The recent release of the iPhone 2.0 firmware upgrade has made the already awesome Apple iPhone even more awesome. Why? Well, iPhone owners can now install 3rd party software applications on their devices which are available for free or purchase from the new iTunes "AppStore". In just three weeks, over a thousand apps have been developed for the iPhone. Some are games, others are productivity tools, and others-like a virtual sheet of bubble wrap that you can "pop"-are just plain weird.
So what does this have to do with tools? I was browsing the App Store the other day and noticed a new app called "Level". Essentially, it's a virtual bubble level that operates on an iPhone or iPod touch. For just 99 cents, you can now have a very accurate handy-dandy "bubble" level on your phone. Make sense? Check out this video demonstration:
How does this work? The Apple iPhone has a built in accelerometer
that can precisely determine the iPhone's physical orientation.
Accelerometers are electronic devices that are used to precisely detect
motion by measuring acceleration and gravity it experiences. If you've
ever played a Nintendo Wii video game system, you are already familiar
with accelerometers as they are what give the Wii it's revolutionary
motion-sensitive control system.
So, some clever programmer at software studio "PosiMotion" figured out how to use the iPhone's accelerometers to function effectively as a surprisingly accurate virtual bubble level. How accurate?
Compared to a Stabila level I borrowed out of the Tool King Superstore, it looks accurate...although I admit I have no way of actually measuring exactly how accurate.
For a mere .99 cents, iPhone/iPod Touch owners can download the Level application from the iTunes App Store or directly from the device on the "App Store".
Using one's iPhone as a hammer, on the other hand, is not such a good idea
08/13/2008 - drill/Driver ranks is Makita's new LCT203W Compact Driver-Drill and Impact Driver kit. The DF030DW Dri…</div>', 270);" onmouseout="hidettip();">Makita's New LCT203W Cordless Combo Kit
The recent release of the iPhone 2.0 firmware upgrade has made the already awesome Apple iPhone even more awesome. Why? Well, iPhone owners can now install 3rd party software applications on their devices which are available for free or purchase from the new iTunes "AppStore". In just three weeks, over a thousand apps have been developed for the iPhone. Some are games, others are productivity tools, and others-like a virtual sheet of bubble wrap that you can "pop"-are just plain weird.
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