Help Metal Detectors

[apapaa]

Have seen some Metal Detector apps. Can this be true? Does it work? Or are they just for fun?

 

[Kibbster]

I find it highly unlikely that a phone can be used as a metal detector lol

 

[Deleted User]

i also thought that but I have tried one and it does actually work! Not too well but it does work.. i have no idea how lol

 

[pmac10]

haven't actually tried one of these apps but am an engineer who works with industrial metal detectors in the food industry, they work on the principle of balanced magnetic fields, the presence of metal upsets the balance and triggers an alarm so its quite probable a smart phone may be able to do a weak version of this, just know i dont want food reaching my table knowing my desire has checked it

 

[SiHa]

I tried one for a laugh. As has aslready been stated they use the phones internal magnetometer (that it uses for compass bearings).
It worked, sort of, but it's really just a gimmick - nothing useful.

 

[apapaa]

I tried myself and had no big success. It seems working but after a while it goes crazy. Never mind.

Thank you all for your replies!

Andy

 

[Deleted User]

I made an app like this just recently. Android phones have a magnetic field sensor in them. Most of the apps on the market are just detecting magnetic fields this is why they wont detect metals like aluminum. Mine works better for detecting magnets and 9 volt batteries then most metals thou.

here's a link to mine if you want to try it out.

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.terrorfortress.MetalDetector&feature=search_result