By: Spencer Burke Spotify Apps have been available to developers for nearly two months now. It’s changed the way I’ve listened to music. Actually, it’s more subtle than that. In the way that the best products disrupt deeply ingrained habits, Spotify + Apps combines services I already use and makes them more powerful and easier [...]
As I have mentioned a few times in the past week, I am about to finish reading the Steve Jobs bio and loving every second of it. One thing, among many, that has become very clear from this book, is that Jobs was way ahead of his time. Take iTunes for example. He nailed it when many thought such a project was not nailable (Yes, I know that is not a word. Sue me.)
The iPhone and iPad scream music. With the latest release by the Gorillaz being completely recorded on an iPad, more people are starting to take the iPhone and iPad more seriously as a music creating machine. The problem for most of us is that unlike the Gorillaz, we don’t have the most musical talent even though we may claim to. Thanks to apps like Smule’s incredible “I Am T-Pain” app the door has been opened for even the least talented to make good quality music from the comforts of your own iDevice. Keep on reading to see what this app is all about.
Let’s face it, 8-bit is and always will be cool. The app store has been flooded with a ton on Nintendo 8-bit style throw back games and they seem to be doing very well. This may be way before your time but when the original Nintendo gaming system dropped in the U.S. 8 bit graphics were the business and games like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda and Metroid were all the all the rage.
The iPhone is a incredible tool for musicians. I Am T-Pain brings auto tune to your finger tips. The official Glee apps gives you three part harmonies. Apps like Pandora and Last.fm allow for music streaming. There are ton of piano and drum apps for music creation and then theres PocketGuitar. PocketGuitar transforms your iPhone into a strummable guitar filled with different sounds and effects. The app is only $.99 and gives you the ability to play a acoustic-electric, electric, classical, muted guitar along with a electric bass and a ukuele.
Keeping up to date with your artists in your iTunes library is a hard task. If you have a large music library, like myself, finding out when the next album by your favorite band comes out is sometimes impossible. Knowing what albums you’re missing from your collection can also be a difficult task. Searching on Google or on the iTunes store does work however, if you have 500 artists or so, it’s going to take way too much time. I only have time to search up my favorite bands like The Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus. I mean… *Coughs.* Anyways, I have a possible solution for you which comes in the form of an application for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Ocarina is an instrument for the iPhone based of the original ocarina: a small flute like instrument with an opening to blow through and four holes which can be covered to produce different notes. Ocarina was one of the first popular iPhone applications, praised by many like David Pogue and included on Apple’s All-Time Top Apps. I’m sure many of you have heard of it before and like me, have owned it for a long time, however, the apple iDevice nation is always growing and quality apps like this drop off the charts only being enjoyed by original users. Ocarina is currently $0.99 in the App Store and is meant for the iPhone. Video review after the break!
The battle between Android and iPhone is continuing to heat up. With the new Evo4G on the market and the iPhone HD to be announced within days, both platforms will be able to offer consumers true “superphones”. The debate about usability and which OS is more user friendly has no clear winner. With Froyo’s speed and enhancements, Google is sure giving Apple a run for its money.
In the middle of DJ’ing a house party you’re called away from your desktop forgetting to cue up some tracks. To your amazement, iTunes cues up your live version of “Like a Virgin” after a kicking Beastie Boys track — your guests recoil in horror.
This tragedy could have been avoided with an app like Djay Remote.
Since the App Store’s launch back in July 2008 we’ve seen an absolute explosion in both novelty and full-featured music based apps. From the very company who started it all off, MooCowMusic, showcasing their versatile suite of instrumental based apps, to game-changing studios like Amidio Inc with their digital contribution to the mobile DJ’ing experience, TouchDJ (which kinda doubles as a mobile Garangeband), and of course new players to the game, like RockStar Games and their celeb-endorsed Timaland title, Beaterator.
