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Thermodo from Robocat Measures Ambient Air Temperature Using the iPhone's Headphone Jack

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Apr 12, 2001
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Robocat, the Danish software studio behind apps like Haze and Thermo, has launched a new Kickstarter project for a small thermometer that can be plugged into the headphone jack of a smartphone or tablet to measure indoor and outdoor temperatures.
You can measure the temperature indoors as well as outdoors. Track the temperature and see how it rises after you turned on the radiator or check how the temperature drops during a summer night. No network connection required. Thermodo comes with a neat little keyring so you'll always have it with you.
Click to expand...
thermodo.jpg
Thermodo, which comes with a cap and a keyring, functions with a custom companion app in addition to Robocat's already existing weather apps. The studio will also release an SDK, allowing other developers to create apps that work with the device.

The miniature thermometer comes in black, white, and a premium anodized aluminum version available through Kickstarter. It measures temperatures in the range of -20 °C to +50 °C (-5 ºF to 120 ºF).

Backers can get a Thermodo device for a $25 pledge, or the premium version for $39. The company has already met its Kickstarter goal of $35,000 and plans to begin full production in July, with an estimated shipping date of August.

Article Link: Thermodo from Robocat Measures Ambient Air Temperature Using the iPhone's Headphone Jack
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/03/07/thermodo-from-robocat-measures-ambient-air-temperature-using-the-iphones-headphone-jack/
furi0usbee

furi0usbee

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Jul 11, 2008
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I don't know about others, but I use weather data in passing. Meaning, I really don't care what the exact temperature is. As long as I can get the ballpark number, I'm fine. I don't spend more than 15 minutes per year inside a weather app probably, and I'd spend even less plugging and unplugging this thing in my iPhone/iPad.

Bryan
 
nefan65

nefan65

macrumors 65816
Apr 15, 2009
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I'm going to get one and monitor the temperature changes in my flatulence. Is it hotter in the AM, or PM, etc...
 
T

ToomeyND

macrumors 6502a
Sep 14, 2011
563
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Could I connect it to an 3.5mm audio extension cable? Then I could run the cord from outside to my bedroom and plug in the extension in the morning to see the temp outside. THAT would be cool.
 
extricated

extricated

macrumors 6502
Jul 14, 2011
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Not much appeals to me here except the novelty of it.

Since it isn't data network dependent, I could see a use if you were camping "off the grid", for example. Even at that, when I go camping I check the weather forcast ahead of time and then just deal with the temperatures as they come. If I'm in an "off the grid" situation, I don't need a thermometer to try and figure out why I'm cold.
 
ArtOfWarfare

ArtOfWarfare

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Nov 26, 2007
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ToomeyND said:
Could I connect it to an 3.5mm audio extension cable? Then I could run the cord from outside to my bedroom and plug in the extension in the morning to see the temp outside. THAT would be cool.
Click to expand...

I can't imagine why you wouldn't be able to.

How accurate is it? And -5F seems like an awfully high lower limit... How cold can my iPhone get while I use it?
 
A

Adava

macrumors member
Feb 27, 2013
83
0
I can imagine this just to see if my iPhone handles the current weather . Or the battery that is.
 
Tankmaze

Tankmaze

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2012
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it's a novelty idea, but can't really see the praticality in the concept.

here in singapore it's either hot or raining :D maybe people living in the northern hemisphere could benefit from this...
 
Amazing Iceman

Amazing Iceman

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Nov 8, 2008
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ToomeyND said:
Could I connect it to an 3.5mm audio extension cable? Then I could run the cord from outside to my bedroom and plug in the extension in the morning to see the temp outside. THAT would be cool.
Click to expand...

it would need to be an audio extension with 4-segment plugs. A regular stereo cable wouldn't work.

Or, you could get one of those remote bluetooth or Wifi Weather Stations that work with an iOS device.
 
Mlrollin91

Mlrollin91

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Nov 20, 2008
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fruitpunch.ben said:
I was very close to pledging, but only works down to -20 degrees celcius?
Useless!
Click to expand...

iPhone 5 Tech Specs..

Operating ambient temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
Nonoperating temperature: −4° to 113° F (−20° to 45° C)

So obviously it was designed around the environmental requirements of the phone itself.
 
fruitpunch.ben

fruitpunch.ben

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Sep 16, 2008
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Mlrollin91 said:
iPhone 5 Tech Specs..

Operating ambient temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
Nonoperating temperature: −4° to 113° F (−20° to 45° C)

So obviously it was designed around the environmental requirements of the phone itself.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. I think whatever temperature sensor they are using doesn't go down any further. I am hopeful that since they reached their goal so quickly, and since they can sympathize with below -20 weather presumably, being in Denmark, they will have a stretch goal with a better sensor


Parasprite said:
That's like half the year in Minnesota!

Okay, not really.
Click to expand...

Lol yeah. It is almost half the year in some places in this country, although not where I am. Here we only have <10 days per year it drops below -20. But my friends in Carman, MB have a different experience
 
coder12

coder12

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Jun 28, 2010
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ToomeyND said:
Could I connect it to an 3.5mm audio extension cable? Then I could run the cord from outside to my bedroom and plug in the extension in the morning to see the temp outside. THAT would be cool.
Click to expand...

Depends on where you live. If you live in a place that is commonly below -20ºC (like Fargo) then it wouldn't measure ;)
 
G

gatearray

macrumors 65816
Apr 24, 2010
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ToomeyND said:
Could I connect it to an 3.5mm audio extension cable? Then I could run the cord from outside to my bedroom and plug in the extension in the morning to see the temp outside. THAT would be cool.
Click to expand...

there's an app for that. :)

cmchsmjm said:
This one has a whistle AND a compass.
Best of all it doesn't draw power from your laptop

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thermometer...047?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b788cf9f

$.99 inc shipping
Click to expand...

haha, a whistle! awesome.
 
R

Ray Brady

macrumors 6502
Dec 21, 2011
296
255
It can measure the temperature indoors as well as outdoors? What manner of voodoo is this?
 
delnerdo

delnerdo

macrumors member
Nov 16, 2011
77
78
It's a neat idea - I wonder how difficult it was to write the driver.
Does the iOS API support GPIO over that connector???

If it were a non-contact IR thermometer, then so much the better!
 
RMo

RMo

macrumors 65816
Aug 7, 2007
1,254
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Iowa, USA
ToomeyND said:
Could I connect it to an 3.5mm audio extension cable? Then I could run the cord from outside to my bedroom and plug in the extension in the morning to see the temp outside. THAT would be cool.
Click to expand...

You could also get a thermometer. I can see the temperature any time of day, and I don't need to plug my phone into a cord that I've run outside to see it. :)
 
pubwvj

pubwvj

macrumors 68000
Oct 1, 2004
1,901
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Mountains of Vermont
It needs much lower lower limit. Using an extension cable this could be interesting. Unfortunately virtually any price is going to be too high.

What I would really be interested in is being able to have an array of sensors that could be monitored by an iPodTouch, iPhone and iPad and then served up. Preferably wired so I don't have lots of batteries to deal with but wireless is also interesting - ideally both.
 
V

vartanarsen

macrumors 6502a
Jul 2, 2010
712
307
I like the idea of peripheral devices that make use of iOS devices without needing Internet... Cause sometimes there isn't Internet...for example tomtom is a great app that uses GPS without absolutely needing Internet...

1 peripheral I woul love to invent if not already out there is a peripheral plug in that picks up local tv...perfect for storms etc that wipe out cable Internet and tv
 
J

joueboy

macrumors 68000
Jul 3, 2008
1,576
1,545
This should have been a built-in feature on iPhone along with the Weather app. Imagine when you swipe down notification and you can see temperatures both indoor and outdoor. I hope they'll integrate this in sometime in the future or maybe we'll see that on the iWatch this year.
 
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