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Old 24-10-2022, 16:53   #1
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Things you didn't know your smartphone can do

A public service announcement.


Your smartphone has a barometer/altimeter in it.


Your smartphone has a fluxgate compass in it. It can be used to determine a compass heading, and as a metal detector.



Your smartphone has an accelerometer in it that allows it to serve as a level, to measure heel angle, and to serve as a pocket transit.


There are various apps that combine and record these in ways that are useful. I use Dioptra (a pocket transit with camera), "Compass Galaxy," and "Sky Map."


I would be interested in what you all have found app wise. I would especially like to find a recording barometer application that I like.
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Old 24-10-2022, 17:35   #2
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Re: Things you didn't know your smartphone can do

My Samsung Galaxy S20 FE has neither a barometer or altimeter. Luckily, my Casio PAW-2000T wristwatch has both.

Point is: not all smartphones are created equal.
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Old 24-10-2022, 20:35   #3
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Re: Things you didn't know your smartphone can do

Strobe tachometer (RPM meter) - useful for checking engine rpm and the rpm of almost anything.

I use this one - https://apps.apple.com/au/app/strobe...er/id831460940 but I guess there are others and presumably android ones as well.
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Old 25-10-2022, 02:48   #4
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Re: Things you didn't know your smartphone can do

Looking, looking, looking!
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Old 25-10-2022, 02:51   #5
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Re: Things you didn't know your smartphone can do

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jammer View Post
Your smartphone has a barometer/altimeter in it.
Nope, can't find it?
Quote:
Your smartphone has a fluxgate compass in it. It can be used to determine a compass heading, and as a metal detector.
Nope, GPS compass only?
Quote:
Your smartphone has an accelerometer in it that allows it to serve as a level, to measure heel angle, and to serve as a pocket transit.
Dang, can't find that either. I don't think my phone is smart at all. Maybe I need one of them orange ones.
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Old 25-10-2022, 02:53   #6
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Re: Things you didn't know your smartphone can do

I mean apple ones
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Old 25-10-2022, 03:58   #7
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Re: Things you didn't know your smartphone can do

On iPhones, you can set an “Accessibility Shortcut” so three clicks on the power button turns the screen red.
Another three clicks turns it back to normal.
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Old 25-10-2022, 05:41   #8
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Re: Things you didn't know your smartphone can do

I have a Pixel 4a (Android), not one of those fruity phones.


Most manufacturers include the sensors. You may have to install the apps to make use of them.
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Old 25-10-2022, 07:10   #9
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Re: Things you didn't know your smartphone can do

I've found Physics Toolbox to be very useful. It identifies the sensors in the phone, for example the barometric function identifies that my phone has the BMP280 barometer sensor by Bosch, and is collecting data at a rate of 6 Hz. It further points to a description of the operating principle and provides links for further information including the Bosch pressure sensor technical specifications.

Website is vieyrasoftware.net.

It has the following functions:

g-force
linear accelerometer
gyroscope
barometer
proximeter
magnetometer
compass
GPS
inclinometer
light meter
color detector
sound meter
tone detector
oscilloscope (audio)
spectrum analyzer (audio)
spectrogram (audio)
multi record
tone generator
color generator
stroboscope
more...
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Old 25-10-2022, 16:32   #10
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Re: Things you didn't know your smartphone can do

Stop it! Or I'll have to get one of the damn things :-0!

TP
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Old 25-10-2022, 18:18   #11
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Re: Things you didn't know your smartphone can do

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wotname View Post
Strobe tachometer
That's cool. I just downloaded one for Android called "Strobe RPM Tachometer Lite". Very neat.
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