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Show HN: Compass that points you to a photo's EXIF location

getphotofind.com

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Re: Show HN: Compass that points you to a photo's EXIF location

#2

Post by gohnjanotis »

I've been hiking and foraging for mushrooms and wild foods, so I made this simple utility app for iOS.

It lets you pick a photo you took (or that someone sent you) and then points you in the direction the photo was taken, kind of like a compass, based on the coordinates stored in the photo's EXIF data. It's basically a fast and easy way to mark locations and get back to them.

Originally I tried it in JavaScript, but iOS strips lat and lon info from photos when they're picked with a file input field. You can still find the beginnings of my hacked together JS version here: http://foodsfofree.herokuapp.com/

This is just a side project I built for fun since I hadn't built an iOS app before, so I'm not trying to turn it into a business or something, just wanted to share it!

You can also read more about it here on my blog: http://gohnjanotis.com/photo-find-v1-1-released/

Re: Show HN: Compass that points you to a photo's EXIF location

#3

Post by Gys »

Great idea ! Has been on my list for a while as well ;-)

> Originally I tried it in JavaScript, but iOS strips lat and lon info from photos when they're picked with a file input field.

Yes, that is how far I got. Good you went a step further.

I think there are options for expanding: because a photo is easier to share then a location plus it tells a lot about the location itself. Better then some numbers of shortened url.

Combined with compass navigation the user does not need internet (Apple, Google maps) to still be able to navigate to a location.

And why share just one photo ? Share a collection: interesting buildings in a city, or the best places with cakes (based on just the pictures of those cakes :-).

I still think a concept to think about more. Please continue.

Re: Show HN: Compass that points you to a photo's EXIF location

#4

Post by gohnjanotis »

Gys wrote: post #3

Great idea ! Has been on my list for a while as well ;-) > Originally I tried it in JavaScript, but iOS strips lat and lon info from photos when they're picked with a file input field. Yes, that is how far I got. Good you went a step further. I think there are options for expanding: because a photo is easier to share then a location plus it tells a lot about the location itself. Better then some numbers of shortened…

Thanks! That's cool you tried the same thing!

Cool idea about the collections.

Another extension of it I also thought about is a version with some kind of node.js backend that's a little bit like Yo except whenever you and a friend have it open it points you at each other so you can find each other on foot as long as you have a decent internet connection and good GPS accuracy.

Re: Show HN: Compass that points you to a photo's EXIF location

#5

Post by BinaryIdiot »

This is a cool idea. I see it as a great utility for taking newer versions of photos years later or even just remembering where you parked.

Curious though when I installed it I only see kilometers but the screenshot on the website shows imperial units and I don't see any way to change it. Is there a way?

Edit: yeah just found the swipe to change units. I'm all for supporting apps and developers but $2 just to switch units? No thanks. Uninstalled. That's insane.

Edit 2: the biggest issue about the price is perceived value. Making this app cost $.99 or $1.99 itself? Not bad in my opinion. Development isn't free and I probably would have paid that. But when you move to an in-app purchasing model now the perceived value is a free app that is gouging you $2 just to switch from metric to imperial. Maybe the intent was to have as many people try it as possible and to hopefully make a little money from it but the way the in-app purchasing is structured it makes me feel like I'm being taken advantage of.

Re: Show HN: Compass that points you to a photo's EXIF location

#6

Post by gohnjanotis »

BinaryIdiot wrote: post #5

This is a cool idea. I see it as a great utility for taking newer versions of photos years later or even just remembering where you parked. Curious though when I installed it I only see kilometers but the screenshot on the website shows imperial units and I don't see any way to change it. Is there a way? Edit: yeah just found the swipe to change units. I'm all for supporting apps and developers but $2 just to switch…

There's actually a screen you can swipe to to the left of the main screen where you can change the units, but I wanted to make an economic incentive for people to try SI so it'll cost ya! ;-)

Also, I apologize for the buggyness with that swiping... I should have used a UIPageViewController and will probably go fix it at some point.

You can read more about all this in my blog post, including the decision about distance units.

Re: Show HN: Compass that points you to a photo's EXIF location

#10

Post by thesimpsons1022 »

Gys wrote: post #3

Great idea ! Has been on my list for a while as well ;-) > Originally I tried it in JavaScript, but iOS strips lat and lon info from photos when they're picked with a file input field. Yes, that is how far I got. Good you went a step further. I think there are options for expanding: because a photo is easier to share then a location plus it tells a lot about the location itself. Better then some numbers of shortened…

why don't they need Internet?
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