Theodolite runs on any iPhone with iOS 4.1 or later and also works on the new 4th generation iPod touch

Hunter Research and Technology today is pleased to announce the release of Theodolite 2.2 on the iTunes App Store. This novel multi-function augmented reality viewfinder app serves as a compass, GPS, map, zoom camera, rangefinder, and two-axis inclinometer. Theodolite became the #1 selling navigation app in the US App Store in December 2009 and September 2010.

Based on the concept of a centuries-old astronomical instrument, Theodolite overlays real-time information about position, altitude, bearing, range, and horizontal/vertical inclination on the iPhone's live camera image, turning the iPhone into a sophisticated electronic viewfinder. Theodolite lets users take geo-stamped camera images directly from the app with 2X and 4X digital zoom options, and contains a built-in map with standard, satellite, and hybrid views. Uses are endless, and the app is great for navigation, outdoor sports, home projects, and photography. Theodolite is used in the field by surveyors, geologists, architects, engineers, military personnel, competitive sportsmen, and search and rescue workers around the world.

Theodolite comes in three versions - Free, Basic, and Pro - to cover a range of customer needs. The flagship Theodolite Pro includes features for serious users, such as a zero reference angle mode, an A-B calculator for height, distance, heading, position, triangulation, and relative angles, e-mail export with KML data, system-wide clipboard integration, percent grade display, optical rangefinders, military grid reference system (MGRS) coordinates, universal transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates, and four latitude/longitude formats.

Version 2.2 of Theodolite adds enhanced photo geo-tagging features long requested by users. These features were finally made possible by recent iOS 4.1 and 4.2 updates. In addition to stamping geographical data on photos and screenshots as an overlay, Theodolite now writes geographical metadata into the image's EXIF header. This allows geo-tag aware applications, mapping tools, and image processing utilities to read this metadata from Theodolite photos and screenshots and use it for a variety of purposes. Metadata written into images by Theodolite includes latitude, longitude, altitude, bearing, map datum, compass convention (magnetic or true), and optional user notes.

With these new capabilities, Theodolite continues its role as a technology demonstrator app, showcasing the latest and greatest in iOS hardware and software capabilities. Version 2.2 also brings along new icon artwork, to better emphasize the app's augmented reality viewfinder features.

Theodolite runs on any iPhone with iOS 4.1 or later and also works on the new 4th generation iPod touch. On iPhone 4, the software implements an advanced "fusion" algorithm that combines gyro and magnetometer data. This fusion approach provides a more accurate, more responsive, and more robust compass measurement that automatically corrects for gyro drift and minimizes effects of magnetic interference. By simultaneously using the iPhone 4's three-axis gyro and three-component magnetometer, Theodolite is able to provide stable compass bearing to any landmarks visible in the camera viewfinder, regardless of how the user holds or points the device. This provides a significant increase in utility over traditional palm held compasses and compass apps.

Pricing and Availability:
As the name suggests, the demo version "Theodolite Free" is available for free on the iTunes App Store. The mid level "Theodolite Basic" costs $1.99, and the full featured "Theodolite Pro" is $3.99. More information, including screenshots, is available on the Hunter Research and Technology website. Media professionals interested in reviewing Theodolite can request a promotional code to download the apps from iTunes at no cost.