Great, just as I was thinking I should really do a negative review of something (just in case people start to think someone is paying me to say all these positive things about their products…), I find something else that I really like and have to share with you.
This time around, it’s an iPhone app by the name of SkyView. See dramatic screenshot to the left!
What the hell is SkyView I hear you ask? It’s another augmented reality app that uses your iPhone’s camera to show what’s around you. In this particular app, you can see what’s above you.
As the name suggests, it allows you to view the sky…. or more specifically, the stars, planets, satellites and whatever else is floating around in that huge galaxy of ours. It costs just 59p so I downloaded it approximately 20 minutes ago just to have a go, as it was getting great reviews.
I’m glad I did, as I’ve just had a very fun, but very educational 20 minutes. I’ve never really been interested in our solar system – as my school science reports I stumbled upon the other day confirm – but it’s completely fascinating to see what’s up there.
From the screenshot you can see that I was pointing my phone at Saturn. The orange line shows the path it has taken, and it’s future route across the horizon.
Unfortunately, I could not actually see the planet with the naked eye, but it was strangely compelling to know it was there nonetheless. I did test the app with the location of the moon (that was visible without the app – if that makes sense), and it got it spot on, so I have no reason not to trust the accuracy of the SkyView iPhone App.
The only negative – and it’s not the app’s fault – is it uses the iPhone’s compass (and GPS). As you may be aware, there is often interference with the compass, and your phone asks you kindly to move your phone around in a figure of 8 to recalibrate. I had to do this on numerous occasions whilst using SkyView. In the privacy of my own home this is ok, but I may start to look a little odd if doing it out on the street. To be honest though, I guess I’d look crazy enough pointing my phone at the sky in the first place (like one of those mad people you see moving their phone slightly closer to the satellite in order to get a better phone signal – come on, you know you’ve seen this happen….).
To download the app, click here now. Compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch (4th generation), iPad 2 Wi-Fi and iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G. Requires iOS 4.1 or later.
