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Dual Level Turns Your iPhone into a Digital Level
Posted by Adam Pash at 2:00 AM on August 25, 2008
iPhone/iPod touch only: Free iPhone application Dual Level uses your iPhone or iPod touch's accelerometer to turn your device into a dual-bubble level. That's really all it does, and though it's a bit jumpy at times, it seems to work pretty well. You probably shouldn't trust this level with building your home, but for a quick and crude leveling job, it seems like it could come in handy (hopefully it'll only improve with updates). This is one app that probably works best with iPod touches and first generation iPhones, since the iPhone 3G's curved back doesn't really help with leveling. Dual Level is a free download from the iTunes store.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
jacobsm
Posted 2:51 AM 25/8/08
This is hands down the best app they came out with so far. I really mean that. Really.
jacobsm
PatrickTulskie
Posted 2:41 AM 25/8/08
My friend showed me this on his iPhone the other day. It was the first time I saw something on an iPhone I really wish I'd had for my blackberry.
PatrickTulskie
subtle
Posted 2:32 AM 25/8/08
That is a very cool application -- nice find.
subtle
techhead89
Posted 3:16 AM 25/8/08
welcome to world of the iphone. here we have lots of useless programs, to fit every budget style. cheap? check out the Hold Button for the iphone, available free at the nearest iTunes store! free not your thing? Check out the I Am Rich app, coming in 1 penny short of $1000. Need to level something, and have a hard time telling if its level? This app will help you level an object. Note: This may or may not be accurate. We suggest back-checking this application with your eyes, preferably at somewhat of a distance.
techhead89
haxxed
Posted 3:07 AM 25/8/08
@8abhive I highly doubt that a meter would work better. If anything they would work equally as well, bubble levels are damn precise as the bubbble is only as wide as the lines.
haxxed
8abhive
Posted 3:04 AM 25/8/08
Very cool.
Does it have a digital or meter mode? Mimicking a real bubble-level is neat and makes the app stand out, but meters would work better in the real world. Audio feedback?
8abhive
iceman7
Posted 2:57 AM 25/8/08
Holy crap. This app alone makes me wanna get an iPhone.
iceman7
jch0075
Posted 2:56 AM 25/8/08
@Jacobsm,
Remote? Pandora? Shazam? Evernote?
jch0075
ShadyPghGuy
Posted 3:29 AM 25/8/08
I found this one last week was so excited. Can't count the number of times I've wished for a level on hand and now I do.
ShadyPghGuy
synth7
Posted 4:42 AM 25/8/08
I swear to Jobs I downloaded this less than half an hour ago when I was remounting my shower curtain bar and didn't want to just eyeball it. I checked all around the house for a level before the idea to check the App Store popped into my head. Then I come sit down, check Lifehacker, and bam here is an article about this App. Good show.
synth7
hoosadam
Posted 5:09 AM 25/8/08
@kslow: yeah, cut/copy/paste
hoosadam
kslow
Posted 5:02 AM 25/8/08
@8abhive: I'm with you, bubbles are just for show. Having a numerical readout is the way to go when dealing with a digital device.
Also, this app makes me lol. iphones, is there anything they can't do?
kslow
brownboyrx
Posted 5:50 AM 25/8/08
Useless app once again, I wouldn't even try to use this to hang a picture. Where's cut and paste????
brownboyrx
meowsqueak
Posted 7:36 AM 25/8/08
I foresee see millions of horizontally challenged toilet roll holders, towel rails and shelves appearing all over the place.
Until someone works out the accuracy of this thing, trust your eyes or use a real level.
meowsqueak
LJSeinfeld
Posted 9:02 AM 25/8/08
If you think this is a suitable substitute for a real level you have no business mounting, hanging, installing anything.
And for the "digtal readout" folks... real levels have bubbles. We need to raise the bar to entry in the construction trades.. not cater to the bubble-deficient.
LJSeinfeld
johnsmith1234
Posted 9:43 AM 25/8/08
@haxxed: Yeah real bubble levels are very innovtive in their simplicity, and precise but you have to carefully examine the bubble to make sure it is fully centered. Look at the L/R bubble in the screenshot, it looks centered. Look closer... it isn't. Being an electronic device and not a tube of water and air, you aren't just limited to a bubble, so why not also have a meter, colour changing, sounds, etc.
johnsmith1234
8abhive
Posted 10:40 AM 25/8/08
@LJSeinfeld: Is it inaccurate, or just bouncy? I haven't seen it.
There's no magical accuracy to bubble levels. It's an elegant solution, but it's a rare thing that can't be improved.
A "digital" needle on a scale or a numeric +/- value would be more friendly by virtue of having one item to evaluate instead of two. And really, the two comparisons in a bubble level are approximations since the bubble and line edges rarely match.
8abhive
Funkster
Posted 5:46 PM 25/8/08
I got the free game Labyrinth Lite to mess about with, if hit settings it has the same duel levels, i used it the other day for levelling my camper van when we parked up for a family holiday.
Two apps for the price of one....fee :)
Funkster
freezejeans
Posted 1:39 AM 26/8/08
LOL. I don't have an iPhone, but admittedly, this is one very cool app. What an excellent idea, too.
freezejeans
GenericKen
Posted 2:05 AM 26/8/08
Isn't this app just a copy-paste of code sample #3 in the API? I think all he did was move the calibrate button and make the background yellow.
GenericKen
RevWaldo
Posted 1:50 AM 26/8/08
It'd be cool if this could log results over time. Turn it on, clip it to your belt, then do the extreme sport of your choice. Use the accelerometer to track your Gs as well.
RevWaldo
moloko
Posted 9:14 PM 26/8/08
me wantee iphone!! me wantee iphone!
moloko
sshanky
Posted 5:35 AM 25/8/08
@kslow: yeah, sustain a telephone call without dropping it :)
sshanky
sshanky
Posted 5:32 AM 25/8/08
@kslow: yeah, sustain a long telephone call without dropping it
sshanky