I discovered that when the iPhone is held horizontally or lying on your desk, the accelerometer doesn’t work. At first, I was totally freaked out and thought something was broke.
Click over to watch the demo video.
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I’m not sure why this is the way it is, but if there’s someone out there with an answer, feel free to enlighten the rest of us. Thanks!
By the way, the music is coming from the iPhone. Doesn’t it sound great?
There is no way for the accelerometer to know which way is up if its laying on a flat surface.. simple as that.
thanks!
Yep, this is true for almost any device that uses a chip like this. I remember a post somewhere of a guy showing this. =D
I just ran and grabbed the parrot wireless picture frame – it has a similar feature. Guess it what? haha, it doesn’t work either when its on the side.
The accelerometer only senses which way is down. When the iPhone is on it’s back, down is to the back. During operation the iPhone senses wither down is the bottom or side and adjusts accordingly.
I think it’s down to simple gravity. When the iPhone is near-vertical, gravity pulls down slightly on the accelerometer, so the side which is experiencing that pull indicates the orientation of the phone. When it is flat on its back, gravity would have to be pulling sideways in order to have the same effect.
its a good thing that it doesnt change. when your walking and holding your phone, its basically with the bottom of the phone horizontal to the floor. picture your phone turning every way due to this, it would be a nightmare
Are you really that stupid? Did you try putting it on the table and walking around the table? Here’s a spoiler: it won’t turn towards you! Pff some people….
YUo R eReally nu-Breinar!!!! Have yoo avar heardd da worda PHYSICS????????????????? orra GRAVITY??????????????? Hava yoo attendet sum SCHOOL?????????????
Are there really people that stupid? Do you expect if you walk around it, it would follow you?
ma ti t’ei scemmo??? (translation: are you stupid?) from Genoa in Italy