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Yesterday we posted an article about Star Droid, an Android application being developed by Google that will allow you to use your Android Phone to identify the stars your looking at in the night (or day) sky. That application has JUST launched but under a different name: Google Sky Map.
Here is Kevin Serafini, software engineer on the Sky Map team, demonstrating the application:
Here are the features listed on the Google Sky Map Website:
Search: Find planets, stars, and constellations guided by your phone.
Motion detection: Sky Map uses your phone’s GPS, accelerometer, and compass to create a window in the sky that moves with your hand.
Celestial objects: Browse a map showing the brightest naked-eye stars, planets, sun and moon, constellation lines, horizon, cardinal points, and Messier Objects.
Navigation: Use automatic mode to let Sky Map adjust the map for you or switch to a manual mode that allows the map to be dragged with a finger.
The description from Android Market:
Google Sky Map: A star map for Android.
Google Sky Map turns your Android-powered mobile phone into a window on the night sky. When you point your phone up you will see a map of the brightest stars, constellations, and planets in that part of the sky.
When/If you install the application and run it… be PATIENT. The application needs to find you GPS location among other things, but in this beta version there is no “loading” screen so your phone will “go black” and seem non-responsive. Pressing buttons will likely entice a Force Close option but if you just wait it out, the Sky Map will appear. And if you want to add the Application to your desktop it will be listed as “Sky Map” not “Google Sky Map” – that might save you some confusion.
My favorite comment so far:
Man the females love this app
Kudos
(Liam)
When I saw the application on the market it appeared with “Update Available” text next to it which is strange… because this is the first time it appeared on the market. However yesterday, when I posted about “Star Droid”, you may remember that commenters criticized me saying an app like this was already ON the market. So I downloaded that application. It was called Sky Map.
One can only assume that Google purchased “Sky Map” from the original owners, renamed it Google Sky Map and the “Update Available” was actually an update to that original application. That would also explain how there are already between 50k and 250k downloads with almost 5k ratings. We’ll get more info on this to you as it is made available.
So although I promised a comparison between the two applications that now seems unneccessary impossible. Hopefully I’ll have a review of Google Sky Map published tomorrow or Thursday but I can tell you that initially it DOES look pretty darn cool. And yes, Liam – the ladies will certainly dig it.
UPDATE:
I just found a bunch of Google Blog posts on the topic with pictures on each:
And also over at the Official Google Blog.
It is also interesting that the two screenshots of the application from the LatLong blog were named StarDroid. It makes you wonder if they were planning to name it StarDroid all along but either had second thoughts at the last moment or were afraid they didn’t do their due diligence in advance since getting slapped with a lawsuit over the Android trademark.
UPDATE #2:
I sent the developers an Email and contrary to the assumptions that caused yesterday’s backlash, Sky Map has ALWAYS been a Google project, developed by Googlers during their 20% time. Now it is being launched as an Official Google application, that’s all. For those that criticized me… I want you to know that both myself AND the Google Sky Map team appreciate that kind of care/concern. Here is a quote directly from one of the team members in an Email to me:
I have to say I’m quite touched that your readers were concerned that we wouldn’t get proper credit – it’s that sort of appreciation that makes us want to work on projects like this.
That’s why Phandroid readers are the best!
Update #3 – From StarDroid to Sky Map
John from the Google Sky Map team fills us in as to the “name change” as discussed above:
Stardroid was the working name for the project when we first started it. If you look at our code, the java packages are all called com.google.android.stardroid.
As you can imagine, when you do a project like this you start working on it long before you get to the stage of having a product and needing an official name for it, so we didn’t choose the name Sky Map until quite late on before the first release. We didn’t use “Stardroid” because it’s not really very descriptive (which is important for mobile apps where you have limited space to describe what it does). So, there’s no big secret here – “Stardroid” is the old working name we used early in the project, we don’t much use it now.
I look forward to the details of the business side of this story. Dig deep…someone is bound to know.
Hello,
I love the apps, I had this when it was not Google and I love it more that Google had made this a real GEM! I got it as an update and it keeps closing on me or my G1 keeps crashing…what should I do. Would remove and re-install work???
@Nooruddin:
(1) Look at the bottom where it says “Update 2″… It was a Google App all along!
(2) Near the top of the article I mention the crashing problem. When you load the app BE PATIENT AND LET IT SIT THERE. It is finding your GPS location so be patient and it won’t close.
Contacted the Dev for this app and this is what he has to say
“Hi there!
This version takes a lot longer to start up – it’s something we’re trying to improve right now. In the meantime, just let the app run and it will start.
Thanks for the compliment!
John”
So all you people, who are impatient like me, just wait.
Thanks!
Thanks Rob…LOL!
HeHe. I can see Uranus
I’ve had skymap since january or early february. I live in oregon and see some amazing stars. I can finally actually map out the sky and actually SEE the shapes and figures.
If google wasn’t involved before… it will only get better I think. I am going to check it out tonight if the sky is clear. THANX GOOGLE!
yea the sky map has been out for omnth now it isnt new.maybe that was just the beta
I just downloaded it, and it force closes on me a few moments after I see the initial screen. Anybody else?
This is a great app, I was jealous just this weekend of a friend’s iphone app that had star info. 2 things missing I would like to see in future updates is including moon info (moon rise, position, phase, etc) and a live compass that tells you which direction you are facing as you rotate with the app.
Great app, tried it last night and i was impressed how accurate it is and everyone who saw was truly impressed.
However those who are having “force close” dialog popping up, you might want to clear some space on your phone and stop blaming the apps for once, i see tons of such comments in the markets on different apps and none of them (or extremely rare) had showed the “force close” dialog for me.
The problem is in you and not in the apps.
Awesome digging…thank you. I like the resolution and the application. And Liam’s quote is spot on.
too kewl.
i drive an 18 wheeler an night in remote areas and have carried a starwheel for the last 15 years or so.
now i can use my g-whiz for one more useful task.
the digital speedometer is awesome as well.
I agree with Maj. I keep my phone with at least 20MG of extra space. Just google: optimal g1 performance or tmobile g1 forums. You can find how to make your phone work at an optimal level. I rarely get any force closes andwhen I do, its usually my fault for not being patient. Keep the good stuff coming google.
Just for the record: I have Skymap since I bought my phone in 2008 downloaded from the Market, so it is not “just released.
It is an awesome app.
i just reset my phone today trying to download sky map ap..but its not in the android market any more :((
can any one help me pls.
I have the iPod Touch 2G. I love Google Sky Map and was wondering if the app. is available for this device?
Thank You
Gayle Morrison
I am new to Droid and am loving all of this! The Google Sky Map is just amazing. Happy to be alive to experience all of this technology!