Barometer? For what?

[Melus Haque]

From various sources, it could be said that the Lumia 1020 has a barometer (!). (Its a device used to measure the atmospheric (air) pressure). Now the question is, what is the use? It's not like it could be used to measure the temperature, and one wants to find his altitude with it, he would need the help of nearby weather stations. Perhaps that could increase the GPS accuracy? What other applications are there?

 

[Chregu]

This seemed to be the reason at least for the Nexus 4:

Google explains the presence of a barometer in the Galaxy Nexus, hopes you'd stop asking now - GSMArena Blog

But what I really would like is using it for a weather forecast!

Weather forecasting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[jt09xlt]

It should be primarily for location caching.

 

[Melus Haque]

Well, i guess the only good its for is that it can be ised tp find the DIFFERENCE in altitude (provided that the weather doesn't change). Just like in an aeroplane, in order to find your altitude, you have to key in the atmosheric pressure, and vice-versa.

So, Um, Why Does the New Google Phone Have a Barometer in It? | Popular Science

 

[Nakazul]

Any updates if there is any apps supporting this function yet?

 

[liin]

Besides GPS, maybe developers can write apps for skiers can track their descent speed, and bikers can track climbs of their rides.

 

[SwimSwim]

This seemed to be the reason at least for the Nexus 4:

Google explains the presence of a barometer in the Galaxy Nexus, hopes you'd stop asking now - GSMArena Blog

But what I really would like is using it for a weather forecast!

Weather forecasting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Makes enough sense, I suppose. Still a bit weird, the idea of having a barometer in your phone...

 

[bugmetnot]

Why is that strange?

As the second poster above pointed out there are many uses for the barometer. It can be used for a aid to gps as well as a prediction tool for when precipitation is going to arrive to your current location. All without using any data services. 2G/3G/4G/LTE/LTE-A or Wifi/Wifi2.0 .

I'm actually surprised it took nokia this long to include an actual physical pressure sensor in their devices. And hope they are in the coming devices as well.
I'd also like to see full IRDA RX/TX and FM RX/TX included as well as a barometer in the next version of their super camera phone.

THAT would be the phone i would buy.