Meitu Displays Achievement Of Globalization Process At Google I/O

At the recent Google I/O 2018 developer conference held in Mountain View, California, China’s leading mobile internet company Meitu was a key partner and contributor during the Firebase presentation session during the conference. Meitu have collaborated with Google on a number of global advertising campaigns and on the Firebase platform. The two firms have plans to explore further opportunities for ongoing cooperating in the further which will see their relationship grow further.

Meitu - Logo

Meitu has continued to position itself as a world leader in the augmented reality (AR), technology and internet industries by developing new products and partnerships that push the industries forward. The firm launched the popular app PartyNow earlier this year on both iOS and Android devices which took advantage of Google’s ARCore and Apple’s ARKit. The PartyNow app allows user a chance to easily create their own AR special efforts short films, which faster became a popular app when it released. Back in July 2017, Facebook announced that Meitu would be the first partner for their Facebook AR Studio’s Beta cooperation program, with Meitu providing three AR camera effects as part of the deal.

The ongoing cooperation between Meitu and many of the world’s leading technology and internet companies reflects the success of the business globalization efforts. The company has more than 500 million users of their products outside of its home market, supported by operations in Brazil, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and the United States. Meitu have been able to achieve this global reach thanks to the establishment of local teams to research the markets in which they want to have a presence, and have those team design or update the products to better meet the expectations and preference of local users.

Meitu attends the Google IO

One of the companies more successful apps is the Meitu App which was included in Time Magazine’s list of top 25 recommend apps of the year in 2017, which also features other big named apps such as Super Mario and Instagram. Time Magazine commented: “the Meitu App has been popular in Asia for years and, recently, its huge popularity has expanded to the USA. It may be that you have not heard of the Meitu App, but you have certainly seen the special effects produced by the app on Instagram and Facebook, especially the feature that allows users to create a hand-painted cartoon-style version of their selfie. The feature has helped the Meitu App gain momentum worldwide soon after its launch.”

Meitu founder and CEO Wu Xinhong commented on this adding: “Everyone seeks beauty. As a technology company with a deep understanding of what constitutes beauty, we are particularly well positioned to expand across the world. By partnering with Google, Apple and Facebook, among other leading global tech firms, we are committed to helping more people realize their dreams.”

For more on Meitu in the future, keep reading VRFocus.

Get Horrific with Meitu’s new Insidious Inspired Filters

One of the most popular features and applications of augmented reality (AR) has been filters for apps such as Snapchat, Messenger and Instagram. Meitu is one of the more popular “beauty” apps that use AR technology, and now thanks to Insidious: The Last Key, things are getting spooky in your Meitu filters.

Meitu - Logo

The filters come as part of a collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment to promote Insidious. The filters will appear on BeautyPlus and MakeupPlus, the two flagship apps for Meitu. Meitu has been downloaded on more than 1.5 billion devices, so its popularity has already been proven.

Meitu first incorporated AR technology in their apps early last year, the real time AR filters can capture video or photo in real time, and can then be edited on the fly. Meitu and Facebook also recently teamed up for bring new AR camera effects to Facebook’s AR beta partnership program.

The new filters certainly are spooky, as you can see in the image attached to this article – there more subtle, thick lipstick goth look you could get away with, but the blue filter which completely turns your face into a horror story? That’s not going to get you anywhere on Tinder.

Fox Lui, Meitu’s international head of business, is excited to have Sony on board with their app to promote Insidious; “We are thrilled to expand on our partnership with Sony for Insidious: The Last Key, to bring these new looks and filters to our user base. Having previously partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment’s The Emoji Movie global release, BeautyPlus has emerged as a unique and interactive platform for brands to engage with their audiences like never before. In creating these filters and looks, we are bringing the user directly into the film to experience the franchise from within.”

If you want to try out the new filters for yourself, simply download the BeautyPlus and MakeupPlus apps on Google Play and the App Store. As said, the selfies with these filters might not be good to attach to your portfolio or your LinkedIn page, but they’re fun to send to friends. For all of the latest news on AR and more, make sure to keep reading VRFocus.

Meitu And Facebook Team Up For Camera effects Beta

Meitu is one of the most popular internet brands in China, with its photo and video editing tools used by more than 450 million people monthly, creating more than 6 billion photos and videos every month. Facebook, who have themselves begun serious investment in augmented reality (AR) photography apps, are introducing Meitu AR camera effects for the Facebook camera.

Three AR camera effects from Meitu will be used as part of Facebook AR studio’s early Beta partnership program. Meitu is the first company chosen for the program that specialises in AR facial recognition technology. The three effects being utilised by Facebook are ‘Selfie from the Future’, ‘Meitu Family’ and ‘Instant Glam’.

“Meitu’s fun selfie experiences make it a natural fit for the Camera Effects Platform,” said Konstantinos Papamiltiadis, Director, Platform Partnerships at Facebook. “We’re excited to expand the AR Studio beta to our first Asia-based developer, and we think the camera effects that Meitu has built with this technology will delight the Facebook community around the world.”

The new AR Studio was announced at Facebook’s F8 event in April, with the aim of allowing artists and developers to create frames, masks and interactive effects that respond to the movements of the user. Analysts are expecting future uses of the AR Camera to include branded effects to tie in to major movie, videogame or TV releases.

“Since Meitu launched its first AR-powered app in 2010, we’ve seen first-hand how the adoption of AR technology has transformed the way we interact with each other and express ourselves through the stories we share with the world,” said Frank Fu, Managing Director of Meitu’s global operations. “We are honoured to be selected by Facebook to kick-off this incredible new feature, and excited to come along for the ride as the platform further reshapes the social media experience.”

VRFocus will bring you further news on Facebook’s AR projects as it becomes available.

Meitu Upgrades Make-up App With Virtual Cosmetics Counter

One of China’s most popular internet brands, Meitu has been experimenting with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for quite some time. The company has now launched a new aspect to its MakeupPlus app that allows users to try out new cosmetic products before they buy.

The Meitu MakeupPlus app allows users to use AR to test out how a new make-up looks to see if they are suitable. By mapping a user’s features it is possible to instantly test different makeup styles and colours. Now the company are adding a new feature called COUNTER, which allows MakeupPlus users to test out new cosmetic products virtually before deicing to buy them.

The new feature will be globally accessible through MakeupPlus and will feature hundreds of products from well-known cosmetics brands such as Clarins, GLAMGLOW, Charlotte Tilbury and Stila. The app’s AI features means that different types of lipstick can be virtually tested in real time, with different textures such as matte, cream, gloss or metallic accurately rendered. Once a user has decided on the best look, they can click on the product in question to buy it instantly.

“Meitu consistently pushes the boundaries of possibilities when applying AR and facial recognition technology to the world of beauty.” said Frank Fu, Managing Director of Meitu’s global operations. “The technology in COUNTER offers brands the ability to engage with shoppers like never before – allowing them to experience the product from anywhere, at any time. Meanwhile, brands will be able to gain valuable insight into the try-on experience and access essential regional color preferences from millions of MakeupPlus users around the world.”

“COUNTER solves a number of issues many people experience when searching for new lip products. Over a third of our users report that they are less likely to experiment with lip color products compared to eye shadow, blush, and other elements of their makeup looks. For many, it’s not hygienic, easy or practical to experiment with lip products in-store,” said Liz Goodno, Director of Global Public Relations at Meitu. “With MakeupPlus and COUNTER, we’ve solved these issues by providing a convenient and fun way for makeup lovers to experiment with lip products without the hassle, and help inspire them to experiment more.”

VRFocus will bring you further information on Meitu’s AR products as it becomes available.

Meitu BeautyPlus Selfie App Gets Augmented Reality Filters

Popular photo manipulation app Meitu is getting an augmented reality (AR) upgrade with the introduction of new real-time AR filters.

Meitu’s BeautyPlus selfie app has a staggering number of users worldwide with almost 450 million people actively using the app to touch up videos and photos. The company are now adding over 20 new AR filters to the app to edit in real-time.

The new filters can be applied to a user’s face and the area in real-time and then captured as either a still photo or video, so photos and videos can be edited on the fly. Filters include animated animals, stormy clouds, devil horns and many more.

While the Meitu BeautyPlus app includes a range of useful editing features such as skin retouching to smooth away blemishes, or the ability to edit faces to remove dark circles from eyes or whiten teeth, the app is probably best known for its ‘AnimeCam’ function, which modifies a user’s face to make their eyes huge and mouth small, much like a classic Anime character.

“Augmented Reality is arguably one of the most exciting things to happen to photo and video in years,” said Frank Fu, Managing Director of Meitu’s global operations. “BeautyPlus puts this amazing technology into the palm of every consumers’ hands, giving them a fun collection of AR looks to uniquely express themselves and capture their individuality through photo and video.”

The Meitu BeautyPlus app can be downloaded for free on iOS and android phones and tablets.

VRFocus will continue to bring you updates on new innovations in VR and AR.

Augmented Beauty: MakeupPlus Allows Users To Try New Looks In Advance

We’ve already had one use of augmented reality (AR) today with Vuzix’s Blade 3000 Smart Sunglasses but what about an AR assistance not in the workplace but for your personal look. That’s the aim of a new AR application from developers Meitu called MakeupPlus that will allow people to try on new looks without even having to reach for the concealer.

meitu_logo

The mobile-based MakeupPlus uses facial recognition to map a user’s features and then try on makeup instantly to see if their ideas would work for them via the All-In-One Virtual Makeup Counter. Be it different coloured lipstick, contouring or adjusting your eye look via shadow, eyeliner or mascara.

“The first time I saw MakeupPlus I was blown away by the accuracy and precision of the technology and recreated looks,” said professional make-up artist and beauty product YouTuber Lisa Eldridge who has teamed up with Meitu on the app. “The ability to be able to instantly try on a new makeup look is revolutionary. It really brings the fun and experimental quality of makeup to life, you can lose yourself in this app and emerge feeling inspired to try new makeup ideas.”

“We are so excited to feature one of Lisa’s beautiful makeup looks on MakeupPlus, and to inspire our global user base to bring this look to the real world using Lisa’s famously easy-to-follow tutorials.” Liz Goodno, Meitu’s Senior Global Marketing Communication at Meitu added.

A filter created by Eldridge for the app was based off of a recent design for a photoshoot. The video below shows the creation of the look in actual make-up.

VRFocus will bring you more AR-related news soon.