Working compass?

[dajakal]

Am I the only one who can't get compass apps to work? I tried the Snaptic one and GPS Status, and both of them just have the needle pointed in the same direction all the time (about 30*, if that matters). It's confusing and annoying...

 

[DuctTape]

The compass on the Tricorder app is accurate on my phone.

 

[takeshi]

I'm not familiar with either app but any GPS-based compass is going to require you to move. If you think about it, it's impossible to tell which direction a stationary object is facing based on its GPS coordinates. With two or more known coordinates it can determine your direction.

 

[Dr. Tenma]

There are magnetic compasses on the market too, though. I believe that is how the Tricorder functions.

 

[mikie]

calibration for stuck compass

Am I the only one who can't get compass apps to work? I tried the Snaptic one and GPS Status, and both of them just have the needle pointed in the same direction all the time (about 30*, if that matters). It's confusing and annoying...

@dajakal sorry to hear you're having problems. luckly, it's an easy fix (i'm a a developer for snaptic). the hardware magnetic compass in the phone gets "stuck" and needs to be re-calibrated. to do this, you basically hold the phone out infront of you, and circle it around in a figure-eight motion. let me know if this doesn't fix it.

here's a link to my reply on another thread w/ the same issue:
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-applications/7416-compass-problem-droid.html#post60877

apple uses the same technology; here's their writeup on the problem/solution as well:
iPhone 3GS: Re-calibrate Compass

please let us know if you have any other comments/feedback!

thanks,
mike

 

[mikie]

There are magnetic compasses on the market too, though. I believe that is how the Tricorder functions.

@dr. tenma yep, snaptic's compass app uses the same api. the droid has a hardware magnetic compass, and the os provides api's for accessing the data; the iphone uses the same techonlogy/process too.

regards,
mike