Compass Free is Probably Lost on Most People

by Michael Alexander December 9, 2008 App Score: 1.0/5

User Reviews
1.5

Compass Free
Developer: 正行 Akamatsu
Price: free Download on the App Store

There's not much you can say about Masayuki Akamatsu's Compass Free because it just doesn't do much. Actually, it doesn't do anything. Launch the app and you get an image of a compass with a shaded area that runs from the edge of the screen to the center of the compass. The shaded area's position relative to the compass center depends on the time of day.

The idea is that you lay the compass on the ground, put your finger in the middle of the compass and then pivot the iPhone until your finger lines up with the shaded area. When you do that, the N on the compass indicates north. I think a stick in the ground would work just as well.Or maybe you could find north by looking at what side of the trees moss grows on like they teach Boy Scouts.

Image Gallery: Compass Free

Old Crow

Or you could just buy a real compass.
Charlie

Just tried it and I wonder why it exists in the first place.
menom

I got it a while back - just thought it might be useful when lost in a foreign city - and hey, lets be fair - you don't have to lay the phone on the ground to use

just gives a rough idea of what way you're facing - and it's free

as for "Or you could just buy a real compass"

yes, but that that;
1. costs me money,
2. is something else to carry
3. is not gonna happen as I only got the app for 'if & when' it may pos be useful (I'm not gonna spend cash on that basis)

my thanks to Masayuki Akamatsu for this potentially useful utility
Michael Alexander

Yes, saying you have to lay it on the ground was dumb. I was thinking of a situation where I was lost in the wilderness and might not be lucky enough to find a table or other flat surface.
Old Crow

Responding to memom

1. costs me money,
So does an iPhone/Touch. I'm sure you can afford a compass
2. is something else to carry
Whoa, so heavy too.
3. is not gonna happen as I only got the app for ‘if & when’ it may pos be useful (I’m not gonna spend cash on that basis)
Again, you spent luxuary money on the device.