Unity MARS Companion app for mobile is now available in beta
The Unity MARS Companion app is available in beta for iOS and Android devices, and we’re looking for beta testers. Be one of the first to try out the new mobile app before it’s released.
What is the Unity MARS Companion app?
The Unity MARS Companion app is the newest component of Unity MARS and is now available on iOS and Android devices.
With the app, you can capture real-world data directly on your device and bring it into the Unity Editor to quickly create and iterate on your AR experience to significantly decrease iteration time and deliver an AR experience that accurately runs in its target environment.
The Unity MARS Companion gives users the power to perform two primary tasks: data capture and in-situ authoring.
-
Data capture: Using the companion app, you can capture room scans, take pictures, and record video with AR data. Once saved to the cloud, this data will sync directly to the Unity Editor, where you can open it using the Unity MARS authoring environment to create a simulated environment that mirrors where your AR experience is intended to run. Now, you’ll have a more true to reality development environment to author your AR content against.
-
In-situ authoring: The companion app also has authoring functionality, that allows you to create content and layout assets directly on your device. And, for example, if a bug occurs because of lighting conditions or a particular room setup, it’s useful to have the actual device data to reproduce and fix the issue.
Both of these tasks involve sending and receiving data to and from the Editor, which is done via cloud storage. This means that users all over the world can work on the same project together, and that the data persists between sessions and is shared between users.
The Unity MARS Companion app is available to Unity MARS users at no additional cost to their existing subscription and includes 10GB of cloud storage per seat. Non-Unity MARS users can also take advantage of the app with limited functionality (see below).
Please note, the app is currently in beta. While this means that content captured or edited with the beta may not be compatible between versions during the beta or with the final release, we’re very interested in hearing your feedback to further refine and improve the product so it fits your needs.
What can I do with the Unity MARS Companion app?
Create and Layout Objects in a Scene
Scan surfaces and author or preview proxies.
Create Environment
Map out an environment by placing corners.
Record Data
Record videos, surface data, and camera paths.
Create Markers
Capture a marker and add hotspots.
Unity MARS user vs. Non-Unity MARS user
Based on your subscription type, you might have different levels of functionality within the app. In the chart below, we explain the differences in these functionalities.
*All changes that have not synced to the cloud will be stored locally and can be re-synced once the user authenticates with a Unity MARS entitlement. If the user logs in with a different username/Unity ID, they will be able to make local changes, but will not be able to sync those changes with projects they do not have access to.
**Unity MARS projects can be synced from the cloud via inputting Project keys or scanning a QR code.
Join the beta today and share your experience with us.
To try out the beta, open this link for iOS or Android* on your mobile device. The steps outlined in our documentation will help familiarize you with the workflows.
*By opting to download Android or iOS versions of the Unity MARS Companion App, you agree to our Privacy Statement
To use the Unity MARS Companion app alongside the Unity MARS authoring environment, we recommend you use Unity MARS 1.2, as well as Unity version 2019.3.0f6 or newer.
As you try out the Unity MARS Companion app, we’d really like to hear about your experience. For product support, troubleshooting problems, sharing projects and feedback, and general discussion about the app, comment in this forum thread or share your feedback in this survey.