Location based venue search app, DariSini, renewed its app (version two) for iOS platform. Aplikasi pencarian venue berbasiskan lokasi, Darisini, memperbarui aplikasinya (versi dua) untuk platform iOS. Updates on the large includes UI updates, more complete and organized categories, personalized data and augmented reality beta version. Codenamed “Merapi”, DariSini team focuses on iOS platform and mentions that they are not going to update the Android version, at least in the near future.

Generally, the look is more interesting and the database is more complete. To personalize the displayed data, we have to log in. Personalization that can be done is to expand (or narrow) the range of search, whether the data can be displayed in subcategory and other gimmicks.

Displayed data is more thorough than the previous version. It’s arguably can compete with other directory apps to replace the need of owning yellow pages. Accurate GPS usage makes displayed data helpful for the user to find desired venue.

The only thing that still lacks from the data is the information on gas stations. Although there is a Pertamina menu in the subcategory, but the search result only shows nearby Shell gas station. For those who live in Jakarta, this may be tolerable especially for those who use nonsubsidized gasoline. The story is different to those who love ouside Jakarta where Shell gas station is practically nonexistent.

Of the many existing features, there are two that attract my attention. The first is the app’s ability to give a route to the desired venue on the map, including the mileage. This feature is extraordinarily helpful, especially when we are in a new town – i.e. when we are on the homecoming road trip. We no longer have to open Google Maps and look for the location of the street. This app willl directly informed us about it.

Second is the Augmented Reality (AR) feature. This is an experimental feature implemented in the second version. According to Thomas Arie as one of DariSini’s developers who we contacted via email, this feature is used when we want to estimate the direction of a venue. By clicking the AR button, the menu will change to camera display and the venue will appear as if directly in front of our eyes. For example, a venue is located 100 meters to our left, AR will show the location if we point our phone to the left.

Moreover, Thomas Arie says that the AR feature is added as a little experiment to replace the Refresh function when looking at a location list (in the category or search result). In the new version of DariSini, Search button is erased and the function is replaced by pulldown-to-refresh. Thomas Arie says that in the next release, DariSini will play more with AR.