Augmented reality applications seem to be taking mobile devices by storm -- and for good reason, since we've wanted a RoboCop-like heads-up display since...well, since we first saw RoboCop. Augmented reality apps over overlay data on the camera of your smartphone, allowing you to see information like weather and local points of interest -- and they can even keep you from walking into walls while texting or emailing.

Layar, however, is different -- it's one app containing several different augmented reality layers to choose from. From weather to art to nightlife, Layar has categories that can interest anyone. Using the Layers browser, you can search through and try out the more than 524 (at the time of this writing) layers.

Hey, there's pizza over there! With the Layar Local Search layer, you can find local points of interest.

 Layar already boasts quite a few good and useful layers, and because developers, universities, and communities can contribute layers to the application, that library is rapidly growing. Adding layers to your favorites list gives you one-tap access to them and automatically loads nearby items for those layers in the Nearby section. When you search for a layer and click the blue Play button next to it, the layer will download and load automatically.

PacMan anyone? Yes, there's even a plugin called ARcade that lets you walk around and each as many pac-dots as you can.

 Depending on the type of layer you’re using, you'll get different interfaces and options. Some layers automatically detect your location, and others ask for a zip code. This is kind of annoying -- we think Layar could use some work to unify the various layer extensions.

The Layers Browser lets you easily find and load up cool augmented reality layers.

 Here’s some of our favorite layers we discovered in the Layars app: 

- Weather AR - Gives you weather information for a particular zip code

- Sat Tracker - Lets you see realtime satellite visualizations 

- Earthquakes - Shows the locations of recent earthquakes 

- Open Cell ID - Displays the nearest GSM cell towers around you

- Layar Local Search - Local search for a particular item using Google Local

The bottom line. If you like to get information visually, like augmented reality applications, or frequent new cities where you need to quickly find the nearest points of interest, then Layar is an application for you. (You and your buddy RoboCop.)