Growing up, I was told that hard work could get me anything I wanted. But with Apple's Image Playground, I can create almost any illustration or drawing imaginable just by typing or selecting a suggestion. This groundbreaking feature in Apple Intelligence lets you generate images from simple prompts ...more
Scary costumes are the only way to go for Halloween, but instead of shelling out upwards of 150 bucks this year for some store-bought outfit, save your cash for things like candy and create your own costume on the cheap. The Tale of Slender ManRemember the Slender Man? The mysterious tall 'slender' ...more
If you're dressing up as someone iconic for Halloween, having the right voice can make or break your costume. Think about it—having a Darth Vader lookalike walk up to you and start talking like Alvin the Chipmunk would probably ruin the effect (and possibly be a little creepy). Want to make your cos ...more
Halloween night for most people with kids means tons of candy. That translates into tons of trash from candy wrappers. But even though you probably wouldn't think it, there's no shortage of alternative uses for those wrappers, from clothing and accessories to home decor. This year, get creative inst ...more
Becoming someone else for Halloween is a lot of fun, but it can take a ton of tools to accomplish. An elaborate costume can require you to slather yourself in all kinds of makeup, paints, and glues, and putting it on is only half the work. The real fun starts when the party's over, and you have to r ...more
Whether you need to create realistic-looking bruises for a Halloween photo or need to look beaten up for a film project you're completing, sometimes you just need to add a few brown and purple spots to your face. Check out this Photoshop tutorial to learn how to retouch yourself with bruises, swelli ...more
Ryuk, the popular anime death god character from Death Note, has instilled fear into many. Just from the live-action movie version, his horror penetrates through the screen. I mean, c'mon, just look at this horrifying beast: Death Note (2006) – Warner Bros. Pictures As horrifying as Ryuk may be, he ...more
With a November 2013 release, Disney's Frozen just missed Halloween. That means that everyone had to wait an entire year to dress up as their favorite princess or snowman — and that time has finally come. One costume that's sure to be a hit is Olaf, childhood snowman of Princess Anna and Elsa brough ...more
If you're looking for a last minute way to transform yourself into a zombie, take a look at this guide on a quick and easy DIY zombie costume. You should be able to make this with things you already have at your house. You'll only need 30 minutes or so to get ready for the Halloween party. ...more
Need a fun getup for Earth Day, or want to make an inexpensive but highly fashionable costume piece for Halloween? Then you've stumbled upon the right video. Follow along to learn how to make a super cute bohemian/hippie headband. You can adorn yours with whatever flowers and colors you want. ...more
One of the only things I remember from watching Nickelodeon as a kid is the epic green slime. Looking back, I don't know what was so great about it, but every kid my age thought that being drenched in slime would be the coolest thing on earth. GiphyOf course, the first thing I did was beg my parents ...more
With the tagline "More Than Meets the Eye," the Transformers franchise was pretty much preordained to have its own augmented reality game, and AR gaming pioneer Niantic has stepped up to fulfill that destiny. Niantic will now join forces with toymakers Hasbro and Tomy and development studio Very Ver ...more
Having found success in video games and a hugely popular Netflix series, The Witcher franchise is now on the hunt for the coin Pokémon GO has earned in location-based augented reality mobile games. Developer Spokko, a subsidiary of CD Projekt Red (the developer behind the console/PC games), has open ...more
If you've been using an iPhone for years, chances are you have thousands of photos and videos in your Photos app. And while it may be fun to browse them when you have free time, finding a specific one can be a chore if you're not searching your gallery right. There's a powerhouse search utility for ...more
Two of the three entities behind Pokemon GO, the reigning champion in mobile augmented reality gaming, are joining forces again to see if lightning can strike more than once. This week, AR developer Niantic and gaming giant Nintendo announced a partnership that will see a series of mobile games buil ...more
The Lens Studio app has become a cornerstone of Snap and its augmented reality technology portfolio by giving developers, creatives, and novices the ability to create augmented reality camera effects for Snapchat. One reason for this is Snap's steady and frequent iteration of the platform's capabili ...more
Apple's two iCloud storage plans have made it easier than ever to free up space on your iPhone to take more pictures, play more mobile games, and download more music. The plan prices range from $0.99 to $9.99, which isn't bad, but not everyone wants to pay for storage. So deleting items becomes a gr ...more
While most established media brands are satisfied with copying Pokémon GO to jump into augmented reality gaming, at least one property is taking a slightly different approach. Launched this week, Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up is a mobile game fitting into the life simulation genre that appoints p ...more
Amazon has joined the ranks of film and TV studios using the power of augmented reality to engage fans looking to go behind passive screen viewing. To that end, Amazon has quietly launched the Amazon AR Player app. Don't Miss: Snapchat Gives John Wick Fans the Tools to Build Their Own AR Effects via ...more
The developer who gained notoriety for his What Disney Are You? augmented reality filter on Instagram is striking again while the iron is hot. This time around, content creator Arno Partissimo has brewed up a version of the filter for Harry Potter fans via Spark AR, Facebook's platform for augmented ...more
Snapchat parent company Snap credits its popular augmented reality experiences and its flourishing Lens Studio creator community to its user growth throughout the year. So it makes sense that the company would add some new tools to Lens Studio as 2019 enters the home stretch into 2020. Released this ...more
Have you ever wondered what new Halloween nursery rhymes exist?We have the answer to this question for you!Here are some of them: Fly Around the Pumpkin Planet | NEW Halloween Song | Best Round Dance Song | Nursery Rhymes Songs Fly around the Pumpkin Planet. On the eve of Halloween, KidsTV offers it ...more
Halloween is barely in the rearview mirror, but Coca-Cola is ready to bypass Thanksgiving altogether to accelerate the arrival of Christmas, and the brand has enlisted augmented reality as an accomplice. On Tuesday, the company introduced its holiday packaging for its Coca-Cola products featuring it ...more
Halloween may be finished, but the augmented reality chills are not over yet for some people. Arachnophobes are bravely facing their fears by cozying up to augmented reality spiders for a university study. Wayne State University's Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic (STARC) has been using th ...more
Facebook recently hit a snag in its quest to take augmented reality face effects to its millions of users. After a media firestorm over a new plastic surgery filter called "FixMe," provoked by concerns from mental health charities, Facebook has decided to ban plastic surgery filters across its Spark ...more
The original iterations of the Terminator film franchise have served as the inspiration (via the heads-up display of the T-800) for future augmented reality dreams, so it is fitting that the current crop of AR gives the latest installment in the series a promotional boost. With Terminator: Dark Fate ...more
Homemade Halloween costumes that exhibit the maker's creativity are always better than off-the-shelf versions. It turns out that the same is true with virtual costumers. In the spirit of the season, Snapchat is featuring six augmented reality costumes, created by its Lens Studio community, available ...more
Magic Leap's legal battle against Nreal has taken an intriguing turn this week, as Magic Leap set a date to discuss the matter with Nreal. But a new partnership struck by Nreal adds another wrinkle to the duel between the two AR wearable makers. Meanwhile, Magic Leap, YouTube, and Target are bringin ...more
What if you could combine the fun of Halloween with the process of learning? Well, if you were wise enough to have already snagged a Magic Leap One device, we have good news: the app you're looking for is here, and it's called Zombie Math. Don't Miss: Magic Leap Lawsuit vs. Nreal Takes Major Step Fo ...more
The Halloween season is the perfect time for telling scary stories, but augmented reality is here to bring the tradition of frightening children to the modern age. On Thursday, app developer Within released "Willowcrest Manor," the sixth story for its Wonderscope mobile AR app for iPhones and iPads ...more
It takes confidence and guts to pull off attractive and yet adequately frightening Halloween makeup as an adult. But rest assured, Perfect Corp's makeup try-on app YouCam has published a new face filter that it crowns the "spookiest, most glam and ghoulish" of all the makeup looks. Don't Miss: Disne ...more
Need to look like a rotting, decaying zombie corpse for Halloween? Rather than bribing your special effects makeup artist friend to treat you one for the night, you can definitely DIY a couple of good Halloween makeup effects using common household items in your pantry or medicine cabinet. You could ...more
Let's face It ... Pennywise is going to be the Halloween costume to beat this year. It's terrifying, simple enough to pull off, and with the original movie's gargantuan box office gross and the hit status of the sequel, released in September, everyone and their pet dog will get your costume. Conside ...more
Big-box retailer Target has been on a bit of an augmented reality advertising shopping spree via Snapchat lately. The latest example, revealed on Tuesday, comes via a pair of Halloween-themed experiences, available in the camera carousel in Snapchat. Don't Miss: Snapchat Is Helping the Music Industr ...more
This year for Halloween, don't just settle for the normal cutesy pumpkin carvings — make these creepily charred and contorted miniature jack-o'-lanterns instead. Not only do these mini pumpkins look more menacing than your standard Halloween pumpkin, but they're dried out so they will last all seaso ...more
I loved my Lite-Brite as a kid. There was just something about using those little multicolored pegs to make my own designs, and it's not exactly a secret that kids love anything that lights up (LED sneakers, anyone?). So how do you combine the old-school fun of Lite-Brite with pumpkin carving? With ...more
Pumpkin carving and decorating is a favorite October pastime. After you've carved an amazing design or face into a pumpkin or two, you want to show it off through your window or set it out on your porch for the neighbors to see. But, without knowing the tricks to save your holiday pumpkins, they can ...more
Dark mode themes for mobile apps are all the rage these days, but YouTube is taking that a bit literally with its latest augmented reality experience. On Monday, to promote the release of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, which debuts in US theaters on Friday, Disney released a virtual makeup try-on exp ...more
Whether you loved or hated the blockbuster hit Joker for its slapdash violence and unflattering portrayal of mental illness, if you have been online lately, you know you can't afford to miss it. If you are in the former camp, you can now show your appreciation using a new filter launched within Face ...more
We've got almost a full year until the next installment of Ghostbusters arrives, but in the meantime, it turns out that Sony is about to launch an augmented reality experience that will let fans use immersive computing to combat the franchise's whimsical apparitions. Starting this Saturday, fans who ...more
When it comes to platform games on mobile, endless runners are some of the hardest to play since they can go on seemingly forever. There's always room for improvement since your goal is to beat your previous score (or someone else's high score). But which endless running games are worth your time? B ...more
Can lightning strike twice? Niantic is betting that it can with its latest augmented reality game based on the best-selling multimedia franchise Harry Potter. If the developer's name is unfamiliar, then perhaps Ingress, the company's first mobile game, which not only earned a cult following but also ...more
While a release date for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite has not yet materialized, co-developers Niantic and WB Games have finally released gameplay footage and an in-depth game description to whet the appetites of eager Harry Potter fans. In addition to the reveal of gameplay footage, Harry Potter fans ...more
Find a creative Pumpkin for Halloween. ...more
Apple just released the first version of the iOS 12.1.2 beta to developers on Monday, Dec. 10. The update arrives mere days after the Cupertino-based company seeded the official version of iOS 12.1.1 to the public, itself of which had been in beta development since Halloween. Right now, it doesn't s ...more
Augmented reality gaming company Niantic Labs is now instigating conflicts between Pokémon GO players, but it's not as bad as it sounds. On Wednesday, Niantic began rolling out the new Trainer Battles player versus player fight mode, starting first with players level 40 and above. Now, the rollout i ...more
Apple released the latest update for iPhones, iOS 12.1.1, on Wednesday, Dec. 5. It introduces a few new features to iOS 12 as a whole. The software has been in beta testing since Halloween of this year, spending just over one month in the hands of beta testers. Chief among the new features is Haptic ...more
While a new museum to house the original torch of the Statue of Liberty is under construction on Liberty Island and scheduled to open in May 2019, New York Times readers can now view the sculpture in their own space through augmented reality. Available in the NY Times mobile app for iOS and Android, ...more
Developers opened their iPhones on Wednesday, Nov. 7, to find an update to the iOS 12.1.1 beta. Apple seeded developers the first 12.1.1 beta on Halloween, marking one week between it and the second beta. It's a quick update turnaround but in line with trends as Apple typically waits at least a week ...more
It looks like the Harry Potter version of Pokémon GO won't appear in 2018 after all, as the company has decided pushed the game's release to 2019. "Get ready for some exciting and fun adventures ahead," the company said in a blog post. "We've been hard at work with our partners at WB Games and can't ...more
One of Apple's most touted (but seldom seen on social media) apps, Clips, got an update on Wednesday. The new update adds to the app's previous movie-inspired environments that use the iPhone's TrueDepth camera system to allow a user to put themselves inside a 360-degree immersive environment while ...more
One of the funniest scenes from the teaser trailer for the Wreck-It Ralph sequel is the basis for the new pre-show augmented reality experience via the Noovie ARCade app. Arriving in theaters on Nov. 21, Ralph Breaks the Internet finds the titular character expanding his digital travels beyond arcad ...more
Our national month-long celebration of all things creepy and crawly comes to a climax on Wednesday with Halloween and will end with Día de Muertos on Friday, so now is the ideal time for the The New York Times to publish a mildly chilling augmented reality story for children. In a special Halloween ...more
You just brought a brand new Pixel 3 from the Google Store, and you insert your SIM card only to find the phone won't recognize it at all. No matter what you do, the SIM card won't register and your Pixel won't connect to your carrier network. That's what happened to me and several other Pixel 3 own ...more
Because timing is everything, the latest entry in the location-based augmented reality gaming sweepstakes, Ghostbusters World, has arrived just in time for Halloween. Launched Monday on the App Store and the Google Play Store, Ghostbusters World shares its perfect timing with the likes of Jurassic W ...more
Snapchat is joining the ranks of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, and Apple in the trend toward streaming original programming, but with a twist that rings true to its roots. Three of the company's new shows debuted Wednesday in the Stories section of the Snapchat app for iOS and Android. Called Snap ...more
With its recent acquisition of 3D gaming engine PlayCanvas, Snapchat parent Snap, Inc. appears to be preparing a challenge to the existing players in the world of game development, particularly in terms of augmented and virtual reality gaming. The acquisition appears to have taken place last year ba ...more
A report from app data firm Sensor Tower reveals that more than 13 million ARKit apps have been installed on iPhones and iPads within the first six months since the toolkit launched with iOS 11. Among the apps built expressly for ARKit, San Francisco-based Sensor Tower ranks AR Dragon (a virtual pet ...more
After pouring out $10 million for 60 seconds of Super Bowl advertising time, Doritos and Mountain Dew continued their Sunday marketing binge on Snapchat. For their spot during the game, Doritos and Mountain Dew staged a lip-synched rap battle between highly meme-able actors Peter Dinklage (Game of T ...more
The augmented reality industry made great strides in 2017, but its apex is not even in sight. In terms of software, augmented reality is approaching meaningful mainstream awareness, thanks mostly to Apple and ARKit. Meanwhile, on the hardware side, AR is very much in its infancy, with headsets mostl ...more
