technology. Don’t Miss: How to Play Classic Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation & Atari Games on Your iPhone Now, customers who order a large Tastemaker from the pizza chain between March 15 and 26 (or while supplies last) will receive a specially-marked box that includes a QR code that leads to the Pizza… more

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Augmented Reality Masks from MF Doom Auctioned as NFTs Fetch $1.6 Million

The hype surrounding non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has reached astronomical levels over the past few weeks, and now the technology has intersected with augmented reality’s orbit in a fantastic way. NFT marketplace Illust Space is conducting a crypto auction featuring limited AR masks autographed by hip-hop legend MF Doom. Don’t Miss: Looking Glass Teams with Reggie Watts to Auction Holographic NFT Art, Paving Way for Popularizing AR Art You Can Hold The mysterious rapper passed away on Oct. 31, 2020, though his death was not revealed until Dec. 31, when his wife, Jasmine, announced it on… more

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Market Reality: Reggie Watts & Looking Glass NFT Auction, Sketchfab Courts Google Poly Users & Apple Smartglass Rumors

The augmented reality industry has grown steadily over the past four years, but now it is on a collision course with uber-popular non-fungible tokens technology, with Looking Glass and music artist Reggie Watts among the latest to strike while the iron is hot. Meanwhile, Sketchfab is looking to capitalize on the opportunity to bring users of Google’s sunsetting Poly 3D content platform to its own similar service. Elsewhere, Snapchat and 8th Wall serve as examples of how organizations can use augmented reality for very different promotional purposes. Finally, the slow burn towards Apple’s AR… more

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Google Arts & Culture Drops AR Synth Exhibit That You Can Play

Museum curators typically frown upon visitors touching paintings, sculptures, and artifacts, but not when those exhibits are displayed in augmented reality. The latest AR exhibit from Google Arts & Culture not only lets you virtually touch the displays but also make your own audio art. Don’t Miss: Google Arts & Culture App Lets You Turn Your Home into an AR Museum Featuring the Works of Vermeer The AR Synth web-based AR experience anchors replicas of up to five electronic music machines in your space simultaneously. Each virtual instrument includes a sequencer interface where you can add… more

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AR Snapshots: Your Cats & Dogs Can Join in Your AR Antics with These Pet-Friendly Snapchat Lenses

The face tracking of cats and dogs are probably my favorite AR innovations that have come to Snapchat Lenses over the past few years. What can I say, I enjoy taking photos and videos of my shorkie Lucy and my cat Dorian with goofy effects anchored on their cute little mugs. So, this week, we’re highlighting five AR experiences you can share with your own furry friends, so I can get Lucy and Dorian some work. (Unfortunately, Dorian conveniently slept through most of the…Snapshoot.) Two notes before we jump in: First, any of these Lenses work with a cat or a dog, regardless of its title… more

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USA Today Teams Up with 8th Wall to Launch AR Basketball Game for March Madness

Just as the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is set to start later this month, USA Today has decided to trot out an augmented reality mini-basketball game to promote its bracket competition. And while USA Today is prolific publisher of AR news content through its own app, this time, the media outlet took an assist from 8th Wall’s web-based AR platform for this particular AR experience. Don’t Miss: 7-Eleven Delivers Assist to BodyArmor Drink with Augmented Reality Promotion for NCAA Basketball Tournament Couchketball, which was built on the 8th Wall Web platform, takes place in the camera… more

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Looking Glass Teams with Reggie Watts to Auction Holographic NFT Art, Paving Way for Popularizing AR Art You Can Hold

The moment many of the crypto savvy insiders in augmented reality and VR have been waiting for is here: we’re finally getting our first big auction of NFT art that exists purely as a hologram. This week, an auction will be held to sell off a unique 3D presentation, accompanied by music, developed by none other than AR and VR enthusiast, and music star, Reggie Watts. • Don’t Miss: Hands-On with the Looking Glass Pro, An Easy Alternative to AR for Interacting With Virtual Content What makes this particular piece of art unique is that it will be displayed on the Looking Glass Portrait… more