Ever since getting my Android phone, I have complained about the lack of shot timers for that particular platform.
Imagine my surprise today when I should stumble across not one, not two, but three separate, free shot timer applications, in addition to one pay-to-play (which gets rather cruddy reviews). I have not had the chance to fool around with them very much (apart from realizing that their starting “beep” is not terribly loud, which could cause a problem with non-powered muffs), but that sounds like the good use of time for folks who seem to sprout random ammunition from time to time… *cough*
Get some powered muffs if you every plan on bringing new shooters. They’ve gotten ridiculously cheap these days
I agree, the powered muffs are the only way to go. Until someone starts making some better shooting apps, its all we got.
@ Ian Argent: Yeah, I know… it is just a combination of me being cheap and too lazy to research a “good” make/model.
@ Eric: Well, the apps themselves may or may not be too bad – I have not had the chance to take them to a range yet. The trick is the hardware on the phone. Those external speakers will only crank up so far before they go *pop*, and something tells me it is nowhere near as loud as a “real” shot timer.
Yeah, that’s an issue I’m aware of (speaker limitations). Maybe a bright, flashing screen? I’m working on a Windows Phone 7 app for a shot timer. Might be a few out there already, but regardless, the more the merrier.
Android is Java, and while I *can* program in it, it’s just not something I have the time to be able to really put myself into right now. If my job ever requires me to do so, then I’ll jump in, head first, but right now, I’m primarily .Net.
I bought these ears at Dick’s (on sale, with a coupon) and have been very happy with them. The first time I wore them out to the range, I thought they weren’t working; until I realized that the guy in the next lane over had touched off a 7.62 rifle in an indoor range and I could still hear.
I use the line-in jack to listen to music while mowing the lawn, with the microphone turned all the way down; and the battery life is pretty impressive. The line-in jack would possibly obviate the need to overdrive the on-board speaker.
@ Robb Allen: Ah, I seem to have somehow convinced myself that you had an Android, but given your WinMo programming proclivities at the moment, that probably is not accurate…
I shall go cough at someone else, then
.
@ Ian Argent: Those seemed to be amongst the most-popular at the shoot this weekend, with ProEars coming in close behind (and way the hell out of most people’s budgets). I guess I needed something to round up an order from Brownells…
Oh, my cell is a Samsung Captivate. My wife has the WP7 phone. I *can* do development for it, I just don’t have the bandwidth right now.
And when I say “I thought they weren’t working” I meant that “they weren’t providing any hearing protection.” Realized that was ambiguous after a re-read. This allows conversational-volume-level speaking to the point that I have to remember to yell a bit when I’m talking to other folks who don’t have powered ears.
My weekend range visit, I was perfectly fine and could hear both the 9mm on my immediate right and the air rifle on my immediate left going off, sometimes simultaneously, and still understand the guy on my right telling the newbie to relax and breathe.
At the high end of the volume dial, they provide a little amplification over ambient for sounds up to the cut-off. Two mics give stereo feed, too.
@ Robb Allen: And there I go continuing to not make myself clear… I was more meaning for you to test the current shot timers, what with the copious quantities of free ammunition you seem to randomly sprout
, rather than create a new one.
@ Ian Argent: To be fair, the Impacts seem to give about 8 dB less NRR than my L3s, but they seem to be more-or-less in line with other company’s numbers. That seems to be the price you pay for the convenience of being able to hear what is going on around you, which, at a crowded, busy range like this weekend, could be a very good thing indeed.
lower noise reduction seems to be more due to them being low-profile than any electronic reason. I bought them because I wanted low-profile ears for rifle shooting, more than any other reason. The electronics were a much-appreciated bonus