Newton’s Cradle – physics in motion on your Windows Mobile device
Herm’s Software has recently added another fun app to their collection, called Newton’s Cradle. The app mimics a famous device, which uses Isaac Newton’s physics laws. The purpose of the cradle is to demonstrate conservation of momentum & energy using 5 balls and some string. So simple, yet so interesting and entertaining. Has the innovative software group done it again with Newton’s Cradle? Let’s find out.
Newton's Cradle
Herm’s Software has done a fairly nice job of bringing Newton’s cradle to life on our mobile devices. The backdrop behind the cradle is rather strange, but adds to the scientific theme of the app itself. Although I’m not a fan of the rainbow background and lined flooring, the focus of the app is the balls in motion.
Newton’s Cradle lets you choose between 8 different customized skins. The designs include: metallic, glossy blue, plasma, wooden, eyeball, 8-ball, ring, and globe. That’s the only option you’ll find in the app, but that’s one more than you’ll find using a real life cradle.
Ball Choices
Usage of the app is simple. You just drag a ball, or balls, and release. After that, they’ll continue to swing and clack until you stop them. You will hear a realistic noise that sounds like the real cradle device each time the balls contact one another. The sound and visuals are in-sync and the physics in play are quite nice. The ability to drag and drop multiple balls at once is a great touch too. Though the idea of the app is centered on repetition, it’s nice to be able to change it up by using different motion patterns.
I only have one major complaint about Newton’s Cradle. Like the real device, this app’s premise is to sit on your desk as a digital cradle. Some newer HTC devices, like the Rhodium/Touch Pro 2, have tilting displays which would use the app to its full potential. The problem is that the app’s display isn’t rotated in the same direction as the Rhodium when opened and tilted. To be fair, devices under another brand and older HTC devices may open in the opposite direction, which would fit the current rotation of the app. I’d recommend that the developer include an option to rotate in the next version (maybe using the accelerometer?). Also of note, currently the app goes bonkers when you slide out the keyboard on some devices. Something like this is probably easily fixable, but we felt that we should warn those users with devices that have this capability. Perhaps if you drop the developer a comment, he’ll add it in for all of you new Touch Pro 2 users.
All in all, Newton’s Cradle is a great port of the real thing. You’re able to interact with your screen to set the balls in motion and the sound is great. If you’re a fan of science, this is a must have app for your collection.
OS Requirements: Windows Mobile 6.0 and up, OpenGL Support
Screen Support: VGA, WVGA, QVGA, WQVGA
Tested on: Touch Pro and Touch Pro2
The real Newton’s Cradle:
Pros:
- Easily Recognizable as Newton’s Cradle
- Never ending display of physics
- Only $0.99
- Realistic sound
- Customizable with different balls
- Ability to drag and drop the balls of your choice
Cons:
- Can’t rotate app & it malfunctions if hardware keyboard is slid out
- Background options would’ve been nice to go along with customizable balls
Possible Improvements:
- Options for other backgrounds.
- Option to rotate screen (some devices slide out and tilt their screens in the opposite direction, so it would be displayed upside down the way it is now).
- A sleep timer would be nice as this could be a great tool to help people sleep.
You could also use the cradle in some other way like the guys below, but we strongly recommend against it
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jason_t
