Augmented Reality, or simply AR, has come a long way from what looked more like fiction into something that we can actually play with in our day-to-day lives. Perhaps the constantly reducing cost of developing AR is at the heart of this growth and desire to know more about AR.
Nonetheless, the fact that we can now enjoy AR on a mobile phone is not only testament to where this technology has come from, but also where it’s headed. With ARCore, Google is giving developers a platform they can use to build AR-capable apps for your phones.
ARCore is Google’s platform for building augmented reality experiences. Using different APIs, ARCore enables your phone to sense its environment, understand the world and interact with information. Some of the APIs are available across Android and iOS to enable shared AR experiences.
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In the early days of ARCore, only a handful of devices were compatible with the platform. This wasn’t unusual in any case considering the strict certification protocol set by Google that devices must go through before receiving ARCore certification.
Certification is important because we want users to have a good experience with your AR application. This is primarily related to sensitive motion tracking, which is done by combining the camera image and the motion sensor input to determine how the user’s device moves through the real world.
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Google is quick to note that it subjects devices to rigorous testing to determine how good their CPUs, sensors, and cameras are. These are the basic requirements for any device to support seamless AR experiences.
Once a device passes the test, Google adds it to the list of other ARCore-certified devices that it maintains and updates regularly. A quick look at this list, though, reveals that Xiaomi Mi 9T has yet to make the cut.
Sure, it is understandable that Xiaomi Mi 9T isn’t on this list given that the device only came to life this June 2019. The fact that Google has to test it before approving it also means the whole process may take some time.
As you wait for Google’s confirmation, you’ll be glad to learn that Xiaomi Mi 9T actually supports ARCore.
If anyone cares for this: I tested the most recent ARcore apk on APKmirror (com.google.ar.core_1.11.190715106-190715106_minAPI24(arm64-v8a,armeabi-v7a)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk) to sideload on my Mi 9T. I did this before, in those cases I always got a blackscreen in Pokémon Go and the app froze. With the version I can fully use it.
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Much to the delight of others, a Redditor using Xiaomi Mi 9T successfully sideloaded the ARCore APK to the device and unlike in the past where the same move would generate a black screen when an AR-based app like Pokemon Go is launched, this time things worked perfectly.
As it stands, we only wait for Google to update its list of ARCore-certified devices to include the Xiaomi Mi 9T. It should happen pretty soon.
GetApps gets a huge update
Elsewhere, Xiaomi is also pushing a new software update to its Google Play Store alternative dubbed GetApps. Formerly known as Mi Apps Store, the Xiaomi-owned app store is being bumped up to version 10.0.0 that is highlighted by a refreshed look, bug fixes, etc.
Below is the full changelog for GetApps v10.0.0:
– Whole new look with whole new details.
– New home page, more personalized for you.
– Click the get button & you’ll get the app.
– Review page is now represented as today.
– Tools — ME, all you need is here.
– New logo.
– Bug fixes
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If for some reason the OTA update for GetApps hasnt arrived on your device yet, Xiaomi says you can open GetApps and type GetApps in the search area and then tap on update. Alternatively, you can grab the APK file for manual installation from the link shared below.
Download link
- Device: Xiaomi
- App: GetApps
- Channel: APK
- Version: 10.0.0
- Download: Link
NOTE: For more Xiaomi-related coverage, you can check out this page.
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Hillary Keverenge
2095 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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