Most British Passport holders now have biometric passports. If you have an Android device (phone or tablet) with an NFC chip, you can download an app from Google Play and check that you biometric passport is readable before your next trip. The Android App is actually from the Identity and Passport Service, which is the issuing authority for British passports, so you will not be doing anything illegal. You can download it from Google Play here... https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duncanwestland.chk&hl=en Maybe it is a bit scary that biometric passports can be read so easily?
I don't think you can see the app from your Android device if the app is not compatible. Generally, only high-end Android devices have NFC so you won't see the app on Google Play if you don't have NFC. You can view the app on Google Play if you search using a non-Android device.
Interestingly when I clicked the link on my phone it defaulted to the browser but on the tab it asked in which way I'd like to access the Play store, via App or Browser. So there is a slight variation in the two devices. I thought I may have clicked the "always" rather than the "just this one time" for hypelinks in the past but I always ensure I always click the "just this one time" so I always have the option of how I open things and with whatever app I decide at the time. Yep there's no NFC on either device so I didn't gain much from my exploits in the end.
