Esquire Launches First Augmented Reality Magazine 82
An anonymous reader writes "We've seen augmented reality applications for years (and seen the GE windmill replicated in PopSci), but now Esquire Magazine seems to be trying to show off the undying value of print by launching its 'AR issue' — which, from the demo video, looks pretty cool. Applications include a 3D cover with Robert Downey Jr., a weather-changing fashion portfolio with The Hurt Locker's Jeremy Renner, a time-sensitive Funny Joke from a Beautiful Woman with Community's Gillian Jacobs, plus a song, a photo slideshow, and a face-recognition ad from Lexus. From the behind-the-scenes geekery: 'Advancements to further involve the user were happening even as we produced this issue, and while motion-sensor recognition already exists, so-called "natural-feature tracking" technology could soon put you inside AR without any googly-looking [note: not in the Google sense] boxes at all.'" Enjoying Esquire's AR issue requires downloading software — Windows and Mac only.
Re:But it's still clunky and silly (Score:1, Informative)
Exactly. Nothing to see here. It's the same stuff I saw done on CDs for music/artsy stuff back in the late 90's. It's just Web 2.0 now. Plus, using bar codes to go to a web site? Can you say CueCat?
The only good thing is that Esquire is at least trying new things.
Re:Bah (Score:3, Informative)
I belong to that cross section. Either I'm non-existent or your post has to be modded as flamebait or troll.
Whatever the case, Esquire made a mistake not using a technology that could be ported easily to any platform (Java?)