Android Getting Started

Getting Started on Android

See the Help page for details.

You need a SPINSIGHT ball with dots to use the spin measurement.

The "SPINSIGHT beta" App on android is a development prototype. We cannot provide user support for Android, either it works on your phone or it doesn't work and you should get an iPhone. We recommend users to use our iOS-App on the iPhone which is supported.

To get started with the SPINSIGHT beta App under Android do:

  • Get access to the Closed Beta in the Play Store
    • You need a compatible Smartphone like Google Pixel 6/7/8 or Samsung Galaxy S8-S22. Other Smartphones can be tested but are unlikely to work.
    • In Germany you can join the google Group "SPINSIGHT beta Android" with your Google Account to get access to the SPINSIGHT beta App in the Play Store.
      • You need to join the Google Group using the same Google Account that you use in the Play Store.
      • We may take a few days to process your request to join.
    • In other countries we only give access to select users who have a special reason to use Android Smartphones instead of iPhone.
  • Install the SPINSIGHT beta App via the Google Play Store.
  • Start the App.
    • The App will ask you to read and accept our privacy agreement and for permissions to use the camera.
    • On most smartphones you need to "Run Tests" to adjust the camera settings before you can start the measurement.
  • Try the first measurements.
  • The app needs good light for high speed video measurement.
    • >300 Lux for low speed
    • >600 Lux for high speed
    • Check the light level at your table with "Measure Light Level"
  • Use SPINSIGHT balls.
  • Place the phone in a phone stand next to the table.
    • Recommended is about 130-170 cm height above the floor and 20-100 cm distance from the table.
  • Place a SPINSIGHT ball on the centerline of the table about 10cm right side of the net.
  • Start the measurement in the app.
    • Click on the button Adjust Focus and then on Auto for automatic Focus adjustment.
    • For better results check and adjust the ISO value and focus manually.
  • Play some long serves over the center of the table through the measurement area.
    • The measurement area where the app can successfuly measure the ball has a minimum and maximum distance from the camera, usually around 50-100 cm.
  • The phone screen will show the results.

The Help page has more details.

 

Illustrated Examples

Typical good setup

In the camera settings screen Light, Focus and Distance all show Good.

Typical measurement window in Android. The balls are played in the green area.

Typical image of the measurement screen. The center cross higher than the table center. The table edges are not visible. The table line close to the camera is not visible. The measured ball indicated by the green dots is well within the image frame.

Typical Problem: Camera aimed at Table center

This camera is aimed at the table center. The camera does not need to see the table. It needs to see the ball. If the ball is played a little bit higher it will not be measured.

With the camera aimed at the table center, the typical narrow Android measurement window is too low. High balls at the far end are outside of the image. Just tilt the camera a bit up to get a good setup.

Typical Problem: Android Camera Zoom not working

On some Android devices, the zoom is not working and the measurement window is much shorter. At 1m distance the measurement window covers only half of the table. Move the smartphone closer to the table to measure balls in the table center.

Typical Problem: Distance too far

In the camera settings screen the ball is much smaller than the circle and the result is "Distance: Too far". Possible reasons are a problem with the zoom or when you put the tripod too far away from the table. Move the tripod closer to the table until the distance result is "Good".

 

Typical Problem: Background not dark and clean

Red areas indicate problems: Racket and Ball Box next to the net in the image, Balls on the table, Bright Object on floor, White Writing on boundary. Remove these objects or put a dark cloth or dark boundary in front of them.