u/KayYesR

Follow-up: my petrography tool for thin section work is now live — thanks r/geology

Hey r/geology,

A few weeks ago I posted about an Android tool I was building for optical mineralogy work in thin sections, as part of my geology PhD on the Western Ghats. Wanted to come back with an update and, more importantly, to say thanks.

The tool is now live on the Play Store.

To everyone who pre-registered ,genuinely, thank you. Watching that number tick up while I was still debugging things was the push I needed to actually finish and ship this.

And to everyone who took the time to drop suggestions, point out edge cases, or share feedback on the original post (especially the folks who flagged ambiguities with plagioclase varieties and high-birefringence phases) a lot of what made it into the final build came directly from your comments. I owe you one.

Also, a sincere thank you to the r/geology mod who reactivated my original post after it got taken down. I really appreciated you giving it a fair second look instead of letting it sit in limbo.

A note for anyone suspicious about the legitimacy of this:

I get it ,random Reddit posts linking to paid apps deserve scrutiny. So for the record:

I'm a verified developer on Google Play, and the app itself has gone through Google Play's verification process

I'm an independent developer, not an organization — which, for context, means Google Play makes me jump through significantly more hoops than a company would (additional identity checks, 14-day closed testing requirements, manual reviews at multiple stages, etc.). I mention this only because last time around, a few people in bad faith pushed to get my post removed, and I'd rather be upfront than have it happen again. Everything about this is legitimate and traceable.

A few practical notes:

The tool costs 60 cents on Google Play kept it minimal just to offset development and Play Store costs

If anyone wants to try it for free, I can add you as an internal tester. Just DM me your Gmail address and I'll add you to the tester list — you'll get access through the Play Store like any other install, no payment needed

Feedback is still very welcome, especially from anyone actively doing petrography work. The reference database, weighting algorithm, and Michel-Lévy chart are all things I plan to keep refining

Thanks again, all of you. This community made the build process a lot less lonely.

play.google.com

u/KayYesR — 6 days ago

▲ 1 r/CameraPhoneKits

I Think I Found a Really Good Alternative to the Vivo X300 Pro Grip Kit

Hey everyone, I’ve been testing the PGYTECH MagCam 2 with my Vivo X300 Pro recently, and honestly, I think this is one of the best alternatives to the official Vivo photography grip kit right now.

What I really liked about it:

magnetic modular setup

doesn’t permanently occupy the USB-C port

built-in battery

remote shutter support

works with MagSafe-compatible cases

much more flexible than most official phone grip kits

It’s also compatible with:

Oppo Find X9 series

Samsung flagships

iPhones/iOS devices

And for iPhones, it actually has full ecosystem support with PGYTECH’s own dedicated photography app, so the integration there is even better.

I mainly used it with my Vivo X300 Pro, but I think it makes a lot of sense for other camera-focused smartphones too.

I made a short video talking about the setup, the MagGlow light, compatibility, and why I personally ended up preferring this over the official Vivo grip kit

youtu.be

u/KayYesR — 6 days ago

▲ 22 r/Vivo

I Made a Proper Guide on How To Import LUTs on Vivo X Series

Hey everyone, I made a detailed step-by-step guide on how to import and use LUTs on the Vivo X Series camera app.

I noticed that most creators and reviewers usually just mention the LUT feature briefly without actually explaining:

how the feature works

how to properly import LUTs

where the files go

how to enable them

or how much of a difference they actually make in real footage

So I decided to make a complete walkthrough covering the entire process from start to finish on Vivo X Series devices.

In the video, I go through every single step in detail and also show the before vs after difference so you can actually see how much more cinematic your videos can look after using LUTs properly.

One thing I do want to apologize for though 😭 the default Vivo editing/import interface for LUTs doesn’t support landscape mode properly. It only works in portrait, so the video shifts from landscape to portrait during some parts of the tutorial. I know it’s a bit awkward visually, and I’ll try to improve/fix that in future videos.

The guide should work across most Vivo X series phones from the X100 onwards.

Would genuinely love feedback from other Vivo users and mobile videography enthusiasts here.

https://youtu.be/3FvK8xHfnnc?si=YiYdQicEz1R1cLEg

u/KayYesR — 7 days ago

▲ 1 r/GadgetsIndia

The same dude who exposed Tech Burner just went after smartphone companies and honestly... he's right

Everyone on this sub should watch this video.

This is the same guy who exposed Tech Burner’s Layers smartwatch mess, and now he’s talking about planned obsolescence in smartphones and how companies are finding newer ways to make perfectly good phones feel old.

The part that genuinely shocked me was him talking about actual hardware-level fuses linked to things like bootloader unlocking on some devices. Stuff most people would never even hear about.

The whole video just leaves you thinking about how much of modern tech is designed around making people upgrade.

Honestly one of the best tech videos I’ve watched in a while.

reddit.com

u/KayYesR — 8 days ago

▲ 2 r/GadgetsIndia

Waited 2 weeks for Vivo Service Day… got a tissue wipe and disappointment

So I decided to visit the nearest Vivo authorized service center during the Vivo Service Day event because Vivo had advertised free screen guard replacement, free phone case offers, cleaning, etc. I had even registered on Vivo’s website the previous day, booked an appointment, and specifically mentioned the screen guard/service details while registering.

The service center is around 15 km from my home. I reached there at 9:30 AM and waited about 30 minutes expecting the advertised benefits.

What actually happened?
They took my phone, wiped it with a tissue, and handed it back.

When I asked about the free screen guard replacement, they told me it would cost ₹750 and then asked me to travel another 11 km to a different center if I wanted it. No free case either.

What makes this more frustrating is that I received the device on April 29 and specifically waited until May 14 because of this Service Day campaign. Ended up wasting my time, fuel, and half a day of leave from work for basically nothing.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with Vivo Service Day, or was this just my local service center being terrible?

https://preview.redd.it/pe7brw29h11h1.png?width=1372&format=png&auto=webp&s=f6f6b94d0f7edd6da559269dbbbe61eeae3e903d

reddit.com

u/KayYesR — 9 days ago

▲ 1 r/Vivo

Waited 2 weeks for Vivo Service Day… got a tissue wipe and disappointment

I went to my nearest authorized Vivo service center today for the Vivo Service Day event after seeing the promotions about free screen protectors, free cases, cleaning services, etc.

I had already registered on Vivo’s website the day before, booked an appointment, and specifically mentioned the screen protector offer while booking.

The service center is about 15 km away from my home. I got there at 9:30 in the morning and waited around 30 minutes expecting at least the advertised basic perks.

Instead, they literally just wiped my phone with a tissue and handed it back.

When I asked about the “free” screen protector replacement, they told me it would cost the equivalent of around $9 USD (₹750), and then asked me to travel to another service center even farther away if I wanted it done there. No free case either.

What annoys me most is that I got this phone on April 29 and intentionally waited until May 14 because of the Service Day campaign. Ended up wasting fuel, travel time, and half a day off work for basically nothing.

Is Vivo Service Day usually this inconsistent depending on the service center, or did I just get unlucky?

https://preview.redd.it/3pqncpcyg11h1.png?width=1372&format=png&auto=webp&s=72b32c8c07e0eb1462a7d7908d6da56490c620f7

reddit.com

u/KayYesR — 9 days ago

▲ 116 r/GadgetsIndia

I finally tried Desertcart India after all the horror stories

I wanted to share my experience with Desertcart India because I found a lot of scary posts online before ordering, and maybe this helps someone in the future.

I ordered the PGYTECH MagCam 2 phone grip from Desertcart because I simply couldn’t find it anywhere in India. Before ordering, I spent a lot of time checking the seller, ratings, and whether it was actually being sold by the original brand. In my case, the seller was PGYTECH itself, which gave me some confidence.

The product itself was around $60, and with shipping/customs/etc. the final amount came to about $110. Expensive, yes — but still cheaper than some first-party accessories for my phone.

The funny part is that the free accessory I got arrived first as a separate package, while the main product was delayed in Delhi for days. For a while I genuinely thought I got scammed and paid $110 for a $25 accessory 😭

But the tracking still showed the second parcel in transit, and today both packages finally arrived. Ordered on April 29, delivered on May 13.

So overall: Desertcart worked for me, but only because I researched the seller properly before buying. I wouldn’t blindly order from random listings there. If it’s something unavailable in India and you’re careful about the seller, it can actually work out.

Hope this helps someone searching about Desertcart years from now like I was.

u/KayYesR — 9 days ago

▲ 5 r/Vivo

I Completely Reworked My Vivo Macro Tutorial

Hey everyone, I completely reworked my Vivo X300 Pro macro photography tutorial based on the feedback and suggestions I got from the comments on my last post here.

I tried to make this version much cleaner and easier to follow:

shorter and straight to the point
much better audio quality
screen recording style walkthrough
clearer explanation of which lens to use
how I manually adjust focal length
lighting conditions that help for macro shots
all using the default Vivo camera app

This time I used a simple pen example so it’s easier for anyone to try it themselves on their own phone.

The techniques should work on most Vivo X series phones from the X100 onwards.

Would genuinely love more feedback from Vivo users and mobile photography enthusiasts here. I’m still learning and trying to make useful camera-focused content that goes deeper than the usual quick camera reviews.

https://youtu.be/iXiq-AI6WlY

u/KayYesR — 10 days ago

▲ 8 r/Vivo

How I Shoot INSANE Macro Photos on Vivo X300 Pro

Hey everyone, I made a small video about macro photography on the Vivo X Series phones, mainly using my Vivo X300 Pro.

A few people on Reddit and some friends asked me how I was taking some of the macro shots I posted, so I thought I’d just make a proper video explaining everything instead of replying individually.

The thumbnail is definitely a bit clickbaity , but the video itself is pretty straightforward and practical. I mainly talk about:

which lens to use for macro shots
how I manually adjust focal length
lighting conditions that help a lot
how to get cleaner and sharper shots
how I use the default Vivo camera app itself

No external apps or complicated editing stuff. Just trying to get the most out of the camera system already built into these phones.

The tips should work on most of the Vivo X series devices like the X100/X200/X300 lineup.

Would also love feedback on the video, and if there are other camera features you want me to test or make videos about.

https://preview.redd.it/xix1t6vhbo0h1.png?width=1536&format=png&auto=webp&s=f6cd2bd292d4f7270d189d02aa078d3ac805b232

reddit.com

u/KayYesR — 11 days ago

▲ 11 r/MetalsOnReddit+1 crossposts

This sub talked me into making a QField plugin for strike-and-dip work. Here's where it's at

Hey r/geology,

Quick update from the geology PhD student who's been making things in his spare time.

A few months back I shipped Fieldometer (a phone-based field tool for strike/dip/GPS) and then Optical Mineral Identifier (a petrography tool for thin section work). Both ended up genuinely useful, both got real feedback from this sub. The Optical Mineral Identifier post actually got taken down by automod the first time and the r/geology mods reinstated it after a second look , sincere thanks to that mod, it mattered.

Anyway, after Fieldometer, u/Thrillington89 dropped a comment suggesting I should make it into a QField plugin instead of a standalone app. Best suggestion I've gotten on Reddit. So that's what I've been working on.

Field'o'Meter is a QField plugin that captures strike, dip, dip direction, and GPS straight into a GeoPackage point layer in your QGIS project. Two-step workflow: phone flat with long edge along strike for step one, phone flat on the dipping surface for step two. The plugin samples sensors for two seconds with median averaging and outlier rejection, reports a ± uncertainty on every reading, handles declination and hemisphere correction, and warns you when geometry pushes the dip-direction calculation into mathematically unstable territory.

The whole point is to cut out the notebook to GIS transcription step. You walk out of the field with data already in your project.

Honest disclaimer: I'm still testing this. It's working on my phone with my test projects, but every QField build is slightly different and every Android device is slightly different. It's almost certainly not perfect yet. If you try it and something breaks, I want to know that's how it gets better.

Smartphone magnetometer accuracy is hardware-limited. Best case calibrated and no interference, you're looking at ±2°. Realistic fieldwork conditions, ±2° to ±5°. With nearby metal or poor calibration, much worse. So treat it as a fast supplement to a Brunton, not a replacement for publication-grade readings.

Free, open source. Credit also to the swaxi/compass plugin for the gravity-vector math, and coastalrocket/quick_capture for the feature-creation pattern in QML.

Links in the comments.

Big thanks again to u/Thrillington89 for the idea, and to the r/geology mods who keep this place running fairly. This sub is one of the better corners of Reddit and I appreciate it.

u/KayYesR — 11 days ago

▲ 1 r/GadgetsIndia

Something shady is going on with Vivo X200T pricing on Flipkart!!

Been noticing something weird with the Vivo X200T pricing posts here since yesterday. Different people are getting different prices for the exact same phone on Flipkart.

And before someone says bank offers or seller difference, I’m talking about actual price differences of like 1k to 2k.

What’s making me suspicious is that I’ve seen this kind of thing discussed before with Amazon. There were posts on amazon india subreddit and even some videos online where people compared screenshots and found different pricing for the exact same product between accounts.

The theory was that platforms might price things differently depending on your buying behaviour. Like if you usually buy stuff instantly without waiting for discounts, maybe you get shown a slightly higher price compared to people who always wait for sales.

Not saying that’s 100% what’s happening with the X200T on Flipkart, but honestly it feels a bit too weird seeing so many different prices floating around here.

Anyone else noticed this recently with phones or other gadgets?

reddit.com

u/KayYesR — 14 days ago

▲ 37 r/u_KayYesR+2 crossposts

Thankyou for the upvotes last time, here is some more.

u/KayYesR — 15 days ago

▲ 134 r/Vivo+1 crossposts

Edited in Vivo native gallery app. Absolute beginner in photography.

u/KayYesR — 16 days ago

▲ 29 r/Geologymemes+2 crossposts

Hey r/geology,

I'm a geology PhD student and got tired of flipping through Nesse during petrography labs, so I built a tool that ranks minerals based on observed optical properties.

How it works:

Input what you see under the microscope (birefringence, relief, cleavage, extinction angle, pleochroism, twinning) and it ranks the most likely matches from 77 rock-forming minerals. Algorithm weights properties petrographically birefringence and extinction angle count more than color.

Features:

Precision birefringence chart (0-6000nm retardation)
Works with incomplete data
Database covers silicates, carbonates, oxides, halides, sulfates, hydroxides

Limitations:

85-90% accuracy for clear-cut cases
Struggles with plagioclase varieties and amphibole subtypes
Not a replacement for proper training

Tested by 12 petrographers. If anyone works with thin sections and wants to try it, I can share details. Looking for feedback on edge cases and any minerals I might have mischaracterized.

https://preview.redd.it/7o295k6jonzg1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d113baf722ed2b2618baa70e135d6a94545187e5

reddit.com

u/KayYesR — 16 days ago

▲ 4 r/Vivo+1 crossposts

Hey everyone, I recently made a 30-minute video about the Vivo X300 Pro cameras, but instead of talking about image quality alone, I focused mostly on the camera app experience, usability, limitations, missing features, and small details I noticed during actual use that most reviewers never mentioned.

The title and thumbnail are intentionally a bit clickbaity, but the video itself is pretty balanced honestly. I actually love this phone and think the camera hardware is incredible. I just wanted to discuss the software side and the things Vivo could improve.

Would genuinely appreciate feedback from other Vivo users here. Also let me know if I should make more videos on the device and what features/topics you’d want covered next:
https://youtu.be/OY3R4aUkg-E

u/KayYesR — 17 days ago

▲ 13 r/geology

Hey r/geology,

I'm a geology PhD student working on the Western Ghats and got tired of fumbling with paper notebooks and separate apps for strike, dip, and GPS. So I built Field'O'Meter, an Android app that does all three in one workflow.

What it does:

Captures strike using the phone's compass

Captures dip using the accelerometer (just tilt the phone against the plane)

Logs GPS coordinates with multi-reading averaging for ~3-5m accuracy

Uses Open-Meteo's terrain API (Copernicus DEM) for accurate elevation when online

Saves everything to a table you can edit on the fly

Exports as CSV that you can open in Excel, QGIS, ArcGIS, or anywhere else

On accuracy:

GPS is most accurate with internet (network-assisted positioning + terrain elevation lookup)

Works offline too, but elevation falls back to raw GPS altitude (±15-30m vs ±1-3m online)

Horizontal coordinates are good either way

Status: Currently in open testing on Google Play. It's free, no ads in the testing version. If you have an Android phone and do any kind of field mapping, I'd love your feedback — especially on the strike/dip calibration in different rock types and edge cases I haven't thought of.

Honest disclaimer: smartphone sensors will never replace a Brunton compass for precision work, but for reconnaissance mapping, student fieldwork, or quick checks, it's been working well for me in the field. Happy to answer any questions.

u/KayYesR — 18 days ago

▲ 356 r/GadgetsIndia

I was about to buy the Vivo X300 Pro from Cell Smart Cafe for around 94k. Posted here and got a bunch of replies saying it’s a bad deal and I should check offline.

Didn’t want to. I hate dealing with people and my past offline experience wasn’t great. But enough people pushed me, so I gave it a shot.

Went around a few stores. One quoted 92.5k.

I was suspicious. Asked them multiple times if it’s brand new, sealed, unused. They opened the box in front of me, I checked IMEI on the box and phone, everything matched.

Payment was chaos. UPI hit the limit halfway through, had to send the rest from my dad’s account. Somehow managed to complete it.

Got home expecting something to be off. But no. Brand new unit. Warranty untouched. Fully clean.

Also, I was convinced all the camera hype was sponsored nonsense. But after using it, yeah… I was wrong.

Coming from an S21 + Buds + Watch setup, this genuinely surprised me. I used to blindly stick to Samsung ecosystem, but that illusion already started breaking when my OnePlus Buds connected faster than my Galaxy Buds. This just sealed it.

Huge thanks to

u/Eastern-Clock-43

u/Midnight-Compiler

u/Routine-Band-9250

u/Coffee--Enjoyer

u/Zestyclose_Coat434

You guys basically forced me to step out and it paid off. Saved money and got a legit device.

u/KayYesR — 22 days ago

▲ 1 r/GadgetsIndia

Planning to buy the X300 Pro from an offline/grey market store.

What are the must-checks before paying?

- IMEI match (box + phone)

- New vs used/refurb

- Indian vs Chinese variant

- Warranty/bill

- Camera + basic hardware check

Anything important I’m missing or any red flags to watch out for?

reddit.com

u/KayYesR — 23 days ago