iPad Proves 3D Experience is not Just About Depth

kode80 has announced the release and immediate availability of HoloToy 1.06, the sixth update to its no-glasses 3D motion tracking technology app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This update introduces a brand new customizable game Projection Puzzle that demonstrates why true 3D should move with you.

With this years E3 out of the way it is now clear that 3D technology is here to stay. All the major players have introduced 3D products with the most impressive of them not requiring 3D glasses. Long before any of these announcements, one man has been providing users of Apple's iOS devices with no-glasses 3D in the form of a simple app download. HoloToy is a one of a kind mobile application that transforms the flat tablet like iOS devices into a virtual space that can be manipulated as a physical object. Within the virtual space of HoloToy live many different games and interactive toys which expand on and experiment with this concept.

In this latest update a new game has been added that provides the user with a virtual projector, creating a unique puzzle that could only be achieved with HoloToy. Images are projected into the HoloRoom and must be reconstructed by viewing from the correct angle. Playing with perspective is what HoloToy is all about and users can not only play through the included puzzles but also create their own using photos from their photo roll.


Ben Hopkins, founder of kode80 LLC and creator of HoloToy had this to say; "a lot of people are skeptical of the current 3D trend and personally I can see why, it's essentially just an effect on top of existing experiences. I see HoloToy more as augmented reality, a bridge between the physical world and the virtual. Included games such as Projection Puzzle and HoloBall require the user to treat their device and the virtual space as one and the same, something that is simply not possible with the mainstream approach to 3D. With each update I am exploring the new possibilities for interaction and game design that this brings".

The hologram-like HoloToy technology is inspired in part by a perspective trick that can be dated back to the 15th century. HoloToy works by distorting the 3D scenes displayed on screen in a way our brains would expect based on the current angle of the device, doing this in real time presents a believable interactive 3D experience that appears to extend right into the device itself. HoloToy is a universal app so will run on all iOS devices and will take advantage of the the iPhone 4's new capabilities once released.

Pricing and Availability:
HoloToy 1.06 is only $0.99 (USD) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Entertainment category.

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