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Galactic Compass 2 launches augmented reality mode, Apple Watch app, and Liquid Glass design
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Developers can now integrate an AR arrow that remains fixed in world space while users walk around, plus a wrist-based compass that uses a custom 3D library to show direction and give haptic alignment feedback
The update requires engineers to master quaternion-based rotation math to keep the arrow stable across device motions. Building the watchOS version meant creating a standalone 3D graphics library because RealityKit is unavailable on the platform. If the phone is tilted beyond about thirty degrees the AR tracking can break, limiting use in extreme orientations.
Written by elseif from the cluster below · every claim links back to a sourceThe three things worth knowing
AR mode lets users place the galactic arrow in their environment and walk around it while the arrow stays locked in world space.
The Apple Watch app displays the arrow and provides a haptic bump when aligned, powered by a custom 3D graphics library built for watchOS.
A Liquid Glass appearance prepares the interface for iOS 27's new design language while preserving the app's core functionality.
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