Last week, Google “killed” Tango and announced a new augmented reality called ARCore. Tango relied on physical hardware to work, but ARCore can work on most phones without special equipment. The first preview app for ARCore is now available to try out if you have a compatible phone.
The app is called Atom Visualizer. As you might expect, it allows you to visualize atoms in 3D space. You can place floating 3D models of any atom from the periodic table in your environment. Move your phone around to view it from all angles like a real object.
Right now, this app only works on the Pixel, Pixel XL, and Samsung Galaxy S8. All you have to do is install the ARCore services APK and the Atom Visualizer app from the Play Store. This is just a demo, so don’t expect your socks to be blown off, but it shows the potential for ARCore.