One of the cool scenarios enabled by Windows Phone 7.5 Mango is augmented reality. The Motion API and direct access the the camera stream enable these scenarios for Windows Phone developers. For more information on these API’s check out the MSDN augmented reality sample here – http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff431744(v=VS.92).aspx
The Motion API gathers data from the device’s compass, accelerometer and gyroscope, but the good news for owners of first generation Windows Phone devices is that a phone only needs to have two of these sensors available (the compass and accelerometer for first gen devices) to enable the Motion API.
I’ve started working on adding augmented reality functionality to some of my apps. Here is a little preview of what is coming in Gratuitous, a combined tip calculator and foursquare client:
andrewlong.com, LLC 
Great demo, man! I love the idea of augmented reality. How easy would it be to add the distance below the name of the restaurant?
thats something i will be adding in. i already have that data. i am also going to size the info box based in the distance to the restaurant.
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Ignore my comment above, I was searching for currency settings an app as screen was displaying dollars, but when I tried app, the results were shown in pounds (it’s only initial screen gives impression that only US dollars are covered.
Is this phone one of the HTC Mazaa WPAppItUp phones?
yes it is an htc mazaa.
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is there anyway I could join the BETA program?
i don’t have the app available as a beta. as mentioned in the video, i hope to have a version of gratuitous available with some of the AR functionality in the marketplace in the next couple of weeks.
hey andrew,
would really love to try out your app. I believe you got your AR code up with the help of my AR tutorial on vimeo. Would love to try it out and feature it on one of my blogs, with your permission. Thanks
Really bloody smart app @Andrew! Just waiting for a vertical slider with Mango before I leave $HPC Palm WebOS…
Wondering aloud what it would take to make this into a browser based app?
wow, this is great dude! thanks! will be fanning out this news to my followers in http://justwithinmyreach.blogspot.com