The latest issue of Popular Science magazine has a hidden AR marker that works with the metaio application to show you an interactive 3D display of the new Motorola Xoom tables and Google’s Honeycomb (android) 3.0 OS.

“The Popular Science audience always look forward to reading about what`s next, but this month’s cover gives them an opportunity to experience firsthand the new technologies that are changing the future of magazines,” said David Ginsberg, Integrated Account Manager at Popular Science. “metaio’s software has made it possible for us to keep our readers up to date on the top tech trends in a way that’s fun, dynamic and engaging.”

Check out a demo of the experience below, and read the full release after the break.

PRESS RELEASE

Popular Science Reveals Augmented Reality Cover Ad Featuring a 3D Look at the Motorola Xoom

San Francisco/ New York- February 15, 2011- Popular Science magazine has launched its second 3D interactive cover revealing the hotly anticipated Motorola Xoom tablet and Google`s Honeycomb 3.0 operating system.

Popular Science broke virtual ground last year as the first magazine to launch a 3D interactive cover.

By simply holding the March issue cover, on newsstands today, up to a Web camera, iPhone or smartphone, users will be able to virtually preview the Xoom and discover its features and benefits by aiming the magazine at specific logos. By moving the tablet icons back and forth on the corners of the screen users will be able to interact with the device’s 3D Google Maps app and YouTube interface.

PopSci.com readers can experience the augmented reality cover at www.popsci.com/grabit.

To enable the March cover, Popular Science utilized software specially developed by Munich/San Francisco based company metaio. World leaders in the area of Augmented Reality technology, metaio`s patented “Unifeye Viewer” software for web applications enables 3D animations to be integrated seamlessly into live-video streams of a webcam and respectively into pictures of the user`s real environment. The 3D experience is also compatible with a smartphone. Users can download mobile AR browser junaio, and preview the 3D hologram of the tablet as well. junaio`s highly sophisticated image recognition and object tracking capabilities make it possible to recognize a print ad and call up additional digital content to delight the viewer and draw renewed attention to a sponsor`s message. “The Popular Science audience always look forward to reading about what`s next, but this month’s cover gives them an opportunity to experience firsthand the new technologies that are changing the future of magazines,” said David Ginsberg, Integrated Account Manager at Popular Science. “metaio’s software has made it possible for us to keep our readers up to date on the top tech trends in a way that’s fun, dynamic and engaging.”

A video of the experience can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP8fC8VzYSY

About Popular Science
Founded in 1872, Popular Science (www.popsci.com ) is the world’s largest science and technology magazine, with a circulation of 1.3 million and 7.1 million readers. Each month, Popular Science delivers “The Future Now,” reporting on the intersection of science and everyday life with an eye toward what`s new and why it matters. Our readers believe that the future is going to be better, and Popular Science gives them the tools and information to improve their technology and their world. Popular Science was the winner of the 2004 National Magazine Award for General Excellence. Popular Science is published by the Bonnier Corporation (www.bonniercorp.com ), one of the largest consumer-publishing groups in America and the leading media company serving passionate, highly engaged audiences through more than 40 special-interest magazines and related multimedia projects and events.

About metaio
As a pioneer in the area of augmented reality technology, metaio (www.metaio.com ) develops software products or systems driven by visual interaction in both, the real and the virtual world. Our Unifeye software platform not only lets you place 3D animations directly into live video streams, but also supports the seamless integration of images from the external user environment. Founded in February 2003, we currently employ 70 members of staff at three different locations. The company is headquartered in Munich. Our subsidiaries metaio Inc. and metaio Asia are headquartered in San Francisco and Seoul, respectively. metaio has been involved in projects worldwide for over 350 well-known customers from a broad range of industries. Among them are: BMW, Daimler, LEGO, Toyota, Popular Science, adidas Originals, MINI, Focus Features and Volkswagen.