Birefringence vs Jackson Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Birefringence
This interactive tool helps identify minerals by calculating birefringence based on observed color and section thickness. It features a comprehensive database and offers two display modes for clarity.
- Interactive Michel-Lévy color chart
- Database of 562 minerals
- Automatic birefringence calculation
- Adjustable chart range (200-2500 nm)
- Simple display mode
- Includes optical and physical mineral characteristics
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An interactive Michel-Lévy interference color chart that features a database of 562 minerals. Click on your observed color and section thickness, and the birefringence of your section will be automatically calculated, and candidate minerals will be suggested. The range of the chart can be be set to between 200 nm and 2500 nm. The chart can be offset by + or - λ, + or - λ/4. The chart can be used as a traditional nomogram, or displayed in a "simple" mode without the clutter of radial lines (which are no longer necessary on an interactive chart). Based on the methods of Sørensen (2013), the colors in the chart are a much truer representation of the colors seen at the microscope eye pieces than existing printed nomograms. The app includes optical and physical characteristics of candidate minerals including birefringence (minimum, maximum and mean), relief, optical character, pleochroism, color and cleavage. The app includes the Raith-Sørensen color chart, which is also interactive. The Raith-Sørensen chart is a direct representation of interference color as a function of birefringence and sample thickness (Sørensen 2013). A useful utility for polarized light microscopy, polariscopy, optical mineralogy, stress optics, or anyone with an interest in birefringent materials.
Jackson Connect
Discover local events and happenings in Jackson City with this app. Stay informed about community activities and important updates.
- Discover local events
- Stay informed on city happenings
- Community updates
- Easy to use interface
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Wondering how to quickly and easily find out what's going on around Jackson City? Look no further than Jackson Connect.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Jackson Connect at Free against Birefringence's $2.99. Jackson Connect also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Birefringence's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (9 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases 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
Jackson Connect is free to download; Birefringence costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Jackson Connect holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Birefringence has 9 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Birefringence ships an update every 6 weeks, Jackson Connect every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Birefringence | Jackson Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (9 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 88.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 132 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andrew Barlow | GOGov, Inc. |
Customer experience
Birefringence
Jackson Connect
In-app purchases
Birefringence
No in-app purchases
Jackson Connect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Birefringence free?
Is Jackson Connect free?
Which has better reviews, Birefringence or Jackson Connect?
Do Birefringence or Jackson Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, Birefringence or Jackson Connect?
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