TikTok's new confetti effect uses iPhone 12 Pro's LiDAR sensor

One of the most prominently advertised new features of the iPhone 12 Pro was its LiDAR sensor, which enables some cool augmented reality effects thanks to its ability to position objects precisely in 3D space. The only problem is that actual use cases for the feature are still few and far between.

This is (slowly) changing. TikTok has announced a new AR effect, its first to take advantage of the LiDAR sensor (meaning you have to have the iPhone 12 Pro or the iPhone 12 Pro Plus to use it). The effect displays a virtual Times Square-like disco ball above a person's head; when the counter on the ball reaches zero, it explodes and a "2021" sign pops up while the person (along with any furniture in the frame) is covered in virtual confetti.  Read more...