This Android app counts steps and elevation gain on a Nexus 5x. It should work on all devices with a step counter sensor and a pressure sensor, but I haven't tested it. A pressure or barometric sensor is mandatory, steps will not be counted without pressure values. The step counter sensor is a special sensor which counts the steps by itself without additional software and is not to be mistaken with a step detector sensor. So, if you are using another device, don't put the blame on me if it is not working.
I've written the app, because I was interested in my elevation gain when I walk up the stairs instead of using the elevator. I couldn't find any app with this feature yet. (I haven't tried one of the big activity apps, because they are doing much more than I want.)
Elevation gain is counted only when walking, so driving and elevators will not count. But riding a bycicle will give a step counting and therefore an elevation gain. I can't think of a way to stop this, so you have to pause measurement if you don't want it. You should also shut off measurement when walking in subways or trains. Measurement of elevation gain would be disturbed as air pressure will change significantly during driving.
The app will count only when measurement ist activated. You get a display of current height, current steps and current elevation gain, the latter can be reset to zero at any time. If you know your actual height, you can calibrate the height, but this will not change the elevation gain. There is also a display of the daily values for steps and elevation gain, which are independent and will not be resetted.
You can save a marker with the floating action button and you can switch on automatic saving of detailed, regular or daily statistics.
There is no function for displaying the statistical values. Please use a text or csv-viewer of your choice. And there is no function to share data with anybody or anything (that's why I don't use one of the big activity apps).
Needed permissions:
- Keep devices awake: App is running in background, but will not keep the device awake for the whole time! I inserted regular alarms, wakeup-triggers and limited wakelocks to be sure that data is processed when necessary and device can sleep the other time.
- Write to external storage: All data will be saved to "internal" SD-card. App will run without permission, but saving data will not be possible.
It's my first android application, so the code may be a little bit clumsy at some points. ;-)