F.A.Q.

Welcome to the Speedhero FAQ. If your question is not answered here please give us your feedback and check out the videos of Speedhero in action on Speedhero TV.

1. About Speedhero
2. Buying & downloading
3. Editions, compatibility and requirements
4. Using the Speedhero application
5. The technology behind the game
6. Player profile & the Speedhero community
7. Company & contacts
8. Compatible phones

1. About Speedhero

Q. What is Speedhero?
A. Speedhero is a new kind of affordable sports radar – in your pocket.
Speedhero is built for speed shooting – whether it’s your penalty kick, tennis smash, drive, spike, slap, hit or shot. You can test your own speed, challenge your friends, use it in training, compete against the pros, or just have fun. Buy and download the application to get playing – and then register online to get your own Player profile.

Q. How does Speedhero work?
Every Speedhero application features advanced sound recognition – speed measurement technology, designed specifically for your favourite sport. Based on proprietary signal processing and sophisticated algorithms, you can get clear and immediate feedback on your fastest shot, drive or serve, straight to your mobile. You can read in-depth about the technology behind Speedhero here – or check out how Speedhero works with your sport via these links:

How it works – Speedhero Football
How it works – Speedhero Volleyball
How it works – Speedhero Tennis
How it works – Speedhero Ice Hockey

2. Buying & downloading Speedhero

Q. Where and how can I buy Speedhero?
A. You can buy Speedhero for mobile or PC with a credit card or order the mobile version via SMS and pay via mobile operator billing in the UK, Germany, Sweden and Finland. Speedhero is also available on App Store and Ovi Store .

Q. How much does Speedhero cost?
A. Using credit card, the price is 4.49€. Please note that the price may vary a bit depending on the currency and method of payment. Pricing is different on external stores.

Q. Is paying for Speedhero safe?
A. Yes. For credit card payment we use the web standard SSL secure payment system, provided by our partners GlobalCollect. For mobile operator billing we use reliable global partners.

Q. What if I have a problem during payment?
A. In case of SMS payment, please make sure that the problem is not due to denial of service you may have agreed with your operator. In this case you may need to use the "Buy Speedhero as a gift" option - follow the instructions in the SMS purchase window.

Q. How does the download work?
A. After having made your order you will get a download link via SMS. By opening this link your mobile browser will open and you will enter the Speedhero mobile downloading site where you just have to click the download button and accept all options. Depending on your mobile phone model the Speedhero application will usually be saved in one of the following folders: Applications, Downloads or Games.

Q. What do I do if I have a problem downloading the application?
A. Please make sure that your phone model is on the list of compatible devices and contact your carrier to find the correct configuration suitable for your phone. If you have a problem not answered here please email us at support@speedhero.com

Q. What is buying Speedhero as a gift?
A. Buying Speedhero as a gift enables you to buy a Speedhero application for a friend, either as a present, or if your friend is unable to order themselves due to denial of service. To buy Speedhero as a gift just follow the instructins in the SMS purchase window.
 

3. Editions, compatibility & requirements

Q. What phone models are compatible with Speedhero?
A. Speedhero is compatible with most Nokia phones and the iPhone. Check if your phone is supported in the phone compatibility list in the FAQ.

4. Using the Speedhero application

Q. Where can I play with Speedhero?
A. Speedhero works by sound recognition – it detects the sound of your contact with the ball (or your stick hitting the puck), and then it detects the sound of the ball’s impact on its target. It is important to get a good impact sound – so a wall, fence or other hard surface works well. Check the videos for examples.

Q. How do I get the most accurate results?
A. Use the Distance setting to tell Speedhero how far your ball contact position is from your target. So, if you are kicking the ball 11 metres from a wall, then you should set the Distance to 11 metres. Place your mobile phone midway between your contact position. You should not put your phone too far away from the shooting line. Check the how it works links for more detail.

Q. How do I use the Sensitivity setting in Speedhero?
A. If you have a very loud contact and impact, like in an empty hall, then you can have a lower Sensitivity setting. Conversely, if your impact is quiet, then you should increase the Sensitivity. You can change the Sensitivity in the Settings in the application.

Q. Can I see my top speed in miles per hour or kilometres per hour?
A. With Speedhero you can choose. You can change this in the mobile application under Settings.

Q. How do I get faster top speeds?
A. The answer is to practice, practice, and then practice some more. And then challenge your friends and teammates to push you faster. Or you can cheat, but then you'll only be cheating yourself...:)

Q. How do I share my results?
A. Follow these instructions:
1. Create an account by entering a username and email address in the Speedhero application.
2. Make a new record and confirm it.
3. When asked to share the record, share it either by pressing the speedhero button or the facebook button.

Q. I think I just got the world record top speed, what do I do?
A. So, you think you are the Speedhero? If you have just smashed at 160 mph on the tennis court then we want to help you tell the world about it! Right now the best way to prove that your top speed is for real is to upload a video. In the future we will be adding more ways for you to prove your results are legitimate.

Q. What can I do with Speedhero?
A. Maybe you want to practice your fastest serve on your own, see if you or your friend has the fastest drive, have a penalty speed shootout with your friends, or put your team’s slap shot speed to the test. You can use Speedhero as a coaching aid, to help give your players instant feedback on improvements to their technique. You can also use Speedhero in competitions and promotions, in stores and at events. Whether you’re out for fun or you are more serious, if you’re a pro or playing around, we want you to get your balls out and go for it!

Q. Does Speedhero always work in the same way irrespective of the phone model?
A. No. On, for example, iPhone or some Nokia phones the measuring takes place directly via the audio stream. With Java based applications e.g. in Nokia Series 40 phones, the measuring takes place via audio loops. This is why, in the Java versions of Speedhero applications, you get a certain time-window, during which time you must shoot. The length of the time-window is adjustable so you can optimise it for your phone's capabilities.

Q. Can I play football on Speedhero Ice Hockey?
A. No, you cannot. There is a simple reason why. Because of how Speedhero's sound recognition technology works, you cannnot get any correct readings for top speed for football using the Speedhero Ice Hockey application.

5. The technology behind the application

Q. How does the Speedhero mobile application work?
A. Each different Speedhero application has been developed to measure the top speed of each sport (different balls, pucks and shuttlecocks used in specific sports). We use your mobile phone’s audio sensors in conjunction with some clever sport-specific software coding to detect the flight of your ball. Then, using some smart algorithms and the processing power of your phone, Speedhero instantly calculates your top speed.

Q. How accurate is Speedhero?
A. If your shooting distance is correct and you avoid large shooting angles, Speedhero can achieve a high accuracy level of approx. ±0 – 2 %. The accuracy of Speedhero is based on the fact that it utilises the best features of modern mobile phones (sophisticated microphones and signal processing features as well as the high processing power of the mobile phones). Speedhero is able detect  sounds with the astonishing accuracy of 1 millisecond. On the basis of this information Speedhero calculates the top speed using its algorithms. Speedhero has been tested against the best professional sports radars on the market, not just in the laboratory enviroment but also in challenging weather conditions.

Q. What is sports radar?
A. You might know the term, sports radar, from the big sports radar guns you sometimes see at events. These often work using Doppler radar reflection measurement. Speedhero is the next generation of sports radar. We use our patent-pending sound recognition system to calculate top speed. Speedhero gives fantastic accuracy and is always with you on your mobile phone. Sports radar guns are usually too big for your pocket and tend to cost well tens or even hundreds times as much as Speedhero.

Q. Why is top speed so important?
A. Speed and accuracy are very important during the game. E.g. top football pros can accurately kick over 130 km/h and therefore score more goals. You want to know your top speed, right?

6. Player profile & the Speedhero community

Q. Who can join?
A. You have to be over 13 years of age. If you are under 13, we just need to get a confirmation from your parents.

Q. Why register?
A. Registering online is the only way to get your own player profile, see your statistics and earn awards! Share your Speedhero top results, check out the top speeds of your friends and pros around the world and that’s just the beginning.

Q. What is a Player profile?
A. In your profile you can view your achievements and top score in your favourite sport. The latest achievements are shown on the front page.

Q. My Player profile is empty/my results aren’t showing up?
A. While using your Speedhero application, after shooting "Save" your record and then "Share" it to Speedhero or Facebook. It can take a couple of minutes for results to be transfered to your Player profile.

Q. How can I prove my results are real?
A. If you get a world-class speed record, or even a world record, the best way to prove it right now is to upload a video to Speedhero TV. You can also share your score with your friends on Facebook if you dare and see if they believe it!

Q. Future features and updates
A. We have plenty of ideas and a lot of improvements are already underway – we are adding more features all the time. We want your ideas so we make Speedhero the way you want it – please give us your feedback…
 

7. Company & enquiries

Q. Who or what is behind Speedhero?
A. Speedhero is the first application from Entetrainer, the award-winning Finnish sports entertainment software development company. The founders of Entetrainer are a mixture of pro, semi-pro and amateur sportspeople, as well as researchers and developers.

Q. Feedback – how can I tell you what I think?
A. We hope you enjoy Speedhero and we always want to improve it and make it how you want it. Please use our Feedback service if you have any comments, suggestions, or issues you want to highlight. We really do value your contribution. If you need to contact us direct for any reason please email support@speedhero.com

Q. …and for press enquiries?
A. For press enquiries, please contact us at support@speedhero.com

Q. …and other enquiries?
A. If you are a potential partner, investor or other interested party please contact us at support@speedhero.com. If you need to contact Speedhero, please use our Feedback service
 

8. Compatible phones