Free Digital Magnetic Field Detector (Android Apps)!

[gravityblock]

This free app measures magnetic field values using the magnetic sensor that is built into the Android based phones.  I tested this app on my phone and it works.  When I brought my phone towards a strong neo, the displayed value dramatically increased and the phone started to vibrate after it reached a certain value.  You can also set the magnetic field level for an alarm.  It detects metal also.  I'm impressed!  I thought this could be useful in some of our experiments.  Easy calibration for more accurate readings.  Feel free to post any other apps which may be helpful.

Video:  Metal and Magnetic Field Detector.

Thanks,

Gravock

[conradelektro]

This free app measures magnetic field values using the magnetic sensor that is built into the Android based phones.  I tested this app on my phone and it works.  When I brought my phone towards a strong neo, the displayed value dramatically increased and the phone started to vibrate after it reached a certain value.  You can also set the magnetic field level for an alarm.  It detects metal also.  I'm impressed!  I thought this could be useful in some of our experiments.  Easy calibration for more accurate readings.  Feel free to post any other apps which may be helpful.
Thanks, Gravock

I downloaded this App to my Galaxy Nexus (Android 4.1.1) and it seems to work. But it is difficult to get the same measurement of the same object (metal or permanent magnet) a second time. The measurements look a bit haphazard.

I checked with an other App that I really have a magnet sensor and this App shows constantly changing values in the X, Y and Z axis. It looks like one needs some statistical evaluation and smoothing in order to get useful results. One also has to come up with a "standard distance" in order to have comparable measurements (like this object is more magnetic than an other object).

I could not find a big metal object (8 x 80 mm steel bolt) under the wooden table plate. Metal objects placed against the back of the mobile phone are detected (but always with different values). Placing the mobile phone on a big steel sheet flips the program out (has to be recalibrated).

Measuring magnetic properties is not that straight forward. But it is an interesting App, thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Greetings, Conrad

[gravityblock]

Hi Conrad,

If I take a reading, recalibrate, then take another reading of the same object I get around the same values.  Maybe there is some form of residual magnetism or charge being held, and recalibrating resets it to give a base reading around 49 even though the true value of the sensors may be different.  I think by recalibrating after each reading, then we can get relative values instead of absolute values, which is still useful IMO.  I'm going to see if the vibrator has any effect on the stored residual magnetism or charge the device may be holding.  I have a feeling the vibration is the result of a capacitor being charged and discharged by a changing magnetic field.  I think you're right about a 'standard distance' being required in order to get relative or comparable readings.  Thanks for taking the time to check this out, I really appreciate any feed back. 

Gravock   

[e2matrix]

The Android App called 'Tricorder'  - yes like a Star Trek Tricorder has the magnetic sensor in it too but also has a bunch of other sensors too including gravity, gps, sound, Solar and it even sounds like the original Star Trek Tricorder.  Very cool app.   There's actually 2 different versions I've seen.  One is better than the other.  I don't see it currently on Google play but if anyone is interested I'll find a link. 

[e2matrix]

Seems CBS went after the developer of 'Tricorder'  :  "Sorry Tricorder fans, Tricorder has been deleted from the Android Market by Google, at the demand of CBS's legal weasels. This all happened without any discussion or warning -- I was simply notified after the fact.

Since I don't have legal weasels of my own, or the time to deal with this, that's it for Tricorder.

It's apparently the graphical design that's at issue, not the name. According to Wikipedia, "Gene Roddenberry's contract included a clause allowing any company able to create functioning technology to use the name". Now that GR is dead, I guess CBS believes they own swoopy curves.
I do wonder if there's a real copyright issue here at all, though I understand why the developer doesn't feel like fighting it. Still, it's a real shame that CBS feels the need to attack Star Trek fans for no good reason."


However nothing ever totally disappears from the Internet
V 5.12 is latest ...    http://www.freewarelovers.com/android/app/tricorder