Theodolite Pro
By Hunter Research and Technology, LLC
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Description
Based on a centuries-old astronomical instrument, Theodolite is a cool new multi-function augmented reality app for the iPhone that serves as a compass, GPS, map, zoom camera, rangefinder, and two-axis inclinometer. Theodolite overlays real time information about position, altitude, bearing, and horizontal/vertical inclination on the iPhone’s live camera image, like an electronic viewfinder. Uses are endless, and the app is great for hiking, boating, hunting, golf, sports, sightseeing, navigation, and finding your way around. The app is used extensively by surveyors, geologists, architects, engineers, military personnel, and search and rescue workers around the world.
Theodolite lets you take camera images and screenshots directly from the app, with 2X and 4X digital zoom options. You can choose to stamp geographical data and custom notes directly on the saved image for later reference. View your current position on the built in map view, with standard, satellite, and hybrid modes.
The flagship of the Theodolite series, Pro includes features for serious users like a reference angle mode, an A-B calculator for height, distance, heading, position, triangulation, and relative angles, e-mail export with KML data, system-wide clipboard integration, percent grade display, optical rangefinders, military grid reference system (MGRS) coordinates, universal transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates, and four latitude/longitude formats.
Theodolite works on any iPhone. GPS functionality requires an iPhone 3G, 3GS, or 4. Compass functionality requires an iPhone 3GS or 4. On iPhone 4, compass and inclinometer data are augmented by the gyro, and the app uses high res artwork for the Retina Display.
What's New In Version 2.0.3
Fix to avoid "stuck shutter" issue in iOS 4 when taking photos on iPhone 4 with the flash on.
Customer Reviews
Good but should use the gyros on azimuth as well!
It's a good app and is worth buying, but the azimuth measuring is absolutely useless because the magnetic compass is so inaccurate. This is not the app's fault, but there is a way to fix it: a relative bearing mode where the gyroscope is used to find the relative azimuth angles of two objects (maybe by touching on the green "Mag" to switch to "Gyro" and hitting the center of the azimuth field to zero it). The developers of this app should download iSetSquare to see how accurate the gyro is at measuring relative angles. With this addition, the tool can easily be used for serious navigation and even some basic surveying.
From the developer
PaplooTheLearned, I appreciate the suggestion, and do have more gyro features on the way for the next version of the app. However, what you're asking for is not feasible due to a phenomena called "gyro drift", which is a result of error in the gyro calculation that accumulates over time. If you were to set a North direction reference for the gyro and then rotate around 360°, you'd find that the gyro azimuth would not return to North -- it will be off by 5-10°. Do another 360 rotation in the same direction, and you'll be off by 10-20°. One more and the error will be 20-40°. This affects all apps, including the iSetSquare app you mentioned. There is no way to avoid gyro drift in a pure gyro measurement. I do have gyro-based azimuth features in development for the next version of the app, but they won't be based on pure gyro measurements because drift would render them useless. If you'd like more info, please contact me directly.
Ziggymay, I am sincerely sorry you are having difficulties with the app. The "stuck" shutter iris issue is an iOS 4 bug affecting the iPhone 4 when the flash fires, and I am unable to correct this from my end. I have filed a bug report with Apple (Bug ID #8203249) and they are aware of the issue. I hope it will be fixed in iOS 4.1. In the meantime, I am submitting an update to Theodolite (2.0.3) which will disable the flash, to avoid the stuck shutter when using this app.
wavrunrx, I have tested the app extensively on 3G hardware, and have not run into the crashing issue you describe. If the app crashes before it begins functioning, then something else is the root cause (not the app). You may wish to try deleting the app and then reinstalling. This often corrects a variety of crash-on-launch situations with apps. If that doesn't work, please contact me through the address on the app's support web page.
regards,
Craig Hunter
Ron Bowman
Great app for measuring angles outside (or inside). I had an issue today (holiday) and shot off an e-mail describing the issue. In less than an hour I had an e-mail with the solution. Simply reboot the Iphone as OS 4 allows other apps to run in the background & chew up memory. At any rate the issue was resolved in an hour & I have had no futher issues. Terrific Service. This is what customer service should be everywhere. Thanks.
- $3.99
- Category: Navigation
- Updated:Aug 25, 2010
- Current Version:2.0.3
- 2.0.3
- 2.8 MB
- Language:English
- Seller:Craig Hunter
- © 2009-2010 Hunter Research and Technology LLC
Requirements:Compatible with iPhone. Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
