Mobile Phone Blog:

Augmented reality is becoming a bit of a buzzword these days. From games that let you kill miniature zombies on your coffee table, to real world applications where the phone shows you real time information about your location, overlaid on what it sees from the camera, augmented reality has become a bit of a killer feature on many Android phones. And up until now, it’s only been available on Android phones.

Not any more, though, because according to PocketNow, Windows Mobile has got its first augmented reality app.

I should be noted, though, that I can’t test it out, because for obvious reasons, it only works on phones with a digital compass, like the HTC HD2 or the Samsung Omnia II. The app itself, called “OMPASS World Cities”, works by using a combination of the phone’s camera, GPS and digital compass, to show onscreen info about different world cities, just by pointing them in the rough direction of that city (ooh, I’ve always wondered which direction Minsk is in).

Hmmm, obviously not a lot of use knowing details about Minsk if you’re in London, I would’ve said. That’s where the Pro version of the app comes in, as once you’re in a particular city, it can show you things like theatres, shopping, subway stations and other useful local info. So, once you’re in a city covered by the app itself, it does become a lot more useful, acting as a sort of pocket travel guide, constantly updating itself as you walk round.

Hmmm, when I get my HTC HD2, I may have to give this a try, although I doubt very much whether tiny British villages are listed on there. Still, at least I’ll be able to find where Minsk actually is (assuming Minsk is on there, of course)…

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