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Tricorder – Not just for Trekkies!
Tested version: 5.12
Latest version: 5.12
Requires Android: from 1.6
Summary
More and more people can call themselves smartphone-ophiles, but proper geeks and nerds are still a thriving bunch—and that’s a good thing! They were the first to appreciate Android for what it can do and made the Android platform what it is today. Which is why we decided to review a hardcore geek-app for you today, and while Tricorder has bona fide geekitude none-geeks may also enjoy it, so check out today’s review!
Features & Use
Test device: Samsung Galaxy Tab 7“
Android Version: 2.3.3
Root: No
Modifications (CPU changes, etc.): None
Samsung Nexus S
Android Version: 2.3.4
Root: No
Modifications: None
App details: runs as of: Android 1.6
Apps2SD: Yes
Authorizations: Network communications, location, hardware controls elements, system tools, calls
Star Trek—some of you may have heard of it. While I am a Star Trek fan I wouldn’t go so far as calling myself a Trekkie, meaning I enjoy watching the TV shows and films... and that’s it. Star Treck has a lot more to do with mobile phones and tablets than one might think. The first mobile phone was developed by Motorola designer Rudy Krolopp. Krolopp was a big Star Trek fan and it was his goal to develop a device that enabled wireless communication, with greater performance than the wireless receiving sets that were on the market at the time. He saw Star Trek’s Communicator as the greatest example of wireless communication, even if the technological aspect of the fictional device was pure science fiction at the time of its first appearance in the television show. Krolopp wanted to build a working communicator, and that’s how the first mobile phone was born.
Similarly, tablets were featured in Start Trek way before they made their debut on the market. Touch screen controls are an integral part of Star Trek technology, and they’re just as important for Tricorder. But what is Tricorder, you ask? The Star Trek tricorder was about twice as big as a modern day touchscreen smartphone. It could be used to detect living organism in one’s surroundings, measure magnetic fields, examine organic materials, etc. Only later on did the tricorder come to resemble the modern day smartphone: a portable device with a big touchscreen. That’s why we love a Tricorder app for Android!
Tricorder the app can’t do everything the original (and fictional) tricorder could, but it has a lot of useful functions nonetheless. Even the sound effects are very reminiscent of the original.
Time and date can be found on the top left, only it’s in the form or ‘star time’ making it somewhat tricky to decipher at first. 20/5/2011, 8:45 am is shown as 2011.14008.45. The digits make sense, save for 140, now what could that possibly mean? Then it all becomes clear: 20 May is the 140th day of the year! Aside from this little gimmick that app has a lot of cool functions to offer. Pick from the following categories on the left side of the display:
• GRAV: Hit SCAN and the acceleration sensor’s measurements will be displayed. A lot of graphics help make sense of it all. Hit ‘Absolute Vector’ to switch to ‘Relative Vector’; hit the XYZ data to turn the whole thing into a table.
• MAG: Graphs and data measure magnetism, and very precisely might I add—try it: run the scan and hold the device over a magnetic/metallic surface.
• ACO: Measure wave forms, spectrums and volume of sounds. This also functions very well aside from the decibel data which came out faulty on both testing devices. I got -64 when scanning in a completely soundless setting. In order to measure sound subtract -64 when you’re in a silent environment or -40 for a conversation (makes 24 decibels).
• GEO: Displays the longitude and latitude of your current location (it’s especially accurate when GPS is activated); there’s also a compass.
• EMS: Reception signal strengths and WLAN in your vicinity are displayed.
• SOL: Requires internet connection and a brief loading time. Pictures of the sun are displayed, as well as information on heat, UV rays, sun patches and dispatched protons and electrons. Tap on the sun in order to flip through variations of pictures. Very nerdy but oh so cool!
Bottom line:
An absolute must-have for Star Trek fans! Even none-Trekkies will find this app useful seeing as it will allow you to delete any other compass, acceleration sensor or magnetometer apps you might have on your device—it’s a three-in-one!
The app does have a few flaws: the decibel display isn’t 100% accurate and the GEO doesn’t have an option to activate/deactivate GPS.
Still, it’s a great little app with lots of geek appeal!
Screen & Controls
The Tricorder’s design is very reminiscent of the Star Trek original, right down to the fonts, buttons and frames. Not only will this please fans, it also makes for simple controls. While the app doesn’t come with mind blowing graphic effects the design is nice and the app is easy to use.
Speed & Stability
Tricorder crashed once while were doing our test runs, but aside from that there’s nothing to report.
Price/Performance Ratio
The Tricorder app can be downloaded for free and there aren’t any ad banners. We’re deducting a point because the developer has announced that he won’t be updating the app in the future.
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Todd Gustafson
Very cool & useful too!