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Google's AR plans have changed over the years, from the standalone Project Tango to modern web-based efforts. But it's the AR-based Measure app that's the subject of today's eulogy. The app leveraged your camera on ARCore-supported devices to (as the name suggests) measure the dimensions of stuff, and now it's being retired. Google has suspended both support and updates for Measure.
The excitement around augmented reality apps may have calmed down a bit, but Google's Measure app is still getting some of the attention it deserves. The latest update adds some nice quality of life enhancements while taking measurements, including a new animation to help with spotting surfaces and an upgrade to the automatic unit conversions. The changes might be simple and subtle, but they could really help out in a pinch.
Augmented Reality can serve many purposes: It can help you find your way easily or immerse yourself in Harry Potter's world. Another use for AR is to measure objects around you by simply pointing your phone at them. Google has already developed an AR-based ruler app, which needs to detect flat surfaces to estimate their size. While the concept is appealing, the software is approximate and often fails to identify objects you want to measure. As usual, Samsung wanted to build its own application, which seems to be more accurate than Google's. This makes sense, though, as the Korean company's app uses a time of flight sensor for its calculations. The only drawback here is that out of all current Samsung phones, only the Galaxy S10 5G has a such a sensor, making the app exclusive to the device, at least for the time being.
Google's Measure now works on vertical surfaces, lets you easily copy the measurement [APK Download]
Google's Measure app is a very neat augmented reality tool that can take measurements of surfaces without a ruler or tape or anything beside your smartphone. However, since its launch, the app was only able to detect horizontal surfaces, but that's changing now.
Google Measure, an app that — get this — lets you measure things, debuted in 2016 as a Tango exclusive. But with advances in augmented reality tech in more mainstream handsets, a lot of things only Tango could do are trickling down to devices regular people use. That includes Measure, which is now compatible with ARCore devices.
Good light meters are expensive. The other problem with light meters is that they're often clunky and outdated in appearance. Pricey and ugly as they may be, they're a hugely convenient tool for photographers looking to get their exposures right the first time.