Monday, March 21, 2011

148Apps Main

148Apps Main

SXSW Artists Finds The Groups You Want to See at SXSW

Posted: 20 Mar 2011 02:15 PM PDT

Going to SXSW this weekend but don’t want to sort through the massive list of performers? It turns out that there’s even an app for this specific niche. From the folks at Top Drawer Apps comes SXSW Artists. Top Drawer Apps is the developer behind My Artists, a gorgeous little iPod-replacement app, and now it looks like they’re branching out with SXSW Artists.

The idea behind SXSW Artists is simple. A lot of groups are performing at the music festival in Austin, Texas, this week, but do you really want to dig through the entire listing to find out if your favorite artists will be there? This app tries to make that process a whole lot simpler, by scanning your iPod library and presenting you with groups it thinks that you’ll be interested in seeing. Of course, artists whose music appears in your library will be suggested, but the app also suggests “related” artists or artists in genres that you like.

SXSW Artists is (surprise, surprise) powered by the same engine that My Artists uses; however, unlike the latter app, SXSW Artists is free. Take that with a grain of salt; the app description notes that SXSW Artists is not affiliated with the SXSW® Music and Media Conference, which is probably why it has to be free.

Regardless, this is a great idea and an excellent way to make browsing through the performance listings much easier. Tailoring results to your personal tastes is a rather nice touch, in my opinion. If this sounds useful to you, grab SXSW Artists in the App Store now for the low, low price of free.


SXSW Artists


iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Buy Now: FREE
Released: 2011-03-13 :: Category: Music

[ SXSW Artists Finds The Groups You Want to See at SXSW is a post from 148Apps ]

Apps mentioned in this post: My Artists, SXSW Artists

This Week at 148Apps: March 13-20

Posted: 20 Mar 2011 11:50 AM PDT

This week, March 13-20, 148Apps awarded the Editor’s Choice badge (along with 4.5 stars a piece) to two music apps: IK Multimedia’s Amplitube Fender and Apple’s Garageband. Editor Rob LeFebvre, who reviewed the Amplitube Fender application along with its hardware counterpart – the iRig – commented: “it’s so easy to configure and use that I’m planning on using it on stage in the near future.” Rob’s been playing guitar for over twenty years.


AmpliTube Fender™ for iPad


iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $14.99
Our Rating: ★★★★½ :: GUITARTASTIC
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2011-02-17 :: Category: Music

Garageband was the other application to rock the boat, setting the bar for portable music creation. “Ever since the iPad's introduction people have wondered why GarageBand (or any of the other iLife software for that matter) wasn't available,” writes Timothy Smith in his in-depth review, noting the third-party counterparts that have attempted to fill the gap – but not like the way Garageband has finally done. “Apple did a great job making their portable version of GarageBand accessible for beginners, but feature rich enough for real musicians. It isn't going to replace a real studio set-up, but it's definitely more than a novelty. Their price point is really competitive too.”


GarageBand


iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Buy Now: $4.99
Our Rating: ★★★★½ :: MUSICIAN'S FRIEND
Read Our Full Review >>
Released: 2011-03-10 :: Category: Music

In other news, a subtle update found in iOS 4.3 reveals a change in the way Apple handles in-app purchases. Bonnie Eisenman reports: “One complaint that has been consistently leveled against in-app purchases is that it's easy to accidentally make a purchase in real-world money by accident … In response to such complaints, Apple has changed its handling of in-app purchases in iOS version 4.3. Now, a password will also be required to make an in-app purchase, though for fifteen minutes after entering your password that time you'll be able to make multiple purchases.” For the most part, this should stop any unexpected in-app purchases by your friends or relatives.

On the hardware front, iFixit stripped the iPad 2, revealing a number of interesting points along the way that may lead you to rethink how careful you are with your new device. “Once the team were able to remove the glass, it was noted that both the LCD and glass thickness were smaller in comparison to iPad 1″ writes Kyle Flanigan. “Whilst this does provide a number of advantages, notably the reduced thickness and weight of the device, it may reduce its overall durability.” On the plus side, the team were able to confirm that the iPad 2 does indeed contain 512MB RAM – double that of its little brother, iPad 1.

Finally, Chanelle Joy Duxbury commented earlier this week on a report that allows for iMovie, which received a universal update, to be installed on the original iPad. I tested the method personally – and it works flawlessly. Now even the first generation iPad adopters can enjoy its big brother’s applications!

And, in case you missed it: Episode 76 of The Portable Podcast, in which Carter does his magic mojo with a developer or gamer or both!

That’s all for this week – check back the same time next for a round-up of all the latest happenings. Don’t be afraid to check out our Price Drop List or our Top 148Apps List, as well – they are CHOCK full of vital info!

[ This Week at 148Apps: March 13-20 is a post from 148Apps ]

Apps mentioned in this post: AmpliTube Fender™ for iPad, GarageBand
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