iOS 11: Why developers are embracing Apple’s ARKit

“With hundreds of millions of iOS 11 devices now capable of running AR apps, Apple has created huge opportunity, but there just aren’t enough skilled developers,” Jonny Evans writes for Computerworld. “Udacity and Unity plan to help.”

“Udacity and Unity have introduced two new training schemes to help develop new generations of AR developer,” Evans writes. “That’s important, given some analysts expect the VR/AR industry to be worth around $108 billion by 2021.”

“You see, while the mass market focus is on gaming applications, the truth is that industries, including healthcare, education, entertainment, real estate, and automotive, can use AR to ‘fundamentally change’ their relationships with their customers,” Evans writes. “The challenge? Developers, developers, developers, of course — and victory for AR across the next couple of years will be defined by market share and by which platform on which developers choose to focus their initial efforts. With an immediate potential audience of 400 million iOS users (and beyond), I imagine most developers will focus on ARKit above other platforms.”

Read more in the full article here.

“On Wednesday, at Unity’s Unite developer conference in Austin, Udacity announced its new Learn ARKit program to teach developers how to build augmented reality (AR) apps for Apple’s ARKit,” Conner Forrest reports for TechRepublic. “The one-month long program will cost $200, and will teach students how to build the apps using either Unity or Swift.”

“One of the specialized skills that users will learn in the project-based program is an understanding of visual inertial odometry, which helps determine position and orientation based on images,” Forrest reports. “Students will also learn many of the other foundational computer vision mechanisms that support ARKit.”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Smart developers will focus on iOS, as usual, and ARKit because smart developers follow the money.

Now, we’ll be partaking in what the interns have already tapped while blasting much Tom Petty music and toasting the American rock master!

SEE ALSO:
iOS 11 ARKit augmented reality apps now appearing at Apple’s App Store – September 18, 2017
Apple ARKit to usher in an intriguing, amazing new world – August 31, 2017
Major developers reveal Apple ARKit apps ahead of iOS 11 release – August 29, 2017
Apple working on several prototypes of AR glasses – August 4, 2017
Apple’s next big move: Augmented reality – August 3, 2017
Apple’s rumored new glasses will be an even bigger deal than the iPhone – July 28, 2017
Apple smart glasses are inevitable – July 28, 2017
New app using Apple’s ARKit lets iPhone recreate 16 weeks of painstaking rotoscoping on the fly – July 27, 2017
Gene Munster: Apple Glasses will soon outshine the iPhone – June 28, 2017
Gene Munster: Expect Apple smart glasses in mid-2020 – June 27, 2017
Augmented Reality: Apple’s revolutionary offering leaves Google’s Android woefully behind – June 26, 2017
Apple’s AR is much closer to reality than Google’s – June 26, 2017
UBS: Apple may eventually launch ‘iGlass’ smart glasses – June 20, 2017
IKEA’s forthcoming Augmented Reality furniture app powered by Apple’s ARKit – June 19, 2017
Apple’s single most important WWDC 2017 announcement: ARKit – June 11, 2017
Apple CEO Cook discusses philosophy behind HomePod, ARKit’s potential market impact – June 6, 2017
Overnight, Apple will own the world’s largest augmented reality platform – June 7, 2017
Analysts: Apple’s Corning investment hints at AR glasses and wireless charging tech – May 14, 2017
Apple awards Corning $200 million in first Advanced Manufacturing Fund investment – May 12, 2017
Leaked document details Apple employee eye injuries, hints at Apple AR glasses – April 20, 2017
Apple began working on augmented reality glasses more than a year ago, sources say – March 27, 2017

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Dan K.” for the heads up.]