Comments on: Why The iPhone 3GS Compass Is Important http://test.latko.org/?p=416 A Misanthropic Anthropoid With Something to Say Sun, 13 Nov 2022 02:54:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ramolo http://test.latko.org/?p=416&cpage=1#comment-9825 Ramolo Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:51:35 +0000 http://www.latko.org/?p=416#comment-9825 The compass is a device that indeed will set some creative minds to work. Just wait and you will be amazed. There already is an app that shows houses for sale overlayed on maps, updating as you move the iPhone around. Or people with other iPhones as you scan across the crowd. Also walking navigation software would be great. Imagine the iPhone telling you, "No the other way, dork!, That's better, now continue walking five blocks" Don't think of the compass as a compass, that's just one tiny application of the device, there is so much more to it. The compass is a device that indeed will set some creative minds to work. Just wait and you will be amazed. There already is an app that shows houses for sale overlayed on maps, updating as you move the iPhone around. Or people with other iPhones as you scan across the crowd. Also walking navigation software would be great. Imagine the iPhone telling you, "No the other way, dork!, That's better, now continue walking five blocks"
Don't think of the compass as a compass, that's just one tiny application of the device, there is so much more to it.

]]> By: Stevereno http://test.latko.org/?p=416&cpage=1#comment-7801 Stevereno Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:56:11 +0000 http://www.latko.org/?p=416#comment-7801 So freaking sweet. Can't wait to get my own! So freaking sweet. Can’t wait to get my own!

]]> By: clatko http://test.latko.org/?p=416&cpage=1#comment-4120 clatko Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:43:48 +0000 http://www.latko.org/?p=416#comment-4120 I would say yes, most devices have a magnetometer. But most of the devices are navigational (Tom Tom, Garmin), and do not work so well in the palm of your hand... and definitely do not allow you to view what is front of you via camera. As for mobile phones, I know that the G1 has a magnetometer, the Pre, I'm pretty sure, does not. That first link in my post above shows what is possible with a magnetometer on the G1, pretty damn impressive. I would say yes, most devices have a magnetometer. But most of the devices are navigational (Tom Tom, Garmin), and do not work so well in the palm of your hand… and definitely do not allow you to view what is front of you via camera.

As for mobile phones, I know that the G1 has a magnetometer, the Pre, I'm pretty sure, does not. That first link in my post above shows what is possible with a magnetometer on the G1, pretty damn impressive.

]]> By: mellenger http://test.latko.org/?p=416&cpage=1#comment-4119 mellenger Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:56:09 +0000 http://www.latko.org/?p=416#comment-4119 Do most/all gps nav devices have a magnetometer in them to get direction? I know you can get it from GPS data if you are moving but i'm sure that would be impossible if you just heading out. Do most/all gps nav devices have a magnetometer in them to get direction? I know you can get it from GPS data if you are moving but i'm sure that would be impossible if you just heading out.

]]> By: clatko http://test.latko.org/?p=416&cpage=1#comment-4118 clatko Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:12:00 +0000 http://www.latko.org/?p=416#comment-4118 <p>@mellenger Best feature? The compass - <a href="http://bit.ly/IfvgA">http://bit.ly/IfvgA</a>.</p> <p><i>This comment was originally posted on <a href="http://twitter.com/clatko/statuses/2207644505" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a></i></p> @mellenger Best feature? The compass – http://bit.ly/IfvgA.

This comment was originally posted on Twitter

]]> By: clatko http://test.latko.org/?p=416&cpage=1#comment-4168 clatko Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:12:00 +0000 http://www.latko.org/?p=416#comment-4168 <p>@mellenger Best feature? The compass - <a href="http://bit.ly/IfvgA.">http://bit.ly/IfvgA.</a></p> <p><i>This comment was originally posted on <a href="http://twitter.com/clatko/statuses/2207644505" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a></i></p> @mellenger Best feature? The compass – http://bit.ly/IfvgA.

This comment was originally posted on Twitter

]]> By: Benedikt http://test.latko.org/?p=416&cpage=1#comment-3989 Benedikt Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:16:19 +0000 http://www.latko.org/?p=416#comment-3989 I'm not sure about the streetview when you turn - if you're not at the place, it's ridiculous to think that the initial direction is important (i.e. I want that shopfront I was looking for to appear right in front of me, even if it is on the north side of the street and I'm currently turned south-west); and if I AM at a location, then I will hardly need the streetview. So, streetview and the map seems to make only partial sense to me. What would make (enormous) sense to me was that if I turned on GPS on google-maps or google-earth, the maps/earth view should be aligned properly (i.e. that road turning left in front of me, should be the one turning left above my GPS position on the screen - that way the compass becomes an integrated orientation aid when using the GPS, no trying to find out which direction I'm facing / where certain roads are, ...). Similarly, unlike streetview, in google-earth, if I'm hiking / driving across the country-side, then it makes sense showing me what is further ahead from where I am. Imagine being in the mountains (simple tourism) and google-earth could show you which mountain you're seeing a couple of miles away from your position, and you see the 'skyline' of the mountains to compare it with. Again - an orientation aid. (Note: While I may not need that myself that much, think about lots of people who are a slightly lacking in the map-reading / map-understanding department. For those it will be a great tool because they will no longer have to worry about whether they hold the map the correct way - the compass will allow the phone to rotate the map just the right way. I'm not sure about the streetview when you turn – if you're not at the place, it's ridiculous to think that the initial direction is important (i.e. I want that shopfront I was looking for to appear right in front of me, even if it is on the north side of the street and I'm currently turned south-west); and if I AM at a location, then I will hardly need the streetview.
So, streetview and the map seems to make only partial sense to me.

What would make (enormous) sense to me was that if I turned on GPS on google-maps or google-earth, the maps/earth view should be aligned properly (i.e. that road turning left in front of me, should be the one turning left above my GPS position on the screen – that way the compass becomes an integrated orientation aid when using the GPS, no trying to find out which direction I'm facing / where certain roads are, …).

Similarly, unlike streetview, in google-earth, if I'm hiking / driving across the country-side, then it makes sense showing me what is further ahead from where I am. Imagine being in the mountains (simple tourism) and google-earth could show you which mountain you're seeing a couple of miles away from your position, and you see the 'skyline' of the mountains to compare it with. Again – an orientation aid.

(Note: While I may not need that myself that much, think about lots of people who are a slightly lacking in the map-reading / map-understanding department. For those it will be a great tool because they will no longer have to worry about whether they hold the map the correct way – the compass will allow the phone to rotate the map just the right way.

]]> By: tonyhairr http://test.latko.org/?p=416&cpage=1#comment-3916 tonyhairr Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:40:12 +0000 http://www.latko.org/?p=416#comment-3916 <p>Why The iPhone 3G S Compass Is Important <a href="http://ff.im/-3LTUL">http://ff.im/-3LTUL</a></p> <p><i>This comment was originally posted on <a href="http://twitter.com/tonyhairr/statuses/2091423104" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a></i></p> Why The iPhone 3G S Compass Is Important http://ff.im/-3LTUL

This comment was originally posted on Twitter

]]> By: clatko http://test.latko.org/?p=416&cpage=1#comment-3913 clatko Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:15:34 +0000 http://www.latko.org/?p=416#comment-3913 The new compass uses hardware in the phone - a magnetometer - to give you true, real-time precision. The current apps in the store use some kind of hack where you have to rotate your phone to align an image of the sun... or even use your fingers ;). I doubt that photos will have directional info embedded, I'm not very familiar with the EXIF spec so I could be wrong. The Map application will display the direction you are facing (map view) and will display the street view in real time as you turn around. It is this second part that I'm really excited about. The new compass uses hardware in the phone – a magnetometer – to give you true, real-time precision. The current apps in the store use some kind of hack where you have to rotate your phone to align an image of the sun… or even use your fingers ;) .

I doubt that photos will have directional info embedded, I'm not very familiar with the EXIF spec so I could be wrong. The Map application will display the direction you are facing (map view) and will display the street view in real time as you turn around. It is this second part that I'm really excited about.

]]> By: jcg http://test.latko.org/?p=416&cpage=1#comment-3912 jcg Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:48:43 +0000 http://www.latko.org/?p=416#comment-3912 when i heard that, i wanted to know -- how is the 3GS compass different from the compass apps already in the iphone ? is it somehow more accurate ? will maps be able to use it to determine which direction you're facing ? will photos get geotagged with the compass info (esp the which direction are you facing part) ? etc. otherwise, it's just an app that changed from download-me to built-in. when i heard that, i wanted to know — how is the 3GS compass different from the compass apps already in the iphone ? is it somehow more accurate ? will maps be able to use it to determine which direction you’re facing ? will photos get geotagged with the compass info (esp the which direction are you facing part) ? etc. otherwise, it’s just an app that changed from download-me to built-in.

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