Smule, the company behind innovative applications like the Sonic Lighter and Ocarina, is easily one of my favorite developers on the App Store. The company has developed a suite of advanced technologies revolving around audio information, which allows it to share music on a global scale and (in the case of an app launching today) to use audio to relay information between two nearby cell phones.
Today Nico Becherer, the developer behind the hit application Face Melter, has released the first third party application to use Smule’s core technology. The application, called Electric Smoke, allows users to play with a virtual cigarette. It may not sound particularly exciting, but the technology behind it is impressive - if you’ve got another iPhone handy with Sonic Lighter installed, you can use it to light your virtual cigarette.
Using Smule’s ‘Sonic Modem’ technology, the two phones actually relay information using sound (they literally beep at each other), which means the apps will work even if there isn’t an internet connection available. Smule has lent its IP networking technology to Electric Smoke free of charge in return for promoting its Smule Sonic Lighter app.
While the technology behind it is very cool, the application itself isn’t particularly fun. After launching Electric Smoke, you’re presented with a very nicely rendered unlit cigarette.
Once you’ve got your cigarette ablaze, you can inhale and blow on the iPhone’s microphone as you watch virtual smoke fill the screen (you can manipulate the smoke by running your fingers across it). The game keeps track of how long it takes for you to burn through each cigarette, making for a mildly amusing game that will leave you both lightheaded and winded.
Because Electric Smoke is at least jokingly meant as a substitute for smoking actual cigarettes, the app offers a long listing of random trivia detailing how much money you’re saving and the time you’ve added to your lifespan (other notable factoids include how much you’ve helped the ozone layer). It also offers a smoking-related statistic every time you launch the app, likely as a way to show that it isn’t meant to promote smoking - it’s meant to raise awareness (or help you quit).
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I bet it’s an inventive app. $1.99 though?
Yeah, agreed. I think this should be .99 at most. It’s fun to show off the lighter tricks but the actual smoking part is a little underwhelming. Then again, I don’t smoke. Maybe it is fun for folks who do?
What a colossal waste of time, energy and talent!
I guess the next app from these idiots is “Digital Lung Cancer” and “Cardiovascular Diseases” for the iPhone… Definitely not cool!!!
Thanks you
http://tinyurl.com/4rdhmc
Agree.
Jon…He he!
This virtual cigarette is impressive!
It keeps freezing up on me when I click the i button. Smule isn’t supporting it, it looks like. Where is the company who made it’s website?
maybe your phone caught the cancer
All very 1950s … isn’t it about time that people stopped making money from cigarettes &/or their ‘cool-factor’ promotion?
You would think. However, there is always the opportunity to make money with cigarettes and tobacco, from the semi-retarded… There is one born every minute….
You would think. However, there is always the opportunity to make money with cigarettes and tobacco, [even from "virtual" smoking] from the semi-retarded… There is one born every minute….
You mean like the “semi-retarded” people that double comment?
it would be nice if you guys could upload the app in motion on youtube for those without iphone. venture beat mg does this.
Is this a free app?
Very clever! Using sound to communicate with each other - basically a modem. Old school but new.
the idea of a sonic network is quite intriguing..
I failed to light my e-cigaratte by SonicLighter from another iPhone. Tried many times just didn’t work. But yes it’s truly amazing!
try again
http://groups.im/
Smule… the world leader in TOTALLY and UTTERLY USELESS apps. They’re the Britney Spears of iPhone App Store.
good work done
regards
aartha
Truehotdeals-Deals u cant resist
I would humbly suggest that FREE “iRecorder” and “Blow” apps make much better use of the Smule technology.
http://appshopper.com/utilities/blow
http://appshopper.com/music/irecorder-2
Soon they will be forced to include a health warning that must display for 5 seconds before lighting each cigarette.
I bet their work is full of fun. They are being rewarded so what’s wrong in it. Keep up the good work!
I don’t know why you feature this bullshit and crap!
Interesting as a technology demo, but that’s about it right now.
After years of trying to quit heres a new fun cancer toy
http://thebestpoweredspeakers.blogspot.com/ well come visit while Im still alive
just saw my first electronic cigarette store. What came first the fake fake cigarette or the fake cigarette. they should line up the tobacco growers and blow them away