SvenOnTech » iPod Touch

SampleTank for the iPhone Makes Muscians Full Out Bands

Sven Rafferty — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:38:19 +0000

Hey keyboardists of the world, it’s time to grab your iPhone or iPad and let it help you excel in your playing. With the new SampleTank free app for the iPhone or iPod touch, it will give mobile musicians more sounds to grove it to via the iRig MIDI interface. You can get 8 instruments which gives you 400 rhythmic and melodic patterns that will round out anything that you may be playing. In essence, you’ll have the entire band packed into your iOS device and keyboard!

View Press Release »

October 2011, Modena, Italy – IK Multimedia is proud to announce that SampleTank® Free for iPhone/iPod touch is now available in the iTunes App store. Together with the newly-released regular version of SampleTank, the two apps are the first pro-quality, sample-based sound and groove modules available for the iOS mobile platform.

Both can be played using the built-in keyboard and patterns, but they truly excel when used with an external keyboard controller and a MIDI interface – like the newly-released iRig™ MIDI – to replace older hardware sound and synthesizer modules for live performance. Together with iRig MIDI, SampleTank offers the most portable and best quality sound and groove module solution for mobile musicians to date.

SampleTank sounds are known for their high quality and extreme variety that is unmatched on the iOS platform. For the first time in a mobile device, users are able to experience the same quality of sounds they are used to from the most sophisticated software or hardware instruments like IK’s range of virtual instruments for the Mac and PC.

SampleTank Free users can immediately start using 8 instruments (4 + 4 by registering) on their favorite iOS device including Drums, Bass, Electric Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Synth Lead and Woodwinds. The instruments also come with over 400 rhythmic and melodic patterns so that anyone can compose high-quality grooves in seconds right out of the box.

Users can expand their sonic palette to over 400 instruments and 900 patterns by accessing the in-app store where they can find 16 categories of sounds covering the entire set needed for the most demanding live players and producers: Pianos, Organs, Strings, Basses, Guitars, Drums, Synths, Woodwinds, Brass, Ethnic Instruments, Percussion and more all instantly accessible from right inside the app. Single instruments categories can be added for only $4.99/€3.99 or as a complete collection for a discounted price of only $39.99/€31.99, a fraction of what instruments with an equivalent quality would cost as regular software or hardware instruments. Free version users can also upgrade to all the sounds included in the regular version of SampleTank for only $9.99/€7.99.

Both in the free and in the regular version, users can access three main sections of the app:

The Sounds page is where users can quickly browse and audition the hundreds of available sounds and patterns which are organized in easily recognizable icon-based categories. Both the included instruments and the add-on instruments can be auditioned here making it easy to choose what the user prefers. Here users can play up to 4 simultaneous instruments and save or recall them using the built-in preset system.
The Edit page is where the user can personalize the sound and effects parameters through easy-to-understand knobs for immediate sound and effect parameter tweaking. Each SampleTank sound is “production-ready” since it comes with pre-programmed built-in effects of the highest quality for the platform to further emphasize the musicality and character of sounds.
The Play page is where every type of musician finds a convenient play environment directly in their iOS device with a dual piano-style keyboard, a scale-based keyboard or drum pads.

SampleTank features

4-part multi-timbral professional quality sound and groove module
Expandable sound library with more than 400 instruments in 16 categories
Huge selection of melodic and rhythmic patterns for accompaniment or groove creation
Built-in insert effects and master reverb
Easy-to-use, intuitive mobile interface
Sound and effects editing with multiple parameters
Play interface with piano keyboard, scale-based keyboard and drum pads
Compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4th and 3rd generation, iPad 2 and iPad with iOS 4.3 and newer
Designed in concert with iRig MIDI interface for iOS devices

Pricing and availability

SampleTank Free for iPhone/iPod touch is now available on the iTunes App store. < http://itunes.apple.com/app/sampletank-free/id464775965?mt=8>

The regular version of SampleTank with 72 built-in sounds is also available for an introductory price of only $9.99/€7.99. < http://itunes.apple.com/app/sampletank/id464783893?mt=8>

A universal iPad version of SampleTank is also in development and will be available soon. Current users of SampleTank for iPhone / iPod will be able to update to this version for free when it becomes available.

iRig MIDI, the Core MIDI interface for iOS, is already shipping and is available for only $69.99/€54.99 in selected music instruments and electronic retailers. Owners of iRig MIDI also get an exclusive sound-set of 48 sounds to use in SampleTank for free simply by registering.

nova media unveils iHub Basic, syncs Macs, iPhones, iPads and iPod touch wirelessly

Sven Rafferty — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:52:36 +0000

Berlin based nova media today unveiled iHub Basic for Mac OS X. iHub Basic syncs contacts and calendars automatically and wirelessly between Macs, iPhones, iPads and iPod touch in any local network. The software installs on a Mac and shares selected calendars, contacts and address book groups. Other Macs and iOS devices on the same network can access and edit any shared data. iHub Basic does not require any additional client software as it uses the open standards CalDAV and CardDAV which are supported by default by Mac OS X and iOS.

“Thanks to iHub Basic, there is no need to store sensitive on any far-away cloud service.”, states Jan Fuellemann, spokesperson of nova media. “In addition, the user does not have to use a cable and run iTunes just to add an appointment in the calendar or to change an address. And of course, there is no need to buy any expensive server solution to sync contacts and calendars any more.”

iHub Basic runs as an invisible server application in the background and does not require users to be logged on the Mac where it is installed. Other Macs can sync their data via WiFi and/or Ethernet. iPhones, iPads and iPod touch require a WiFi connection to be synchronised.

iHub Basic can use the integrated MoHub® technology by nova media to set up an ad-hoc WiFi network with just a few clicks. This way, all devices can be sychronised even if no network is available at all.

iHub Basic saves contacts and calendars from the last 14 days automatically and allows a quick restore of this data in case an unwanted change has been synchronised.

Pricing and Availability:
iHub Basic is available today for Euro 29.95 including VAT (US-$ 29.95 plus VAT for residents in the US and Canada) at nova media’s website http://www.novamedia.de. iHub Basic requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher to install. Synchronisation of calendars requires Mac OS X 10.5.x, iOS 3.x on the clients. Synchronisation of contacts requires Mac OS X 10.6.x, iOS 4.x on the clients.

Rē Universal Remote Gets a Nice Update

Sven Rafferty — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:53:38 +0000

We reviewed the Rē Universal Remote back in March and now have some great news for you all. It has been updated with some very sweet features, fixing a few of our cons in fact. Here’s the deets:

Transfer part or all of your personalized Rē setup from one iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to another through the popular data transfer program “Bump”, which is incorporated into the Rē App.

More brands have been added to the already extensive IR database list.

Additional remote editing features and view customization.

Includes compatibility with Sony PS3 using the Schmartz wireless Infra-red adapter.

Auto-dimming can now be enabled in settings, with automatic activation based upon movement.
App specific timer that can control when the iPhone or iPod goes to sleep. V1.1 also offers vibrate on/off and volume control for button click specifically within the Rē app.

Update is free in the App Store for current users.

Let Your iPhone Case Charge Your Battery

Sven Rafferty — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:07:35 +0000

Novothink, the leading provider of solar powered solutions for Apple products, is proud to announce the availability of the highly-acclaimed, Apple-licensed Solar Surge charging case for iPhone and iPod Touch. Surge combines a powerful, state-of-the art solar panel with a lithium ion battery into a comfortable, soft touch, non-slip finish case to provide energy conscious consumers with the ultimate protective battery backup solution for every day use.

“We are elated to bring Solar Surge to energy conscious apple fanatics nationwide” said Silvia Zimmermann, Marketing Director for Novothink. “We strongly feel that being the first Apple certified solar charging case for the iPhone and iPod touch is a huge step towards incorporating solar technology into everyday life.”

Tap Into the Power of the Sun – Novothink’s advanced solar technology provides about 30 minutes of talk time on a 3G network or 60 minutes on 2G from a mere 30 minutes of direct sunlight. Novothink also includes USB cable to charge Surge on a rainy day.

Advanced Battery Technology – Surge’s lithium-ion polymer battery(1500mAH for iPodTouch and 1320mAH for iPhone) more than doubles the battery capacity through a highly efficient charger. The smart charging technology automatically sends a charge whenever it needs juice and there is sufficient power reserved. There are no switches to worry about, it will know precisely when to stop and start charging. There’s also an integrated thermal sensor to prevent potential overheating if its environment becomes too hot.

Infinite Uses for the Outdoor Enthusiast – Surge includes a cutout for wrist straps and smaller carabiners making it ideally suited for traveling, hiking, biking, trips to the beach, and camping.

LED Indicators – The 4 built-in LED lights let you know if you have a sufficiently powerful light source in addition to how much charge remains in the battery.

Solar Planner – Novothink developed a free Solar Planner App that provides an estimate of how much sun exposure is necessary to maintain the battery level of your iPod Touch or iPhone based on your everyday usage and the current weather forecast.

Additional Battery Life Provided by Solar Surge for iPhone

Talk Time(3G) Up to 4 Hours
Talk Time(2G) Up to 8 Hours
Standby Time Up to 240 Hours
Internet Use(3G) Up to 4 Hours
Internet Use on Wi-Fi Up to 6 Hours
Video Playback Up to 6 Hours
Audio Playback Up to 20 Hours

The Novothink Solar Surge is available now in Black and White from Novothink.com at an MSRP of $79.95 for iPhone 3G/3G S and $69.95 for iPod Touch(2nd Gen).

FLPR Turns Your iPhone or iPod Touch into A Universal Remote Control

Sven Rafferty — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:16:51 +0000

New Potato Technologies, an innovator and developer of iPod and iPhone accessories, today introduced FLPR™, a revolutionary new accessory and app that transforms iPhone and iPod touch into a universal remote control. FLPR lets users control multiple electronic devices, including televisions, cable and satellite boxes, stereo systems, lights, ceiling fans and just about anything else that uses an infrared remote control. Available this month from Best Buy stores nationwide, and online at http://www.newpotatotech.com, the revolutionary FLPR replaces a sea of remotes cluttering up the home.

FLPR is a snap to set up. After purchasing the FLPR infrared interface and popping it into the iPhone/iPod touch dock connector, users simply download the free FLPR app from the App Store℠ online store. Once the app is launched, choose the device “type,” select “brand,” “name it” and “use it.” It’s that easy. FLPR comes pre‐programmed with over 14,000 remote control codes, including all major electronics brands.

Unlike other universal remote solutions for iPhone and iPod touch, FLPR’s extensive database of over 14,000 pre‐programmed remote control codes means that you don’t have to spend time learning your existing remotes “button by button.” FLPR works with hundreds of brands of devices out of box with no programming necessary.

FLPR is also a learning remote. If the remote control code for that old television in the guest bedroom is not in the extensive FLPR database, you can easily teach FLPR the code for that old relic, creating a brand new remote.
The user‐friendly, stylish interface of FLPR rivals that of expensive, high‐end universal remotes. What’s more, FLPR can be personalized with the included free background skins. The screen for each device you control can have a distinct look so you can instantly tell the remote for the television apart from the iPod docking sound system.

FLPR has a range of about 30 feet and is powered by the iPhone/iPod touch. The free FLPR app is available now in the iTunes store. For more, visit http://www.newpotatotech.com/flpr.

The FLPR infrared interface will be available March 4, 2010 at NewPotatoTech.com and in‐store nationwide at Best Buy on March 28, 2010 for $79.99.

Carry America’s Mot Important Documents in History on Your iPhone

Sven Rafferty — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:10:38 +0000

The brand new American Dream by MultiEducator, Inc. is a unique application for Apple iPhone/iPod that contains nearly 500 of the most important documents in US history.

This $2.99 download provides instant access to an astounding array of the most important documents, speeches and inaugural addresses from American Presidents political leaders from the beginnings of our country all the way to the present.

You can read 480 speeches and documents (including all the Presidential Inaugural addresses and dozens of the most important laws of the land), 90 Supreme Court Decisions, and 18 audio recordings all organized on a finger tip friendly phone app.

This little download is an incredible compilation of primary source documents in American History. Each document entry includes an explanation of the significance of the court decision, law, or key points of a speech.

Documents can be accessed chronologically, or often by groups. You can search for a document and save recent or favorites. All of the documents can be e-mailed and thus shared.

American Dreams can be downloaded at the Apple iTunes Store.

Turn Your iPhone or iPod touch into a Universal Remote Control

Sven Rafferty — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:21:18 +0000

NewKinetix LLC, of Portland, Oregon, will be demonstrating their Universal Remote Control, RēTM, at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The Rē infrared (IR) hardware accessory plugs into your iPhone or iPod touch mobile digital device and the user interface will be provided by a supporting Rē Universal Remote iPhone application planned to be offered free on the App Store. As users are turning to their iPhone for information and entertainment, an IR universal remote accessory for the iPhone has been highly requested throughout social media platforms, as in mobilecrunch.com’s “5 iPhone Accessories We’re Still Waiting For.”

As a plug-in accessory, the Rē Universal Remote requires no cables, batteries, charging, or network connections to provide complete control of your TV, stereo, DVD player, or most any remote controlled device. Its portability allows you to use it anywhere you go, and it is set up and ready for use with any IR ready AV entertainment device within minutes. The Rē accessory includes an extensive database of IR codes that will control most popular AV entertainment devices. Not only will it eliminate remote control clutter by consolidating all of your remotes into a single unit at your fingertips, but the smart design and functionality of the application software is intended to offer extensive personalization capabilities including:

• Create remotes automatically for each device to be controlled • Customize Activity Remotes to control entertainment activities like “Watch TV” or “Watch Movie”

• Edit button images and button layout on the touch screen • Add buttons and learn IR codes to enhance device remotes

• Setup and playback of button sequences to provide automated device control • Create “Favorites” lists that span multiple sources, so quick access can be personalized for TV channels, CD tracks, movie scenes etc. The Rē is planned for initial availability in North America. For more information on the Rē, you can check out the new Rē web site.

Magellan Launches Premium Car Kit for iPhone and iPod Touch

Sven Rafferty — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:34:25 +0000

Magellan, one of the leading GPS brands, today announced an innovative new vehicle mount for the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and second generation iPod touch. With a built-in GPS receiver for improved navigation accuracy, the Premium Car Kit features an amplified speaker for crystal clear directions and enhanced Bluetooth hands-free calling and clear turn-by-turn directions.
For iPod touch 2G users, the GPS receiver in the Magellan Premium Car Kit allows true navigation functionality, turning the iPod touch into a complete car navigation system. Once the iPod touch is connected to the Premium Car Kit, a separate Bluetooth enabled mobile phone can be connected to it via Bluetooth for hands-free calling.

“Building on the ease of the Magellan RoadMate app, we are proud to introduce a cutting-edge Premium Car Kit that gives our consumers the entire in-car navigation experience from their iPhone or iPod touch,” said Peggy Fong, Chief Operating Officer for Magellan.

Features of the Premium Car Kit include the following:

Secure vehicle mounting for iPhone or iPod touch
Accommodates most silicon skins and hard shell cases
Adjustable mount securely rotates iPhone to either portrait or landscape mode for optimal positioning and widescreen route display
Recharges battery via the vehicle power outlet
Amplified speaker with volume control for loud and clear phone calls and directions
Noise canceling microphone for full duplex speakerphone operation
Auxiliary audio output (for connection to your car stereo)
Works with all navigation applications (including the Magellan RoadMate for iPhone application)
Bluetooth enables hands-free calling

Available now for pre-order, the car kit will retail for $129.99 and will be available at Amazon.com, Best Buy, and MagellanGPS.com.

REVIEW: Cronk for iPhone or iPod touch

Sven Rafferty — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:17:59 +0000

So what’s a good game you ask for the iPhone or iPod touch? You know, something that’ll keep you happy for weeks to come and not give you buyers remorse just hours later? Well, we just reviewed a game that may fit that description and keep you entertained for hours if not weeks and weeks.

I played Cronk for a good few weeks and, well, read the review and see what happened after some game play.

iSimple Offers iPod/iPhone Interface for Your 1995 to 2007 Car or Truck

Sven Rafferty — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:46:59 +0000

iSimple® today announced the availability of iPod® docking interfacing kits that give drivers of hundreds of popular 1995 to 2007 automobiles an affordable way to enjoy static-free iPod music directly through their vehicle’s factory stereo systems. In addition to crystal clear audio, these kits also allow the user to track forward and track back on his/her iPod directly from the factory radio, as well as providing battery charging for many iPod models.

Each kit features a “brain box” (called a PXDP) and a wiring harness that plugs directly into the CD changer port in the back of a compatible vehicle’s factory-installed stereo system. Once installed (professional installation is recommended) the unit delivers perfect CD quality sound directly through the sound system, as well as the option of selecting tracks through the car stereo using the FFWD / RRWD CD changer function. Additionally, the unit does not block out clickwheel or touch screen controls, so the user can browse and select tracks as normal. And, because the connection is “hardwired” to the vehicle, the docking connection offers battery charging for most iPod models, including the iPhone®.

These iSimple kits sell for approximately $119.95 and are compatible with hundreds of models, including: BMW and Mini) Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Saturn; Ford, Lincoln and Mercury; Acura, Honda, Isuzu, Scion and Toyota; Chrysler, Dodge, Eagle, Jeep and Plymouth, and Audi, Jaguar and Volkswagen.

All iSimple automotive docking solutions are made by Peripheral Electronics® – the industry leader in automotive OEM integration products – and distributed and marketed by AAMP of America™. iSimple kits are available at specialty car audio and electronics stores nationwide, as well as most Best Buy locations. iSimple products are also available online at Crutchfield.com, Autotoys.com, Amazon.com and more. For more information, please visit www.peripheralelectronics.com or www.iSimpleSolutions.com.