Photo Measures and Measured for iOS

20.04.2012
Your iPhone’s camera can do more than just take photos. It can also help you record measurements for do-it-yourself projects. I recently tested two apps—one that lets you record measurements on the photos you snap and another that also taps into your iPhone’s accelerometer to do the measuring for you. Here’s my look at how both these apps measure up.

is a handy productivity app that allows users to record measurements and dimensions directly onto their iOS device photos.

The app has a clean look and feel that makes it well-suited to professionals such as contractors or real estate agents who need to quickly record, save, and share measurements on a regular basis. But it’s also convenient for homeowners and apartment dwellers who can carry around the dimensions of their homes and always know if that bookshelf or picture frame will fit where they envisioned it.

Here’s how it works: Snap a photo of the room or object for which you want to record measurements (or grab a photo from your camera roll). Once the photo opens, swipe along the part you want to measure with your fingertip. As you draw your lines, a magnifying glass appears in the corner of the photo to ensure accuracy. Alas, the app won’t actually calculate the distances for you (though it will measure angles) but it makes recording detailed measurements quick and easy, even on the iPhone’s small screen. Using it on the iPad’s larger screen is, of course, easier.

In addition to recording measurements, you can insert text boxes to make notes and measure angles. To measure an angle, select the angle icon from the app’s toolbar and swipe along the angle you wish to measure. When you are done, the angle’s measurement will appear next to your line. The angles I measured appeared to be accurate although you may also manually enter your own measurements.