There is a trick which allows users to gain access to the phone's magnetometer and use it as a compass without the need for installing an external app.
Here's how it's done:
Go into Diagnosis(call ##634#) and enter *#0*# and press Compass near the bottom right of the screen.
There, you have a built-in compass app!
It seems this trick also works on NoDo, just that it has a lower framerate and tends to lag a lot whereas on Mango is perfectly smooth.
If it doesn't work, you may need to re-calibrate your compass.
Refer to the video on how to do it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP3d00Hr14o
I know it's an iPhone in the video, but just follow the same figure 8 motion with the compass activated. It should work after you do it.
For those on Mango(WP7.5), it is highly recommended that you uninstall your Diagnosis app and re-install it to get the latest version, Diagnosis_DU ver0628
There are reports that this does not work on HTC Devices. As of now, I can only confirm that it works on Samsung Omnia 7. More testers are welcome.
Unsure if this works on WP8.
Here's how it's done:
Go into Diagnosis(call ##634#) and enter *#0*# and press Compass near the bottom right of the screen.
There, you have a built-in compass app!
It seems this trick also works on NoDo, just that it has a lower framerate and tends to lag a lot whereas on Mango is perfectly smooth.
If it doesn't work, you may need to re-calibrate your compass.
Refer to the video on how to do it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP3d00Hr14o
I know it's an iPhone in the video, but just follow the same figure 8 motion with the compass activated. It should work after you do it.
For those on Mango(WP7.5), it is highly recommended that you uninstall your Diagnosis app and re-install it to get the latest version, Diagnosis_DU ver0628
There are reports that this does not work on HTC Devices. As of now, I can only confirm that it works on Samsung Omnia 7. More testers are welcome.
Unsure if this works on WP8.