Less ambiguity
Each step points at the actual button, dial, or control instead of describing it from a distance.
Visual instructions for the physical world
Show exactly what to press. In the exact place.
PointGuide turns a photo of a control panel into a step-by-step visual guide, then overlays those instructions on the real thing with camera AR.
Boiler start-up AR ready
02 / 03Turn the mode dial to AUTOKeep the marker centred over the dial.
Native iPhone appDesigned for iOS 18+
Works offlineNo service dependency
Private iCloud syncAcross your Apple devices
Zero trackingNo ads or analytics SDKs
Who it is for
Built for households and small teams.
PointGuide is for anyone who has ever stared at an unfamiliar panel, forgotten a sequence, or needed to explain a physical process without standing beside someone.
- Holiday rental controls
- Workshop equipment
- Office panels
- Household appliances
- Repeatable non-critical procedures
Why it is valuable
The instruction and the object become one.
Faster handovers
Capture practical knowledge once, then make it available whenever the task comes up again.
Calmer repetition
Follow the same ordered guide without relying on memory, loose notes, or somebody being available.
How it works
From panel to guide in four steps.
No scanning service, account, or setup portal. Everything happens inside the native iPhone app.
- 01
Create a guide
Name the equipment or process so it is easy to recognise later.
- 02
Add the reference
Take a straight-on photo or choose one, then enter the panel's physical width.
- 03
Place each instruction
Tap precisely where the action happens and write the step in plain language.
- 04
Follow it your way
Use the saved image anywhere, or camera AR when the real panel is in front of you.
Inside PointGuide
A field guide that looks like the task.
These are real PointGuide screens. The reference, numbered route and current instruction stay visually connected from creation to follow-through.
Open a saved guide, create another, or remove an old one from the main list.
Tap the reference image, write the instruction and keep the route in order.
Use the saved reference anywhere, then switch to camera AR at the real panel.
Full feature list
Focused tools. No account-shaped clutter.
Create
Build the guide once
- Capture a control panel with the camera or choose a saved photo
- Enter the real-world width for accurate AR placement
- Tap the image to place numbered instruction points
- Add a title and detail to every step
- Edit, reorder, or delete steps whenever the process changes
- Delete an old Field Guide after a clear confirmation
Follow
Use the view that fits
- Walk through instructions on the saved reference image
- Use camera AR to place steps over the real control panel
- See clear numbered markers and live tracking status
- Fall back to the saved image whenever AR is unsuitable
- Keep the whole guide available without an internet connection
Keep
Private by default
- Store guides locally using Apple-native data storage
- Optionally sync through your private iCloud database
- Use the app without a developer account or external backend
- No advertising, analytics, behavioural tracking, or data resale
- Live camera frames and AR maps are never retained or transmitted
Local-first by design
Your guides belong to you.
PointGuide's core experience works offline. Guides stay on your iPhone and, when available, can sync through Apple's private CloudKit database. There is no PointGuide account, developer-run server, advertising profile, or analytics pipeline.
Roadmap
Useful next steps, without losing the simplicity.
This is a proposed roadmap, not a promise of release dates. Privacy and clarity remain the product constraints.
Included in 1.0
The complete core
- Photo-based guide creation
- Ordered point instructions
- Saved-image walkthrough
- Camera AR walkthrough
- Confirmed Field Guide deletion
- Local storage and private iCloud sync
Proposed next
Faster organisation
- Folders, tags, and search
- Easier marker repositioning
- Guide quality checks
- Explicit export and import
- Shortcuts and quick actions
Exploring
Deeper guidance
- Voice accessibility
- Manual AR calibration
- Optional per-step photos
- Guide version history
- Privacy-reviewed sharing options
Support
A strong reference makes AR feel effortless.
Give the camera something distinctive
- Photograph a flat surface straight-on in even light.
- Include the complete panel and enter its width accurately.
- Avoid reflections, blank surfaces, and frequently changing displays.
Move slowly and keep the panel in view
Improve the lighting if tracking is limited. The saved-image walkthrough remains available whenever AR is unsuitable.
Restore camera or photo access in iOS Settings under PointGuide.
Quick answers
Common PointGuide questions
How do I delete an old Field Guide?
On the main PointGuide screen, tap the red trash button beside the guide and confirm Delete Guide. Its reference image and saved steps are removed from the app, and deletion is requested from private iCloud sync when active.
What if camera AR cannot find the panel?
Keep the complete panel in view, improve the lighting and move slowly. A flat, distinctive image tracks best. You can always follow the same steps on the saved reference image instead.
Does PointGuide need an internet connection?
No. Creating and following guides works offline. Private iCloud sync is optional and follows your device and Apple Account settings.
Which devices are supported?
PointGuide is designed for iPhone with iOS 18 or later. Camera AR also requires an ARKit-capable device. Saved-image guides remain available whenever AR is unsupported or unsuitable.
Privacy policy
Your camera stays on your iPhone.
Last updated 23 August 2026
What the app handles
Guide names, reference images, approximate dimensions, instruction text, point positions, and ordering that you choose to create.
Camera and AR
Live camera frames and AR environment information are processed on the iPhone. PointGuide does not retain or transmit the live camera feed or an AR map.
Storage and iCloud
Guides are stored on your iPhone. When available, Apple CloudKit may synchronise them through your private iCloud account. The developer cannot browse your private database.
No advertising or tracking
PointGuide has no ads, analytics, tracking, third-party SDKs, developer accounts, or developer-operated server. Your data is not sold to advertisers or data brokers.
Retention and choices
Data remains until you delete it. Deleting a guide removes its reference image and steps from the app and requests deletion from private iCloud sync. Apple's synchronisation and backup schedules may still apply.
Children
PointGuide is a general utility and is not directed to children. It knowingly collects no information through a developer service.
Contact
Need a hand?
Include the app version, iPhone model, iOS version, lighting conditions, and steps to reproduce. Do not attach a private reference image unless necessary.