Would anyone use a free app that measures centering off a smart phone pic?
 

.

I voted No.

Eye appeal is always high on my list of things to consider when acquiring a card but for me I don't care if the centering is 60-40 or even 80-20 as long as the eye appeal is there. Even an 80-20 card can have great eye appeal. Now if I collected the shiny new modern cards where centering has a greater overall effect on value, where the miniscule difference between 95-5 and 90-10 can greatly effect the value, then I might be inclined to use such an application.

Now the app that I wish someone would develop, would be to use the same algorithms that exist with currently available image-recognition software to make an app where you can take a picture of any card, and the app would provide you with a series of links such as to issue's Oldcardboard page to give you some basic background information on the issue, another link to take you directly to an Ebay search for that issue, and perhaps a link to the VCP page so you can look up the historical sale prices of the issue. Now that is an app that I would use! Imagine how cool it would be to walk around at a show, snap a picture of a card you're interested in and instantly be provided with all the links necessary to inform you about that particular card and issue.

A beginner can determine centering. How about something that determines trimming.

How about an app that determines whether a card is authentic or not?

TPG companies are sending their hitmen after you as we speak. If I were you I'd lay low. :D

Sure.

But not if it is simply going to say 55/45 or 60/40.

It would need to have the accuracy of a computer--51.837/48.163

And a way to overcome pictures that are slightly angled.

Trimming would be an interesting challenge, it'd have to lay a fine grid over the card and determine non straight edges.

Problem with determining trimming is you must have something relative to measure against in every photo along with the card (along with a database of all card sizes) in case it was trimmed on all side equally.