Star Walk - 5 Stars Astronomy Guide 7.0.4
Vito Technology didn’t fool around when it created Star Walk, its 5-star astronomy guide app that uses augmented reality to show you the exact places of planets and suns in the sky relative to your position on Earth.
The entire Universe, in your pocket
Launch the app and point your iPhone at the sky. Whether it’s day or night, you'll see the stars, planets, satellites, and constellations in their exact place from your location. Star Walk’s rendition of space is nothing short of breathtaking. We really needn’t spend any more time describing it. You’ll see for yourself.
The menus and various sections of the app are designed to cover as little of your view of space as possible. Normally, such a minimalistic approach would be considered unnecessary, but in Star Walk it’s perfectly appropriate.
Augmented Cosmos
Probably the best thing about Star Walk is the augmented reality thing. As soon as you point your device to the sky, it immediately matches what’s out there with your position, turning the iPhone / iPad into a window to outer space. Touch any object (i.e. a planet, a star, a satellite, a galaxy or a simple asteroid) and you’re immediately taken to an encyclopedia.
In fact, there isn’t much Star Walk can’t do. It’s perfect for educational environments and for your personal stargazing. Got a telescope and don’t know where to point it? Just let Star Walk guide you. The iPad version is best suited for Star Walk, so consider that one first if you happen to own an Apple tablet.
Star Walk lets you explore space like never before, and offers a treasure trove of information about each object in sight. You can explore stunning space pictures in Picture of the Day, use a Time Machine to speed up time and see how the Universe will look tomorrow (with actual movement of all stars and planets) and even connect with a community of enthusiasts who are also using Star Walk. What hinders the experience are the occasional nags about celestial events (which aren’t easy to switch off), and other obnoxious alerts.
iOS 8 adjustments
iOS 8 users will be happy to know that the app is optimized for the new operating system, including the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus phones. Furthermore, there’s a new widget for the app that enables users to view information from within the app straight into the Today Notification area, such as the time of sunset and sunrise, the current moon phase and the list of upcoming astronomy events.
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ReferenceAstronomyHits & Misses
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Bottom Line
Design / UI9
Star Walk offers a near-perfect rendition of space, and its menus are cleverly designed not to obstruct your real-time view of the Cosmos. |
Function8
Star Walk packs a massive array of features that let you explore space like never before. But there's too many nag screens and notifications. |
Security9
Asks for your location and has ties to a social platform. But it’s nothing to worry about. |
Battery9
Star Walk is very well optimized both for iPhone and for iPad. No battery drain here, despite what you’d expect from such a graphics-intensive app. |
Price10
The wealth of information alone is worth the $2.99 / €2.69, and when you factor in the fun you’ll be having with Star Walk, it immediately becomes clear that the app is quite invaluable. |
Compatibility10
iOS 6 and up. Everyone gets to use it. |
If you're unsure if what you're looking at is a planet or a star, just point Star Walk to it
Specifications
- price:
- €0.89
- current version:
- 7.0.4
- reviewed version:
- 7.0.4
- developer:
- Vito Technology Inc.
- category:
- SCIENCE & EDUCATION
- os version req.:
- 6.0
- age rating:
- 4+
- in-app purchases:
- No
- hits:
- 765