Air Poolbar is an innovative application designed specifically for Apple Vision Pro, bringing the excitement and challenge of billiards to an immersive, augmented reality environment. With this app, players can practice billiards in their own living space, turning any room into a virtual pool bar.
One of the standout features of Air Poolbar is its ability to place a real-sized billiard table anywhere in the room. Through the magic of AR, players can interact with the table and the balls as if they were physically present. Using spatial gesture actions, players can hit the balls in the same way they would in a real game of billiards. The app utilizes both hands to operate the cue, allowing for a more realistic and engaging playing experience. For those who prefer simplicity, a fingertip shot option is also available. Advanced eye-tracking technology lets users aim at the shot point on the ball with their eyes, adding another layer of immersion.
One of the most innovative aspects of Air Poolbar is the ability to pick up and move the balls with your hands. This adds a tactile dimension to the game, making the virtual practice feel remarkably lifelike. The app also includes a snapshot function, which allows players to memorize and reproduce the position of the balls. This feature is incredibly useful for practicing tricky shots and improving your game. Additionally, the ability to undo up to 100 shots ensures that you can play at your own pace, refining your skills without the pressure of irreversible mistakes.
However, there are some notes to keep in mind while using Air Poolbar. For optimal performance, the app should be used in brighter conditions to ensure clear detection of hand gestures. In terms of features, the app includes various modes like 8-ball and 9-ball games. It offers multiple cue operation methods, including gesture cue, finger cue, and a unique look-and-pull method. Whether you are right-handed or left-handed, the app is designed to accommodate your preference.
The educational tools provided in Air Poolbar are commendable. The snapshot feature, along with an undo function, allows for detailed practice sessions. Additionally, a velocity vector marker offers insights into the direction and speed of your shots, helping you to understand and refine your technique better.
Despite its many strengths, customer reviews indicate that there are areas for improvement. Some users have noted that while the concept of two-handed play is appealing, the hand movements can be laggy, affecting the cue force unpredictably. There have also been issues with the cue disappearing even when both hand skeletons are visible and clenched on screen. Users have suggested that a button to turn off interaction with non-cue balls would be beneficial. Additionally, there are calls for an intermediate-sized table between the medium and full options, as the full table is described as too large for some spaces. The large table size also has a tendency to drop suddenly when trying to lower it, instead of moving smoothly.
Air Poolbar has many thoughtful features that make it a favorite among virtual pool games. However, it could certainly benefit from some fine-tuning. With improvements in hand gesture responsiveness and additional customization options, it has the potential to offer a truly unparalleled augmented reality billiard experience. Developed by Newton Japan Inc. and priced at $9.99, Air Poolbar is a fascinating glimpse into the future of virtual gaming and educational tools, offering both fun and practicality for billiards enthusiasts.
