The entry for "Compass" in the AQ Glossary as well as the "Compassing 101" tutorial should include mention that you can download a free compass app for most smartphones. It doesn't work with all smartphones; it requires that the smartphone has a magnetic field sensor, and some of the lower-cost smartphones do not. But you can just download the app and see if it works; if it doesn't, just delete the app.

Also note that if you have a case with a magnetic clasp or other magnets on your person, you cannot expect your smartphone compass app to work well. Or your actual compass, for that matter.

And if you don't have a smartphone (like myself and Warren Buffett, which I imagine is the only thing we have in common), you can get a pet Canadian goose. They have a magnetic field sensor, and a much longer battery life :)

And if you don't have a smartphone (like myself and Warren Buffett, which I imagine is the only thing we have in common)

I bet you have many more things in common. Here are some examples:

• You both have at least $1 to your name.
• You both live in a house/apartment.
• You both associate with other people most every day.

I'm sure that you can think of many more things. Don't think that any of us are so far apart, even if we disagree on some things or don't have as many things.

Dude, you should totally do a 'Letterboxing with a Canadian Goose' tutorial!

I'm sure that you can think of many more things.

You might be right. We both like Jimmy Buffett (Warren's 4th cousin, reportedly, but no relation to me AFAIK), and we both play music. Warren plays the ukulele, and I play CDs and MP3s. I'm sure if I keep looking hard enough, I'll be a ukulele wielding parrot head billionaire who hates smartphones, on top of a zillion other commonalities, like perhaps enjoying letterboxing around dumpsters (who knew?). Oh, I just forgot. We both like Nebraska. Perhaps we are soul brothers :)

But for now, I'll just rely on the point that smart people don't allow devices to think for them, cuz what's the fun in that?

And, perhaps I will bloviate on the virtues of hunting letterboxes with pet geese. Gives one more thing for people to denigrate me for, as if my previous work in this hobby wasn't enough. Fortunately, tho, OTOH, there is an audience for my ideas, its just not here. Good luck to all of you!

smart people don't allow devices to think for them, cuz what's the fun in that?

You mean like using a compass to tell you which way is north instead of figuring it out by the position of the sun?

This app has saved me many times when looking for a box and not realizing I needed a compass. I don't always bring my full letterboxing bag with me, but I always have my phone!

This app has saved me many times when looking for a box and not realizing I needed a compass.

I have no idea why I would ever need a compass! I gave mine away as a finder prize. The app is sooo much better than the real compass ever was it ain't even funny.