I seem to recall several apps mentioned as useful for darkroom use. Since I just upgraded to a Samsung Galaxy 5, does anyone recall any such apps? Or should I do a forum wide search.
Smart Phone in the darkroom??
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I use Darkroom Timer by Chicken of the Web for my film and print development. Works very well. Free and no annoying ads.
I use the Massive Dev app that includes updated B&W development times for many films in dozens of various developers. It also has a timer for every step in the workflow and temperature compensation built in.
+1, I use the same app. Easy to use, and input your own times.
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I have a fancy small Sony HD radio to which I connect my old IPhone for music, with rubylith over the screen of course. Does that count?
Ha ha.
No.
Sorry for thread-jacking - is there a way to make a Smartphone's screen be safe to the paper while printing? I am not thinking about using it as a light or anything but to check emails occassionally etc.
I was thinking Rubylith or something similar in a waterproof case. Put the phone in a case and then glue the Rubylith on the vinyl of the case.
Any ideas?
To get back to the OP's original question, I use Develop! which is a fantastic little (free) app and has a darkroom mode that turns all the display darkroom friendly and provides a timer. It does require you to add in the times / recipes yourself though but as I only use 2 films and 2 developers this wasn't a hassle at all. It also works with Voice commands so you wouldn't have to tap anything.
Ben
I was thinking Rubylith or something similar in a waterproof case. Put the phone in a case and then glue the Rubylith on the vinyl of the case.
Any ideas?
To get back to the OP's original question, I use Develop! which is a fantastic little (free) app and has a darkroom mode that turns all the display darkroom friendly and provides a timer. It does require you to add in the times / recipes yourself though but as I only use 2 films and 2 developers this wasn't a hassle at all. It also works with Voice commands so you wouldn't have to tap anything.
Ben
I don't use any apps on my phone or tablet in the darkroom and usually have the phone function itself switched off, but I do run music from them and also use a gallery app to easily see my "To Print" selections based on ratings and keywords, etc. So, in response to you, Ben, yes, Rubylith works perfectly well for the purpose. I just have a sheet sitting on top of the tablet which allows me to tap and swipe at will. I have a spare sheet of A4 size here (29cm ×21cm) if you have any trouble sourcing it. I acquired a small packet second hand so the very edges might be a tiny bit tatty, but I'm sure there would be enough surface area to meet your needs if you'd like me to post it to you.
Back to the original question, only a gallery app for ease of photo selection. If I had a proper light box/table, I'd forgo even that. Musical playlists are good, though!
I use the free app from digital truth that is the F stop timer. the nice thing about it is that is has a safe light feature that turns the background black and the number ans letter red. so far no fogging from it.
+1. I like it.
How do you control the enlarger, does your phone/app switch the enlarger on/off or do you set a conventional hardware timer to the value from the app?
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OP
OP
As the OP I want to thank all you good folks! APUG rules and is awesome!! I'm still acclimating myself to my new Samsung Galaxy s5; its capabilities are amazing.
You can turn the phone function off (airplane mode). Then the "phone" becomes a darkroom tool. Just like the electrical timer, the electrical enlarger, the electrical ventilator, that temperature controlled faucet you might have, etc. It all helps with the technical stuff so you can concentrate on the creative aspect. And what's not to like about nice music in your darkroom.
Exactly... Airplane mode keeps the world out and still lets me make precise development choices.
I use a nice app on my iphone called Intervallo. With it I can program a multistep development process, including timed pauses that allow me to do things in the dark between or before steps, like loading a sheet of film in a dip/dunk holder. Each step can be set up with different sounds so I never have to look at the face of the phone. My phone is in a Tech21 case, which has the nice benefit that if I put it face down on a table, no light escapes around the case. That works fine for B&W paper development. For anything more light sensitive, I still put something (usually a lid or towel) over it as a safety.
I can just listen to the various clicks and chirps I've programmed to know exactly what I should be doing at a given moment. It allows you to define multiple sequences, and in fact has a built-in database of many timed processes, including a number of film development processes to start with.
I also use the Massive Dev Chart app to look up processing instructions, but I don't use its timer function in the dark. I generally don't trust phone apps that have a "darkroom mode". I think LCD screens emit too much white light, even when they are displaying a "black" screen. Just my own opinion.
I can just listen to the various clicks and chirps I've programmed to know exactly what I should be doing at a given moment. It allows you to define multiple sequences, and in fact has a built-in database of many timed processes, including a number of film development processes to start with.
I also use the Massive Dev Chart app to look up processing instructions, but I don't use its timer function in the dark. I generally don't trust phone apps that have a "darkroom mode". I think LCD screens emit too much white light, even when they are displaying a "black" screen. Just my own opinion.
Is there any App that works as an audible timer for film ?
Not sure what you mean by "Audible" but Develop! gives you a chime at every time you need to agitate and a different louder chime when you need to switch chemicals. You can also talk to it like (Next / Back / OK etc) so it works sort of hands free utilizing the microphone.
Ben
MattKing
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I tried out "Film Developer Trial" on my Android tablet and was sufficiently impressed to pay for "Film Developer Pro".
Mostly I use it when I'm developing film away from home.
Mostly I use it when I'm developing film away from home.
I'm with ya. I never bring my smartphone into the darkroom in large part because I've never encumbered myself with owning a smartphone
Thanks Ben. I'll check it out. Its for developing sheet film on the road. I need an audible ("that can be heard") timer that does exactly what you described.
The really old audible timer used to be a cassette-player and a tape of my voice, talking through the required actions 
I may be showing my age . . .
For film developing now, I have an Android 'app' on a cheap tablet which provides the usual programmable periods and bleeps for agitation. This is especially useful when multi-tasking on clear up duties and so on. That app is the same-ish as several others and is called Darkroom Timer. For print developing and fixing I am still using (for many years) a Durst ColTim clockwork process timer, but it I don't feel it is precise enough for film development.
I may be showing my age . . .For film developing now, I have an Android 'app' on a cheap tablet which provides the usual programmable periods and bleeps for agitation. This is especially useful when multi-tasking on clear up duties and so on. That app is the same-ish as several others and is called Darkroom Timer. For print developing and fixing I am still using (for many years) a Durst ColTim clockwork process timer, but it I don't feel it is precise enough for film development.
Wait... I thought the room was dark to protect the paper and film. All these years I had no idea it was dark for the purpose of solitude.
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