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IPEVO's TR-10 speakerphone makes nice with iChat
Seems like there's a VoIP device for every temperament -- you can go supa classy, or you can try to be as bland as possible, but most of them are intended for Skype. Not IPEVO's TR-10, though; it's designed for iChat, and it does VoIP with support for four-way conferencing as both a speakerphone and a handset. If geeky rebel radio is your thing, it records podcasts in tandem with GarageBand, too -- all IPEVO asks is that you fork over $79.90 before you start living the iLife with Bruce Willis.
Remix Radiohead's "Reckoner" in iTunes
Love them or not, you've got to admit that Radiohead are challenging the record business. After initially releasing their current album In Rainbows with a "pay-what-you-will" pricing policy, their entire catalog was finally added to the iTunes Store.Shortly thereafter, they released all five tracks (or "stems" as they call them) of their song "Nude" in iTunes, encouraging fans to create their own remixes. This week, they've done the same thing with the song "Reckoner" [iTunes link]. The six-track, DRM-free album costs $0.99US. Tracks cannot be purchased individually. If you purchase the stems within the first two weeks of availability, you'll receive an access code to a full GarageBand version of the song. When you're done, you can upload your masterpiece here. This isn't the first we've seen an artist do this. Trent Reznor has released GarageBand versions of Nine Inch Nails songs, as has Burger King. Yes, Burger King.
Go Hollywood with a free "In a world" ringtone
You know those movie trailers that begin with the narrator intoning the familiar words "In a world...."? Beau Weaver, a Hollywood narrator and diehard TUAW reader who does a lot of those trailers, was asked by his friends to create an iPhone ringtone that played on the same phrase. He did, and he'd like to share it with TUAW readers for free.Just pop over to Beau's website at http://www.spokenword.com/ringtone/, listen to the ringtone, and if you like it, follow our TUAW tutorial on how to create an iPhone ringtone from an MP3 with GarageBand. To download the MP3 for slicing and dicing in GarageBand, just Control-click the link and select Save Link As. Thanks for the fun freebie, Beau!
iToner 1.0.8 ready for iPhone 2.0
iToner is Ambrosia's application that makes it easy to put free ringtones on your iPhone. Because really -- paying for ringtones is ridiculous.It works without hacks or tricks. Simply drop any MP3, AAC, WAVE, or AIFF audio file onto the application's window and boom! You're done.Ambrosia released version 1.0.8 this week, which offers compatibility with the iPhone 2.0 software. Other changes include Support for iTunes 7.7 Japanese localizaton A single license will cost you $15US and requires Mac OS X 10.4.10 or later. Of course, you can always make your own rigntones for free with GarageBand.[Via Ars Technica]
TUAW Tip: Make iPhone ringtones with GarageBand
An earlier post about PocketMac Ringtone Studio for iPhone reminded me of how I put together ringtones for my iPhone. I just fire up GarageBand and iTunes, do a little quick magic, and out come the ringtones I want.This doesn't work with protected files such as those you've purchased from the iTunes Store -- hell, Apple wants you to spend $0.99 for the tune and another $0.99 to turn it into a ringtone. The method described here works very well turning those CD snippets that you've ripped into iTunes into ringtones. Follow along after the break for the step-by-step.
Apple Camp '08 schedule posted
Today Apple posted the schedule for Apple Camp. Apple Camp is held at Apple retail stores for kids 8-12 to go learn about creative things like: making presentations with Keynote, taking and managing photos with iPhoto, creating music with GarageBand, and making movies with iMovie. Each sessions lasts about 3 hours and is available at all Apple retail locations. Kids attending will receive a DVD or CD with their creations on it, field guide, t-shirt, and will be able to get other giveaways. Best of all, Apple Camp is free though registration is required.Kids under 13 must have a parent/guardian present; otherwise, you'll have to bring an Apple permission slip (PDF link). You can now register on Apple's Camp registration website.
Remix Radiohead in iTunes
A couple of years ago, Trent Reznor released fully editable GarageBand versions of a few Nine Inch Nails songs. Others have followed suit (like Burger King), and now Radiohead joins their number.They've made all five tracks (or "stems") of the song "Nude" available in iTunes for $0.99 each [iTunes link]. The tracks are in DRM-free iTunes Plus format, so you can pretty much manipulate them however you'd like.Purchase all five before the end of this week and receive an access code for the full GarageBand file. Once you've finished your remix, you can upload it here. It definitely sounds like fun, especially for Radiohead fans (like me).
GarageBand 4.1.2 now out
Podcasters, wannabe music stars, and GarageBand dabblers of all ages -- it's that time again for Apple has released an update to your beloved application (bumping it to version 4.1.2). It goes without saying that this wouldn't be an Apple consumer-software update without a simple one-sentence release note (Aperture 2.0.1's release notes are somewhat more substantial), so if you're wondering what's been fixed:"This update improves overall stability and addresses issues with the automation of software instrument parameters, FireWire and USB based audio devices and Magic GarageBand."The update is available through Software Update or through Apple's Download Site, weighing in at just over 19MB. Rock on!
CTU ringtone for iPhone
Just last night we were chatting about ringtones on the Talkcast, and I mentioned that I was so happy with my iPhone that I hadn't taken steps to change either the ringtone or the wallpaper yet-- that Xylophone ringtone is probably the best ringtone I've ever heard.Until now, anyway. Matt Devost used that GarageBand tip posted by Apple to turn none other than the CTU ringtone from tv series 24 into an easy-to-install, completely (mostly-- who owns this ringtone? did Fox make it up?) legit iPhone ringtone. Yes, you too can have your iPhone sound just like the phones at Jack Bauer's place of employment.And this also illustrates just how easy it is to make these things now. Matt says he just put this together in GarageBand, and then followed Apple's doc, and all I did was drag it from my Desktop into my iTunes ringtones folder. Super simple. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I hear my phone ringing. Must be the President wanting to know how the hostage situation is going.
GarageBand 4.1.1 brings custom tones to iPhone
As the pic says ladies and gents, Apple has decided that if you're clever enough to work in GarageBand -- and really, aren't we all? -- you deserve custom tones. To get this working all you need do is grab at the fresh GarageBand 4.1.1 update released yesterday, select a cycle region in your song -- a cycle region is just an area in the song's timeline you want to repeat -- then "share" and select "send ringtone to iTunes" option. Of course, your iPhone will need to be at version 1.1.2 to accomplish this little feat of magic, but we're sure most of you out there have sorted updates by now. Enjoy the music and feel free to drop us a note with how things go.[Via TUAW]Read - Create custom ringtones in iTunesRead - GarageBand 4.1.1 update
Found Footage: Quicksilver in real life
When I posted about Mac apps in real life a while back, the number one request I heard in the comments was for Quicksilver. And it wasn't very surprising-- who wouldn't love to implement Quicksilver's genius and simplicity in some way for the real world?And now, Matt McInerney's done it-- he's created this video (from what looks like a bunch of iSight stills-- weird effect and even weirder music) in which, with just a snap, he can Quicksilver up anything on his mind. There's still a few bugs, though-- Garageband pulls up a guitar pick instead of an actual guitar (or a whole garage band), and I don't know what version of Cashbox he's using, but mine never actually gives me money.[via 43F]
Details about the new GarageBand Jam Pack: Voices
Yet another minor Apple product announcement that made it under our radar was a new Jam Pack for GarageBand: Voices. No, it isn't samples of Britney Spears, John Mayer and Adam Duritz - it's a collection of over 1,500 new instruments that fall under the categories of Drum and Percussion Instruments, Choral Ensembles, and Soloists. The focus, of course, is on filling up your tool belt with samples of professional instrumental soloists and choirs covering a wide variety of genres and styles.If you want more details on the pack, iCompositions has rummaged through and detailed exactly what you get in this new Jam Pack. Strangely, you get quite a bit more than what Apple advertises - the pack actually contains 1701 loops - and it takes up nearly half the specified hard drive space as well; instead of taking up 3 GB, all those loops only took over a mere 1.7 GB.As with most other Jam Packs, this new Voices pack is available in the Apple Store for the standard Jam Pack price of $99.00.
Garageband '08
As you may have seen, Apple released iLife '08 (so long, 2007!) earlier today. This post will examine GarageBand '08.Most interesting to me is Magic GarageBand. It's a quick way to set up a rhythm section (drums, bass and guitar) to play a simple chord progression while you play on top. Work out new riffs, a solo or compose a new song. Select the style (jazz, rock, etc.) for your "backing band" to play. That's pretty cool.Arrangements let you identify your parts, like chorus, verse, bridge and coda. While I'd like to make an actual chart, I guess that's what Pro Tools is for. Still, this is handy for at-a-glance organization.Multi-track recording will save every take, so you can quickly revert to a previous recording. That's pretty handy.There's also a new visual EQ and several new Jam Packs, but let's talk about automation. Change the tempo or volume of any song or instrument at any point. Best of all, GarageBand will remember your changes and reproduce them at another point in the song with a click. Very cool.We're eager to get our mits on GarageBand '08. Let's jam!
Xray your code with new dev tool
A few tipsters have dropped us notes (thanks!) that on Apple's Developer Tools page, there's a new tool. Along with Xcode and Dashcode, there's a new, very pretty app called Xray. The flavor text itself says the app takes "interface cues from timeline editors such as GarageBand," so what we're looking at here seems to be a realtime application tester and analyzer.The three windows in the screenshot show stats on "Network Traffic," "CPU Load," and "Reads/Writes," and Apple also says devs will be able to track user events and even the OpenGL video driver. Looks like it will bring all the new tracking tools and analysis junk (technical term) together in a browsable, graphical interface, which means an easier time for devs, which means better apps for all of us. Groovy!
TUAW Tip: Garage Band video tutorials
If you've ever wanted to jump into Garage Band and create your own musical compositions but you weren't sure where to start, let TUAW point to you to this fabulous collection of Apple tutorial videos. They'll walk you through Garage Band's somewhat daunting interface and teach you the basics you need to know. Videos show you how to create your first songs and capture your instrumentals as well as use Garage Band for more general audio such as editing podcasts and scoring movies. There are over two dozen videos, all made to Apple's exacting standard, to get you going.
GarageBand podcasting tutorials available
Let's say you've made a few podcasts that you're proud of...mostly. There's always room for improvement, right? If you use GarageBand as your main podcasting tool, check out these tutorials at MacProVideo. Tips include using the right EQ settings for your voice, volume management and getting the most out of your remote Skype and other over-the-net sessions. It's $29.50US for nearly two hours of video (you can view two demo videos at the website). Check it out, and bring your podcasts to the next level.
Microsoft recommends GarageBand for advanced audio editing
It's rare that a rival in the marketplace tosses anything but a canned compliment your way, so it's always refreshing to highlight such a kind gesture. In what is likely a mixup at Redmond or simply the work of a covert Apple guy behind enemy lines, a Microsoft product page about having more fun at home recommends GarageBand for advanced audio editing (scroll to the bottom). Of course, the entry also cites iLife '05, but they even work in a plug for the ever-useful Jam Packs as well. Now, who wants to place bets as to how soon Apple will recommend Microsoft Expression for 'advanced' web design?Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Free Apple seminar - The Podcast Recipe
Podcasting is all the rage nowadays with the kids. It is easy to create a podcast, but it isn't easy to create a great podcast. Luckily, Apple has a free online seminar that will give you some tips and tricks to make your podcast sing (get it?).Joe Cipriano gives you some pointers on how to make your voice sound best, Paul Garay shares his Garageband secrets, and Pete Alcorn spills the beans on how to leverage the iTunes Podcast directory to make your podcast super popular (popularity levels may vary).
FretLight plugin for GarageBand
The FretLight plugin for GarageBand is one of those Mac releases that will get a small number of Mac users very excited. This plugin allows you to use a FretLight guitar, which lights up showing you what to play interactively, with GarageBand to make teaching the guitar a snap.Thanks, Lloyd.
iLife 06 Hot Tips are actually pretty handy
I saw a del.icio.us/popular bookmark fly past NetNewsWire for the GarageBand 3 Hot Tips section of Apple's site, and wondered if Apple started posting tricks in those pages that might actually be useful. Sure enough - they have. Check out the Hot Tips sections for iWeb, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand. I never knew, for example, that you could simply drag a clip from iMovie's clip bin or even timeline onto the QuickTime icon in the Dock to export and re-encode said clip. How about that musical typing keyboard in GarageBand, or the app's ability to tune your guitar or bass? These Hot Tips pages probably have a little something for all levels of iLife users, but feel free to post your own hidden gems that you've found if you think Apple missed something.
