Showing posts with label tests. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tests. Show all posts
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Get lost! iPhone compass app struggles in tests
Before you start thinking about relying on the iPhone compass app for your next hiking trip, you might want to read the results of tests performed by TechHive. While some believe that the compass issues are limited to the new iPhone 5s and 5c, the tests showed that the problems go well beyond those two models.
The TechHive team used the Compass app in both iOS 6 and iOS 7 on a range of phones from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 5s and 5c. All phones were re-calibrated several times, and the testers found that the results varied greatly regardless of location (inside or outside). The expensive phones were tested against a reliable and cheap -- US$15 -- Suunto A-10 compass.
Tests with an iPhone 5s showed a variation of 10 to 22 degrees, while a 5c showed more consistent results of 9 to 12 degrees off. The iPhone 4s showed an average of 14.5 degrees variation. TechHive found that the worst deviations came from the last years iPhone 5, with one phone showing anywhere from a 15 to 28 degree deviation.
By the way, TechHive took on the testing initially as a way of verifying Gizmodos claim that the iPhone 5s "level sensor" is out of whack. TechHive found that to work just fine, but noticed that the direction finding capability was horribly wrong.
It should be noted that the test results are associated with the Compass app, not the iPhones GPS capabilities. However, its worth considering the purchase of an inexpensive -- and much more accurate -- traditional magnetic compass if youre heading for the deep woods.
The TechHive team used the Compass app in both iOS 6 and iOS 7 on a range of phones from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 5s and 5c. All phones were re-calibrated several times, and the testers found that the results varied greatly regardless of location (inside or outside). The expensive phones were tested against a reliable and cheap -- US$15 -- Suunto A-10 compass.
Tests with an iPhone 5s showed a variation of 10 to 22 degrees, while a 5c showed more consistent results of 9 to 12 degrees off. The iPhone 4s showed an average of 14.5 degrees variation. TechHive found that the worst deviations came from the last years iPhone 5, with one phone showing anywhere from a 15 to 28 degree deviation.
By the way, TechHive took on the testing initially as a way of verifying Gizmodos claim that the iPhone 5s "level sensor" is out of whack. TechHive found that to work just fine, but noticed that the direction finding capability was horribly wrong.
It should be noted that the test results are associated with the Compass app, not the iPhones GPS capabilities. However, its worth considering the purchase of an inexpensive -- and much more accurate -- traditional magnetic compass if youre heading for the deep woods.
Data source: via TUAW (By Steven Sande)
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Google Now beats Siri and Cortana in voice search tests
Google Now edged out rivals like Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana in a recent comparison test.
A digital marketing firm claims Google Now returned more search results ‘enhanced with custom content’ than Siri and Cortana combined.
Consultants Stone Temple made 3086 queries in total to all three voice assistances. Google Now yielded a score of 1795 results with enhanced content, while Siri scored 908 and Cortana returned 630 ‘knowledge panels’
The queries were designed to answer specific questions rather than offer web results, according to Android Central, reporting on the comparison tests.
Google Now also scored highest for accuracy with 88 percent of questions properly addressed, while Siri and Cortana were correct 53 per cent and 40 per cent of the time respectively.
The study did not take into account how the respective assistants performed when it comes to making appointments via the app, or dictating words, only bringing the answers to specific questions.
Given Google’s status as global search overlord, we’d expect Google Now to come out on top in this department. While the tests are far from definitive, it still offers an interesting look at slice of a much larger pie.
Elsewhere today, Google Now got an update that’ll inform users when their bills are overdue. Thanks for nothing Google Now!
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A digital marketing firm claims Google Now returned more search results ‘enhanced with custom content’ than Siri and Cortana combined.
Consultants Stone Temple made 3086 queries in total to all three voice assistances. Google Now yielded a score of 1795 results with enhanced content, while Siri scored 908 and Cortana returned 630 ‘knowledge panels’
The queries were designed to answer specific questions rather than offer web results, according to Android Central, reporting on the comparison tests.
Google Now also scored highest for accuracy with 88 percent of questions properly addressed, while Siri and Cortana were correct 53 per cent and 40 per cent of the time respectively.
The study did not take into account how the respective assistants performed when it comes to making appointments via the app, or dictating words, only bringing the answers to specific questions.
Given Google’s status as global search overlord, we’d expect Google Now to come out on top in this department. While the tests are far from definitive, it still offers an interesting look at slice of a much larger pie.
Elsewhere today, Google Now got an update that’ll inform users when their bills are overdue. Thanks for nothing Google Now!
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