Smule has done it again. The company behind the ingenious lighter app that took the iPhone by storm a few months ago has launched Ocarina, a networked musical instrument that allows you to listen to songs being played around the world in real time. The app costs 99 cents, and you can grab it here.
As an instrument Ocarina has been perfectly executed, and is much more suitable for the iPhone’s screen size than the virtual keyboards and guitars that litter the App Store. To play, you blow into the iPhone’s microphone while fingering notes using the 4 ‘holes’ on the ocarina. Smule says that the microphone can detect subtle variations in air flow, explaining that “unlike other iPhone audio apps, the sound is not pre-compiled but is generated by the notes, gestures and nuance of the individual performer”.
And for the vast majority of the population that has no idea how to play an ocarina, the app has another awesome feature: you can listen in on the songs being played on any iPhone worldwide. After selecting the ‘globe’ view, the app presents you with a 3D world littered with a number of little dots presumably representing every active Ocarina. The app will automatically start playing one of these, highlighted by a series of green blobs rising from Earth, each of which corresponds to a note. If you don’t like what you’re listening to, you can hit the ‘next’ button to start playing a new song (you’ll probably be using this button often, as many of the people playing are awful).
This is how an iPhone app should be done. As we pointed out in September, too few developers are leveraging the platform’s network effect to differentiate themselves, instead choosing to develop standalone apps that can be easily cloned. By being first to market with this app, Smule has safeguarded itself against the competition: even if another ocarina app comes along that is network compatible, Smule’s application will likely have the largest user base and will be very difficult to catch up with. And if Smule is smart, it’ll keep making these virtual instruments, allowing it to share the same network to create a worldwide orchestra that would be nearly impossible to replicate (and it sounds like it will – the company has developed an audio platform called ChucK that will likely be applied to other instruments).
For another app that is trying to tap into the iPhone’s network effect, check out Chess With Friends, which we covered yesterday.
I discovered Ocarina early this morning and have been listening to the global players all day – kind’ve soothing.
I blogged about this early this morning – Did I actually get the jump on TechCrunch?
no one cares about your crap blog.
no one cares about yours either. oh wait, you don’t have one.
I love these guys!
Truly creative!
now THAT is a cool idea!!!!
damn these guy are the top guns of viral iphone apps.
Matthew — Make had it yesterday
http://blog.makezine.com/
Great!
The Zelda theme clenched it. These guys are at the head of the iphone development pack!
It also confirms that they’re Nintendo nerds, which means they’ve probably played “Phoenix Wright,” which means that for some reason they’re they only people using the most popular game console ever for inspiration. Weird.
This is quite possibly the coolest app on the iPhone. This is going to be awesome when some great user-submitted scores start rolling in!
Ocarina is greek for “iphone blows”
What a waste of time and money
A waste of money? For some, perhaps, depending on what your personal values are. A waste of time? Hardly.
For Smule, they’ve just released another viral iPhone app that is sure to generate sizable income (even at $.99). For other developers, this is a lesson learned as to what the iPhone is capable of and should serve to at least fuel new ideas. For users, it’s definitely got that ‘cool’ effect and can entertain for a few minutes at the least. To me it looks like a win-win situation for everyone.
Just curious but how many of those lighter apps did they sell? Is there a way to check how many times something has been purchased.
I think this will be another viral app for sure – it looks pretty neat and demonstrates some neat capabilities of the iPhone.
Cheers – Eric
I’m sorry, but if we are using apps such as these to represent what the ‘iPhone is capable of’ then I think we missed something. These apps are the equivalent of HappyMeal toys for adults. These companies know the market too well. iPhone owners will spend their money on just about any gimmick that comes along.
I suggest the following article:
http://news.cne...10045321-2.html
@ Jason – I agree that this app is in no way going to change the world. However they are doing something outside the normal range of iPhone apps here and it helps to inspire new ways of using the device. If you can take this concept and then extend it to crude sound recognition then you can see it may have application for the hard of hearing. It may only spark the imagination and go no further – only time will tell.
Cheers – Eric
Says Mr. Cranky Pants…
I’m guessing it’s only a matter of time before someone harnesses the power of global mobile networking to create something really useful. I get a sense we’re seeing a glimpse of an incredible future!
It’s not too far of a stretch to consider this and “Rock Band” in the same thought.
Ocarina is one of the coolest applications for the iPhone. The first line says it all, “Smule has done it again.”
cool. i cant wait to have an iPhone
lol poor you.
That is really, really cool. Apologies to anyone worldwide who listened in to my pathetic attempt at playing it.
that guy friggin sucks
That is just awesome. I wish I bought an Iphone now. Damn verizon DARE
the logo sound right at the beginning sounds very familar with the sound in Legend Of Zelda when you open a door or reveal a secret
Impressive. It is awesome and very innovative.
http://vidsonly.blogspot.com
yeah!! zelda!
I checked this out, the globe thing is very cool, I have to admit, it was by far the most impressive part of the application, while the core (the instrument) was just plain bad.. There is nothing compelling about it all??? Since when has the flute become cool and who is their target market? I thought they build consumer apps. This is not a consumer app, but targets flute nerds globally.
The app works, but their support form (http://www.smul...shootinglog.php, which seems to redirect to dev.smule.com when you hit “Send,” does not).
It’s too bad that this is an iPhone only app; the 2nd generation iPod Touches have line-in support as well, and I know I’d be a buyer if it supported the 2nd gen iPod Touch.
This would be a great app, if the makers released the notes as well as their tabs, What key and range is this ocarina and what do all the symbols mean. They’ve made it inaccessible which is kind of irritating.
most of that info is available at the forums:
http://ocarina....mule.com/forum/
I’m already addicted to the darn iPhone now it’s going to be like ….hum I wonder if Jobs get a funny feeling when I blow into my iPhone..
thanks for the laugh
Does anyone know what they are using for the 3d globe in all their apps? Is that an open API that other developers are using or does everyone think that’s home grown?
Awesomeness!!! Freaking just pure genius at work!
When the Hotel in Mumbai was attacked a film crew was trapped and their Iphones were there link to the world. There are outbreaks violence and natural disasters around the word not being reported. smules sonic lighter can alert us before the media is aware or allowed to get the info out even if there is limited information allowed out of the Country. Lets use these simple tools to help people quickly. PS a dollar to share music created out of joy is simply amazing.
God’s art work has no limits! Wisdom comes from above and his children are showered by it.
Love the ocarina’s global feature!
That is a very nice piece of design work. As for whether they are safe from being cloned. I do not really agree with that.
I posted my audio interview with Dr. Ge Wang here
http://www.mark...wang_smule.html