GLOBE Observer vs Fiber Master
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GLOBE Observer
Contribute to real scientific research by making environmental observations. Document clouds, mosquito habitats, land cover, and trees using your mobile device. Your data supports scientists worldwide, including NASA and NOAA.
- Make environmental observations
- Document clouds
- Map mosquito habitats
- Record land cover
- Measure tree height
- Contribute to scientific research
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The GLOBE Observer app enables you to make observations of your environment. GLOBE Observer is the app of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program. The GLOBE Program is an international science and education program that provides students and people of all ages worldwide with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, and contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment. By using the GLOBE Observer app, you contribute scientific data to your community, students and scientists worldwide, including researchers at NASA, NOAA, and other science research institutions. GLOBE Observer allows all users to contribute observations of clouds, mosquito habitats, land cover, and trees. Trained and certified users can also use the app to submit additional environmental measurements from all GLOBE protocols. GLOBE Clouds allows observers to make regular observations of Earth’s cloud cover and compare them to satellite observations. With GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper, users locate mosquito habitats, observe and identify mosquito larvae, and reduce the potential threat of mosquito borne disease. GLOBE Land Cover is designed to allow users to document what is on the land (trees, grass, buildings, etc.). GLOBE Trees asks users to estimate a tree’s height by taking pictures of trees with their device and answering a few questions. Additional capabilities may be added. Visit us at https://www.globe.gov and https://observer.globe.gov.
Fiber Master
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Fiber Master turns the fiber optic color code into fast drills you can run in the truck, on a lunch break, or between splices. Answer by physical color name, build instant recall of fibers, buffer tubes and ribbons, and watch your field rank climb. FIVE DRILL MODES Colour Rush: pick the right color for a fiber number. Fiber Finder: name the fiber number for a color. Tube Master: find the tube and position. Speed Splice: beat the clock. Daily Challenge: a new challenge every day. Every answer gives instant XP feedback, streak multipliers and an immediate next question. GHOST RACE AND BENCH RANK Race a replay of your own best run and a computed pacer line, then see your Bench Rank rating move. The rating measures your recall against the standard itself, not against invented opponents. CUSTOM COUNT LAB AND STRAND LOCATOR Set the cable you actually work: fiber count, fibers per tube or ribbon, loose tube or ribbon, binder groups. Drill that exact setup, or look up which binder, tube and position a fiber number lands in, including tracer-stripe tubes. FIELD RANKS AND BADGES Climb from Apprentice to Fiber Tech, Splicer, Journeyman, Senior Splicer and Fiber Master, and earn trade badges along the way. KNOW WHAT YOU ACTUALLY MISS Fiber Master tracks which colors you confuse with each other, so your next drills lean on the pairs that trip you up. LEARN THE STANDARD A built-in reference for the TIA-598 color code, buffer tubes, tracer bands and ribbons. The whole standard ships inside the app, so drills and lookups work with no signal, underground or up a pole. No account needed to play. An optional free account carries your rank and streak to another phone. FIBER MASTER PRO (optional subscription) - Any Custom Count Lab cable above 144F, up to 1728F - The full confusion analysis: every color pair you mix up - Badge share cards for LinkedIn, Indeed and Facebook - No Quik Fiber Pro promotions - $4.99 monthly or $29.99 yearly, with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers - Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation; the subscription auto-renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; manage or cancel in your Apple Account settings From the makers of Quik Fiber Pro. Privacy Policy: https://preview.apppublishing.ai/legal/1072/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://preview.apppublishing.ai/legal/1072/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GLOBE Observer at none against Fiber Master's 2. GLOBE Observer also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Fiber Master sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. GLOBE Observer asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | GLOBE Observer | Fiber Master |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (91 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 33.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 91 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NASA | AFRICO FELIZ |
Bugs and requests
GLOBE Observer
Reported bugs
39 issues- Checking for updates loop
- 504 error on account creation
- Fails after step 5 in account creation
- Robot verification loop
- App crashes on opening
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- Observations not submitting (error exclamation mark)
- Interminable in-app required update
- Errors in data entry, observations not sending/deleting
- Invalid password errors
- Cloud observation chart images disappear
- No reply from support
- App doesn't open on iPhone
- Won't update
- Logged out, wrong password, account locked
- Data lost after system crash
- Cloud ID chart not loading properly
- Observations keep loading forever
- iPhone stuck on installing updates
- App crashes and never fully loads
- Can't get photos to upload
- User interface poorly designed
- No observations shown when there are
- No way to export data
- App is forever 'installing updates'
- Camera portion of data collection quit working
- No way to submit a report from 'Pictures'
- Compass won't calibrate
- Photo feature locks screen
- No button to take photo
- App crashes if location is not set
- Updates take too long
- Photo submission portal hopeless
- Native camera app has no prompts to submit photos
- 'Done' button does nothing
- 401 unknown error when sending reports
- App goes bonkers when attaching photo
- Screen flickers rapidly when attaching photo
- Cannot get out of camera within app
- Whirring wheel for update in progress for hours
Requested features
8 requests- Improve UI/UX design
- Add dark mode
- Better translation
- Notifications for satellite flyovers
- Integrate with WorldView or Google Earth
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- More explanation/examples for cloud types
- Export data in spreadsheet/GPS format
- Allow users to contribute design improvements
Fiber Master
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
GLOBE Observer
No in-app purchases
Fiber Master
- Fiber Master Pro Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- Fiber Master Pro Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year









