iPhonic: iPhone Application Watch: noise.io, Glyph, Bullfrog Touch, iLaugh, iRingPro Ringers, Opera banned?

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iPhone Application Watch: noise.io, Glyph, Bullfrog Touch, iLaugh, iRingPro Ringers, Opera banned?

noise.io

Noise.io, which we got all excited about in August but has been delayed for over two months, is finally available in the App Store.

It looks like those extra two months haven't been wasted, either, because there's a heck of a lot of functionality under the hood. It's no exaggeration to say that this really is the iPhone's first, and best, monophonic synthesiser (though that's not to detract from some of the other wonderful music and synth apps available).

Here's the official press release:

Amidio, Inc has released Noise.io - the first full-featured sound synthesizer for the iPhone and iPod Touch. One of the most anticipated handheld music applications, Noise.io is capable of creating all kinds of melodic sequences, basses, leads, keys, bells, percussive sounds and sound effects. Designed by an experienced electronic musician, Noise.io makes it possible to create 303-like acid basslines or any other melodies using the buit-in sequencer, or jamming live in sync with the rhythm using the TapBPM feature. Extensive sound control possibilities are implemented - fingersliding, multitouch, accelerometer, velocity-sensitive dual keyboard and a modulation matrix. 9 factory preset banks are included: Azure Leads, Warping Basslines, Infinite Keys, Distant Bells, Touch the Bass, Strange Places, Klang Percussive, FX Pack 1, totalling in 81 presets. Noise.io utilizes an original synth technology called ESFM and features 3 generators, 2 filters, 3 LFO, 3 sequencers, 6 effects, unlimited presets, extensive user support and much more. Users are able to instantly share their banks with the community utilizing the on-line preset repository at the website http://noise.io. Noise.io is available on the App Store for $9.99 (£5.99) (introductory price).

Glyph

Glyph is the latest game from the Astraware stable. With similarities to the likes of Bejewelled and Aurora Feint, it stands up well on its own.

Two modes -- Quest and Action -- should cater for most casual gamers. Featuring vibrant graphics and atmospheric music/sound effects, it features "glyphs" which must be cleared in groups of three or more to progress. In Quest mode, there are power-ups which affect the gameplay in different ways.

There are over 250 levels across both modes, and the game is available for a special introductory price of £1.19 ($1.99).

Bullfrog Touch

Outer Level has updated its Bullfrog Touch game to version 1.1, offering 25 new challenging levels, redesigned game controls, better performance, save and exit, updated scoreboard graphics, improved rendering and responsiveness, and new help screen, plus bug fixes.

Available for $4.99 (£2.99)

iLaugh 1.0

There are plenty of places online where you can go to find jokes -- some funny, some not, some clean, some definitely not -- but iLaugh from Azure Talon Software aims to solve the problem of what to do when you really need a joke (because, let's face it, we've all been there, right?!) by supplying around 20,000 jokes from various sources.

It's only 99c (59p). Whether you'll find any of the jokes and anecdotes funny is another matter.

iRingPro Ringers

Not an application, but a collection of "alertive yet ignorable" ringtones (or ringers) that don't embarrass or startle the user when a call comes in, yet are still identifiable as an incoming call.

Founder of Hiadecek, Joel Hladecek, says, "All this care goes into each new phone design to make it an attractive, fashionable object. But until now, ringtones have been the elephant in the room, these shrieking, annoying, embarrassing things that interrupt and don't shut up; I just don't believe that's how most people want to present themselves to the world. They just haven't had any choice."

According to Hladecek, a number of attributes are required for a sound to qualify as a Luxury Ringer. First, the audible portion must be short, averaging one second or less. "That disqualifies 90% of the ringtones out there," said Hladecek.

Second, the silent delay between ring repeats must be at least four seconds. This is far in excess of factory ringtone timing. He added, "I found that most people, especially business professionals, actually hear their phone ringing the moment it starts, so all the rest of that noise is unnecessary."

Third, the sound cannot be a song, or a real-world sound effect. This rules out musical instruments, old telephones and voices.

iRingPro Ringers further fall into one of two categories. Sounds intended for quiet settings are labeled with "MG" which stands for Meeting-Grade. Those intended for noisier settings are labeled with an "AG" or Active-Grade.

All 21 ringers are available for $9.95 and are available in iPhone format.