GPS navigation is a great feature, but what if you are really lost, and there is no satellite signal to help you find your way? Well, with trusty Nokia N97 in hand we decided to find out with a neat little app called Compass Pro. Find out how we got on with our Compass Pro review.
Recent Nokias come with a nifty little gadget called a magnetometer, which can detect magnetic fields - a compass, in other words, although your phone normally uses it to work out which way it is pointing so you can do things like turn-by-turn navigation
Compass Pro harnesses the magnetometer so you can use it as a proper compass. When you start up the app you are asked to calibrate the compass - luckily this is just a matter of rotating your phone through the axis and will only take a couple of seconds. With that minor chore out of the way you will see a compass rose in one of two styles - Star and Watch.
Watch is the more conventional, and has a pleasingly steampunk vibe while Star is all wavy lines and purple swirls - nice looking but perhaps a little harder to use. As you turn your phone (or just walk around) the rose turns to indicate magnetic north, just like a real compass. The animation is smooth and the response very speedy.
Compass Pro does have a pretty cool trick up its sleeve, too. 'Show Compass Icon' on the settings screen will enable a mini version of the compass that floats on your screen whatever app you are in. It is independent of the home screen widgets so you can keep it active even when sending a text, etc.
Do you need this? Well, if you like outdoor sports or fancy getting a bit Ray Mears on your next camping holiday, then definitely. If you are more of a 'just in case' user you might want to try one of the free alternatives like Compass Touch first, but if you don't mind spending a few Euros, we think this is the best compass app available.
Details
Price: €6.95
Size: 0.778 MB
Check out our Compass Pro Review photo gallery:
