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I just got Captivate and I really enjoy the phone, but I'm having an issues with all applications that use digital compass (Compass, Google Sky Map, Layar, etc.). All of them are very jumpy. If I open up Google Sky Map, stand still and slowly turn, the map is jumping every few seconds, it doesn't smoothly rotate with me. I just compared it to my broser's Evo and it's like night and day. His phone is rotating the map very smoothly with no visible jumps, and on mine you can clearly notice jumps all the time. Is this happening to everyone, or my phone just have defective digital compass? Or is this an accelerometer issue all together?
Am I the only one having this issue? Should I go exchange my phone then?
I think the compass is wonky on all Captivates, and maybe all Galaxy S phones. We're hoping for a software update to fix it.
Ya I am also having this problem. I have tryed out some racing games and some other games that are not playable. I have downloaded some of the sensor test apps and they jump all over the place. Sky maps is also the same. It seems to be the magnetic sensor and the 6 axis. I don't see them using a cheap sensor and then hyping it in the ads and on the box. I am thinking it probibly a software issue as none of the other phones had this type of sensor.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Am I the only one not having problems then? Well at least on the compass I am not, have tried any accelerometer games
Edit: My accelerometer is fine also, it seems to me a good way to check is a game like Labyrinth Lite that is solely the accelerometer for control, and that game is very playable which it wouldn't be with the problems you guys are having...
My Compass works perfectly, any gyro or accelerometer based game works perfectly, it's only Google Sky that seems to be a bit jumpy. And it doesn't jump "all over the place," rather it just is jittery while it is being moved about. However I noticed the same jitteriness on my friend's Droid, so it may just be a problem with Google Sky in general.
asrrin29 said:
My Compass works perfectly, any gyro or accelerometer based game works perfectly, it's only Google Sky that seems to be a bit jumpy. And it doesn't jump "all over the place," rather it just is jittery while it is being moved about. However I noticed the same jitteriness on my friend's Droid, so it may just be a problem with Google Sky in general.
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Click to collapse
I just tried google sky on my captivate and it also is jerky like yours. Is your friend's droid the first moto droid? About a month ago, I was looking at my sister's moto droid (1st gen) and google sky worked perfectly.
asrrin29 said:
My Compass works perfectly, any gyro or accelerometer based game works perfectly, it's only Google Sky that seems to be a bit jumpy. And it doesn't jump "all over the place," rather it just is jittery while it is being moved about. However I noticed the same jitteriness on my friend's Droid, so it may just be a problem with Google Sky in general.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Sky Map doesn't jump all over the place for me, it also just jittery (when you move slowly), but Layar does. So does the Compass app... It becomes a bit better if you run any of the accelerometer test apps in the background, but even then it's a bit jumpy... Hoping for a software fix for this some time in the future.
Similar issues
I own a Captivate, and I am a serious astronomy buff and was very excited to try out google sky. but when I tried it out I discovered it was very jumpy when I used it casually indoors during the day. But I was far more disappointed at night. When I tried it then, I started up the program and noticed it was jumpy like before but figured I would just have to live with it. But when I pointed it up at a constellation, I noticed the stars didn't match, and a nice circle labeled "sun" that clearly wasn't there. It wasn't reading the correct position apparently. This problem makes Google Sky almost entirely useless, which is incredibly disappointing.
What makes it worse is my roommate who showed me a similar program on his iPhone 4 that was completely smooth and accurate. Boy did that make me feel like I had the inferior product.
I have also had issues with the jerky compass, and seemingly anything else that deals with the physical position of the phone. For example, the phone on google maps showed me as moving around (seemingly in a path) while I was sitting down, not moving; and the GPS accuracy in general seems fairly low (usually 50-100 ft off-ish).
If these problems can be fixed via software update then I would be MUCH happier with my phone once things worked as well as I would think they are supposed to.
This is particularly important to me also because I am looking to start developing android apps and would want to use and then test apps using these systems. As of right now though, these seem to be far below par.
-TheOnlyMerlin
The compass didn't ever work for me either, would point in random directions and hop all over. Layar was unusable and Yelp's Monacle would never show things in the right direction. Skymap was just a mess.
I just thought the games that you had to tilt the thing sucked, like labyrinth, racing games, etc. Couldn't control any of them.
The two things on the phone I loved were the screen and swype.
hobbbbit said:
Google Sky Map doesn't jump all over the place for me, it also just jittery (when you move slowly), but Layar does. So does the Compass app... It becomes a bit better if you run any of the accelerometer test apps in the background, but even then it's a bit jumpy... Hoping for a software fix for this some time in the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just update Google Earth on my captivate and if I use hardware sensors to control the view, it uses compass to update your view on Google earth and it seems (at least for me) very smooth in comparison to Layar or Google Skymap.
what I've noticed with mine:
mine was jerky as mentioned above.
a simple compass app shows that if I tilt the phone the compass follows, which tells me the app is using the tilt sensors and not the compass.
I flashed jh2 and it worked for a while, but at some point it stopped again. still trying to narrow down why... but this tells me it's a software thing
I'm not sure if it was an app I installed, or maybe it worked until I turned the phone off, not sure, need to do more research, really just hoping our froyo update will fix it
I have the issue too. When you go into the test app even with the phone sitting on a table the compass heading is constantly changing. Its an issue with all captivates.
I was a vibrant owner and had the same issues. To my knowledge, this problem is evident in all US galaxy s phones. The epic may have avoided the bug due to its later release. Samsung is supposedly pushing out a fix for the GPS and we're all hoping they will address the totally laggy compass too. There are YouTube videos demonstrating the problem on the vibrant. Cross your fingers but know you're not alone.
I've certainly noticed this problem too with the compass. The six-axis seems fine though.
Mostly I've found that how you hold the phone effects the interference with the compass. I've done a side by side comparison with a real high quality compass (both phone and compass calibrated to magnetic north) and the Captivate isn't all that bad after it's "settled" and on a level non-metallic surface. It's just the quick movement or change of direction that really seems to throw it off.
Hey all - I don't mean to bring this long dead thread back to life, but I figured it was better than starting a new one.
Has anyone figured anything out with the jittery compass issues?
I've only had my Captivate for a week, but am definitely dealing w/ the jitters (let alone the GPS issue).
I've found that it can be demonstrated pretty well using the sensor test on the phone (*#0*# -> Sensor) - it displays the data from the magnetic sensor... on mine, X, Y, and Z coordinates are all bouncing up and down within a couple of points.
Any thoughts or advice on this?
I'm still well within the first 30 days.
yourtvlies said:
Hey all - I don't mean to bring this long dead thread back to life, but I figured it was better than starting a new one.
Has anyone figured anything out with the jittery compass issues?
I've only had my Captivate for a week, but am definitely dealing w/ the jitters (let alone the GPS issue).
I've found that it can be demonstrated pretty well using the sensor test on the phone (*#0*# -> Sensor) - it displays the data from the magnetic sensor... on mine, X, Y, and Z coordinates are all bouncing up and down within a couple of points.
Any thoughts or advice on this?
I'm still well within the first 30 days.
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Click to collapse
Did you update to JH7 yet? I heard it fixed the compass issue.
gtg465x said:
Did you update to JH7 yet? I heard it fixed the compass issue.
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Click to collapse
Indeed I did - I had the opportunity to briefly examine another unit, as well and while I believe it was on JH6, the compass seemed very steady.
Sorry for the bump- but I have a more specific question for people:
Does anyone have a unit where the compass is steady? Either in the sensor test (*#0*#) or elsewhere?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
yourtvlies said:
Sorry for the bump- but I have a more specific question for people:
Does anyone have a unit where the compass is steady? Either in the sensor test (*#0*#) or elsewhere?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If i put it on a flat surface away from any metal then it is almost solid. Some minor movements and now and then. But it is super picky about being near anything metal.
I have been playing with my TF for a little over a month. I updated to 3.1 so I don't know it this is an issue. My problem is the ambient light sensor. It doesnt seem to work. No matter what brightness i have or if it's on auto or not I have never seen my screen get dimmer or brighter in any situation. I put a flashlight right on the sensor and I see nothing change onscreen. Anyone else have this going on?
My light sensor appears to work. It does have a fair amout of hysterisis in it otherwise it would drive you nuts.
Sounds like you're either not shining your torch at the actual sensor or yours really doesnt work. It's about an inch to the left of the front camera in case it's the former. It should poll every 4 seconds when on 'auto' brightness, and change the screen accordingly. I find that it works, but it doesnt really change the screen brightness to the best level for viewing. I'm sure there's an app to deal with this although I usually just set it manually. It's easy enough to do.
Oyeve said:
I have been playing with my TF for a little over a month. I updated to 3.1 so I don't know it this is an issue. My problem is the ambient light sensor. It doesnt seem to work. No matter what brightness i have or if it's on auto or not I have never seen my screen get dimmer or brighter in any situation. I put a flashlight right on the sensor and I see nothing change onscreen. Anyone else have this going on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's perfectly possible the sensor is sensitive to IR or some other wavelength in daylight that's not emitted by your flashlight. The sensor definitely works just fine for me.
I never notice the screen changing brightness (it's designed to gradually change according to the different light exposure so human eyes don't notice it changed, but in reality it did change). When I'm in a car however, if there's trees near by and it blocks the sun every so often, I can clearly see the brightness suddenly shooting up and dropping down. I don't think it works with lamps though (turning on my lights didn't make the display brighter), only light from the sun.
It works quite well now that I'm updated to 3.1. It went through various stages of not working or just messing up back on the 3.0 updates. Now it reacts, increases and decreases and the screen is bright enough.
Mine seems broken too. Strange, because this would be the first thing wrong with me Transformer and it doesn't even seem like a common problem.
This and the browser typing lag alone are making me think of selling it.
Okay, mine is definitely broken.
I just tried it by going out in the balcony and then going in the bathroom and shutting the door - nothing happens.
Seriously Asus, what were you doing when you designed and built this thing? My Tranformer is otherwise perfect - no light bleed, no creaks, no pubes under the screen, no issue at all. Except the light sensor... it seems maybe the perfect Transformer doesn't exist.
mine works
Okay, some progress.
Shinning my HD2's bright dual LED's right onto the sensor actually makes the sensor work.
But still, this thing is apparently not calibrated well because going from outside to a totally dark room didn't change the brightness - it doesn't matter if putting two LEDs right onto the sensor makes it work, that's not why it's there.
On my TF, it takes about a minute for the brightness to change when I move from a dark room to the great outdoors.
Give it a little time for the software loop to kick in
Is this any way to calibrate this sensor? It's works horrible!
Shawn_230 said:
Okay, some progress.
Shinning my HD2's bright dual LED's right onto the sensor actually makes the sensor work.
But still, this thing is apparently not calibrated well because going from outside to a totally dark room didn't change the brightness - it doesn't matter if putting two LEDs right onto the sensor makes it work, that's not why it's there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a screen protector?
Not to go off topic but I only had keyboard lag when I was using the Asus keyboard Shawn, have you tried the default Android keyboard?
There is an app in the market called androsensor that will tellyou the values for many sensors including the light sensor.
Mine is measured in lux and ranges from 0 to 400 indoors it does not update quickly mine updates every few seconds.
Sent from my Transformer TF101
vladdt said:
Is this any way to calibrate this sensor? It's works horrible!
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Click to collapse
There is a paid program i use and love called lux
Well worth the price imo. It essentially lets you manually adjust the screen brightness for the various light levels over time, remembers these and will automatically put the screen at those levels next time. It alo has some logic too but i cant talk to that.
Sent from my Transformer TF101
It seems to work for me except that it doesn't adjust the levels properly. I can be in a somewhat bright room and the brightness is still at its lowest level, making it difficult to read. However, in broad daylight, the brightness shoots up.
I might try Lux as suggested previously.
lrissman said:
There is a paid program i use and love called lux
Well worth the price imo. It essentially lets you manually adjust the screen brightness for the various light levels over time, remembers these and will automatically put the screen at those levels next time. It alo has some logic too but i cant talk to that.
Sent from my Transformer TF101
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for Lux - great app
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalkr
I recently acquired two NS phones, one for wife, one for me. After playing them for a few days, I found the compass is not working for both of them,even after the calibration. They point to everywhere but the right direction.
I came from Samsung Vibrant, the reason I switched was because Vibrant has bad GPS and defective compass, which really bothered me. Now after the jumping, I found NS has the similar compass problem...
Can Samsung really make a working phone?
Maybe you got a bad one, I came from the vibrant a month ago and I'm hooked. Everything works and never going back to a non nexus phone ever. GPS works perfectly and locks in less than ten seconds. My first one was a dud so I got exchanged. If you're not happy than demand to be satisfied. Do it!!
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
I gave up on my compass, too. It rotates with the phone... Not completely anyway, but the display is nearly completely independent from magnetic north. I think the sensor value may be computed by something like
Code:
north = sha1(/dev/urandom + /dev/accelerometer);
On a more serious side note: We have some metal parts in our phones. If one close to the magnetometer sensor is only slightly magnetized, that would likely seriously impact compass performance. Unfortunately, there is neither a (simple) way to find out, whether it is so, nor a (simple) way to fix it.
since I acquired the two NS phones from two independent channels, now both of them showing bad compass, I'd suspect this is something systematic.
I'm surprised to see so little echo on this issue...
coolmib said:
since I acquired the two NS phones from two independent channels, now both of them showing bad compass, I'd suspect this is something systematic.
I'm surprised to see so little echo on this issue...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just checked my compass on my NS and it seems to be real close to pointing north.
I had a G1 before and the compass would occasionally get stuck and give inaccurate readings. To fix that I would shake the phone vigorously like I was trying to take the fizz from a soda bottle and that would make the compass work properly. However I don't think that that is a problem with the NS.
The compass points wherever the point of gravity is. North is always facing down for me for some reason but gps status seems to work, but not entirely accurate.
Is there still no fix for this issue?
I often have to do the figure 8 when I want the compass to point north. Normally this works for me.
Seems like it was a rom issue. I had the newest cm rc1 and north was pointing wherever the ground was. I just returned it back to rooted 2.3.4 stock and seems to work fine, except it's shaky now.
EDIT: There is the "Compass" app that still points down, but google map and the other compass apps works somewhat fine (still shaky and about 10-15 degrees off or so)
I wonder is it pointing TRUE north or MAGNETIC north? Where I live there is almost no declination however some areas are +-15 degrees.
For my case in the original post, both phones are running the stock ROM of 2.3.4 (unrooted). I tried several compass Apps from the Market, none of them pointing to the right direction.....I wonder if it's a hardware problem.
coolmib said:
For my case in the original post, both phones are running the stock ROM of 2.3.4 (unrooted). I tried several compass Apps from the Market, none of them pointing to the right direction.....I wonder if it's a hardware problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try using "Smart Compass" if you search for "Compass" in the market, it's usually the second one from the top.
koyanishi said:
I just checked my compass on my NS and it seems to be real close to pointing north.
I had a G1 before and the compass would occasionally get stuck and give inaccurate readings. To fix that I would shake the phone vigorously like I was trying to take the fizz from a soda bottle and that would make the compass work properly. However I don't think that that is a problem with the NS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have experimented a bit more with NS compass and have to agree that its accuracy is random - occasionally it will point north but more often it will be off by 10 to 20 degrees.
SovereigN7 said:
Try using "Smart Compass" if you search for "Compass" in the market, it's usually the second one from the top.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just downloaded and installed "Smart Compass"。 Same problems persist...
try the compass built into the mapping app Locus. Best compass i've found yet.
coolmib said:
For my case in the original post, both phones are running the stock ROM of 2.3.4 (unrooted). I tried several compass Apps from the Market, none of them pointing to the right direction.....I wonder if it's a hardware problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I think it is a hardware problem.
While researching a problem I have with NFC reading tags I cam upon this gem from this tread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=905512&highlight=nfc+-reading+tags
And chadrockey had this to say in post # 1 of that tread.
chadrockey said:
So I've been noticing that my compass would always misbehave (in terms of accuracy, not stability a la Sky Maps). I would get a pretty large static error (30 to 40 degrees obviously not declination); rotations would not be consistent (IE, a 180 degree turn would yield 100 degrees change.); and the magnitude of raw measurements was not like that of the magnetometer I got from Sparkfun.
Turns out the neodymium magnets I had near my desk actually latched onto my phone and magnetized the NFC antenna. I tested this by removing the cover and putting the magnet near the antenna and it sticks. Without the cover on, the compass worked much better.
I've mostly demagnetized my NFC antenna now by doing some magnet sweeps and leaving it near the heater, but I've learned to keep the magnets away.
If anyone is having problems with the compass overall accuracy, removing the back cover may help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now I never, as far as I know, have had strong magnets near the nfc antenna, but the nfc app does not read nfc tags so it could be that it is magnetized.
But if I take the back cover off my NS as chadrockey recommends, then the compass reading will be spot on.
oh, and btw, the best compass app that I know comes from swiss army knife which is one app containing a number of other neat apps
I have the same problem with my nexus s compass, north is not accurate ever and augmented reality application like streetview defect because the compass seems to vibrate, even if I have my hand stable the screen vibrates like I'm shacking the phone...
walker7373 said:
I have the same problem with my nexus s compass, north is not accurate ever and augmented reality application like streetview defect because the compass seems to vibrate, even if I have my hand stable the screen vibrates like I'm shacking the phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you try using the compass without the case back cover?
tried removing the back case, compass still not working
I gave up my compass a couple of weeks after i got the phone. Shakes like a drug addict and the accuracy is worse than a blind guy trying out sharp shooting for the first time.
Ive removed the back cover, tried different apps and "calibrated" the compass multiple times but to no avail.
Join the club. The compass is a failure and google is not fixing, or not able to fix it.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Just a heads up with the compass on the S4. I noticed that the compass on my S4 wasn't working. I tried it with several apps including ISS Detector, Mobile Observatory, and GPS status. It just sat there, not showing the correct direction. I then used "GPS Status and Toolbox" (available in the Play store) to calibrate the compass. I just followed the directions and it worked. I now have a working and accurate compass. I would have figured it should have worked fine out of the box and was about to return it when I tried this. I also would have thought they would include an internal means to calibrate it...but I guess not. So you might want to check and see if your compass is actually working out of the box or if you need to calibrate it.
never notice this , i will try it later.:laugh:
Yup. Mine was way off. Thanks for the heads up.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
Mine was constantly pointing northwest before I calibrated, thanks
I had the same problem when I tested mine. Tried the app you recommended and it calibrated successfully and now works. Thanks!
Yea my came out fine. Thanks for the tip!
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4
Wow I never realized mine did not work. Thanks for the tip, it works great now!
For other people, when it says to rotate it on three of it's axis, I flipped the phone horizontally a few times, then in the vertical direction, then I put it on my palm and spun it in a circle a few times. Works great now!
GS3 had compass issues too; this fixed those as well. my old Atrix 4G you had to rotate the phone in all 3 dimensions repeatedly, but it was DEAD on.
Can't find this app in the play store...
Is it listed under something else?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
switters1 said:
Can't find this app in the play store...
Is it listed under something else?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2&hl=en
Mine was way off, too. Thanks for the help!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Yup, mine was stuck too. Fixed in an instant. Thanks.:laugh:
odinfire said:
Yup, mine was stuck too. Fixed in an instant. Thanks.:laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thank you! This issue was upsetting me, and this fixed it straight away!
Is it normal to need the compass recalibrating every day? Seems every time I fire up a compass application, ir is out of whack!
Is there a permanent solution?
Aitch said:
Is it normal to need the compass recalibrating every day? Seems every time I fire up a compass application, ir is out of whack!
Is there a permanent solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had to calibrate mine several times. I haven't found a permanent solution. As long as I calibrate it when it acts whacky, it works fine. It only takes a few seconds. Sometimes I have to do it a couple of times per week, and sometimes I only need to do it once a month or so. I guess it depends on how often you use functions that involve the compass. Regardless, apps like Maps and Navigation work just fine even when the compass isn't calibrated. I guess they get their directions and data in a different way. It's not a huge problem, I guess the compass in the S4 just isn't very strong.
scott14719 said:
I've had to calibrate mine several times. I haven't found a permanent solution. As long as I calibrate it when it acts whacky, it works fine. It only takes a few seconds. Sometimes I have to do it a couple of times per week, and sometimes I only need to do it once a month or so. I guess it depends on how often you use functions that involve the compass. Regardless, apps like Maps and Navigation work just fine even when the compass isn't calibrated. I guess they get their directions and data in a different way. It's not a huge problem, I guess the compass in the S4 just isn't very strong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are all S4's like this? I used to have a case with magnets (which I don't use now) so could that have messed up the compass?
There's something wrong with the compass in google maps.
When google maps is 2d mode where maps are displayed with north at the top on the phone, the arrow on the blue dot is suppose to point to north but I find things seem to be 'doubled'. If I slowly rotate the phone, the arrow rotates doubled by the amount rotated. Example rotate the phone by 90 degrees, the arrow rotates by 180 degrees instead.
But google maps in compass mode, compass seem to work fine as it is displayed correctly.
This tool doesn't change anything here.
I think it's more likely to be (somewhat) accurate when the GPS has the optimal satellite visibility configuration, but most of the time it's just plain random. Always has been on all devices I could check.
UPDATE - if this forum thingy allows me to
Realized the cover was using a magnet to keep closed, it's a really silly design flaw! Now it's behaving better (if not very accurate but that's to be expected).
Bit of help here: check with *#0*#0 then Sensors to see whether your compass needs calibrating or not. If it does, it's written in the small black compass view, in the magnetic sensor area.
Compas fix
Nice one thanks! Compass was totally inoperative until I used app to calibrate. Works perfect now! Galaxy S4 9505
My compass constantly needs recalibration... So frustrating. And it doesn't recalibrate correctly even though I have tried to do it both via GPS Status and *#0*#. I just look stupid for a long amount of time with my hands and arms getting tired because of this inadequate compass in my S4. Never had this problem with my three previous HTCs. Quite like Samsung to give me a bad phone among hundreds of batches.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
How accurate should the compass be on this phone? When I'm driving using google maps it is usually off by about 30 degrees with the blue arrow in front of the circle rarely aligned with the direction I'm traveling on the road. Same at home, standing outside, it could be even worse, 90 or almost 180 deg in the wrong direction at times.
I tried the calibration with the figure 8 and rotating on the three axis, it seems to help for a time but then the compass is back to incorrect readings.
I'm not sure what I should expect. This is a new phone, about a week old as I just replaced one with a fault GPS. I'd like to know if these are just not too accurate or if I have another faulty device. I had the google case with the magnetic cover and noticed the compass apps would show a very high reading with the cover bent back so I have the phone out of the cover. Same problem after calibration. Even tried safe mode.
mgerbasio said:
How accurate should the compass be on this phone? When I'm driving using google maps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's been off by some, and it often mistakenly thinks I'm facing backwards, and tells me to make a u-turn.
Sent from my Nexus 5