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Waiter, There’s A Barometer In My Motorola Xoom Tablet, And I Don’t Know Why!

To think that we placed Motorola’s XOOM tablet in our favourites list, before learning it’s got a barometer. A FRIGGIN’ BAROMETER. Oh, so your widdle iPad has thousands of apps? But can it measure the atmospheric pressure, huh? HUH?

Apparently Android 2.3 (aka, Gingerbread) is the first version of Android with barometer-support, which Motorola has taken advantage of along with the usuals: accelerometer, ambient light sensor, magnetometer, gyroscope…

So why a barometer? It’ll be handy not only for ultra-accurate weather conditions (particularly for those outdoors-inclined), but could also lend some appeal to lacklustre developers’ tools, with rafts of new apps using the barometer for the greater good. At the very least, it’ll be useful for meteorologists and pirates (of the “arrrr!” kind).

Or maybe it’s just one of those “because I could”-type additions. Time will tell. [Motorola via PhoneArena via Engadget]

Discuss

(3 Comments)
  • [–]

    Mogwai

    Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    For determining your altitude guys. I doubt it will be used for weather.

    Reply
    • [–]

      Atomsk

      Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 3:33 PM

      Hahaha, I think your refering to an Altimeter.
      Barometer’s are generally used for weather, I’m sure it could be used to also give you an idea of altitude but I think the majority of apps produced for this function wil be localized weather conditions.

      Reply
      • [–]

        Mick

        Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 4:27 PM

        those that laugh first… bereau of meteorology reckons a barometer can measure altitude… but I guess you know better.

        Reply

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