Geology Sample Collector Options

[swizz]

Hi all,
I recently downloaded the app "Geology Sample Collector" to my Razr (android platform). I highly recommend it if you're into sampling and collecting data.
It is free and has a small ad banner at the bottom of the main screen which can be permanently removed for $1.00.
I must say that this is an incredibly amazing app for people like us!!!!
It organizes and stores input of all sampling data which you can archive, access, modify, etc with a very clever and user-friendly interface. It stores information per location and files it for later use. It's very fast for collecting data. It can operate off the grid using the phone's GPS... and it is accurate. Built in mapping software, compass, GPS tagging, all the goodies and works in conjunction with the camera. Take a pic of your sample and it is GPS'd, logged, stored, and organized. You can add notes immediately or later. The info goes to your SD card and you can transfer it to the pc or other device later if you like.
Just a really, really cool app (and free!)... thought I'd share that with my fellow miners/prospectors/samplers/rockhounds out there who are running an android smarty phone.
This is an incredible tool and extremely helpful for my rockhounding and mining purposes. TONS of other geology features too! Makes my job easier at the claims.
Here's a link that describes it. Go down to "App Screenshots" and scroll them, you'll see what I mean: Geology Sample Collector Description

[ASTROBLEME]

swizz,

This looked like a really handy app for my DROID but I got concerned when I read this disclaimer;

"The geology sample collector application automatically synchronizes your data in the background in our database" ...

Perhaps I'm too cautious, but for me, I like to keep my sampling efforts as secret as possible...especially with diamonds. I don't want photos, GPS tracking data or anything else to be synchronized to an unknown database that I have no control over. Here's the info on what the programing will allow (with or without you knowing);

This application has access to the following:

Your accounts:

Use the authentication credentials of an account
Allows the app to request authentication tokens.

Hardware controls:
Take pictures and videos
Allows the app to take pictures and videos with the camera. This allows the app at any time to collect images the camera is seeing.

Your location:
Coarse (network-based) location
Access coarse location sources such as the cellular network database to determine an approximate tablet location, where available. Malicious apps may use this to determine approximately where you are. Access coarse location sources such as the cellular network database to determine an approximate phone location, where available. Malicious apps may use this to determine approximately where you are.
fine (GPS) location
Access fine location sources such as the Global Positioning System on the tablet, where available. Malicious apps may use this to determine where you are, and may consume additional battery power. Access fine location sources such as the Global Positioning System on the phone, where available. Malicious apps may use this to determine where you are, and may consume additional battery power.

Network communication:
full Internet access
Allows the app to create network sockets.

Storage:
Modify/delete USB storage contents modify/delete SD card contents
Allows the app to write to the USB storage. Allows the app to write to the SD card.

System tools:
Prevent tablet from sleeping prevent phone from sleeping
Allows the app to prevent the tablet from going to sleep. Allows the app to prevent the phone from going to sleep.

Thanks for the info swizz, but I think I'll pass on this app for now.

ASTROBLEME

[swizz]

Good point, I had not considered that. The program needs to have a "database" to store and archive the information, assuming that the data is privately stored, but ya never know.
I have to agree.... I don't like the idea of my mining data stored on someone's hard drive.
DANG, back to notepad and GPS... which is fine.
Check out Viewranger if you want a really good GPS app for the droid. It blows away my Garmin and easy to mark POI's for sampling data. Works off grid and many downloadable maps.