Hi all. Feel free to move this if necessary to another forum. I just read a post on here about mowing the lawn with an iPhone in tow, and that got me thinking about something. What is the difference between the compass app and other GPS apps out there? I guess this isn't specific to Apple products, but I'm of course asking as an iPhone user. I know that at least some of these GPS apps provide turn-by-turn directions. Back in fifth grade I used a hand-held Braille compass with an O&M instructor, and it was pretty cool. Obviously the same basic idea applies here, but are there any differences?
Comments
I was using the iOS Compass app the other day
It just tells you the direction your phone is pointing. It turns out you have to change the settings to use true magnetic north with it's magnetometer, rather than pinging cell towers or something like that. I was in a car with someone who was lost, couldn't find any street signs or places to pull over and traveling about 60mph (97 kmph). The readings were going nuts. The GPS and map apps use several means to determine the position, and don't freak out when traveling.
If the one you're talking about is the Braille compass I'm thinking of, I wish I had one. It was a large needle compass that had a platform that raised as you opened the lid, and delicately lifted/rested the needle on the platform to be felt. They don't make them anymore as far as I know, and I don't think I have the machining skills to make one. Although, I've never tried...
Compass vs GPS
The compass that comes preinstalled in iOS is just a compass. North, South, East & West. It gives your direction in degrees, i.e. 239 degrees NW, etc.
It has some other info as well, such as the city you are in at the bottom and elevation in regards to sea level.
You can optionally have 'true north' toggled on or off, in settings.
HTH. 🙂
@OldBear
Is this what you mean?
https://www.moontrail.com/accessrs/a-nav_measure/brunton_16b.html
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184663598655
@Brian
Yes, that's it. Note that it is out of stock...
It might be fun to try to devise something like it.
ebay
Did you see the ebay link in my last post? I think that one is an active sale. :)
Yes
As far as I can tell, I hate Ebay's layout, the Ebay post is for the, Brunton Nexus "16DLU Compass," and not the, "Nexus 16B Braille Compass."
Ah...
It is those subtle nuances that will keep me from ever living up to my dream of becoming the next Sherlock Holmes. Heh.
Oh, and ebay on iOS is amazing. So there. 😛
That's Exactly What I Used
I still have fond memories of using it all those years ago. It was a neat little device, and I wish I still had it. Lol but it belonged to the local special-ed district. That O&M instructor retired a few years ago, but many people claimed and might still claim that she was one of the best in the field. I definitely concur. If memory is correct, her daughter is now an O&M instructor somewhere in the area. Perhaps she replaced her mother at the local special-ed district.
Truely a stand-alone device
Glad we were talking about the same compass, Ekaj, but in the back of my mind, I almost hoped you knew of a different one.
There are many ways to devise a compass, but one I have fooled a little with is to take a round, neodymium magnet, about the size of a coin-sized battery cell, and balance it on it's narrow edge in an area free of ferrite and magnetic distortions. to the Earth's poles. It usually aligns fairly well with its flat surfaces facing north and south, and can be carefully felt. Floating it on water one way or another works even better, but water is difficult to carry in one's pocket... It gives me something to think about and possibly work on, so I'm glad you brought up the subject.
* Sorry. I took it off topic, and to bring it back. I just checked the iOS Compass app, which I have set to use true north on my iPhone SE 3gen, with a very strong magnet, and it does not effect the reading at all. Also the phone has that mag/charge thing in the back of it that the magnet actually sticks to. An electric, and maybe even a gas-powered mower would probably mess with readings if it were only by the internal magnetometer. I'm not sure how the phone is finding true north, but that would have affected the reading according to this Apple help article.
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/compass-iph1ac0b663/ios
Perhaps, it's cross referencing north with other sources to filter the readings.