“‘We knew that our GPS games would be focused on areas with the largest density of iPhone users in order to capture the greatest possible market,’ reports James Kane, creative producer at Bulpadok, which developed a location-based iPhone game called The Hidden Park,” Mollman reports. “The family-oriented game superimposes cartoonish characters over a city park. You can’t see the characters in real life, but if you look at the park through your iPhone screen, you’ll find them hanging out in particular spots.”
Mollman reports, “It’s one of many augmented reality games and apps for cities. The game, like a lot of new city-centric mobile apps, takes advantage of the iPhone’s A-GPS and other location-oriented features, like a built-in compass… For instance an upcoming app called Worksnug will allow users to see reviews of Net cafes they’re pointing their iPhone screen at, describing the kind of wi-fi access, noise levels, and coffee quality they’d find inside.”
“City governments are getting in on the action, too, encouraging new apps and services by opening data and application program interfaces (APIs) for developers. New Yorkers can get government tweets on their phones that update them on, for instance, holiday parking regulations,” Mollman reports. “Citizens Connect is an iPhone app designed to let Bostonians snap pics of neighborhood nuisances and email them to the government. Residents can report things like potholes, trash violations and broken street lamps.”
Mollman reports, “Big cities’ tech advantages extend beyond apps. They’re also more likely to host cutting-edge business lounges, Net cafes, connectivity, and other services.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Edward W.” for the heads up.]
Games are good. The economy? Fergeddabowdit. We’ll just play our way to posterity.
It’s ridiculous – how can anyone compete with the iPhone? THEY CAN’T. Microsoft is a dinosaur.
Living in the country beats augmented reality in the city.
qka,
Yeah, but you gotta admit it’s pretty freakin’ cool!
My favorite is SkyGazer… point your iPhone at the sky and see the exact constellations you’re looking at right at that spot. Such a cool use of GPS technology.
tricorder eh?
A friend mentioned to me that she was talking to someone who is from Hungary and is here in the US on a student visa. This person had a never been to a large city in the US and recently visited New York City. He was simply amazed by NY City. Said the building were so tall that you could not see the sky. (True story).
@Scott Rose – SkyGazer wouldn’t be of any use in NYC or other major cities. It shows what constellations you should be able to see if it weren’t for the tall buildings and light pollution.
I’ve got several great apps for NYC. My fave is UpNext 3D NYC. It’s a map of Manhattan, but as you zoom in, it becomes a nicely rendered 3D map, showing EVERY building. There’s info on restaurants (by area, type, etc.), stores, subways, etc.. You can scoot around, highlight a building and see a list of businesses and for some, even the building directory. You can add your own info and upload it to their database. It’s really a lot of fun and much better than most city guides.
I was just in Sofia, Bulgaria and carried Sofia Maps Offline. It’s SO much better than carrying a paper map, because you don’t look quite so much like a tourist… although we Americans stick out like sore thumbs in other countries, which is pretty funny actually.
@Scott Rose … Starmap Pro is great. Supposedly it can even control a telescope! On good night I can see a few dozen stars from my roof in NYC.
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@qka Actually, I prefer the extremes… city AND country… and I’ve lived in both. I grew up in the suburbs, which truly are mind and soul deadening and a scourge on the land!