More details of the augmented-reality application supposedly coming in iOS 14 leaked out Monday. This goes under the code-name Gobi, and what’s come to light shows an emphasis on businesses and products, rather than games.
In addition, this leak reveals additional details on how the next iOS version will use AR to help users find lost items.
Augmented reality is all business in iOS 14 Gobi
Josh Constine’s Moving Product claims to have received a number of files from iOS 14, the next version of this operating system expected to debut in the autumn. Included with this was a great deal of material related to Gobi.
Augmented-reality shows computer-generated 3D images superimposed on the real world. And apparently much of what Apple’s AR app will display this way is products. Included in Gobi are QR codes for Apple devices, a Starbucks gift card and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on iTunes. There are also QR codes using a new format.
Apple’s 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off next month, and Gobi could well be previewed there. Such a demonstration could involve an Apple employee using an iPhone or iPad camera to scan one of the QR codes. This would cause a 3D image of the corresponding product to appear on the device’s screen.
Word of Gobi first leaked out back in March.
Find My app goes AR too
Josh Constine’s Moving Product also claims to have found code and audio files related to another rumored feature: the Find My app getting support for AR. There’ll supposedly be audio alerts when the object is “Ahead,” “Nearby,” or within “Arms Reach.”
Apple is expected to use augmented reality to make finding lost items fun. Leaks related to iOS 14 Gobi hint at virtual balloons that could be placed in the real world to pinpoint an item’s location on your iPhone.
The company is allegedly prepping AirTags — small trackers that can be attached to items like keys to help them be located with Find My.
