iPhone, Android “most desired” smartphones for upgraders in the U.S.

Here's a little analyst-based hint for those of you not sure what to get your smartphone-obsessed loved one this holiday season.

According to a survey released by Neilsen, 29.7 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers now have smartphones (with Apple, RIM and Android taking the lion's share). Android's market share certainly has been growing, though, with RIM apparently loosing out the most.

However, out of all the regular mobile phone users who are planning to upgrade to a smartphone, when asked what platform they are most likely to upgrade to in the next year, both Apple's iPhone and Android were on a near par for the "most desired" smartphone operating system with Apple just pipping Android to the post.

Apparently, for those planning to upgrade to a smart phone in the next year, it seems women tend to prefer the iPhone more while men, and those in the 35 - 54 age bracket, have a slightly greater tendency towards the Android variety.

Neilsen summarizes its findings into the following four points:

• Among users planning to get a new smartphone, current smartphone owners showed a preference for the Apple iPhone (35 percent), while 28 percent of both smartphone and featurephone planned smartphone upgraders indicated they wanted a device with an Android operating system as their next mobile phone.
• Featurephone owners planning to get a smartphone are less likely to have made up their mind about the OS they will choose: 25 percent were "not sure" what their next desired OS might be compared to 13 percent of smartphone owners. Those over 55 were markedly less certain than younger mobile users, with 27.8 saying they weren't sure what kind of device they wanted next, compared to 12.2 percent of those 18 to 24.
• Apple's iPhone and devices with the Android operating system were the "most desired" among likely smartphone upgraders, with Apple showing a slight lead among those age 55+ , 18 to 24, and 25 to 34.
• Women planning to get a smartphone are more likely to want an iPhone as their next device, with slightly more males preferring Android.

So, with all that information, you should have no problem choosing how to best please your loved one with the right smartphone gift this year. Naturally, here at TUAW, we'd suggest the slightly more fruity variety, but hey, the stats are in front of you.

For the full Neilsen report click here.

[via CNN Fortune]

iPhone, Android "most desired" smartphones for upgraders in the U.S. originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone, Android "most desired" smartphones for upgraders in the U.S. originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Count The Beats: A closer look at Amplitube 2.0 for iOS

A few weeks ago, IK Multimedia released Amplitube 2.0, the next iteration of its guitar effects and amplifier emulator app for iOS (don't forget, you need the external iRig piece of kit, too). It's only been about 5 months since version 1.0 came out, but when we got word that version 2.0 was in the works, we got pretty excited.

Update 2.0 brings 5 new stomp boxes (additional in-app purchase required), a promise of improved sound quality, a 4-track recorder and master FX section with 3 effects (in-app purchase), the SpeedTrainer as well as the ability to import songs from your iPod library, and a few other tidbits, too.

The nice thing is, you can download a free version of 2.0, like version 1.0. That means you get the improved sound quality, SpeedTrainer, and the ability to import your songs from your iPod library at no extra cost. However, the bulk of the new additions in 2.0 are only available through in-app purchase. The question is, are they worth it?

Click the "Read More" link below to find out.

Continue reading Count The Beats: A closer look at Amplitube 2.0 for iOS

Count The Beats: A closer look at Amplitube 2.0 for iOS originally appeared on TUAW on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Count The Beats: A closer look at Amplitube 2.0 for iOS originally appeared on TUAW on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AmpliTube for iPhone updated to 2.0 - allows you to play along at your own speed

This week, the guys from IK Multimedia released version 2.0 of AmpliTube for the iPhone. We took a closer look at AmpliTube 1.0 back in June and were pretty impressed with what it had to offer. Since then, uses have requested the ability to import songs and play them at a custom, slower tempo. Fortunately, IK Multimedia has responded.

AmpliTube 2.0 introduces SpeedTrainer, which allows you to speed up or slow down your imported songs (up to 50 of them from your iPod library or your computer over Wi-Fi) without affecting the pitch. Now there are no more excuses. We expect to hear that Satriani album performed perfectly by next week!

Other new features include five new stomp boxes (in-app purchase required), a four-track recorder with a master FX section (three additional effects requiring in-app purchase), an option to export your recordings as high-quality audio (or in MP3 format via email) and improved sound quality with DSP code derived from the desktop versions of T-RackS 3 and AmpliTube 3.

Apparently, an update to the iPad version will be coming in the next three to four weeks, too. If you've updated, let us know how it's working out in the comments below.

Click here to watch the demo video on IK Multimedia's website.

AmpliTube for iPhone updated to 2.0 - allows you to play along at your own speed originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AmpliTube for iPhone updated to 2.0 - allows you to play along at your own speed originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Apple, Gemalto working on integrated SIM

GigaOM is reporting on a rumor that Apple has been working with security firm Gemalto, a simcard manufacturer, to create a software-reconfigurable SIM that will be directly integrated into future European iPhones. The iPhone would then be activated on the carrier of your choice by downloading a carrier-specific app from the App Store, instead of the traditional activation methods.

Essentially, Apple wouldn't have to worry about bundling carrier-specific SIMs with the iPhone and end-users would have only virtual contact with the carriers. Something Google tried to do with the Nexus One.

This would make the overall purchase of an iPhone from Apple's Online Store, or Apple's brick-and-mortar stores, a much simpler and smoother process for the end-user -- whilst cutting out the retail aspect that carriers currently hold. Although, I can't imagine carriers not wanting to sell the iPhone directly from their retail stores since the iPhone is such a hot commodity these days.

It'll be interesting to see how this one pans out.

[via Engadget]

Rumor: Apple, Gemalto working on integrated SIM originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumor: Apple, Gemalto working on integrated SIM originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Found Footage: Homemade stratospheric capsule uses iPhone GPS

In the midst of all the excitement and hype surrounding today's announcements, we thought we'd share this popular and heart-warming tale of a father and son believing in their dreams and reaching for them.

Seven-year-old Max Geissbuhler and his dad, Luke Geissbuhler, dreamed of visiting space. After eight months of determination and preparation, and with the help of a weather balloon, a HD video camera and an iPhone, they got pretty close. Housing the equipment in a specially designed, insulated case (filled with some hand-warmers) and the hopes of capturing "the blackness beyond our earth," the pair launched their explorer in August of this year. The video above is the story of that journey.

Climbing almost 19 miles, their craft flew into the stratosphere, capturing some rather impressive video footage along the way. International convention puts space at 100km. Once the weather balloon burst (due to lack of atmospheric pressure), the capsule began its decent back to the Earth -- aided by a deployed parachute.

But how did they locate the unit once it had landed back on earth? Well, that's where the iPhone came into play. They used a GPS tracking app on a borrowed iPhone (that's how you know who your real friends are, by the way) to locate the downed capsule and recover it.

From all of us at TUAW, we say well done to you, Max and Luke Geissbuhler. The family is now gauging interest in a 'how-to' book for other parental explorers.

Found Footage: Homemade stratospheric capsule uses iPhone GPS originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Found Footage: Homemade stratospheric capsule uses iPhone GPS originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: iPhone 4 “more prone to physical damage”

SquareTrade, a company that provides extended warranties for iPhones, is reporting that the iPhone 4 is "more prone to physical damage" than the iPhone 3GS, according to the warranty company's iPhone reliability report.

In the report, SquareTrade compared over 20,000 iPhone 4 claims, from the first four months of its release, to the equivalent for the iPhone 3GS. They found that the overall reported accident rate for the iPhone 4 is 68% higher than the 3GS, and that iPhone 4 users reported 82% more damaged screens than the 3GS.

The report goes on to say that "the aluminosilicate glass seems to crack at least as often as the old [3GS] glass, and there is now twice as much surface area to break," despite Apple claiming that the glass used in the iPhone 4 is 30 times harder than plastic, according to its website.

However, SqaureTrade's report says that accident rates need to be taken into perspective, and that overall, the iPhone has a much lower non-accident malfunction rate than compared with most other consumer electronics. SquareTrade also notes that in its last smartphone reliability study, it found the iPhone to be "far more reliable" than Blackberry and Palm Treo phones, though, this was compiled in November 2008.

Having just received my iPhone 4, I'm debating whether to get a case for it or not. I did purchase a highly rated case for my 3G, but it was more of a hassle than its worth, especially since I was particularly careful with the phone. I guess it boils down to how well you look after you gadgets. Nevertheless, accidents do happen.

You can download a PDF of SquareTrade's report here.

[via International Business Times]

Report: iPhone 4 "more prone to physical damage" originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Report: iPhone 4 "more prone to physical damage" originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Apple talking with CDMA carriers in India

Adding to the already bloated CDMA iPhone rumor mill, The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that Apple is in talks with Reliance Communications Ltd and Tata Teliservices Ltd to bring the much-talked-about CDMA equipped iPhone to India. Apparently, talks with Tata Teleservices Ltd have been going on for some 4 to 5 months now.

Similarly, this same CDMA iPhone is the one that has been repeatedly rumored to appear on - surprise, surprise - Verizon's network early next year, also according to the Journal. So, Verizon folks, things are looking more and more in your favor, once again -- at least until they don't, once again.

If Apple were to introduce a code division multiple access (CDMA) iPhone, it would open Apple's iPhone up to roughly 550 million new customers worldwide, according the latest official figures from the CDMA Development Group. This certainly would expand Apple's iPhone market!

In India, one of the world's fastest growing wireless markets, Apple has the potential to get its iPhone into 134 million current CDMA handset users' hands, though Apple Insider suggests that nearly half the country may struggle to afford the phone, with individuals earning an estimated US$1.25 or less a day.

If the rumors are to be believed, a CDMA iPhone release early next year is looking more and more likely. As always, nothing is certain until we see it in the cold, hard, light of day.

[Via AppleInsider]

Rumor: Apple talking with CDMA carriers in India originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumor: Apple talking with CDMA carriers in India originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone shipping times drop in the UK, 6 month 0% finance offered

Last week, those wanting to buy an iPhone 4 in the U.S. got good news when they heard that shipping times for the phone had been reduced. Now the UK gets to share in that good news, too.

The UK Apple Online Store is now selling iPhone 4s with a 2 week dispatch time, reduced from the previous 3 week wait. Both the 16 and 32 gigabyte models have a 2 week dispatch time, while the iPhone 3GS has a 1 - 2 week wait.

Mind you, most network providers and Apple's own retail stores seem to have stock readily available if you're willing to walk in and get it.

In related news, the UK Apple Online Store is now offering 6 months interest-free financing on minimum iPhone and accessory purchases of £450. This is an interesting option for those who can't afford the cost of the phone upfront and who don't want to be tied into a 12, 18, or 24 month contract with a network provider. Still, you'll have to subscribe to one of the network providers for cellular service, which will naturally add to the cost. This option is probably best for pay-as-you-go-customers.

Financially speaking, and if you've got the time, I'd say you're better off getting a contract with a network provider who will subsidize the cost of the phone, provided you don't go for the most expensive price plans offered. Basically, if you want to be frugal about it, you need to balance the contract that suits your needs best with the overall cost of ownership that you will incur when the contract is over.

[Tip of the hat to macnn]

iPhone shipping times drop in the UK, 6 month 0% finance offered originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone shipping times drop in the UK, 6 month 0% finance offered originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 5 in the rumor mill

It seems like only yesterday that the iPhone 4 was released, but how time flies when you're having fun. With the whole antennagate issue mostly behind us, most folks are just settling down to getting the best out of their shiny new iPhone. After all, its only been around four months since it was released.

So, with that in mind, it's hard to believe that talk of the next iPhone is already in circulation. Believe it or not, the rumor mill is once again churning out talk of Apple's next iteration of the iPhone - the enigma that is affectionately dubbed the iPhone 5.

TechRadar has compiled a roundup of some of the hottest rumored features that we may see in the iPhone 5. Here's a brief summary of what they report, but remember, it's only speculation.

Kicking us off, the iPhone 5 release is expected to be in June / July of 2011 because that's the time cycle that other iPhone releases have followed. However, iLounge has guessed that the next iPhone could be with us as early as January of next year (even they admit this is "hard to believe."). The reason for a January 2010 release of the next iPhone, simply put, would be to resolve, with new hardware, the now mostly blown over antennagate issue.

Next up, there's been talk of the iPhone 5 being equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, essentially turning the iPhone 5 into a digital wallet (allowing you to make credit / debit card like payments with the phone). Apple has released a patent demonstrating such technology, but this was some time ago, so it's unclear as to whether Apple is planning this for deployment in the iPhone 5.

Furthermore, the next iPhone is rumored to be evolutionary as apposed to revolutionary. Similar to the design shift from the iPhone 3G to the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 5 will be akin to the iPhone 4, but a beefed up version. Rumored specs are of a faster processor (1.2GHz), more memory and larger storage, and a 3.7' screen (as apposed to the current 3.5' one on the iPhone 4). The iPhone 5 may also be made of a new material, perhaps some kind of alloy. Oh, and of course, a revamped antenna!

And, a big one here (note the sarcasm in my words), there's talk of the Verizon iPhone. TechRadar reports sources that have handled Verizon iPhone prototypes, though, according to Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg, that's not likely to happen. Verizon fans, let's hope you don't get let down again

Finally, TechRadar reports that at least one analyst believes the iPhone 5 will support LTE super fast mobile broadband (in the U.S. anyway), which will make the iPhone 5 a 4G phone.

Of course, this is all pure speculation and could amount to nothing more than a big whoosh of hot air. But then again, the next version of the iPhone is coming. Let the countdown begin.

iPhone 5 in the rumor mill originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 5 in the rumor mill originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 4 shipping times improved

Good news for those wanting to purchase an iPhone 4...in the US anyway. Shipping estimates have improved from three weeks to between five and seven business days, according to Apple's US online retail store. Improved shipping estimates usually indicate that Apple is catching up with consumer demand.

The iPhone 4 has been in high demand since its release in June, selling well over 1.5 million devices in its first three days of availability. But supply is still short, especially with expansion into the overseas market. According to AppleInsider, mobile carrier China Unicom was only able to meet about half of the pre-orders placed by customers, with the rest having to wait until the end of October for their orders to be fulfilled.

Similarly, the iPad suffered high shipping times upon its release in April, with things only improving in August when Apple's standard shipping time of 24hrs was reached.

In the UK, the iPhone 4 shipping time is set at three weeks, while the iPhone 3GS can be shipped in one to two weeks, according to Apple's UK online retail store.

Personally, I've currently got an iPhone 3G with the mobile carrier O2. The contract has expired, and I'm now running on their Simplicity tariff. I could upgrade to the iPhone 4 with O2 (they seem to get priority stock), however, Tesco is offering the most cost effective contract (for me anyway). Unfortunately, though, they never seem to have any stock.

Tesco is offering a 16GB iPhone 4 on a 12 month contract at £35 a month. The upfront cost is £229, but the overall cost of ownership is £649. With this contract, you get 750 monthly minutes, a 1GB monthly data allowance, and unlimited texts. Alternatively, O2's £35 a month contract is for 18 months. The upfront cost is cheaper, at £179, but the overall cost of ownership comes in at a much steeper £809. Worse still, with this contract you only get 300 monthly minutes and a 500MB monthly data allowance. If I was to purchase a contract nearer the 600 minute a month point with O2 (which is more like what I need), I'd have to pay £40 a month on an 18 month contract with the overall cost of ownership being £839.

For me, it's obvious to go with Tesco's iPhone 4 contract. Unfortunately, until stock supplies improve, I'm forced to hold onto my iPhone 3G.

Engadget has done a fantastic comparison of all the price plans for the iPhone 4 in the UK. If you haven't got an iPhone 4 yet, and you live in the UK, it's well worth the read.

iPhone 4 shipping times improved originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 4 shipping times improved originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What 10 years of Apple did to its main product

How time flies! In the year 2000, I was just finishing high school, listening to Bush, and becoming acquainted with Windows 2000. Back then, I knew very little about Apple, and I'd certainly not heard of the Bondi Bubble iMac (the first iMac was released in 1998). In 2010, well...how things have changed for me!

And, as illustrated by Brett Jordan in the graphic above, things have also changed at Apple.

It's incredible to think that the iPhone has taken center stage at Apple over the last three years. As noted by some of our commentators, there has been a real lack of Mac-centric news recently. Sure, there was the update to the iMac a few months ago, but it's glaringly obvious that the Mac has taken a back seat to the iPhone -- certainly in the limelight department. In fact, I'm reveling in the fact that I'm writing about the iPhone and the iMac at the same time!

Today, the Mac is the center of our digital hub, but it's no longer the center of our digital world. When we leave the house / office / room where the Mac lives, it's the iPhone ( iPad / iPod touch) that is constantly in our hands, and Apple knows it!

Of course, we have to come back to our Macs eventually (in my case, repeatedly, everyday) because the iPhone can't do everything that we want it to, or even some of the things that we want done well, yet. But just looking at this picture shows how far things have come, and how the direction taken by personal computing is becoming even more personal.

The only feature of the iPhone 4 that doesn't beat the iMac of yesteryear is screen real estate. The processor and RAM are double the capacity of the iMac, the iPhone's storage is 2 gigabytes larger, and it's flash-based memory. And of course, it's tiny in comparison. As noted by Obama Pacman, it's Moore's law in effect.

But when will it end? In 10 years time, will we have an iPhone that's five times smaller than the current one, but more powerful than the personal computers of today? Who knows? That might be a weird phone, but anything could happen. For now, I'm still stuck with my iPhone 3G, and I think it might still have some Bush on it. In the meantime, I'm just looking forward to getting the iPhone 4!

What 10 years of Apple did to its main product originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What 10 years of Apple did to its main product originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to speed up your iPhone 3G (while waiting for the release of iOS 4.1)

If you're an iPhone 3G user who has upgraded to iOS 4, you're most likely puling your hair out in anticipation of the bug fixes expected in iOS 4.1 (due to arrive this week). However, if you just can't wait that long, creativebits has a few tips you might like to try to improve the performance of your sluggish iPhone 3G.

• Delete all unused and unessential apps.
• Delete all unessential conversations from your SMS inbox.
• Clear your history and browsing cache in Safari.
• Delete your call history.
• If you don't use them, turn off Spotlight and MMS messaging.

For all the details, check out the article here.

Our own Christ Rawson has some good pointers to make on this issue, but if all else fails, we recommend you get your party poppers ready for the imminent iOS 4.1 release.

How to speed up your iPhone 3G (while waiting for the release of iOS 4.1) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

How to speed up your iPhone 3G (while waiting for the release of iOS 4.1) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best apps for road warriors and business users

Business Insider has compiled a list of the 10 best free iPhone apps for business and the 20 best iPad apps for business travelers. The lists are pretty comprehensive, and just because you don't fly around from one meeting to the next doesn't mean you need not check them out.

From Todo and Evernote for the iPad (which has been extensively covered here on TUAW) to Yelp and Bump for the iPhone, there are some real gems to help you stay ahead of the game.

If you've got a shiny new iPad or iPhone, but you're struggling to sift the good from the bad on the App Store, this is a great place to start.

Business Insider even points out that, if you put the apps to good use, maybe you can claim the paid ones back on expenses. That's good thinking!

Best apps for road warriors and business users originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Best apps for road warriors and business users originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Count The Beats: IK Multimedia announces Amplitube iRig for the iPhone

Filed under: Audio, iPhone, Music

To all you guitarists out there, we know you're incredibly particular about tone when it comes to your axe and the boutique pedals you play it through. But lets be honest, every now and again it can be a little tiresome lugging that oversized pedal board, and your vintage amp, through the underground for that one-off "favour for a friend" gig. Especially when the venue won't be able to handle your tone anyway (as apposed to that sell out rockin' show you did with the guys the night before).

Well, it seems like IK Multimedia has beat Line 6 to it. Now you can leave the industrial strength cases behind in exchange for your iPhone and the iRig (of course you still need your guitar).

IK Multimedia has brought their renowned guitar and effects virtualization software to the iPhone with the iRig. For £29.99 you can purchase the iRig peripheral hardware that enables you to plug your guitar / bass into your iPhone and then your iPhone into your amp, sound desk -- whatever tickles your fancy.

The baseline iRig app is downloaded off the app store (which comprises of two stomp boxes, one amp+cabinet and two microphones). If you wish you can upgrade the app with more stomp boxes, amps+cabinets and microphones via the a-la-carte in-app purchase and download process.

We're very much looking forward to trying this out for ourselves. If the iRig plays like Amplitube does on the Mac, there are some exciting possibilities ahead, one of which being less back ache!

Check out the video after the break, or IK Multimedia's iRig website for more info.

Continue reading Count The Beats: IK Multimedia announces Amplitube iRig for the iPhone

Count The Beats: IK Multimedia announces Amplitube iRig for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 11 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Count The Beats: IK Multimedia announces Amplitube iRig for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 11 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Count The Beats: Inspiration… two apps for the musician on the move

Filed under: Multimedia, Software, iPhone, App Store, Music

Recently I've been preparing to move home and finally did last weekend. Naturally I had to pack up all my musical gear, equipment and of course, my Mac. In the week leading up to the move, I've had my iPhone and nothing else. With no creative outlet and the pressure of looming project deadlines, I found myself scouting the app store for a fix to help me start fleshing out a few creative ideas.

This is what I found that worked well for me.

1. TonePad and TonePad Pro

The iTunes Store describes TonePad Pro as "...the easiest way to make music. Discover the inner musician in you. Create songs by simply touching." And this is exactly what I found. With a 16 x 16 matrix, and an easy-to-use user interface (literally start tapping your fingers and music is made), I found myself coming up with little melodies and tunes immediately. Although you only have the 16 x 16 matrix, to me, what initially seemed quite limiting soon became a boundary for creative focus.

You can save an unlimited number of tunes to listen back to, and upload them to a shared server where your buddies can check out what you've been musing. With the paid version, you can save your melodies into a ringtone that will sync back to your iPhone, too.

2. Flourish

Flourish is something a bit more immersive. While having a steeper learning curve, there's loads more to explore here. The user interface is really fresh and unique (especially for the iPhone), and presents a creative challenge in focusing your composition whilst giving you the space to try different approaches to what you are creating.

Basically Flourish represents musical phrases as physical loops:

-Record loops with expressive multi-touch keyboards.
-Generate percussive and melodic sequences.
-Build arrangements by ear or by eye.
-Select from a consonant collection of instruments.
-Sequence loops by connecting them in chain.

Check out the Flourish website for a few demo clips.

Let us know in the comments below what other apps for the iPhone / iPod Touch, or the Mac, that are inspiring you to make music.

Count The Beats: Inspiration... two apps for the musician on the move originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Count The Beats: Inspiration... two apps for the musician on the move originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Count The Beats: Toyo from Amidio, Touch DJ and Noise.io

Filed under: Interviews, TUAW Interview, Developer, iPhone, Music

Matt's back with another Count The Beats interview (full of insightful thought-provoking content), waiting for you to devour and digest. Happy holidays!

We got together with Toyo from Amidio, the creators of the mighty Noise.io Pro [iTunes Link] synth app (and other cool music apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch), to get the inside scoop on their newest app, Touch DJ [iTunes Link], the rewards of playing eastern wind instruments, some down-to-earth points on developing for the iPhone / iPod touch platform, as well as Amidio's thoughts on the future of mobile music creation.

Go on, check it out, but before you do, why not whet your appetite with this sneak peek video in the second half of the post, showing Touch DJ in action at Pacha in New York City.

P.S. You may recall that a while back we featured Sonorasourus [iTunes Link], another great DJ'ing app, and we said we'd let you know when it went live on the App Store. It's now up there; check it out here [iTunes Link].

Continue reading Count The Beats: Toyo from Amidio, Touch DJ and Noise.io

Count The Beats: Toyo from Amidio, Touch DJ and Noise.io originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Count The Beats: Toyo from Amidio, Touch DJ and Noise.io originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Count The Beats: Hey DJ, play us a song…

Filed under: Audio, iPhone, iPod touch, First Look, App Review, Music

Here in the UK, it's getting pretty chilly on the willy compared to a month ago, or so. The warm memories of the summer are slowly dwindling to the reality of earlier, darker evenings (the clocks have just gone forward) as well as tentative first visits from our old friend Jack Frost. Generally speaking, the cold grasp of winter is steadily fastening on us (or not).

But we are blessed with a few heart warming occasions over the winter season (Christmas, New Years Eve etc) that make the cold, well, a little less nippy on the bone. One of these such occasions is, of course, Guy Fawkes night (Remember remember the 5th of November...) And, to me, that means one thing, HOUSE PARTY! And what does a great house party need? An authentic DJ.

So when I heard my main man Dan the DJ couldn't make the party (or at the least lend me his decks) I turned to the next best thing, Sonorasaurus - the first complete deejay setup for the iPhone / iPod Touch.

At this point you may be wondering what a DJ app has to do with 'Count The Beats', or, in fact making music on an Apple platform, but it quite literally has everything to do with it. Come on, we all know that deejays are real musicians too, right?

Continue reading Count The Beats: Hey DJ, play us a song...

Count The Beats: Hey DJ, play us a song... originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Count The Beats: Hey DJ, play us a song... originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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