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Evidence of iPhone 6 Atmospheric Pressure Sensor Found in iOS 8

Wednesday June 18, 2014 10:58 am PDT by Jordan Golson
Apple may add an atmospheric pressure sensor to the iPhone 6, according to a report by 9to5Mac. This follows on a rumor from March that suggested the iPhone 6 could include humidity, temperature and pressure sensors when it comes out this fall.

A barometer is used to measure atmospheric pressure, giving indications on current and future weather trends as well as altitude data. The report says new APIs in iOS 8 reference altitude data, including one called "isRelativeAltitudeAvailable" that tells apps if a device "supports reporting relative altitude changes". For an iPhone 5s, the API returns "no".

altitude
According to sources at Apple, the Cupertino-company has been working on an updated version of the Compass application that includes altitude tracking, so perhaps that application, which was originally added in 2009 alongside the iPhone 3GS, is what customers will utilize to track their altitude.
iOS 8 is expected to be launched this fall alongside new, larger iPhones. The altitude and pressure sensors could make an appearance in the phone as well as new iPads that are expected later this fall.

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Nungster
63 months ago
I guess Apple will be feeling the pressure!
Rating: 15 Votes
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thermal
63 months ago
As someone who enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, this sensor would be a very welcome addition.
Rating: 14 Votes
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wankey
63 months ago

I can tell you the atmospheric pressure almost anywhere in the world right now.

1 atmosphere. Sorry you're bad at science.

Edit: Denver: .9 atmospheres. It's just not a big deal unless it adds weight, at which point I don't want it.


Not sure if joke or just stupid.
Rating: 5 Votes
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AustinIllini
63 months ago
Just what I always wanted.

But seriously, who wants this?
Rating: 4 Votes
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iolinux333
63 months ago

Just what I always wanted.

But seriously, who wants this?


I do. But want blinky notification LED first.

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Don't see what I could do with a barometer or altimeter. Correct me if I'm wrong but most people don't go on adventure hiking for leisure. A thermometer, however, wouldn't be bad at all.


Where I live most people do actually. It's one of the reasons I chose to live here.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Demon Hunter
63 months ago

Just what I always wanted.

But seriously, who wants this?


It's not about the sensor, it's about the API. It's another tool in the box. You'll want this once a clever developer figures out how to make it into a killer app...
Rating: 3 Votes
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afsnyder
63 months ago

I'm surprised nobody's made a joke about throwing it out a window yet...


Someone made a joke about Apple "feeling the pressure".
Rating: 2 Votes
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kdarling
63 months ago
Again...

It's a very useful sensor for indoor location tracking between floors.

For example, GPS can tell that you walked into a building. These sensors can then tell if you moved floors, and pretty much guess how far you went up, down to almost the foot.

Eventually we'll have indoor maps for major buildings, malls, etc.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Mad Mac Maniac
63 months ago
If this is accurate this would be cool for tracking run/hike/biking apps to show you when you were on an incline/decline.
Rating: 2 Votes
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henryngan2006
63 months ago
Crowd sources weather report. Anyone?
Rating: 2 Votes

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