SoundAMP hearing aid app for iPhone unleashed on our delicate ears

We've just caught wind of a new app for the iPhone / iPod touch... should you be either a little hard of hearing or a little nosy. SoundAMP works a lot like those Sonic Earz you see on the infomercials -- you run the app with your earbuds plugged in, and then sit back and enjoy listening to the sweet sounds of whatever's going on around you -- only louder. The app allows you to control volume and tone, and you can also replay the last 30 seconds of what you've been hearing -- in case you missed something particularly juicy. Now, personally, we put in the earbuds and crank up the tunes to shut out the outside world, but if this is your kind of thing -- it's available in the iTunes store right now for $9.99. [Warning: read link takes you to the iTunes store]

[Via CNET]

[OneLove @ Jul 9th 2009 10:35AM]

It's perfect for movies, lectures, theaters or watching TV1

[Aguiluz @ Jul 9th 2009 10:38AM]

Until someone makes a loud sound and the amp makes it louder. Suppose they have a sudden volume increase suppressor, no?

[fragmit @ Jul 9th 2009 11:15AM]

What about TV2?

[Quantumphysics @ Jul 9th 2009 11:30AM]

MIKE THINKS HE'S BETTER THAN ME CAUSE HE HAS AN IPHONE...MIKE IS A LOSER !

WAIT, WHY IS HE CRYING? HE CAN'T HEAR ME...Can he?

[KennyWRX @ Jul 9th 2009 10:38AM]

Add an noise cancelling mode.

[Aguiluz @ Jul 9th 2009 10:38AM]

I don't need one. I got something called earplugs.

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Jul 9th 2009 10:44AM]

Bingoooo!

[sam @ Jul 9th 2009 10:50AM]

$10 for something that records from the microphone input and plays it back at the output?

Really?

[Josh @ Jul 9th 2009 11:09AM]

I should make a similiar app for 99 cents and steal all of their traffic. mwhahahaha

[Kelmon @ Jul 9th 2009 11:19AM]

Well, you don't have to buy it. If enough people don't buy it then the developer may reduce the price to boost demand. Welcome to Supply & Demand 101.

[Mark @ Jul 9th 2009 10:50AM]

Somewhat interesting but doesn't seem all that newsworthy. It's not even conceptually that difficult of a program to make.

[Kelmon @ Jul 9th 2009 11:26AM]

True. There's been a few too many articles like this recently. Either it is slow news day or Engadget is turning into iLounge or something like that. Certainly I'd agree that the application is hardly groundbreaking stuff that it deserves its own article over others (be they for the iPhone or other platforms).

[Dayne @ Jul 9th 2009 10:57AM]

Ooooh...think of the subliminal message possibilities.

[Agent .25i @ Jul 9th 2009 11:17AM]

Another quality (cr)app from (cr)Apple. $10. lol.

[Kelmon @ Jul 9th 2009 11:24AM]

A couple of points:

1. "(cr)Apple" is about as funny as "Micro$oft"
2. It's not made by Apple
3. You don't actually have to buy it if it is not useful to you

[Agent .25i @ Jul 9th 2009 11:52AM]

A couple of points. In fact, a few* points.

1. You, are so predictable
2. The (cr)apps are available through (cr)apple. They accepted them to be used on their device. It's most certainly is (cr)apple.
3. I'm aware of my rights as a shopper. tyvm.

[Kelmon @ Jul 9th 2009 11:59AM]

I love you too, sweetheart

[Kiv @ Jul 9th 2009 2:13PM]

You are a meatball champion.

[Kelmon @ Jul 9th 2009 11:21AM]

I wish I had something like this for some of the conference calls I have with the US folks where it really does sound like they are thousands of miles away and the telephone can't make them any louder.

[Hemish @ Jul 9th 2009 11:25AM]

There is another app that has the same functionality and is free it's called iStethoscope. http://apps.peterjbentley.com/Blog/?e=23289&d=02/08/2009&s=iStethoscope%20support%20page

[daveofferson @ Jul 9th 2009 11:25AM]

Isn't SoundAmp the app iTunes is built upon?

I'm so cornfused!

[Kelmon @ Jul 9th 2009 11:27AM]

I think you are thinking of SoundJam.

[daveofferson @ Jul 9th 2009 11:32AM]

Thank you very much.

[colby @ Jul 9th 2009 11:54AM]

Cheaper version ($.99)
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=307596924&mt=8

[blindspot @ Jul 9th 2009 2:26PM]

"you can also replay the last 30 seconds of what you've been hearing "

Maybe it's my age now, but the need to do this seems to happen to me a lot lately.

[gingerlabs @ Jul 9th 2009 3:43PM]

Hi from the developers of soundAMP! We want to offer some clarification of what soundAMP does with sound. Firstly, it contains a dynamics processor that selectively softens loud sounds while amplifying soft sounds. This keeps feedback, distortion and discomfort to a minimum. It also applies filters to improve intelligibility of speech, and some other processing to minimize ambient noise. We love to hear your feedback and ideas. You can contact us directly at http://www.gingerlabs.com.

[susanyasi @ Sep 20th 2009 10:12PM]

If you can get this to work with the telephone I'd give you a zillion dollars.

[Michael @ Jul 9th 2009 9:30PM]

hi labs,
hum,,,
think i'll wait for the ****ed version
:P