14 DAY TRIAL // One of world's first AR (Augmented Reality) applications for Android devices, Wikitude Drive has just been introduced in U.S.A., Canada and Mexico.
The multi-awarded application was initially launched in Europe earlier this year, but now it is set to revolutionize how North Americans navigate.
Wikitude Drive is an innovative application that works by overlaying the desired navigation route onto the camera view of the mobile device.
Thanks to the new technology, navigation becomes much safer as drivers do not need to take their eyes off the road because the application is part of the road.
In addition, the application allows users to voice control some of its features, and provides them with POI (points of interest) such as gas stations, hotels and restaurants.
“Wikitude Drive revolutionizes mobile navigation. Instead of using a digital map, the driver simply needs to follow a line projected onto his camera view. It all happens in real time,” said Martin Herdina, CEO of Wikitude.
The application comes with two pre-defined modes, Night Mode and Day Mode, which are switching automatically when day becomes night and vice-versa.
“In addition, Wikitude Drive proves to be a road safety milestone because the driver’s view never leaves the road,” added Herdina.
Other interesting highlights of the application include:
- Road Options: Fastest Road/Shortest Road/Avoid Toll Roads/Avoid; - AR Cam View can be aligned based on position; - Birds View; - Very fast auto-complete Address and POI Search; - Millions of Wikitude Points of Interest; - Pedestrian Mode; - Integrates with Contacts; - Metric and Imperial distances; - Change transparency of AR information; - Save Home Address and history; - Widget for fast access of Wikitude Drive.
To celebrate the launch of the application in U.S.A., Canada and Mexico, Wikitude GmbH is offering 2,011 free copies of Wikitude Drive, which can well be used for 30 days.
Wikitude Drive is available for download from Android Market for $9.99 and is compatible with Nexus One, Samsung Galaxy S, HTC Desire, Sony Ericsson X8, Sony Ericsson X10 and Samsung Galaxy Tab.
Although the application is officially supported by a select number of Android devices mentioned above, other smartphone might as well be compatible with the application.
