Nokia Betalabs

Hello v3rt,

Thank you for trying City Lens and the feedback. Device compass needs to be calibrated for accurate positioning of POIs, try to calibrate the device by shaking the phone in number 8 format in all directions when prompted.

Try again in other places and report if you see this consistently for all places and also give what category you were using, so that we can look into this.

Best Regards,
Ashok Ravula

I was prompted to shake the device initially, which I did.

On further investigation, I believe this may actually be an issue with my phone, as I have tested other apps that use the compass and they are all out by 180 degrees as well.

I will check in other locations and update this thread though.

So, I tried the app again from the location where I first calibrated it. The first time, everything was out by 180 degrees, but the second time I opened the app locations seem to be accurate enough (I checked every category; all are "close enough".) . I tried it a few more times across the night and didn't have any issues.I will try again tomorrow at the location where I experienced the fault and update the thread.

Other apps that use the compass follow the same trend. They were out by 180 degres when the City Lens app was, and accurate when the City Lens app was.

This is the same here in Brazil. I did it all, the "8" movement, proved in several different location. As my bug report states, apparently when you use the camera the GPS lat-long gets somewhat modified.

I'm in Massachusetts USA. I'm getting very accurate results!

Hello v3rt, Buskape, Ridie1389

Thank you for trying City Lens and testing out the calibration in different locations. Based on your comments as long as compass is calibrated the accuracy is good.

@Buskape: Disorientation of places could be a places data issue or compass may not be calibrated enough. Please try in different places and report of you see this issues consistently.

Best Regards,
Ashok Ravula

Thanks Ashok. That's correct. Where should I go for assistance with the compass isue?

Tried in different places, no issues with compass. I insist that this is a positioning issue (not "pointing" issue) on the camera mode. Please take a look on it: If you face the phone down, position and compass are fine. When you raise the phone and point out using the camera, the GPS reading displaces you to someplace else. As a result, close by places get displaced.

Hi Buskape,

Thanks for your continued participation in Nokia City Lens beta and for the recent feedback.

We are continually working to improve the product and will look into the points raised so pls stay tuned for updates.

With best regards,
Raj

Hi All I can confirm that the compass on the Nokia Lumias in the southern hemisphere i.e. Australia don't work. All apps including Nokia City Lens show south pointing north and east pointing west.

Its the magnetic fields, that's why. I dont think Nokia has too much accessibility to the southern hemisphere. As they are mainly located and influential in the European and Americas.

Hi all,

With respect to the Southern Hemisphere issues, we are investigating and will continue to provide updates.

With best regards,
Raj
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Rajiv Sodlapur

I'm from Argentina, and i'm facing the same issue with the compass. North pointing south. I guess it is more and issue in Windows Phone OS than an issue with Nokia devices. Lumia 710 here with the last OS update available in Argentina.

Its a Windows Phone issue mainly. Although the magnetic patch on the USB port doesn't help either.

Patch, I mean latch....

Hi All,

Thanks for participating in the Nokia City Lens beta trial and for the feedback, very much appreciated.

To clarify, pls note that City Lens that does not have a compass.

That said, you're correct re: WP/OS issue - we're working w/MS on this.

The circle at top right is a radar screen and is intended to give a feel for the number and approximate location of places around you. The grey triangle indicates your field of view. As you move around, you'll notice the dots moving in/out of the grey triangle.

If objects in the AR rendering are not physically in front of you when holding the camera up in front of you, we'd like to learn more (e.g. Place name, expected location, City Lens AR/rendering, your physical distance from the Place, and the usual device info: Model, OS Version, Firmware Version).

With best regards,
Raj
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Rajiv Sodlapur

Thanks for your reply Rajiv. What I was trying to say is that there is no compass showing in the app itself but the app seems to locate places using the digital compass that is included in the phone. All the places are backwards lets say. For example when i point the camera to a gas station near my home city lens says the gas station, which is in front of me, should be behind (when it is in front of me) Regards!

Got it, thanks leandropaina.

Given that you are in Argentina, it's most likely compass issue so there are 2 things we'd like to get from you:

1. Using "Jack of Tools" free version, available in WP Store, pls provide screen shot of position screen and compass & compass for location where you see the issue?

2. Share the POI that you are seeing the issue with using Quick PDC share option. You can send to me directly at: rajiv.sodlapur@nokia.com.

Thanks!
Raj
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Rajiv Sodlapur

All... This is definitely a hemisphere problem. In the southern hemisphere directions are opposite in direction to the actual location (I'm using a Lumia 920 in Australia).

There is a workaround until Nokia add the directional issue for the Southern Hemisphere - search the Store for 'Compass Fixer'. This will fix the SH vs NH issue for the 920.

I'd say this will either need a location modification in City Lens or the Lumia family made need a firmware update to negate the compass problem.

Cheers
tropolite

So this is still an issue on Windows Phone 8? Seriously? Time for Nokia to send a not so nicely worded communication to Microsoft, if this is the case.

Hi magic mushy,

This issue has been addressed by a recent patch release. Pls let us know if you're still experiencing after verifying/updating to latest version.

Here's a link to the app/info on windows phone store:

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/nokia-city-lens/93301a45-584...

Thanks!
Raj
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Rajiv Sodlapur

Hi Rajiv,

I'm on a lumia 800
OS7.10.8773.98
Firmware Revision Number: 1750.0805.8773.12220
Hardware Revision Number: 112.1402.2.4

I'm running Nokia City Lens 2.1.18.220
I'm in Australia and I can tell you that it still showing all the locations 180 degrees from where they actually are.

Hi majic mushy,

Thx for the info. Given that latest OS/Firmware/City Lens app are running, can you provide one or two examples of the locations showing up 180 degrees from actual?

Pls include the Place names, and your distance from them.

Thanks,
Raj

Hi Raj,

I've updated one of my lumia 800s OS to 7.10.8862.144

I then tested 2 of the lumias side by side. Tonight they're both 90 degrees off in an anticlockwise direction. i.e. north points west, west points south ect....

one location is "golden jubilee field" which is 761m away showing that it's to the south of my location, when it should be to the west. The other is The Cotswald Kitchen 820m showing West when it should be North.

Is it really sad to see these problems with the compass still happening even with Windows Phone 8. I have a Windows Phone 7.8, I live in Brazil, and I can't use any apps that need the compass, because it always points to the wrong place.

It is obviously an operating system issue, because Samsung phones with WP also have that compass issue.

Yesterday I was buying a Lumia 920, intending to use Nokia City Lens and Nokia Drive mainly, but after a quick search on the internet I've found the problem still there. I'm hoping they get this fixed, and after that I will buy a new WP8.

KarmaRaj, does Microsoft recognizes officially this bug on their operating system? Are they planning a fix on this? Or maybe they are just letting southern hemisphere away from their schedule? A word on these questions will be very appreciated.

Hi jeronimofagundes,

We have confirmed with our team and contacts in Brazil that latest version of City Lens on WP8 is functioning correctly.

Some things to note regarding the compass on WP 7.8:

A 45 degree shift or more is in the acceptable range for the following reasons:

1.) Normal compass calibration has a threshold of +/- 20 degrees. This means POIs can still be off by as much as 40 degrees.

2.) The Nokia Places database generally puts POIs in the middle of the street, rather than on the actual building, which can also be several degrees off from the actual location.

Best regards,
Raj