Greg Hiltons Technology & Skiing blog

Click here to get it. Layar is a free application on your mobile phone which shows what is around you by displaying real time digital information on top of reality through the camera of your mobile phone.

Layar is a global application, available for the T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic and other Android phones in all Android Markets. It also comes pre-installed on the Samsung Galaxy in the Netherlands.

How do you use Layar?
By holding the phone in front of you like a camera, information is displayed on top of the camera display view.

For all points of interest which are displayed on the screen, information is shown at the bottom of the screen.

What do you see in the screen?
On top of the camera image (displaying reality) Layar adds content layers. Layers are the equivalent of webpages in normal browsers. Just like there are thousands of websites there will be thousands of layers. One can easily switch between layers by selecting another via the menu button, pressing the logobar or by swiping your finger across the screen.

Added features of Layar Reality Browser 2.0:
Layar has some cool features which include:

•Unique layer specific icons/markers

•Featured and Popular section
•Search function
•Add layer to favorites
•Map view and list view
•Enhanced AR view
•Accuracy information
•“Take me There” function
•“Share layer” and “screen shot” function in layar 2.1 update

An interesting beta site form HP labs - HP Gabble.  Gabble is the place to interact with the people you know through private video messages. Gabble is a private, web-based service that enables you to have video conversations with others in your social community. All you need to get started is an Internet connection, a web browser and a video camera such as a webcam or mobile phone.