Vito Technology has announced Star Walk - 5 Stars Astronomy Guide 5.5 for iOS, an update to their app that allows users to easily locate and identify 20,000 objects in the night sky. The 360-degree, touch control star map displays constellations, stars, planets, satellites, and galaxies currently overhead from anywhere on Earth. The app's database is self-contained and no Internet connection is required. Star Walk 5.5 is being released in conjunction with Thanksgiving celebrations, and Vito Technology has scheduled giveaways, contests, and special sale pricing for Star Walk both iPhone and iPad versions, Solar Walk, Solar Walk for Mac and Geo Walk on Nov. 25 - 29.
The update, employing new technology introduced in iOS 5, consists of a new interface for communication between Star Walk users and stargazers all over the world. When a Star Walk user agrees to share their approximate location with other Star Walk users and logs in to their Twitter account, they can post a message that will appear on a spinnable globe model along with hundreds of other tweets, thus creating a new stargazing community. This feature is integrated with native iOS 5 Twitter support and is only available to iOS 5 users.
Highly praised and the winner of a 2010 Apple Design Award, Star Walk's previous update added a Spectrum Bar that allows users to see the sky in different wavelengths or regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including: Gamma Ray, X-Ray, Visible light, H-alpha, Infrared, Microwave, and Radio.
Vito Technology and European Space Agency have signed a partnership agreement for mutual cooperation that will bring quality content to astronomy apps developed by Vito Technology. The first result of this partnership was the Spectrum Bar feature introduced in Star Walk 5.4. Stargazers can now slide their finger up or down the Spectrum Bar to change the wavelength and move along the spectrum. Each wavelength is represented by a different color on the star map. Currently, Star Walk 5.5 is the only stargazing guide that shows the sky in this way.
Once the current location has been entered manually or automatically via GPS, the app computes a planetarium dome view of the night sky above. Users can easily drag the display as they turn, viewing the entire sky. Tapping once on any point of light selects that object, and double tapping zooms in. A convenient info button brings up complete information regarding the selected object. Star Walk has 110 Messier objects, 88 Constellations, 9110 Stars, 32 Meteor Showers, more than 8,000 Artificial Satellites, and all the Planets of the Solar System in its database.
Feature Highlights:
* iOS 5 enabled, Twitter-based communication between Star Walk users
* Augmented Reality for iPhone 4, iPad 2, and 4th generation iPod touch
* Star Spotter - real time motion tracking tells the user what stars are above them in the sky
* Satellites Tracking - never miss ISS flying overhead again (International Space Station)
* Time Machine - see what the sky looks like at any moment in the past or future
* Calendar of Celestial Events - plan stargazing without leaving the app that is running
* Picture of the Day - stunning pictures from deep space
* Night Mode - preserve dark vision to see more stars
* Search - wondering where Jupiter is right now? Arrow points to it
* Big Screen - connect a second display to view the sky on a big screen
* AirPrint, Moon Phases, Info, View from any location, TelRad, Sharing, Bookmarks, and more
* No Internet connection required
The Augmented Reality feature allows the backyard astronomer to point their camera-equipped iOS device at the sky and see what stars, constellations, and satellites they are looking at in real-time. The app performs all motion tracking automatically. The elegant execution and hi-tech GUI of this interactive star atlas have inspired Apple to feature Star Walk in their iPad television commercials (2010 Apple Design Award received for iPad version).
"Star Walk 5.5 is an update released as part of our celebration of Star Walk's third birthday," stated Marketing Manager Alena Kudasheva. "There will be contests and giveaways on Twitter and Facebook, and all our educational apps will be on sale from November 25th till November 29th at one dollar off the normal price".
Language Support:
* U.S. English, Russian, Chinese Simple (HANS), German, Italian, Japanese, French, Spanish, Dutch, Korean, Chinese Traditional, and Arabic
Pricing and Availability:
Star Walk - 5 Stars Astronomy Guide 5.5 is $2.99 (USD) and available worldwide through the App Store in the Education category. Star Walk for iPad - Interactive Astronomy Guide 5.5 is $4.99. Both versions of the app will be on sale from November 25th till November 29th for one dollar off the regular price. Review copies are available upon request.
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The update, employing new technology introduced in iOS 5, consists of a new interface for communication between Star Walk users and stargazers all over the world. When a Star Walk user agrees to share their approximate location with other Star Walk users and logs in to their Twitter account, they can post a message that will appear on a spinnable globe model along with hundreds of other tweets, thus creating a new stargazing community. This feature is integrated with native iOS 5 Twitter support and is only available to iOS 5 users.
Highly praised and the winner of a 2010 Apple Design Award, Star Walk's previous update added a Spectrum Bar that allows users to see the sky in different wavelengths or regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including: Gamma Ray, X-Ray, Visible light, H-alpha, Infrared, Microwave, and Radio.
Vito Technology and European Space Agency have signed a partnership agreement for mutual cooperation that will bring quality content to astronomy apps developed by Vito Technology. The first result of this partnership was the Spectrum Bar feature introduced in Star Walk 5.4. Stargazers can now slide their finger up or down the Spectrum Bar to change the wavelength and move along the spectrum. Each wavelength is represented by a different color on the star map. Currently, Star Walk 5.5 is the only stargazing guide that shows the sky in this way.
Once the current location has been entered manually or automatically via GPS, the app computes a planetarium dome view of the night sky above. Users can easily drag the display as they turn, viewing the entire sky. Tapping once on any point of light selects that object, and double tapping zooms in. A convenient info button brings up complete information regarding the selected object. Star Walk has 110 Messier objects, 88 Constellations, 9110 Stars, 32 Meteor Showers, more than 8,000 Artificial Satellites, and all the Planets of the Solar System in its database.
Feature Highlights:
* iOS 5 enabled, Twitter-based communication between Star Walk users
* Augmented Reality for iPhone 4, iPad 2, and 4th generation iPod touch
* Star Spotter - real time motion tracking tells the user what stars are above them in the sky
* Satellites Tracking - never miss ISS flying overhead again (International Space Station)
* Time Machine - see what the sky looks like at any moment in the past or future
* Calendar of Celestial Events - plan stargazing without leaving the app that is running
* Picture of the Day - stunning pictures from deep space
* Night Mode - preserve dark vision to see more stars
* Search - wondering where Jupiter is right now? Arrow points to it
* Big Screen - connect a second display to view the sky on a big screen
* AirPrint, Moon Phases, Info, View from any location, TelRad, Sharing, Bookmarks, and more
* No Internet connection required
The Augmented Reality feature allows the backyard astronomer to point their camera-equipped iOS device at the sky and see what stars, constellations, and satellites they are looking at in real-time. The app performs all motion tracking automatically. The elegant execution and hi-tech GUI of this interactive star atlas have inspired Apple to feature Star Walk in their iPad television commercials (2010 Apple Design Award received for iPad version).
"Star Walk 5.5 is an update released as part of our celebration of Star Walk's third birthday," stated Marketing Manager Alena Kudasheva. "There will be contests and giveaways on Twitter and Facebook, and all our educational apps will be on sale from November 25th till November 29th at one dollar off the normal price".
Language Support:
* U.S. English, Russian, Chinese Simple (HANS), German, Italian, Japanese, French, Spanish, Dutch, Korean, Chinese Traditional, and Arabic
Pricing and Availability:
Star Walk - 5 Stars Astronomy Guide 5.5 is $2.99 (USD) and available worldwide through the App Store in the Education category. Star Walk for iPad - Interactive Astronomy Guide 5.5 is $4.99. Both versions of the app will be on sale from November 25th till November 29th for one dollar off the regular price. Review copies are available upon request.
Read More