Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Draw a line on the world around you with Google’s ‘Just a Line’ ARCore app

By

With the release of ARCore 1.0, a slew of new apps featuring Google’s augmented reality technology have been launched to the Google Play Store. But Google isn’t sitting back and letting everyone else have all the fun — it’s launching AR apps of its own as well. Take, for example, an app it calls “Just a Line.”

As the name suggests, the app is simple, but it’s still pretty fun. All you can really do is draw white lines over the top of whatever your phone’s camera can see. It’s very similar to Google’s previous AR app, Tilt Brush, which allows users to paint in 3D space. That app was only available on VR-compatible devices, however, so it’s nowhere near as accessible as Just a Line. In fact, there’s a pretty long list of devices that support Google’s ARCore, including the Google Pixel 2, LG V30, Samsung Galaxy S9, and so on.

Recommended Videos

Google does note that the app is a bit of an experiment.

“Just a Line is an AR Experiment that lets you make simple drawings in augmented reality, then share your creation with a short video,” reads the description for the app. “Touch the screen to draw, then hit record and share what you make with #justaline. Just a Line works on any device that supports ARCore.”

It’s nice to see all these new apps that support ARCore — and quite a few of them have been launched over the past few days. At launch, over 60 apps using ARCore were released to the Google Play Store, including the likes of My Tamagotchi Forever, which allows you to to raise your Tamagotchi characters and populate Tamatown.

Google in particular has been putting a pretty heavy emphasis on augmented reality as of late. The company even announced the Google Maps API, which allows developers to turn the real world into augmented reality apps — similar to Pokémon Go. The fact that developers can build on the already-established Maps infrastructure makes for a much more detailed game. This also means that developers can focus on other aspects of the app, rather than having to focus on the mapping aspect, which Google handles.

It’s likely Google will continue to release ARCore-based apps, and it will be interesting to see what those apps look like.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper
Contributor
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
Google just launched a new Pixel Tablet … kind of
The Google Pixel Tablet sitting outside with its screen on.

With the excitement of the Google Pixel 8a launch, it might have passed a little unnoticed that Google also launched a new Pixel Tablet — though not exactly. For one thing, the “new” Pixel Tablet is the exact same device as the “old” Pixel Tablet. We mean that literally: same specs, same look, same screen. The only difference with the newly launched Pixel Tablet is that it’ll be sold without its charging/speaker dock, unlike the previous model, which included it.

At $399, the new Pixel Tablet is $100 cheaper than the earlier model, but that’s to be expected — both because it doesn’t come with any hardware refresh and also because it cuts the dock. It's also worth noting that it will not be launched with any new first-party accessories like a keyboard or stylus, which were previously rumored for the tablet.

Read more
The Google Pixel 8a price just leaked. Here’s how much it’ll cost
A photo of someone holding the mint Google Pixel 8a.

And so concludes the saga of Google Pixel 8a leaks, merely days ahead of its expected unveiling at the I/O developers conference. Earlier today, insider @OnLeaks (in collaboration with Smartprix) shared more marketing renders of the upcoming budget phone, complete with its asking price in tow.

It seems Google is going to charge $499 for its next phone, at least the 128GB base storage variant, that is. For the 256GB storage variant, buyers will have to shell out $599. That’s the same asking price as the Google Pixel 7a, which arrived last year and won plaudits for its terrific mix of raw firepower, camera prowess, and feature-loaded Pixel software experience.

Read more
A new Google Pixel Tablet is coming, but it’s not what you think
Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

It's been almost a year since the Google Pixel Tablet went up for preorder, leading many Android tablet fans to wonder when the inevitable Pixel Tablet 2 will arrive. A new rumor suggests that Google could release a new Pixel Tablet as early as next month, but it's probably not what you were expecting or hoping for.

According to @MysteryLupin on X (formerly Twitter), Google is planning to "relaunch" the Pixel Tablet without the charging/speaker dock included in the box. As you'll likely recall, the speaker dock is the Pixel Tablet's standout feature. You can use the Pixel Tablet on its own as a traditional Android tablet when you want, and when you're done, you throw it on the dock to transform it into a smart display. The idea of Google selling the Pixel Tablet without its claim to fame is an interesting one.

Read more