Slashdot Mirror
Android Tricorder Killed By CBS
First time accepted submitter josn writes "Today I found out that Moonlight's Tricorder app, which I always install on Android devices, is gone. Google received a DMCA letter from CBS. I think it is a shame that CBS thinks it needs to kill a free and open source project giving a ad-less app. I, for one, sent a message to CBS explaining that this fan-supported app is not bad, but good for them, and asked them to reconsider. I hope, especially for the author, who must have spent a lot of time on this app, that they do."
I love that app. Does anyone know, for those of us who still have it installed, Android App Market doesn't automatically uninstall apps without user permission (like they'll remove books from the Kindle) in cases like this, do they?
Come on, editors... "an adless app" or "an ad-less app" would have been okay, but this?
...I'm a doctor, not a copyright lawyer.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
we see the power of the android system.
I can still load the app from other sources.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
CBS. What have they done, that is worth shitting on, in 30 years?
I say that a bunch of Anonymous types ought to buy microwave equipment and blast their Sat feed offline.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
A little googling turn up this. Looks like it would have been fun to play with.
Its not what it is, its something else.
It's going to be a real problem when the Klingons show up for real, and claim ownership of that name and then hold the entire planet responsible for violating the trademark.
This is the kind of annoying thing the lawyers just automatically do. I think a petition campaign might be effective in this case. If the app doesn't harm them, annoying geeks does, they might reconsider.
Democracy Now! - your daily, uncensored, corporate-free
I'm so sick of this bullshit I could just scream.
As if a stupid little app that just looks like a Star Trek tricorder doesn't qualify as "complete shit". Whoever developed that ought to be using their time on more productive pursuits.
Like what? Posting on Slashdot?
Just sayin'
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
I can only find one tricorder app on the Android market. And the one I have installed has gone missing. At least they didn't remotely remove it.
Meh, hopefully they can bring them back with a similar name. Quadcorder maybe?
Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
http://www.mediafire.com/?nex1dcidhb8t886
I don't have an android yet - and I certainly do not support CBS.
_ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!
Does CBS even own a Star Trek trademark? Isn't that owned by Paramount/Viacom?
And I get that you need to defend trademarks, but I don't know that a tricorder app violates that. JJ Abrams is in no hurry on the next Star Trek movie. There is no TV show on the air. Keeping fans thinking about Star Trek with little things like this only adds value to the property on the whole.
http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
Everyone always thinks it's an evil corporation trying to spoil fun but there's a fundamental reason. If they don't defend trademarks and copyrights then other corporations can use the names to sell products. What's to stop Apple or Microsoft from releasing a new PDA or tablet computer called a "Tricorder"? They can say CBS failed to enforce the trademark so it no longer applies. What if the device sucks and the name Tricorder takes on negative image or worse yet becomes a bad joke? Then their trademark overall is damaged and it wasn't even from a product they produced. Trademarks are like left over budget money, use it or loose it or in this can enforce it. Change the law so they don't have to enforce every instance and create a system where freeware and small providers can ask to use the name and maybe things would be different.
The app is surprisingly useful: accelerometer, audio spectrum analyzer, compass to name a few... it does everything you'd expect a "real" tricorder to do, with the only limitations being the phone hardware.
I've never heard of the tricorder app before. After finding some information about it ( http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/turn-your-android-phone-into-a-real-star-trek-tricorder/ ) and looking at what it does: "sense environmental factors like magnetic flux, acceleration, sound waves and even solar activity...", it seems to me that saying the project has been "killed" by CBS seems a bit premature. The interface and name ("Tricorder") is certainly drawn from Star Trek inspiration, and while I don't see how this harms the Intellectual Property (read: I don't know why CBS won't just let it go, other than a typical corporate knee-jerk response to crackdown on using IP; although I suppose, since it's under Trademark, CBS might have to actively defend their trademark or else they lose it), I also don't see any reason why the Tricorder can't change the interface and name and continue life as usual. Saying that the project is "killed" seems a bit melodramatic when the reality is that the Tricorder app is suspended until they change the name and interface.
(BTW, I thought the "look and feel" of interfaces wasn't covered by Intellectual property. Although, even if true, I suppose the Tricorder creators might not have the cash on hand to defend their case in court, even if they would win.)
You can't copyright the word "tricorder". The app (according to the posts that someone else posted here) doesn't infringe on any copyrights of screen design or anything like that (and it looks more like the LCARS interface from TNG, which CBS holds no claim to - that would be Viacom, owners of Paramount).
There is only one live entry for a registered trademark for "tricorder", and that's held by Paul Allen's company named Kiha Software, which holds the trademark as it relates to mobile device programs.
So, where does CBS get the balls to get this app taken down?
The Tricorder was available in the nineties for the Palm platform. Why now?
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
I work for a small employer, and agree wholeheartedly. The big companies are on the verge of collapse. Enjoy the show, and stay out of debt! Don't buy a house now and rent for a couple of more years.
That corporations would be a little less eager to tempt Anonymous.
It's available on google code still. It's a little bit of a pain to build...I had to combine the HermitAndroid and HermitLibrary src into the Tricorder project, and then delete said libraries. (but I build with CLI, eclipse may end up being easy peasy) svn checkout http://moonblink.googlecode.com/svn/trunk moonblink-read-only As I'm not an anonymous coward, if I distributed the APK, would the DMCA trolls smash my head open?
Charisma is the measure of someone's ability to lie with a straight face.
svn checkout http ://moonblink.googlecode.com/svn/trunk moonblink-read-only
(remove the space...can't stop it from being turned into a link)
Charisma is the measure of someone's ability to lie with a straight face.
A similar story made the rounds last April. CBS claimed copyright infringement on the "DiagnosticPADD" app for the iPad. Specifically, CBS claimed
“the Application uses the ‘PADD’ trademark and the interface is substantially similar to CBSS’ copyrighted LCARS interface. Your use of the Series’ Properties improperly trades on the goodwill and reputation of CBSS and the Series and is likely to cause confusion among consumers that the Application is affiliated with or licensed by CBSS and/or the Series. CBSS has concluded that such use constitutes trademark infringement, dilution, passing off and misappropriation under the Lanham Act and applicable state laws, as well as copyright infringement under applicable U.S. copyright law and counterpart laws around the world.”
What's confusing to me is they seem to flip back and forth between copyright and trademark infringement. I'm not sure how either would apply here anyway.
Shameless plug for my photos on Flickr
This command will clone the svn repository into a new git repository, preserving history.
Warning: It will take a few minutes. Also, if your slashdot preferences add "[googlecode.com]" to the url, remove it.
git svn clone -s http://moonblink.googlecode.com/svn/ moonblink-read-only
Dangerous, sexy, turing complete: Femme Bots
The author can put it on my app store if they want.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
That's why we let a fictional, non-functional application veto the production of an actual, useful product. Although, looking at America's industry and economics, it does seem that they value fiction over reality.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
They sent the link from an apple store app as their right to license of an image? Something smells less legal. If Google will react to such a weak request you can probably send them anything you want and get any app taken down.
When the foot seeks the place of the head, the line is crossed. Know your place. Keep your place. Be a shoe.
You know, all you folks posting links to the software and doing the CBS lawyers a favor by pointing out who to send the next takedown letters to.
I suggest everyone reading this downloads the Tricorder_5_9.apk wherever they can still find it online, and put twitter, facebook, and blog links to the file. I also suggest mass sharing of this program through torrent. It's time to show patent lawyers and the judges who are owned by them that we can fight back.
Now if I could just find at least 1 download location...
http://www.freewarelovers.com/android/download/temp/1289451086_Tricorder_5.9.apk
I can only find what look like very specific feedback forms.
I hadn't heard of this app before. Thanks to CBS giving it some free publicity, I have now, and found the apk on another site.
Pretty cool app. Thank you CBS and your lawyers for cluing me to it.
The summary includes a link to the wiki article about it being killed by lawyers. This in turn includes the text of the DMCA takedown notice. Take a look:
Now, I used to have an app on my Palm PDA that pretended to be a tricorder but didn't actually do anything (other than make some chirp noises and display various jokes). That's not what this is; this "tricorder" app displays the outputs from various sensors on an Android phone. You can get a magnetic compass, sound data from the microphone, GPS data, etc. The DMCA takedown isn't about this functionality, but just about the LCARS interface.
The solution is obvious: reskin the app, using an Android sort of theme, and for extra safety change the name. The result shouldn't bother CBS anymore.
I don't even really like LCARS much.
P.S. I presume that CBS will go after the people who install LCARS themes on their desktops. What a waste of time.
steveha
lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
Sure, if CBS lawyers are suddenly saying 'Mine! Mine! Mine!' then first see if they actually DO own it. Would NOT be the first time DMCA has been abused by persons who do not own the stuff they're complaining about. If they do, or close enough that you can't afford to buy enough justice to protest, then simply redesign the interface. The options in the app seem quite cool and it would be interesting to see what would be possible by linking two 'tricorders' together for triangulation of local sensor readings. LOL. Personally, I'd also come up with something other than 'tricorder' just to forestall potential other crud from these guys. I really hate the 'sue or lose it' legal stuff that brings this knee jerk reaction about. DMCA is also a mess that needs serious fixing.
I had a joke app like this on my old PalmOS devices. It didn't have any real scanning functions, it had configurable messages you could bring up after a "scan" by pressing one of the scroll buttons on the PDA. I programmed messages into it like "No intelligent life found" and "Biohazard: Extreme bacterial infestation detected" and "Methane eruption source located"
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
According to this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricorder In Gene Roddenberry contract if any of the technology in star trek gets invented they can use the name free of charge. Is it that now he is gone they will ignore that part of there original contract?
Does anyone know where a mirror is for the .apk? This article made me find out about this app, and now I want it, but I can't find the .apk anywhere.
Thanks!
Per the short and sweet developer's note behind the link, Roddenberry stipulated that others could use the 'tricorder' name. The take down notice seems to take issue with the LCARS look-n-feel. Thus, CBS could in theory start throwing takedown notes at all the sites featuring LCARS GUI themes. I'm going to guess the only reason this particular app got noticed is because enough Android phones have seeped through the ranks at CBS and their in-house counsel.
As such, should the developer (or others) care to, a fix is as close as a widget facelift. I suspect a change of font, color, and a couple of curves into steampunk-ish curlycues ought to do it. Unfortunately, the developer can't come up with a sufficient value of [reSources * wIll] to justify testing where this app would fit within look and feel case law. I sympathize with the developer's predicament.
Luke, help me take this mask off
The Android Market has something for developers that your precious WP7 doesn't: hundreds of millions of customers for your apps.
This is a neat little app - one of the first things I show people when they're curious about what an Android phone can do. I'm sure that the StarTrek branding will be filed off and the app relaunched as "Central Built-in Sensors: Scientific Universal Command Kit System" or something like that. In the meantime we'll sideload it, even if we have to download it from a sane country.
Help stamp out iliturcy.
The take down the free Android version but leave the pay-for iPhone version?
http://web.me.com/mike.mcfin/iLCARS/iLCARS.html
Reminds me of when Paramount went full-moron back in the 90's and sent C&D letters to anyone so much as mentioning Star Trek on a website.
"I disagree with you" does not equal "flamebait."
I wonder why CBS was so clueless? It was FREE ADVERTISING! Its not in a competing market . Everyone who gets this fun app, or shows it to their friends is reminding everyone of the Star Trek series and movies. Some (small, but not zero) number of those people will go home and rent or stream one of the shows.
It was a really fun app - and impressive for just how much the sensors on a modern phone can do.
that's all, just "stupid douchebags"
expandfairuse.org
Got it!! Thanks for the pointer... Dear CBS.. BLOW ME!!
THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
I guess those scientists working on quantum teleportation better quit before they get sued then. And theres no legal chance of anybody inventing a real warp drive because of the legal issues, we are going to be stuck in this solar system until we go extinct.
Extinction may be sooner than we thought too, if there is an asteroid heading towards earth we can't go and blow it up without being sued by Atari
How come google are gatting awat with calling their user interface Android ?
n/t
I listen to both RIAA and non-RIAA stuff if I like the music, tangential business/politics nonwithstanding.
Go fuck yourself.
Shoes for Industry. Shoes for the Dead.
One of the truly useful apps on the market. Yes, I've needed a magnet detector. (Geocaching). I've needed to analyze ambient noise. I've needed a compass and GPS. I've needed to see what networks were around me. I even used the Solar page to see why my GPS wasn't working worth crap that day (solar flare).
Saving it out to an APK now onto my card just in case.
switch to "plain text" mode in your account settings. It's not really plain text, it's the same as HTML, but it auto adds a br tag where you add line breaks. You still have all the html formatting options, you just don't have to manually add break tags
make imaginary.friends COUNT=100 VISIBLE=false
Maybe they want to release their own app?
Touch everywhere, even when inappropriate.
He can't tell you on here. It looks normal when it posts, but for everybody else it just comes up ******
Help stamp out iliturcy.
You know, this made me laugh, and I got to thinking... the message CBS is sending seems counter to the underlying motif that ties most Star Trek episodes together.
Now, I'll confess: I'm no Trekkie, and it's been YEARS since I've even watched a single episode, but IIRC, TNG pushed an idea of a near utopian society with no money (actually, just cross-referenced with Wikipedia, but I seem to remember this from an episode or two). So CBS claims to own rights to a TV series whose very premise is counter to precisely this sort of legal threat.
Also, perhaps as sad as it is entertaining, CBS is squelching a genuinely useful tool that could feasible inspire certain almost-but-not-quite technologies from fictional shows like Star Trek. Indeed, it seems to me that a fairly important reason why we'll never see a Star Trek-like reality come to fruition is because of what CBS has done. Killing off an app because it competes with a similar (and admittedly awful) product that they're producing? Killing off an app because theirs serves as a mere wrapper around the fictional IP of the show, yet the app they did kill has some useful, redeeming value that could play a part of such a reality? Yeah, good job, CBS. As an American, I'm ashamed to say that greedy corporations like this are going to be the death knell of the US economy--more so than they have already.
Patent and trademark law fosters innovation? Hah!
Anyway, I have two ideas. One, someone should write a letter to CBS suggesting that they actually watch the content of the programs to which they own rights. If they don't feel inspired afterwards, then they should collectively resign and take a very long walk off a very short pier. Two, I wonder what they'd do if this app were mirrored in a gazillion locations? Can't send DMCA notices to everyone, now, can they?
He who has no
My UID (dick size ) speaks for itself.
Then let me be the first of 183,937 to say, "Oh! We're supposed to be impressed, right?"
Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
Well, ever since they stopped the Star Trek series, it's still been going on in the minds of fans.
The only chance CBS has of truely killing this brand is by making sure it isn't referenced anywhere.
It's the only way to ensure they will fail when they will inevitably try to resurrect the Star Trek franchise.
Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
You have a six digit UID, like the rest of us mere mortals... that's about two digits high for impressing most people.
A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
Just sent the following to CBS.....
Hello,
I recently read that CBS sent a DMCA violation notice to Google concerning a free fan-produced "Tricorder" application for the android platform...
First of all: That's not very Star Trek of you. In the 23 century I thought we were above such things. I guess CBS just isn't there yet.
Second: I don't think I saw a tricorder in the new movie at all [maybe im wrong], which means that CBS has not even shown one in years, since Enterprise ended. So really? Really, you need to stop this?
Third: This app was only HELPING spread the fandom and keep the good times going. Now you have sent a ripple of "Star Trek does not like" out to the fans.
I don't even own an android device and I am very disappointed in you. I think Mr.Roddenberry would be too. Its action like this that end up upsetting huge numbers of fans and actually makes them realize that this is all about the money, not about great entertainment.
What a shame.
Cant he just host his tricorder app outside of the US? The DMCA is a US law, isnt it? So surely its only US sites that are subject to it, or am I being overly naive here?
It was my favorite for showing off, annoying non-trekkies, and getting gobs of useless information on my current environment. I smell a Streisand Effect in the works.
Lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it.
Ah, fascism, isn't it great? It is amazing to think how completely the corporate world is allowed to rule our lives. What we can buy, where we can buy and ever what we can do with it once we have bought it.
And of course of government is no where to found as they are too busy making new laws to protect our corporate guardians.
Tell me, I cannot be the only one who feels this way! The time is close I think for change. The economy is in the crapper, our "leaders" are fighting themselves harder and harder, we see our rights taken away more and more each day.
The gas is already on the tinder, we just need the spark to set it off.
What CBS doesn't want to have happen here is to get this whole thing to backfire in a legal sense as well. I don't think this particular group making the tricorder app is claiming that it is official "Star Trek" merchandise implying some sort of branding and official sanctioning from CBS/Paramount Studios. It also demonstrates a profound lack of understanding of trademark law as well.... other than one teeny tiny part which is that trademarks must be enforced or lost.
Star Trek is clearly a brand, and it is important to note that proper trademarks are adjectives and not nouns. There are "Band-aid" bandages and "Coca-Cola" soft drinks which you can clearly identify what is the brand, and there is certainly a useful role for these trademarks to play in terms of identifying an organization which makes these products where the brand differentiates the quality of components, ingredients, distribution, and a great many other factors included in legitimate trade. Claiming to be producing a product under that brand when you are in fact not that organization damages trade because you can potentially tarnish the reputation of that brand and certainly are riding on the coattails of that organization pretending you are something you really aren't.
On the other hand, in the case of a tricorder, it is a noun, not an adjective. You can have an "Apple" tricorder, or an "HP" tricorder, where the branding is the organization making the device. In the case of the movies, you have a "Star Trek" tricorder, where everybody knows what you are talking about even though it is fiction. There is already a legal precedent for this in terms of several previous trademarks where this exact thing happened, and courts ruled that the trademarks were made "generic" because of their widespread usage in this manner. Two that come to mind where even trademark enforcement was even done are "aspirin" (formerly owned by Bayer AG) and "elevator" (formerly owned by the Otis Elevator Company). I can easily see this happening in the case of tricorder on the same grounds.
CBS/Paramount's claim to a trademark is further weakened by the fact that they really don't produce a device or product using the trademark. About the only exception I can think of are some licensed toys which are also branded with the name "Star Trek" or using the term "Star Trek tricorder", only pounding home the lack of an actual brand here. In the case of the elevator and aspirin, there were at least products being produced by the respective companies which were released to the general public and being used in general trade.... yet even there they lost the trademark usage.
This is a situation where the DMCA might even backfire on CBS as well, as the network service or app store which takes the product down must also respond to a counter-claim where the app must be restored on their service. Failure to restore the app in this case could strip them of the "common carrier" status and besides is a part of the same DMCA law. This backfires for CBS as it forces their hand to instead proceed to an actual lawsuit in order enforce the trademark.
The question here is if the developers of this app really want to stick their necks out on a copyright infringement lawsuit, where there is the possibility that they could lose? I think they have a pretty strong case here that the term "tricorder" is a generic term, but all they have is a strong legal defense and not a proven legal fact. It is something I would likely donate a few bucks to in terms of a legal defense fund, but I'm an outsider looking in with this situation. I really don't know what I would do in this situation if I were one of the developers.... although I certainly would have thought about this issue a long time ago that by using the term "tricorder" that this could have been a real possibility. The ethical thing here is to fight CBS, and in the long run it would help out many other people by establishing yet again a legal precedent which would be beneficial if the term "tricorder" was made generic.
Then again, CBS might just avoid the whole hassle if these guys are polite and seek a license of the term. That would save the expense of a lawsuit, even if it kicks the issue down the road for the next abuse of trademark law like this.
Seems like a repeat performance of the same bullshit Paramount pulled during the 90's when they went after fan websites, pissing on the free advertising those sites represented.
Can anyone share a link with current version of that app please ?
No problem. Just wait ten years and it'll come out as a bloated, incomprehensible desktop application.
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
Those who produce uniforms, action figures and fake phasers pay money to them. That's the password: MONEY.
Geeks are so full of shit that "beating the crap out of them" takes a whole new meaning.
In the unlikely case it is actually invented, just call it "technology that has nothing to do whatsoever with a bad TV show that is only watched by losers and pedophiles".
Geeks are so full of shit that "beating the crap out of them" takes a whole new meaning.
The big companies are on the verge of collapse.
Four words: Too Big To Fail. The MAFIAA companies have the politicians by the balls - you can't get elected without Big Media, and they will be bailed out with your money.
Geeks are so full of shit that "beating the crap out of them" takes a whole new meaning.
Thanks you very much for this. There was a command and link last night using git but I couldn't get that to work. This seems to have downloaded an amazing amount of stuff. Now I have to load the software development environment for it but will be glad to do so.
This may become the DeCSS of our decade.
There is your main reason. No revenue for them.
Also there is this problem that if you don't enforce your copyrights and trademarks once you know about the violation, you lose them. They may have had no choice in the matter.
---- Booth was a patriot ----
The app is surprisingly useful: accelerometer, audio spectrum analyzer, compass to name a few... it does everything you'd expect a "real" tricorder to do, with the only limitations being the phone hardware.
exactly, it is surprisingly useful. Surely it's possible for the app author to have the app exist just without a lCars skin? (maybe someone else can make one)
I mean, seriously, fuck you CBS, for ending my last bit of nerdiness fun with Star Trek. CBS have well and truly killed the innocent fun of ST more effectively than any Borg could. If I could shit in their mouths I would for the crap that dribbles of their chins.
Thank you moonblink for giving us this app while we could have it, and I will continue to enjoy it on my droid while I can. However it is OSS, where can I get the source and can you GPL 3 the shit out of it so that, somehow, CBS can't use the code base?
If Star Trek was a real utopian future, it would be an Open Source one I simply couldn't imaging a situation below happening
My ism, it's full of beliefs.
Can someone please post a link to the APK and/or its sha1sum so if we find it on the net we can verify that's the original one and not malware?
Thanks.
Standard disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not anyone else. None of the above should be read as an encouragement to violate the law. IANAL. I don't hate cute kittens.
There's a hidden treasure in Python 3.x: __prepare__()
It is still available for download at CNet. http://download.cnet.com/Tricorder-for-Android/3000-20432_4-75025147.html
Thanks. Just downloaded and installed from that link.
That would be my guess. There is a Tricorder app for iOS. A friend showed it to me the other day. It costs $0.99 and, in comparison to the Android app, it sucks massively. But maybe they pay off CBS and are planning an Android port. I won't be buying it.
Laissez lire, et laissez danser; ces deux amusements ne feront jamais de mal au monde. - Voltaire
It is still available for download at CNet. http://download.cnet.com/Tricorder-for-Android/3000-20432_4-75025147.html
Thanks. Just downloaded and installed from that link.
OK, that is version 5.11 and at least on my phone, it has a fairly nasty force close bug.
The latest version is 5.12 and it is available here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?nex1dcidhb8t886
The original filename appears to be Tricorder_5.12.apk, so searching on that or similar brings up some more potential download locations.
I think Sam Kinison said it best when he said, "CBS stands for COCKSUCKING BASTARD SONS OF BITCHES!"
"That's right...I said it."
I agree that the law and power are on their side. BUT, there is still the concept that the customer is always right. If enough trekkies say they like the app and are unhappy with their actions and they have nothing really to gain from banning the app, they might change their minds and allow the app to continue.
Democracy Now! - your daily, uncensored, corporate-free
I have heard a rumor (urban legend) about some Paramount lawyers handing a "cease and desist" letter to two US Navy sailors who were selling "USS Enterprise" t-shirts and baseball caps at a Star Trek convention in San Diego.
svn checkout http://moonblink.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/ moonblink
Thankfully to the jailbreak community the author is still making the app available. similar to how apps removed/deleted from apple app store can by got via cydia, and those removed from cydia can be got from installous. same goes for this app, it's moved to the jailbreak community and you can also download a copy off demonoid/kat.ph to install if you really want it. also you can pick up the source code and install it yourself http://moonblink.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/
Mod up.
Hilarious and shockingly plausible.
It's totally useful. I used it to check the sound level differences of noise coming off of fans and harddrives. The electro-magnetic spectrum analyzer is useful also. The tool is in the hands of the user, not the intent of the maker.
âoeIn theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not." â Albert Einstein
That's not a UID. This is a UID!
Having the APK is all well and good, but what about the source? Sadly it's already down from http://code.google.com/p/moonblink/wiki/Tricorder but we need to preserve the source code in case future Android revisions necessitate code changes . . . and this app is on of the few "apps" in the world that actually makes a case for apps existing.
I remember sigs. Oh, a simpler time!
Someone already linked to the source in the comments here, but I missed it my first read through. I guess we'll see if CBS goes after them for this, but I'm tempted to host the source myself if they do . . . I mean, seriously now, preventing someone from distributing a legitimately working (albeit far from the in-canon capabilities) Tricorder seems pretty contrary to Gene Roddenberry's wishes.
I remember sigs. Oh, a simpler time!
Can someone please post a link to the APK and/or its sha1sum so if we find it on the net we can verify that's the original one and not malware?
Thanks.
Standard disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not anyone else. None of the above should be read as an encouragement to violate the law. IANAL. I don't hate cute kittens.
You can still download it from F-Droid (open source Android app repository): http://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdid=org.hermit.tricorder