Google introduces Augmented Reality kit ARCore for Android devices

With Augmented Reality technology advancing significantly over the past few years, many tech companies are now getting into building a suitable platform that will further deliver the most seamless AR experience for the users.

As such, Google has reportedly launched its own augmented reality kit for developers, called ARCore. The kit is released for a limited preview and is basically a lighter version of the company's Tango platform. Interestingly, the new kit is more accessible and does not require any specialized hardware to run.

However, with this launch, Google might be trying to compete with Apple who has already introduced the ARKit for developers and is even scheduled to launch a standalone hardware which will complement the technology.

While it is pretty much obvious where Google is heading to, ARCore is very similar to Apple's Arkit which helps developers to build games and apps which superimpose virtual things on real environments as the backdrop. Interestingly, ARCore will also help track motion, understand flat surfaces, and a lot more.

The SDK will be supported by Android 7.0 Nougat and its recently announced successor Android Oreo. Basically, the setup will work on smartphones like Google Pixel and the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus more efficiently. According to The Verge, Google is planning the official launch of its tool this December when it will support close to 100 million devices.

However, as for us, we are hoping that ARCore will make a bigger impact than Tango which the company has been working on for three years now. The company did launch specialized smartphones with Lenovo and Asus but the products received little consumer interest and "mainstream appeal".

In a similar context, Clay Bavor, Head of Augmented and Virtual reality while talking to The Verge said, "Our approach with Tango was to un-constrain ourselves." "That really let us learn a lot, figure out what the use cases are, and push forward the technology - out ahead of what would have been possible with standard smartphone hardware." He also added that since the project Tango went live, Google has been understanding the "key pieces" and have been adapting them for normal phones without Tango's two extra cameras.

The words from the executive seem pretty assuring and it looks like Google is now looking at ARCore as a best possible solution for consumers that are interested in augmented reality. We might be saying goodbye to Tango-powered devices as Google sees ARCore is more suitable for a wide release. Moreover, it seems that Google wants to make AR easily accessible.

Meanwhile, Google has not revealed any plans for a standalone ARCore supported device. It will be interesting to see the future developments in this case.